Home Speakers / Sonos Era 100 SL vs Marshall Acton IV
Sonos Era 100 SL vs Marshall Acton IV
Sonos Era 100 SL
The cheapest way into Sonos, with no microphone anywhere in it.
Wins overall by 1.2 points
Quick Verdict
The Sonos Era 100 SL takes this by a clear 1.2 points. The cheapest way into Sonos, with no microphone anywhere in it. The Marshall Acton IV only makes sense if it wins on a category you care about more than the total.
The Sonos Era 100 SL and Marshall Acton IV are both current-generation home Speaker models, and the Sonos Era 100 SL is $141 cheaper than the Marshall Acton IV ($189 vs $329.99). On Multiroom, the Sonos Era 100 SL leads (9.5 vs 3.0/10) — how well it groups with other speakers around the house. On Smart Home, the Sonos Era 100 SL leads (6.0 vs 3.0/10) — matter, Thread, Zigbee and hub capability. On Connectivity, the Sonos Era 100 SL leads (7.0 vs 5.0/10) — Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs. Overall, the Sonos Era 100 SL scores 6.8/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 5.6/10 for the Marshall Acton IV. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Sonos Era 100 SL | Marshall Acton IV |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $189.00 | $329.99 |
| Release Year | 2026 | 2026 |
| Voice Assistant | None — SL means no microphones are fitted | None |
| Drivers | 2x angled tweeters plus 1x midwoofer | 1x 4-inch woofer plus 2x 0.75-inch tweeters |
| Power Output (W) | Sonos publishes three class-D digital amplifiers but no wattage | 110W total — 1x 60W Class D for the woofer plus 2x 25W Class D for the tweeters; maximum SPL 95dB at 1m |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | None |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 with Auracast and multipoint; codecs SBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3 |
| Streaming Protocols | Sonos app with 100+ services, AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect; no Chromecast | None — no AirPlay, Chromecast or Spotify Connect. Spotify Tap via the customisable M-button only |
| Multiroom System | Sonos | None natively — Auracast broadcast only; Marshall's Heddon hub is required for a proper multi-speaker setup |
| Stereo Pairing | Yes | Marshall documents Auracast and Bluetooth multipoint but not a true two-unit stereo pair |
| Smart Home Hub | No — not a Matter or Thread device | No |
| Spatial Audio | No | No |
| Line In | Yes, but only via the optional Sonos Line-In Adapter, sold separately | Yes |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black, White | Black, Cream |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The Marshall Acton IV leads clearly here, 8.5 against 8.0 — a 0.5-point margin on tonal balance, clarity and detail for the size. If that is what you are buying for, the Sonos Era 100 SL does not close the gap elsewhere.
Bass
The Marshall Acton IV leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.0 — a 1.0-point margin on low-end weight and extension. If that is what you are buying for, the Sonos Era 100 SL does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home
The Sonos Era 100 SL leads clearly here, 6.0 against 3.0 — a 3.0-point margin on matter, Thread, Zigbee and hub capability. If that is what you are buying for, the Marshall Acton IV does not close the gap elsewhere.
Multiroom
The Sonos Era 100 SL leads clearly here, 9.5 against 3.0 — a 6.5-point margin on how well it groups with other speakers around the house. If that is what you are buying for, the Marshall Acton IV does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Sonos Era 100 SL leads clearly here, 7.0 against 5.0 — a 2.0-point margin on Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs. If that is what you are buying for, the Marshall Acton IV does not close the gap elsewhere.
Design & Build
The Marshall Acton IV leads clearly here, 9.5 against 8.0 — a 1.5-point margin on materials, finish and how it looks in a room. If that is what you are buying for, the Sonos Era 100 SL does not close the gap elsewhere.
Voice Assistant
The Sonos Era 100 SL and Marshall Acton IV are level here, at 1.0/10 each. which assistants are built in and how well they work is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Value
The Sonos Era 100 SL leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.0 — a 1.0-point margin on performance and features relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Marshall Acton IV does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Sonos Era 100 SL if…
- • Multiroom matters most to you — the Sonos Era 100 SL scores 9.5/10 here (how well it groups with other speakers around the house).
- • Smart Home matters most to you — the Sonos Era 100 SL scores 6.0/10 here (matter, Thread, Zigbee and hub capability).
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Sonos Era 100 SL scores 7.0/10 here (Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs).
- • You want to spend less — it's $141 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is multiroom or home-theater.
Choose the Marshall Acton IV if…
- • Design & Build matters most to you — the Marshall Acton IV scores 9.5/10 here (materials, finish and how it looks in a room).
- • Bass matters most to you — the Marshall Acton IV scores 8.0/10 here (low-end weight and extension).
- • Your main use case is home.
Pros & Cons
Sonos Era 100 SL
Pros
- +The cheapest entry to Sonos multiroom, which remains the best in the business
- +No microphones at all — the right answer if you do not want one in the house
- +Trueplay tunes it to your room
- +Doubles as a rear surround for a Sonos soundbar
Cons
- −No voice control of any kind
- −Not a smart-home hub — no Matter, no Thread
- −Line-in requires a separately sold adapter
- −Requires the Sonos app for setup and multiroom
Marshall Acton IV
Pros
- +110W published power and genuinely good sound for the size
- +RCA and 3.5mm inputs make it the easiest speaker here to connect a turntable to
- +LDAC hi-res over Bluetooth
- +Beautiful FSC-certified wood cabinet
Cons
- −No Wi-Fi at all — if you want a network speaker, this is not one
- −No voice assistant and no network multiroom
- −Marshall does not document a true stereo pairing mode
- −Its sibling the Stanmore IV offers a bigger woofer for $100 more
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Sonos Era 100 SL or Marshall Acton IV better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Sonos Era 100 SL comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Multiroom, the Sonos Era 100 SL or the Marshall Acton IV?+
The Sonos Era 100 SL scores higher on Multiroom (9.5/10 vs 3.0/10) — how well it groups with other speakers around the house.
Which is better for Smart Home, the Sonos Era 100 SL or the Marshall Acton IV?+
The Sonos Era 100 SL scores higher on Smart Home (6.0/10 vs 3.0/10) — matter, Thread, Zigbee and hub capability.
Which is better for Connectivity, the Sonos Era 100 SL or the Marshall Acton IV?+
The Sonos Era 100 SL scores higher on Connectivity (7.0/10 vs 5.0/10) — Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs.
Which is better for Design & Build, the Sonos Era 100 SL or the Marshall Acton IV?+
The Marshall Acton IV scores higher on Design & Build (9.5/10 vs 8.0/10) — materials, finish and how it looks in a room.
Is the Sonos Era 100 SL worth the price difference over the Marshall Acton IV?+
The Sonos Era 100 SL is the cheaper option at $189 versus $329.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Multiroom.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Sonos Era 100 SL is the better fit if you mainly care about multiroom or home-theater. The Marshall Acton IV is the better fit for home.
What's the warranty on the Sonos Era 100 SL vs the Marshall Acton IV?+
The Sonos Era 100 SL ships with a 12-month warranty; the Marshall Acton IV ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Sonos Era 100 — $219.00
Premium Option
Sonos Era 100 — $219.00
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.