How to Set Up Your Sonos Era 300

What You'll Need

• Sonos Era 300
• Sonos app (iOS or Android)
• Wi-Fi network
• Sonos account

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Download and open the Sonos app. Sign in to your Sonos account or create one.
2. Choose your placement carefully. The Era 300 has side-firing and upward-firing drivers, so it needs open space on the sides and above. Do not wedge it into a tight shelf.
3. Plug in the speaker using the included power cable. The LED will indicate that it is ready for setup.
4. Add the speaker in the Sonos app:
   • Tap "Add" and select Era 300
   • The app uses Bluetooth for initial discovery, so keep Bluetooth on
5. Connect to Wi-Fi when prompted. Enter your network credentials.
6. Assign the speaker to a room.
7. Configure your voice assistant if you want to use Alexa or Sonos Voice Control.
8. Run Trueplay tuning. On iOS, you walk around the room holding your phone while test tones play. On Android, the Era 300 uses its built-in microphones for Quick Tuning.

Placement and Sound Tips

The Era 300 is designed from the ground up for spatial audio, and where you put it has a huge impact on performance. Place it at ear level or slightly below on a sturdy surface. Keep at least 6 inches of clearance on each side and nothing directly above that could block the upward-firing driver.

Avoid enclosed bookshelves or media cabinets. The speaker fires sound in multiple directions simultaneously, and blocking those paths defeats the purpose of the design. A side table, open shelf, or credenza is ideal. If you must place it near a wall, give it some breathing room behind.

Trueplay calibration is especially important with the Era 300 because it adjusts all six drivers to account for your room surfaces and layout. Always run it after finding your final position.

Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio

The Era 300 supports Dolby Atmos from music services like Amazon Music and Apple Music. Not all tracks are mixed in Atmos, so look for the Atmos badge on individual songs or playlists. Standard stereo content still sounds excellent since the speaker has plenty of driver power.

For the best Atmos experience, connect the Era 300 to Wi-Fi rather than Bluetooth. Bluetooth does not carry spatial audio metadata, so you lose the 3D effect. Use AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, or stream directly from the Sonos app.

Multi-Room and Surround Setup

You can group the Era 300 with other Sonos speakers for synchronized playback across rooms. It also pairs as a surround speaker with a Sonos Arc or Beam soundbar. Two Era 300s as surrounds deliver a seriously immersive Atmos home theater experience. Set this up in the Sonos app under your soundbar room settings.

The Era 300 also has a USB-C line-in port on the back (requires a Sonos adapter, sold separately), which lets you plug in a turntable, mixer, or other audio source.

Troubleshooting

• Dolby Atmos not working: Make sure the content you are playing is actually Atmos-mixed. Check your streaming service for an Atmos label. Also confirm that you are streaming over Wi-Fi, not Bluetooth.
• Sound seems narrow or flat: Check your placement. If the speaker is pushed into a corner or boxed in on a shelf, the spatial drivers cannot do their job. Move it to a more open position and re-run Trueplay.
• Bluetooth connection: Press the Bluetooth button on the back to enter pairing mode. Keep in mind that Bluetooth is mainly for quick connections from a guest phone. For everyday use, Wi-Fi is the way to go.
• App cannot find the speaker: Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone during the initial setup process. Restart the Sonos app if it is stuck searching.
• Factory reset: Unplug the speaker. Press and hold the Connect button while plugging the power back in. Hold until the LED flashes, then release.