I replaced my Sonos Era speakers with an unlikely alternative – and didn’t miss a beat


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ZDNET’s key takeaways

  • Pros: Wide, spacious soundstage, AirPlay-enabled
  • Cons: More expensive than competitors

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Sonos isn’t the only company investing in the whole-home audio game; Denon released three new smart speakers, bringing its lineup to seven. The Denon Home 200, 400, and 600 debut with a new look, Dolby Atmos support, and more ways to expand your Denon ecosystem around your house.

The question is how adept Denon’s HEOS ecosystem is at serving as a whole-home audio hub, and whether it’s one you should consider over Sonos? Once you’re locked into an ecosystem, it’s harder to achieve the seamless room-to-room audio you’re searching for, and an expensive pivot to make if you want to start anew. Let’s dive in. 

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What’s new with Denon Home 200 

The Home 200 succeeds the Home 150, swapping a denim-adjacent woven material for a more nondescript woven pattern. Buttons and ports are now in less obvious positions, branding is muted, and the previous square form is rounded for a modern look.

Denon’s Home 200 is similar to Sonos’ Era 100 in acoustic structure, containing three Cladd-D amplifiers, two tweeters, one woofer, and built-in microphones for voice assistant compatibility. Like the Era 100, Denon fitted the Home 200 with AirPlay, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi connectivity for wireless streaming. Both speakers also have a microphone switch to disconnect the built-in microphones, if privacy is your concern.

Also: This touchscreen smart speaker is the HomePod successor I’ve been waiting for

However, the Home 200 features two separate ports for 3.5mm line-in and USB-C connectivity, allowing you to connect analog devices, and you can hardwire the Home 200 via the USB-C port with an Ethernet adapter. You can control the Home 200’s bass, treble, and width on a 10-point scale, and the HEOS app lets you toggle between “Auto” balanced sound and “Pure” sound, which reduces digital processing.

Denon Home 200

Jada Jones/ZDNET

On the sound front, the Home 200 delivers an exceptionally spacious soundstage for its small stature. Before tweaking any EQ settings, the Home 200’s tweeters are emphasized, delivering detail in vocals and harmonies, with very clear imaging and instrumental separation. 

Denon says the Home 200 supports Dolby Atmos, but I wasn’t able to access it via AirPlay on Apple Music; I assume that with a Home 200 stereo setup connected to a Denon soundbar, or with another music streaming subscription, you can access it.

Still, I’ve listened to Charli xcx’s “Sympathy is a Knife” in Dolby Atmos several times on a Sonos 5.1 surround sound setup, and all the digitized harmonies layered in the chorus I usually hear in surround sound come through the Denon Home 200 speaker. 

In comparison, Sonos’ choice of a midwoofer in the Era 100 delivers a bassier sound with much more emphasis on main vocals and upper bass, which most people enjoy, especially in a movie or TV-watching context.

What’s new with Denon Home 400

Denon’s Home 400 speaker is a behemoth of a middle sibling within the Home speaker lineup, featuring six Class-D amplifiers, two tweeters, and two upfiring midrange drivers. This speaker succeeds the Home 350 and debuts with a fresh, modern look.

This speaker is most similar to Sonos’ Era 300, which also features a two-tweeter, two midrange driver, and two-woofer acoustic structure. Denon’s Home 400 swapped the previous generation’s DTS:X spatial audio for the more accessible Dolby Atmos, includes Bluetooth and AirPlay, and features a 3.5mm line-in port along with a USB-C port for external devices or hardwiring.

Also: Should you buy a Sonos or Samsung sound system? I compared both brands to find out

Like its younger sibling, the Home 400’s sound is very detailed and clear, with noticeable detail and depth, though the smaller Home 200 delivers a more spacious soundstage. Its bass response is tight and present without muddying the rest of the sound.

HEOS vs. Sonos

My primary quest was to determine which whole-home ecosystem and why. The answer to that question heavily depends on what kind of person you are and what goals you wish to achieve. To start, Denon currently has one HEOS-compatible soundbar, so you’re limited to one model if you’re anchoring your system to a TV. In comparison, Sonos’ S2 operating system supports seven soundbars, spanning several price points and sizes.

Denon’s HEOS works just as well as Sonos’ S2 for moving from room to room; Sonos just offers more products within its ecosystem. For streaming, Sonos offers Apple Music in its app, making it one of the few third-party services to do so, allowing you to access Dolby Atmos from a single speaker.

Denon Home 400

The Denon Home 400 in Charcoal.

Jada Jones/ZDNET

HEOS doesn’t support Apple Music, but Denon’s speakers support AirPlay. However, HEOS supports TuneIn access without a subscription, which is awesome for people who like local, talk, music, sports, or news radio stations. 

Sonos has more music streaming services, but several of them (aside from the essentials: Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music, etc) are for commercial use, such as gyms, spas, corporate offices, retail stores, or hotels, so you likely won’t use them — unless you’re into that kind of thing.

Also: I connected a Bluetooth Auracast receiver to my TV, and it’s a worthwhile home audio upgrade

All in all, Sonos and Denon achieve very similar results within their respective whole-home audio ecosystems, but there are major differences in each company’s hardware. Sonos products have a much stronger midrange, lower mids, and bass, making them primed for movies, TV shows, podcasts, and entertaining guests.

Denon products emphasize mids and higher frequencies, feature a more balanced tone, support connection to analog devices, and support higher-quality playback, making them primed for more critical listening. 

Essentially, you should choose Sonos if you want to start with a home theater, then expand to other rooms; you should choose Denon if you want hi-fi smart speakers throughout your home and plan to focus on your home theater down the line.

ZDNET’s buying advice

The Denon Home 200 and Home 400 speakers are an excellent comeback for the company, proving that a five-year hiatus yields tangible upgrades. They make wonderful tabletop centerpieces for your home while doubling as high-fidelity smart speakers. 

Denon’s new home speakers can double as rear speakers for your HEOS-powered home theater, though the company only offers one soundbar to anchor them to. However, Denon offers several AV receivers, amps, and network audio players powered by HEOS to supplement the lack of soundbars.





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Michelin is a French multinational company that many consumers consider to be one of the most satisfying major tire brands. This firm makes several tire models that offer comfort, performance, all-terrain prowess, and everything in between — including cutting-edge products like the $42,000-per-set Michelin Pilot Sport PAX that it developed specifically for the Bugatti Veyron. Aside from its own tires, Michelin also owns other tire brands that you might be familiar with, including BFGoodrich, Achilles, and Corsa.

While tires are what Michelin is known for, the company has put its name to more than the rubber that wraps around your car’s rims. In fact, the company sells several other products that aren’t tires. So, we’re listing a few Michelin-branded items that you can buy online and in retail stores. While they might not all be made of rubber or even related to vehicles, these tools and accessories can come in handy when keeping your car — and even yourself — in good shape.

Michelin tire inflator

Since Michelin is primarily known for its tires, it makes sense for the company to sell a Michelin-branded tire inflator as well. That way, if you get a flat on one of the Michelin tires on your car or want to regularly top up your car’s tire pressure to maintain optimum performance, you can use a Michelin-branded pump to fill up your tires. The company actually sells several types of inflators on its Amazon page, but it only offers a single motorized unit — the Michelin Micro Tyre Inflator, which is available on Amazon for $98.99.

This little device is only slightly wider than an iPhone 17 and weighs about 400 grams, or 14 ounces. This means it’s easy to store in your car and to move to whichever tire needs topping up. More importantly, it takes power from a 12-volt socket, allowing you to run it using your car’s battery. It also has a USB port for charging your phone (or any other USB device) in case of an emergency.

Some users say that the device is slow, taking about 12 minutes to bring a tire from 10 to 32 PSI, but that’s not unexpected given its small size. Still, it should be good enough for regular weekly maintenance if you know your car’s proper tire pressure, or in case of an emergency. Its biggest downside is that you need a power source to run it, but having a dead battery and a flat tire simultaneously is likely a rare occurrence in many modern cars.

Michelin mini fridge

Taking a road trip during the summer can get you thirsty, and there’s no better way to quench that thirst than by drinking a cool can of soda (or your beverage of choice). If you want to ensure that you’ll always have a cold drink ready while you’re driving on the freeway, Michelin’s mini fridge will help you with that. This nifty little refrigerator is available on Amazon for just $99.99 and can be connected to either 110V AC or 12V DC power, ensuring that it will work on both your desk and in your car.

The mini fridge measures 6.9 x 9.45 x 10 inches (17.5 x 24 x 25.4 cm), meaning it can easily fit on a garage shelf or office desk. It should also be small enough to put on the floor of your car. Despite that relatively small size, it’s large enough to fit six 350-ml cans or four 500-ml bottles, and it will keep these items at a chilly 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 18 degrees Celsius. It also has an LED light on the door, so it can double as a night light if necessary.

Aside from keeping your drinks (and other food items) below room temperature, it also has a few other creature comforts. These include a removable shelf and door basket for flexibility and easy cleaning, as well as a retractable carry handle and a self-locking door to make transportation easier.

Michelin car floor mats

Heavy-duty car floor mats are often made from rubber for durability and water resistance, and since Michelin is in the business of rubber, it makes sense for the company to offer exactly that. So, if you want to protect your vehicle’s floor from dirt, dust, and mud, the company can help you with its Michelin all-weather car floor mats. This four-piece package is available on Amazon for $49.99 and comes in either black or tan.

The surface of these floor mats is specially designed to trap debris, snow, and water, preventing them from ruining the carpet on your vehicle. The mats have a cleat backing that grips your car’s floor and prevents them from slipping. The front row mats also come with what Michelin calls a Gripclip Retention System, allowing them to clip into your vehicle’s safety clips and adding even more reassurance that they won’t accidentally slip while you’re driving and pose a hazard to your safety.

These mats are universal and will work in most vehicles. However, they’re also easy to customize: If you find them a bit too large for the footwell of your tiny hatchback, you can use a pair of scissors to trim the edges for a perfect fit.

Michelin Stealth Ultra wiper blades

While Michelin’s Stealth Ultra wiper blades aren’t generally considered among the best windshield wipers, they appear to be a pretty good choice given their four-star rating on Amazon. These wipers cost $49.99 and are available in various size combinations for all sorts of cars. This ensures that no matter what vehicle you’re driving, you can probably find a set that will fit your needs.

These Michelin wipers are curved to conform to the shape of your windscreen for a clean, streak-free wipe. The company’s Amazon listing claims that these are designed to “withstand rain, wind, snow, mud, dust, or any other debris that might hamper your windshield’s visibility.” While you might think that windshield wipers are pretty simple items, and that you can just purchase any generic wipers off the internet, you must remember that they’re essential so that you have the best visibility possible during inclement weather. So, for your safety, consider investing in a set from a reputable brand like Michelin.

Michelin work boots

Michelin is known for making rubber tires to put on your car’s “feet,” but did you know it also makes shoes for the driver’s feet? The company makes sports & outdoor footwear, as well as shoes for work and safety. For this example, we have the Michelin HydroEdge Steel Toe waterproof work boot, listed for $210 on Amazon and at Georgia Boot. This shoe is available in U.S. sizes from 7.5 up to 14, ensuring that no matter what size you wear, you can get a Michelin work boot for yourself.

As the name suggests, this pair of shoes has steel toes to protect your feet from accidental impacts and is fully waterproof to help keep your feet dry, even in supposedly severe conditions. It also meets ASTM F2413 standards for electrical protection, meaning it has fully insulating soles to protect you from electrical hazards at work. Michelin also added what it calls an Advanced Rear Suspension system to its heel, ensuring proper shock absorption when you walk.





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