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Sonos is a leading American audio technology company that is best known for pioneering wireless multiroom audio systems, which make it easy for listeners to stream music and other content throughout their homes. The company continues to innovate, creating wireless speakers, home theater systems, headphones, architectural components, and integrated home audio solutions that revolutionize how people listen and connect to sound.

If you’ve never given much thought to the individual components that make up your speakers, you may be confused when you hear the term “speaker driver”. And you may be even more confused when you hear that the speaker driver — not the speaker itself — is what reproduces the sound waves you hear when you listen to music. The “speaker” is the name we use as shorthand for the entire system, which includes not only speaker drivers, but also the circuits that send sounds to the right places, the box that houses everything, and so on.

So, if a speaker driver isn’t a speaker, what is it exactly?

Speaker drivers are the components that actually vibrate to create sound waves — think of them as the engine of your speaker system. Most speakers contain multiple drivers of different sizes, with the largest ones (subwoofers) handling the low bass sounds and the smallest ones (tweeters) taking care of the higher-pitched frequencies

Why do these drivers come in so many different sizes? And how many drivers are “enough” for a 

? To answer these questions, we should start with why drivers exist in the first place.

The purpose of a speaker driver is to convert the electrical signals produced by your amplifier, headphones, or other music player into physical sound waves that can reach your ear. Without speaker drivers, there would be no sound coming out of your speaker — and no purpose for your sound system to exist at all.

 can seem hopelessly complex, speaker drivers produce sound through a simple series of cause-and-effect. When an electrical signal flows from your music player into the driver, it creates a magnetic field. This magnetic field causes the speaker driver to vibrate back and forth. This back-and-forth vibration creates the sound waves that reach your ears.

In a sense, a speaker driver is a kind of sonic translator. Without it, your music would simply be a series of electrical signals that don’t 

like anything. The driver’s job is first to interpret those signals, then to reproduce them as sound waves. It has several specialized components that work together to make this reproduction possible.

It may seem overly technical, but knowing the individual components of a speaker driver can help you visualize how it works. The main parts of a speaker driver include:

, a coiled wire that receives the electrical signal from the music player.

, which creates the magnetic forces that power the driver’s movement.

, a large cone or dome that moves back and forth to create sound waves.

, which surrounds the driver and keeps the voice coil and diaphragm in the correct positions for producing sound.

Hand using touch controls on a white Era 100

Person lounging on a chair listening to Sonos Five with Sonos Sub 4

High- and low-pitched sounds are different because they are produced by sound waves of different lengths and frequencies. Unfortunately, there's no single driver that can produce the full range of sound waves without distortion, as a driver's shape and physical properties make it more or less capable of reproducing specific frequency ranges, such as low or high sounds.

Different types of speaker drivers exist to handle different sounds, with their capabilities determined mainly by their shape and size. Smaller, lighter drivers can vibrate quickly to reproduce high-frequency sounds, while larger drivers are needed for low frequencies. The names of these different driver types helpfully correspond to the types of sounds they make:

 are small, usually dome-shaped drivers that reproduce high-frequency sounds (like birds chirping) by vibrating rapidly. Their shape allows them to spread these frequencies evenly across a room, though specialized designs like directional horns can create different spatial effects.

Midrange drivers are cone-shaped speakers that bridge the gap between low and high frequencies. Though they can't handle extreme frequencies, they're considered crucial because they reproduce the sounds humans are most sensitive to, including human voices and instruments like the guitar and piano.

Woofers are the biggest speaker drivers in an audio system. If you crave 

 is your ticket to paradise. These subwoofers often come in their own, separate enclosures, which are roomy enough to properly support and enhance the (physically very long) bass sound waves that a woofer emits.

As a general rule, the more drivers in a speaker, the more capable it is of faithfully producing sounds across a wide range of frequencies. Additional drivers can also contribute to a 

, as different drivers may be positioned to fire sound in different directions, thereby filling the room with immersive sound.

 has all the drivers you need. It features two angled tweeters to create a crisp and accurate high frequency response and 

, and one midwoofer to handle playback of mid-range vocal frequencies and deep bass.

If a truly immersive spatial audio experience is what you’re after, 

 may be a better option. This premium speaker’s design leaves room for four tweeters to cover high and mid-range frequencies — including a forward-firing mid tweeter, two side-firing mid tweeters, and an upward-firing tweeter to reflect sound off the ceiling and produce a 

. It also has two angled woofers for balanced low-end output.

You can combine Era 300 with a standalone subwoofer like 

 and a soundbar that features even more drivers, all of which contribute to the overall sense of clarity and immersion. In the case of a premium soundbar like 

 — with its seven tweeters, six midwoofers, and four-motor, dual-membrane woofer — a high number of drivers firing sound in different directions enables innovative spatial audio technologies such as 

Speaker drivers come in all sizes and a number of different shapes that help - produce sounds across a wide range of frequencies.

A single speaker may house just one driver if it’s part of a multi-speaker system with various specialized components. More versatile speakers, like Era 100 and Era 300, will likely feature several drivers that work together to reproduce and blend different aspects of a song’s sonic profile.

Just remember: Drivers aren’t only responsible for the range of frequencies a speaker can produce, but also for the immersive quality of 

. If you’re interested in a speaker that brings you deeper into your music, get in touch with a Sonos expert by 

What is a Speaker Driver?

When setting up a sound system, whether it’s for a home cinema, music system, or gaming rig, you might come across terms like “impedance” and “ohms.” Understanding these is important when it comes to pairing 

 and amplifiers, ensuring that all the parts of your system work together harmoniously.

Speaker impedance, measured in ohms (Ω), determines how much electrical current a speaker draws from an 

. To visualize this, let’s use a classic water analogy:

Imagine electrical current as water flowing through a garden hose, and your audio system is your garden. Think of impedance as the nozzle on the hose, which controls how much water (current) flows through.

: Just like a hose with an open nozzle lets more water pass through with ease, a speaker with low impedance draws more electrical current from the amplifier. This allows the amplifier to send more power to the speaker. However, like a hose with a fully open valve could flood your garden, a low-impedance speaker can put extra strain on an amplifier that’s not designed to handle the load.

 Just like a nozzle restricts water flow, a high-impedance speaker draws less current from the amplifier. This can reduce strain on the amp, making it easier to drive. However, like some plants in your garden need more water than others, a high-impedance speaker may require an amplifier that can provide higher voltage to reach the same volume.

Understanding impedance isn’t just a theoretical exercise — it’s key to making sure your sound system components work perfectly together.

active (sometimes called powered) and passive

. Active speakers have built-in amps and manage impedance internally, perfect for hassle-free setups. Most Sonos speakers, including 

, in the form of a standalone amp or an AV receiver (sometimes called AVR), to function. Understanding how impedance works with passive speakers is crucial in determining which amplifier is best to drive them. For Sonos users, this comes into play when integrating passive speakers like our 

How does speaker impedance relate to sound quality?

Speaker impedance isn’t a reflection of a speaker’s quality, but it plays a role in sound quality by determining how efficiently that speaker can draw current from an amplifier. Low impedance allows more current to flow, potentially delivering louder sound, but it can strain the amplifier at high volumes. Speakers with higher impedance may produce less volume at a given power setting but place less strain on the amplifier.

Person sitting on a chair listening to music on Sonos Five and Sub 4

Is higher or lower speaker impedance better?

A higher speaker impedance isn’t inherently better or worse than a lower speaker impedance, but high and low speaker impedance impact your audio system differently:

High-impedance speakers draw less current, reducing the risk of system overload. They're perfect for long-lasting, safe operation in continuous use environments. However, higher-impedance speakers need higher voltage to achieve the same power output as lower-impedance speakers. If the amplifier doesn’t provide enough voltage, the speaker may not reach its full potential volume.

Low-impedance speakers draw more current, which can allow for greater power delivery if the amplifier is capable. This makes them well-suited for immersive movie and music experiences. But because they draw more current, they could potentially strain amplifiers that aren’t designed to handle the increased current and increase the risk of overheating, especially at higher volumes.

Each type has benefits and challenges, so your choice should depend on your specific audio needs and the capabilities of your equipment.

When does speaker impedance actually matter?

Speaker impedance comes into play when you are connecting components—you don’t need to worry about having a certain speaker impedance for a particular room or for a particular type of content. Speaker impedance matters when you are matching passive speakers and amps, which is usually most relevant in setups like 

. It ensures all your audio components work together smoothly, without issues like volume differences and sound quality loss.

When setting up a home theater, for example, making sure that all speakers have compatible impedance will help you experience more balanced surround sound. With multiple speakers in different rooms, you’ll hear uniform sound no matter where you are in the house.

With Sonos powered speakers and soundbars, you don’t have to worry about matching impedance manually. Setting up a 

 is simple — just link Sonos devices across rooms using the Sonos app to enjoy great sound, everywhere.

Matching your amplifier to speaker impedance

Think of speaker impedance as a sort of dance between your speakers and 

. When they’re perfectly in sync, your music sounds clear and powerful.

Every speaker and amplifier has an impedance rating, measured in ohms. (These ratings are displayed on the back panel and can be found in the manual; common values are 8 ohms and 4 ohms.) If a speaker’s impedance is too low for its amplifier, the system might strain. If the impedance is too high, the speaker might sound weak because the amplifier may not be able to provide enough voltage to reach full volume.

For Sonos users, pairing the right amplifier with passive speakers is straightforward when using the 

. Providing 125 watts per channel at 8 ohms, Amp effortlessly powers our passive speakers, including 

 models, which all provide a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. It’s also versatile enough to power passive speakers of all types, from floor-standing to bookshelf speakers.

Sonos Amp enhances your setup with its “Optimize Sonos Speakers” feature. This smart function detects the specific type of Sonos speakers connected and automatically adjusts sound tuning, enhancing clarity and bass response for a superior listening experience. This intelligent system not only ensures optimal audio performance but also incorporates a limiter for added protection, allowing you to safely and reliably power up to three pairs of Sonos Architectural speakers without manual adjustments.

Need some assistance getting your Sonos equipment up and running? Find an installer near you and take the first step toward designing your dream audio system.

Whether you opt for our all-in-one active speakers or passive systems, Sonos makes setup a breeze. Our

 come ready to play high-quality sound on their own, no AV receiver required. For passive setups, 

 integrate beautifully with your home’s aesthetic, both indoors and out, and are perfectly powered by the 

Understanding speaker impedance doesn’t just help you set up your system; it empowers you to get the most out of your listening by making informed choices about your audio equipment. Whether you’re outfitting a cozy den or a sprawling residence, Sonos brings all your spaces to life with sound.

The Beginner's Guide to Speaker Impedance and Ohms

Even if you grew up listening to music through wired headphones, chances are you’ve since switched to a wireless pair. The number of adults who have adopted Bluetooth headphones or earbuds has essentially 

 in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. Most wireless headphones today offer a reliable connection and high-quality sound — all without the tangled, mangled cords of yesteryear.

But the technology that powers these headphones remains elusive to most. This may be a problem if you’re 

 and don’t know whether to prioritize ones that connect via WiFi, Bluetooth, or both. In this guide, we’ll outline the key differences between the two technologies to help you choose the best headphones for your listening needs.

Even with limited knowledge of electronics, understanding how 

 headphones work is straightforward enough: They transmit an electrical signal from an audio-playing device to the headphone’s speakers via a physical wire. By comparison, the technology behind wireless headphones is tougher to grasp, as there’s no physical cable and no obvious way of telling how the audio signal gets from the device to the headphone speakers.

The short answer is that wireless headphones use wireless technology to transmit audio signals. But we can’t simply leave it at that, because the specific technology isn’t always the same. Let’s look at how the two most common wireless technologies — 

 — work to connect your headphones to your music-playing device.

Bluetooth headphones: A one-to-one, short-range connection

The most common technology used to connect wireless headphones, like Sonos Ace, is 

, a short-range wireless protocol that’s ideal for helping devices communicate over short distances.

Bluetooth headphones create a direct short-range connection between the headphones and the audio-playing device. This connection is a “one-to-one” radio signal, which means that Bluetooth headphones must be paired to one device at a time and can’t sync up with multiple devices simultaneously. It also means that a Bluetooth connection doesn’t require an internet network or router, which helps if you want to connect to your wireless headphones on the go.

One of the truly awesome things about Bluetooth technology is its portability. You don’t need to connect to the internet to achieve a stable connection via Bluetooth, so it has a lot more out-in-the-world appeal than WiFi. In fact, many people who own WiFi-enabled headphones still connect via Bluetooth when they’re on the move.

Range is a different matter. Bluetooth is a short-range technology by definition, and most consumer 

 max out at around 30 feet (10 meters). This may change as Bluetooth technology continues to improve.

WiFi headphones: A wireless internet connection

While most wireless headphones are compatible with Bluetooth, some models can also connect over 

. This may allow for higher-quality streaming and a smooth connection to smart home devices.

WiFi headphones connect to your device via a wireless internet network, like the one you use at home or at work. This comes with some advantages. WiFi generally has broader bandwidth than Bluetooth, which means it can transmit audio data in the amounts necessary to achieve 

 and you can also connect to multiple devices on the same network.

Person wearing & pointing to white Sonos Ace headphones

Person seated outside looking at a smart phone and wearing black Sonos Ace headphones

Wireless headphones generally need to be charged. The standard charging port on most wireless headphones these days is a USB-C, so it’s usually not difficult to find chargers that are compatible in a pinch.

Of course, it’s better not to be in a pinch. That’s why we’ve outfitted Sonos Ace with up to 30 hours of battery life with 

 enabled. And if you do run low on battery, you can plug it in and get up to three hours of playback in just three minutes of charge time.

Choose wireless headphones that sound great every time

Given the increasing popularity and prominence of wireless headphones, there’s a good chance you’ll be in the market for a new pair at some point. We’ve got you sorted on that front with comprehensive guides on 

 and how to compare the different types of headphone shapes and types (

If you’ve decided on over-ear headphones, there’s no better choice than 

. These masterfully tuned headphones immerse you in a one-of-a-kind sound experience, thanks to lossless streaming and 

 that tracks with the position of your head. It’s the kind of thing you simply have to hear to believe.

Person standing outside wearing white Sonos Ace headphones

How do Wireless and Bluetooth Headphones Work?

It’s easy to take the technology that powers our wireless speakers for granted. But it wasn’t so long ago that wired speakers were the norm, and listening to music meant being tethered to a specific room in your home. Now that wireless technologies like Bluetooth and WiFi have transformed how we listen to audio, it’s worth digging deeper to learn how these different connection methods work.

This isn’t just about satisfying your curiosity about devices you probably use every day. Understanding how different wireless speakers work can help you choose the best speaker for your needs and listening habits. It can also reveal why certain speakers perform better in different environments and use cases.

Speakers of all types work by converting electrical energy into sound waves through 

In this guide, we'll start with a general review of speaker functionality before zeroing in on the two technologies behind most of the wireless speakers you'll encounter: Bluetooth and WiFi. While it may seem complex, the basic process can be broken down into five simple steps:

First, an audio-playing device (like a phone or 

) transmits an electrical audio signal to the speaker.

This electrical signal travels through a voice coil — a coil of wire positioned inside a magnetic field created by a fixed magnet inside the speaker.

When electricity flows through the voice coil, it creates a magnetic field that interacts with the fixed magnet’s field. This interaction causes the voice coil to move back and forth rapidly.

As it moves, the voice coil vibrates the speaker’s diaphragm. The diaphragm is a lightweight speaker component that’s usually cone- or dome-shaped, which allows it to displace air and create pressure waves as it vibrates.

These pressure waves travel from the speaker to our ears, and we hear them as music (or as our favorite podcast).

These basic mechanics are the same in every type of speaker, from the ancient wired speakers in your parents’ setup to the wireless WiFi and Bluetooth speakers of today. But other aspects of speaker technology have evolved and improved over time. For example, modern speakers often use 

 to process audio signals from digital sources — which simply wasn’t necessary before the advent of 

It’s also worth mentioning that, when we talk about a speaker today, we’re often talking about a speaker enclosure that contains 

 designed to produce specific frequencies of sound. 

, for example, is powered by 14 Sonos-engineered speakers, including 

 that create crisp high frequencies and a woofer to deliver 

People enjoying a meal outdoors with a white Move 2

A Bluetooth speaker produces soundwaves just like any other speaker. The key difference is in how the audio signal gets from the source device (like a phone or laptop) to the speaker itself.

Bluetooth technology creates a wireless connection between a source device and a speaker using short-range radio waves. For a device to connect with a speaker over Bluetooth, both devices must be Bluetooth-compatible. When you enable Bluetooth on both devices and switch on “pairing” mode, they can use radio waves to discover each other (you may need to enter a PIN or code to establish a secure connection).

Once paired, the source device transmits audio data wirelessly to the speaker. This process uses codecs — algorithms that compress and decompress audio data for wireless transmission — to send the audio information more efficiently. The speaker receives these compressed signals and converts them back into analog audio signals. From here, a Bluetooth speaker works like any other speaker, creating sound waves that ultimately reach your ears as music.

Because Bluetooth uses a one-to-one connection over radio waves, it doesn’t require an internet connection. This makes Bluetooth especially convenient for 

Bluetooth speakers can generally deliver high-quality sound, though the compression process may slightly degrade the quality of certain audio files.

Another type of wireless speaker, WiFi speakers transmit audio signals over a wireless internet network — like the one you have in your home, office, or secret mountain lair.

Unlike Bluetooth speakers, which create a direct device-to-speaker connection, WiFi speakers connect to an existing WiFi network. This provides a more stable connection with broader bandwidth, allowing them to stream 

 without codec limitations. To connect, both the device and speaker must be on the same WiFi network.

WiFi speakers do especially well in multi-speaker setups, and they’re an ideal choice if you’re building a 

, wireless speakers connected to the same network are positioned at the front, rear, and sides of the listening position. Some speakers and premium soundbars, like 

 to deliver multiple audio channels from the same speaker enclosure. This means that you can achieve an immersive 

 listening experience with fewer speakers than you might expect.

With a solid WiFi connection, most WiFi speakers can stream high-quality audio via music services like Apple Music or Amazon Music HD without sacrificing sound quality. Their multi-speaker compatibility gives them an advantage over Bluetooth for comprehensive audio systems. Conveniently, some 

 support both technologies, so you aren’t forced to choose.

There’s no getting around this one: Wireless speakers must be charged or connected to a power source.

Fully charged portable speakers typically have a battery life ranging from a few hours to up to 24 hours, depending on the size of the speaker and battery. For example, Move 2 can last up to 24 hours, while the super-portable 

 gets you around 10 hours of non-stop playback.

When it comes to wireless speakers used in the home, the distinction between 

 is important to note. An active speaker, also known as a powered speaker, contains a built-in amplifier and thus does not require an external amp as a source of power. A passive speaker, on the other hand, must be connected to an amplifier, which in turn must be plugged into an electric source.

If your speaker plugs directly into an electric source, it’s probably an active speaker. Most Sonos speakers are active, though our 

Sonos makes it easy to listen to high-quality audio wherever you are, regardless of whether you’re connecting via Bluetooth or WiFi. Now that you know the difference between these two technologies, you can choose the speaker (or multi-speaker setup) that suits you best.

For more on the relative pros and cons of each technology, check out our guide to the 

key differences between Bluetooth and WiFi speakers

Person lying down while holding a black Roam 2

How do Wireless and Bluetooth Speakers Work?

Sometimes, watching TV calls for a more private listening experience. Maybe there's construction noise outside that only Active Noise Cancellation can drown out, or maybe your viewing partner has fallen asleep and you don't want to disturb them. In these moments, switching your TV audio to headphones lets you watch what you want in peace — and in total immersion.

What is a Speaker Driver?

The Beginner's Guide to Speaker Impedance and Ohms

How do Wireless and Bluetooth Headphones Work?

How do Wireless and Bluetooth Speakers Work?

How to Connect Headphones to Your TV

What is Equalization (EQ) for Music and Audio?

The Beginner’s Guide to In-Wall Speakers

The Beginner’s Guide to In-Ceiling Speakers

Why Buy Refurbished Sonos Products

Speakers vs. Soundbars: Which Is Best for You?

WiFi vs. Bluetooth Speakers: Key Differences Explained

Sonos Pro and Era 100 Pro: An Integrated Sound Solution for Commercial Spaces

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