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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

Alongside their high-quality, sustainable clothing, Outerknown brings Southern California’s distinct energy from coast to coast. The laid-back atmosphere, eco-conscious fabrics, and effortlessly relaxed designs all contribute to this sensation. But there's another element at play, one that subtly yet powerfully shapes your experience: the music.

Behind the scenes, Outerknown has partnered with Sonos Pro to orchestrate its auditory experience. As the brand expands its retail footprint, 

, maintaining a distinctive atmosphere has become both crucial and challenging. That’s where Sonos Pro steps in, providing the technology and tools to ensure every Outerknown location resonates with the same West Coast spirit, no matter how far from the Pacific it may be.

This is the story of how Outerknown amplifies its brand identity through the power of sound and how Sonos Pro makes it possible.

From the moment you cross the threshold, carefully curated sounds wash over you like gentle waves, evoking the West Coast essence that's at the heart of Outerknown's identity. Whether you're browsing racks in Malibu or D.C., that unmistakable vibe remains consistent—and it's no accident.

Founded in 2013 by 11-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater and creative director John Moore, Outerknown was born from a 

commitment to responsible innovation and sustainability

 in the apparel space. The brand's mission goes beyond creating high-quality clothing; it's about reimagining the fashion industry with a focus on environmental and social responsibility. Building a sustainable supply chain from scratch took over two and a half years, with the first collection launched in 2015.

For John Moore, music has always been an integral part of the creative process. Whether he’s sourcing like-minded fashion brands to collaborate with or experimenting with the company’s brand, sounds are a constant source of inspiration. Here’s what he had to say about the impact of music during the early days of Outerknown:

"Music is always on: in the studio, in the car, in my headphones when I'm flying. Music keeps me going… I'm always influenced by what I am listening to. A song I haven't heard in a long time can take me somewhere in my head and become the jumping-off point for an entirely new project."

Naturally, this deep connection to music has infused itself into the Outerknown brand experience.

Tablet showing the Sonos Pro app at an Outerknown retail location

Sonos speaker wall mounted at an Outerknown retail location

The challenge: maintaining West Coast vibes nationwide

As Outerknown expanded from its California roots to major markets like Washington, D.C., the challenge became clear: how to replicate the West Coast atmosphere in East Coast stores while maintaining a consistent brand experience across all locations.

Music played a crucial role in creating this atmosphere, but managing it across multiple stores proved difficult. "As we expand our retail locations outside of Southern California, we want to ensure that the West Coast vibes that our brand is rooted in flow throughout all of our retail shops," Moore notes.

Previously, each store ran music independently, relying on a third party for licensed music, played through Sonos speakers, and hoping store teams would play music aligned with the brand. The more locations there are, the harder it becomes to guarantee that customers are greeted with the same sound.

Enter Sonos Pro: bringing the California sound to every store

The partnership between Outerknown and Sonos Pro began when the clothing brand sought advice for its headquarters' speaker system. This initial collaboration soon blossomed into a full-fledged solution for Outerknown's expanding retail footprint.

 offers several key features that have been instrumental in maintaining Outerknown's coastal vibe across all locations:

1. Best-in-class sound powered by an easy-to-use system

High-quality Sonos speakers ensure that Outerknown’s carefully selected tracks are reproduced with pristine clarity and depth—whether it’s the strum of an acoustic guitar or the deep bass of surf-inspired anthems. Era 100, Five, and the rest of our 

 come together in an easy-to-use system that forms the foundation of Sonos Pro.

2. Remote management of music across all locations

 for all their stores, ensuring a consistent brand experience no matter where they're located. Remote monitoring capabilities enable the team to check on all locations from anywhere and quickly address any issues.

The Sonos Pro platform allows businesses to manage the sound experience in each of their locations. Admins can approve commercially licensed stations, schedule music, adjust volume, and assign employee roles—all from a user-friendly interface. This comprehensive management ensures Outerknown consistently maintains its signature West Coast atmosphere across all locations.

3. Access to licensed music that aligns with the brand

Sonos Pro provides Outerknown with access to curated playlists of fully commercially licensed music that perfectly capture the brand's West Coast essence. This ensures that the soundscape in every store reinforces Outerknown's identity and values.

4. Professional guidance on speaker placement and best practices

The Sonos Pro team has been instrumental in advising on speaker placement and best practices for Outerknown's new retail locations. This ongoing support has been crucial as the brand continues to grow its retail presence.

By leveraging Sonos Pro's capabilities, Outerknown has maintained its unique brand identity while expanding successfully to multiple retail locations. The impact has been significant:

Outerknown has seen impressive business results, including keeping over 1,800 garments out of landfills through its 

The right music helps create the desired atmosphere for shoppers, reinforcing Outerknown's sustainable and relaxed ethos. Moreover, the centralized control offered by Sonos Pro has improved operational efficiency for store management, saving time and reducing headaches for staff. Not to mention, these two companies share a vision for environmentally responsible business practices.

While Outerknown’s brand, vision, and retail experience are unique, the impact that Sonos Pro has across retail environments is consistent. Whether it’s with other major retailers like 

, taking control of sound helps businesses across the country establish their soundscape.

As Outerknown looks to the future with an eye on further retail expansion, its partnership with Sonos Pro will continue to play a vital role in that growth across the US. Creating a West Coast feel in each of these distinct locations is no longer an issue—Sonos Pro captures the essence of Outerknown's California roots.

The brand is also focusing on expanding its women's assortment and doubling down on sustainable materials. Sonos Pro will support these initiatives by providing appropriate soundscapes that align with Outerknown's evolving brand identity.

Take control of your sound with Sonos Pro

Outerknown has found the perfect conduit to California sounds in Sonos Pro. By harnessing the emotive power of music, it has created a cohesive brand experience that transports customers to the feel of the West Coast.

For businesses looking to elevate their customer experience and maintain brand consistency from coast to coast, the impact of a carefully crafted soundscape can't be overstated. Sonos Pro offers more than just high-quality audio; it provides a turnkey solution for monitoring and managing your brand's sonic identity across multiple locations.

 and discover how you can create an immersive audio experience that resonates with your customers and reinforces your brand identity.

How Sonos Pro Amplifies Outerknown's Coastal Vibe

The sharp crack of a wooden bat. A slapshot ricocheting off the post. The 

 of a ball finding the back of the net — and the crowd erupting half a second later. Sports would simply not be sports without these iconic sounds, which lend a dose of heart-pounding drama to the events playing out on the court or field.

But if your goal as a spectator is utter immersion, you don’t need to make the long trek to the stadium to get it. A home theater system with surround sound can give you an even richer sports-viewing experience, complete with up-close angles, crisp broadcast commentary, and the sounds of the game coming at you from all directions. In this guide, we’ll break down how Sonos can help you achieve a sideline-quality experience from the comfort of your couch.

Can you watch sports with surround sound?

You can watch many of your favorite sports in surround sound — assuming you have a 

Most major sporting events now broadcast in 

, which uses five ear-level audio channels (left front, right front, center, left rear, right rear) plus a 

. Broadcasters strategically position microphones throughout the venue to capture on-field sounds like player-to-player contact, ambient sounds like crowd noise, and point-of-action sounds like the clang of a basketball rim. These sound feeds are mixed to provide an audio experience that feels true to real life, with crowd noise coming in through the side and rear channels, and field-of-play sounds centered in the front.

Whether you’re watching via cable, satellite, or a streaming service, you’ll have access to the surround sound feed if it’s available. Some premium broadcasts even take advantage of 7.1 surround sound (which includes two additional side channels) or the 

 of Dolby Atmos (which adds a third dimension of sound — height).

To really hear the difference, though, you’ll need a system that supports surround sound. That means a dedicated home theater system with speakers both in front of and behind your seating area, or a soundbar with surround capabilities, like the 

What does surround sound for sports feel like?

There have always been advantages to watching sports at home versus in-person — a clearer sight line to the action, for example, or helpful play-by-play commentary. But these advantages were traditionally counterbalanced by the sheer rush of 

, sitting in the stadium instead of watching from your couch.

Surround sound changes that equation. This technology lets you experience the game in ways a stadium seat can't — isolating and amplifying on-field sounds that would get lost in crowd noise at the venue. The overall effect is stunningly immersive, giving you a front-row audio experience from the comfort of home. Even if nothing truly beats the live experience, a well-designed 

 comes closer than you might think possible.

Couple watching soccer on TV with a white Arc Ultra, one is wearing white Sonos Ace headphones, the other is reading

Couple eating popcorn and watching basketball with a white Beam, Sub Mini, and pair of Era 100 rear surrounds

Enhanced commentary quality with surround sound

We mentioned above that a typical surround sound broadcast includes various feeds from microphones stationed throughout the venue. One of these feeds comes directly from the sound-controlled commentary booth, which provides an isolated audio track dedicated to the play-by-play announcer and color commentator.

These announcers' voices are typically mixed to come through the center channel in a surround sound setup, which is positioned directly below the TV screen. This helps to anchor the voices to the action on screen and ensures that you don’t miss a word even when crowd noise and field sounds are filling out the surrounding channels.

 feature on our Arc Ultra soundbar, which uses machine learning models to help make dialogue crystal clear.

To get 5.1 surround sound with Sonos, you’ll need the following:

 for the center, front left, and front right channels.

 — one for the rear left channel, one for the rear right channel. We recommend two 

 speakers for a beginner-friendly setup that doesn’t sacrifice high-quality sound. For a premium spatial audio experience, consider two Dolby Atmos-enabled 

 speakers, each of which provides lateral and overhead channels to create an all-encompassing soundstage.

This setup will ensure a surround sound experience that extends from front to sides to rear.

For more options and configurations, check out our 

 to learn about possible surround sound pairings with older Sonos products.

Use Sonos audio swap for a personal sports experience

 headphones and a compatible Sonos soundbar, you can unlock an audio experience that puts you right in the middle of the action. Sonos’ 

 feature lets you instantly switch your sports broadcast audio from your main surround sound system to your headphones with the press of a button.

This connection (which requires a compatible Sonos soundbar 

) offers immersive surround sound quality with the privacy of headphones — perfect for watching late-night games in a different time zone, or anytime when you want to avoid disturbing others in your home. And with Sonos Ace, you’ll benefit from 

 that cuts through household distractions and keeps you centered in the stadium atmosphere.

If you’re looking for the best possible surround sound experience for sports, step into the winners’ circle with Sonos.

Our premium wireless speakers create a lifelike audio environment that, in its breadth of sound textures and focus on the action, comes as close as possible to catching a game in person. And with options ranging from 

, there’s an immersive option for every type of sports fan.

If you have any questions or need help selecting a Dolby Atmos-supported speaker for your next gameday party, get in touch with a Sonos expert by 

Friends watching a basketball game with a black Arc Ultra, Sub 4, and pair of Era 300 rear surrounds

What is a Speaker Driver?

The Beginner's Guide to Speaker Impedance and Ohms

How Sonos Pro Amplifies Outerknown's Coastal Vibe

The Beginner’s Guide to Surround Sound for Sports

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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

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