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Jonny86
Contributor I
January 30, 2026
Answered

port vs era 100

  • January 30, 2026
  • 4 replies
  • 221 views

I am currently playing my turntable through a phono into an Era 100 that I have on mute to stream around the house. I could do with freeing this up to use in another room.
 

I keep looking at the ports and wondered if it’s worth the upgrade from an Era 100? 


should I just buy another 100 and use it on mute or buy a port ? Will I notice the £200 difference ? 

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Best answer by Schlumpf

​@Jonny86 

Imho there is no difference in quality between any Sonos devices that support an analogue line in. Even the usb c equipped devices that support line in with the Sonos audio adapter do the same great job. 
So there‘s no need of spending money on a much more expensive device like Sonos Port, if you won’t use its main functionality at all. 

4 replies

Schlumpf
SchlumpfAnswer
Virtuoso
January 30, 2026

​@Jonny86 

Imho there is no difference in quality between any Sonos devices that support an analogue line in. Even the usb c equipped devices that support line in with the Sonos audio adapter do the same great job. 
So there‘s no need of spending money on a much more expensive device like Sonos Port, if you won’t use its main functionality at all. 

Ralf
    Stanley_4
    Stanley_4
    Grand Maestro
    January 30, 2026

    I don't use the inputs but from reading stuff here i think you might not need to mute the Era, just don't select the line-in as the source. I think you could even play somethig else on it while using the line-in there as a source for a different Room.

    Sonos doesn't publish much in the way of specifications so numbers aren't available but the impression I have is that any Sonos line-in is going to be of similar quality.

    tnprime
    tnprime
    Trending Lyricist I
    January 31, 2026

    I set notifications on ebay for an S2 Port and found one in excellent condition around or under $200. 
    There’s also an S2 Connect often on there for a lot less. If you are in a hurry there’s never a deal but if you’re patient you can find a deal. 

    There’s a thread on here where I was struggling with setting up my living room because in Home Theater Mode because you cannot use the line-in on an Era100 it is disabled. 
    So the only options sadly were Port or use a silent Era 100.  I reluctantly bought a Port. 

    Bummer because I bought into Sonos based on using it with the Pro-ject TT they sell. 

    nik9669a
    Senior Virtuoso
    January 31, 2026

    As ​@Stanley_4 says, you can still use the Eras as speakers, even when the Era line-in is used as the input in a different room. You have the kit already, so try it!
     

    I believe that a stereo-pair of Eras with line-in adaptors connected to each speaker means that both sources are available simultaneously to the whole-house system. 

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