Sonos has unveiled its first solution aimed at professional installations, the Era 100 Pro, which will begin shipping on January 28, 2025. Designed to bridge the gap between residential and commercial audio, the Era 100 Pro introduces features like Power over Ethernet (PoE+) and customizable zones for managing multi-speaker setups, making it suitable for larger, more complex environments.

The Era 100 Pro builds upon the foundation of the consumer-oriented Era 100, incorporating technical enhancements tailored for professional use. The speaker is equipped with dual 0.63-inch angled silk dome tweeters and a single 3.5 x 4.4-inch carbon-filled polypropylene woofer. This configuration delivers a 240-degree horizontal sound dispersion, providing even audio coverage across a space without requiring multiple speaker adjustments.

While maintaining the clean aesthetic Sonos is known for, the Era 100 Pro is also compatible with the separately sold Era 100 Pro Surface Mount. This mount allows for 30-degree pan and tilt adjustments, 360-degree rotation, and precise angle settings, ensuring consistent installations. Installers can choose between concealed or exposed cabling options, and the mount’s locking base plate enhances security, reducing the risk of theft.

"Following our entry into the $2B light commercial audio market last year with Sonos Pro, our SaaS product for businesses, we are now making our hardware debut with Era 100 Pro, the first Sonos product designed specifically for professional installation,” said Patrick Spence, CEO of Sonos.

“With a focus on creating the best solutions for our installer community, we have built a strong team of industry veterans across product, engineering, sales and more to lead our professional developments. In collaboration with our global partners, we’re committed to furthering our commercial business and offering new, much needed solutions to this market.”

A key feature of the Era 100 Pro is its use of PoE+, a technology that enables both power and data transmission over a single cable. This eliminates the need for additional electrical outlets near each speaker, offering flexibility for placement and reducing installation costs. While optimized for PoE+, the speaker also supports standard PoE, allowing it to integrate seamlessly with existing network infrastructures.

The PoE+ capability is particularly beneficial for businesses prioritizing reliable, wired-first networking setups, ensuring stable performance even in demanding environments.

Sonos introduces a new software feature called Zones alongside the Era 100 Pro. Accessible via an app update on iOS and Android, this tool enables users to group and control multiple speakers within a space. Zones are designed to simplify the process of managing audio across larger installations, such as restaurants or office spaces, by providing a unified and consistent configuration.

With Zones, speakers can be grouped into specific areas and assigned distinct audio settings, catering to varied acoustical needs within the same location. This level of customization makes the Era 100 Pro an attractive option for professional installers working on projects that require scalable solutions.

The Era 100 Pro will begin shipping in January 2025 and is available for pre-order now at Dreamedia for $800. It will be supported by the Sonos Pro platform in the United States, enabling integration with existing systems via the Sonos app or a dedicated dashboard. This eliminates the need for additional control units, simplifying operation for businesses.

The Surface Mount, sold separately, complements the Era 100 Pro with flexible orientation options and durability suited for commercial use.