Sonos remains the default choice for multi-room audio, but its entry-level speakers cost $179 or more. A new Engadget buying guide argues that budget-conscious buyers can get solid multi-room setups for far less, singling out the $99 Google Home speaker as the best overall alternative. The guide notes that three Google Home speakers cost less than two Sonos Era 100s, even if each unit can't match Sonos's volume or clarity.
The Google Home speaker works with major music services like Spotify and Apple Music, and its app supports speaker groups and moving audio between rooms. Its main weakness is sound quality: a single full-range driver can't compete with the Era 100's dual tweeters and woofer. The guide suggests pairing two Google Home speakers for stereo if more volume is needed.
For Apple-centric homes, the HomePod mini remains a solid choice at $129, though it's nearly six years old and only supports a few music services with Siri—Spotify users should look elsewhere. Amazon's $119 Echo Dot Max is another option, offering the newer Alexa+ assistant and broad music service support, but the guide notes its audio quality was disappointing in testing and its price has already risen by $20. Ultimately, the guide frames these as practical trade-offs: none match Sonos's sound, but all undercut its cost significantly.