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The best remotes for Sonos speakers make controlling your music and volume from across the room easier.
Love You Some Sonos
Got Sonos? If you arrived here, chances are you already own one or more Sonos speakers. And let me guess, you love them, right?
Most Sonos owners (me included) do. That awesome sound, with crisp highs and deep bass out of such a small package, can make even a discerning audiophile giddy. But the app-first control gets old fast when you just want to turn the music down from the couch.
Fortune Business Insights tracks the broader shift toward smart, connected remotes, and Sonos owners are right in the middle of it.
So grab a cup of Joe, crank up some Miles Davis, and read on. Below are the picks I would actually put in a Sonos room, from a do-everything universal hub to a couple of slick wall keypads.
Key Takeaways
- SofaBaton X1S is the best all-around choice for controlling Sonos with your whole room.
- SofaBaton X2 steps up with a touchscreen when Sonos anchors a fuller home theater.
- Lutron Caséta and Brilliant are the wall-keypad picks for fixed, mounted control.
Best Remotes for Sonos Speakers Comparison Table
This table lines up the five best remotes for Sonos speakers side by side, from universal hubs to wall keypads.
| Editor’s Hub | Premium Hub | Budget IR | Wall Keypad | Smart Panel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | SofaBaton X1S | SofaBaton X2 | DHCHAPU Sonos Soundbar Remote | Lutron Caséta | Brilliant Smart Home Control |
| Rank | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Role | Editor’s hub remote | Premium hub remote | Soundbar replacement remote | Wall keypad | Smart home panel |
| Best For | Whole-room Sonos control | Fuller Sonos home theater | Replacing a lost remote | Mounted room control | Whole-home smart control |
| Sonos Fit | Soundbar plus Wi-Fi rooms | Soundbar plus full theater | Arc, Beam, Ray, Amp | Needs a Lutron bridge | Native Sonos control |
| Control Type | IR, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, hub | IR, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, hub | IR only | Pico wireless | In-wall touchscreen |
| Voice / Smart Home | Alexa and Google | Alexa, Google, Home Assistant | None | Alexa and Google | Alexa built in |
| Battery | Rechargeable, long life | Rechargeable cradle | CR2025 coin cell | Coin cell, ten years | Wired in-wall |
| Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
#1 – SofaBaton X1S: Editor’s Choice
At a Glance
- Compatibility: IR, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi hub control.
- Power / Battery: Rechargeable with long battery life.
- Voice / Smart Home: Works with Alexa and Google.
- Screen / Display: Small display with activity buttons.
- Use Case: Best for whole-room Sonos control.
The SofaBaton X1S is my favorite remote for Sonos now that Logitech has stopped making Harmony remotes, and it earns the top spot among the best remotes for Sonos speakers. It controls over 500,000 IR and Bluetooth devices over Wi-Fi, so it handles your Sonos soundbar right alongside the TV, streamers, and even Philips Hue lights.
What makes it click for Sonos is the activity button. You can build a “Watch Netflix” routine that fires up the streamer, turns on the Sonos soundbar, dims the lights, and launches the app in one press instead of juggling four remotes. It ships with two IR blasters and a wireless hub, plus a phone app for setup and a backup remote when the real one vanishes into the cushions.
Pros
- Supports 500,000 devices from 5,000 brands
- One button macros to issue multiple commands
- Simple setup via smartphone app
- Integrates with Amazon Alexa for voice commands
- Incredible 60-day battery life
Cons
- Early adopters reported problems driving down ratings
- Requires firmware update for both remote and Hub (do this first if you buy this remote)
Video Review
Video credit: TecTimmy
SofaBaton X1S offers similar core functionality to the X2, minus the touchscreen, at a lower price.
#2 – SofaBaton X2: Premium Hub
At a Glance
- Compatibility: IR, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and hub control.
- Power / Battery: Rechargeable with a charging cradle.
- Voice / Smart Home: Alexa, Google, and Home Assistant.
- Screen / Display: Color touchscreen.
- Use Case: Best for a fuller Sonos home theater.
The SofaBaton X2 is the step-up hub, and it is the one I would reach for when Sonos anchors a fuller home theater. Among the best remotes for Sonos speakers, it sits just above the X1S thanks to a color touchscreen and Home Assistant support on top of Alexa and Google.
It controls the same huge range of IR, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi gear as the X1S, so your Sonos soundbar, TV, streamers, and lights all answer to one remote. The touchscreen makes building a “Movie Night” activity for Sonos feel less like programming and more like tapping a tile.
Pros
- Touchscreen makes switching Sonos activities easy
- Hub reaches gear hidden in cabinets
- Adds Home Assistant beyond Alexa and Google
Cons
- Pricier than the X1S below it
- Overkill for a single-soundbar setup
Video Review
Video credit: TecTimmy
SofaBaton X2 lets you command your entire home entertainment system with an intuitive touchscreen remote.
#3 – DHCHAPU Sonos Soundbar Remote: Budget Pick
At a Glance
- Compatibility: Sonos Arc Ultra, Arc SL, Beam (Gen 1 & 2), Ray, Amp (Gen 2), Playbase, and Playbar.
- Power / Battery: CR2025 coin cell (not included).
- Voice / Smart Home: No voice or smart home control.
- Screen / Display: No screen, aluminum shell.
- Use Case: Best for replacing a lost Sonos soundbar remote.
The DHCHAPU Sonos Soundbar Remote is the cheap, no-fuss way to put a physical remote back in your hand for a Sonos soundbar. It is built specifically for the Sonos Arc Ultra, Arc SL, Beam (Gen 1 and 2), Ray, Amp (Gen 2), Playbase, and Playbar, with a durable aluminum shell and no programming required.
Among the best remotes for Sonos speakers, this is the budget lane. It is infrared, so you enable the IR option in the Sonos app, drop in a CR2025 battery, and it handles power, volume, and playback. It will not run your whole room like a hub remote, but for getting soundbar buttons back, it is tough to beat at the price.
Pros
- Inexpensive replacement for a lost soundbar remote
- Made for Sonos Arc, Beam, Ray, and Amp
- Durable aluminum shell, no programming required
Cons
- Controls the soundbar only, not Wi-Fi speakers
- Needs the IR option enabled in the app
#4 – Lutron Caséta: Wall Keypad
At a Glance
- Compatibility: Sonos through a Lutron bridge.
- Power / Battery: Coin cell with roughly ten-year life.
- Voice / Smart Home: Works with Alexa and Google.
- Screen / Display: No screen.
- Use Case: Best for mounted, wall-based control.
If you would rather control Sonos from the wall, the Lutron Caséta Pico remote is an affordable, popular way to do it. It mounts to any wall with the included bracket, no junction box required, and gives you volume, play and pause, track skip, and a favorites button.
It is one of the more unusual entries among the best remotes for Sonos speakers because it is a keypad, not a handheld. You will need a Lutron bridge to connect it to Sonos, and the coin-cell battery lasts an astonishing ten years. One bridge supports up to 75 Caséta devices, so you can expand at your own pace.
Pros
- Mounts to any wall surface
- Lets you control music via wall keypad from anywhere in your home
- Compatible with Alexa and Google for voice control
- 10 years of battery life without needing a charge (wow)
- Very Jetsons
- Simple and elegant controls
Cons
- Not a traditional remote
- Requires a bridge
- Mounting takes a bit of DIY work as there is no magnetic option
Video Review
Video credit: TJ Reishus
#5 – Brilliant: Smart Home Panel
At a Glance
- Compatibility: Native Sonos plus broad smart home.
- Power / Battery: Hardwired in-wall panel.
- Voice / Smart Home: Alexa built in.
- Screen / Display: In-wall touchscreen.
- Use Case: Best for whole-home smart control.
The Brilliant Smart Home Control panel turns a wall switch into an in-wall DJ booth for Sonos, lights, and other smart gear. Everyone at home gets touchscreen control, so the only fight left is over whose playlist goes next.
It rounds out the best remotes for Sonos speakers as the do-everything keypad. It runs scenes like “Movie Night,” controls smart lights and locks, and even shows your Ring doorbell feed at the panel. It integrates natively with Sonos and adds Alexa voice control, though it is the priciest option here.
Pros
- Vibrant touchscreen is sure to impress
- Control lights, thermostat, and door locks in addition to Sonos
- Well designed menus for controlling Sonos
- Integrates natively with Sonos
- Can see who is at the door with Ring video doorbell
- Also works with Alexa for voice control
- Thorough instructions
Cons
- Add Device icon on main display is partially blocked by panel cover (weird design flaw)
- It’s expensive
FAQs
1. What are the best remotes for Sonos speakers?
Start with the SofaBaton X1S for whole-room control, the SofaBaton X2 for a fuller home theater, and the DHCHAPU remote on a budget. For fixed control, the Lutron Caséta and Brilliant keypads put Sonos on the wall. Most people are happiest with the X1S because it ties Sonos to the rest of the room.
2. Can you control Sonos speakers with a universal remote?
Yes, with the right kind. A hub remote like the SofaBaton X1S or X2 controls Sonos through Wi-Fi and activities, while an IR-only remote reaches Sonos soundbars but not the Wi-Fi speakers. The best remotes for Sonos speakers pair a hub or a bridge with the speakers so one single control runs the whole room.
3. Do Sonos speakers come with a remote?
No. Sonos ships app-first, with no physical remote in the box, which is exactly why a dedicated remote helps. Among the best remotes for Sonos speakers, a hub remote or wall keypad gives you instant volume and playback without unlocking your phone and opening the Sonos app every time you want to skip a track.
4. What is the best remote for a Sonos soundbar?
For a Sonos soundbar, the SofaBaton X1S is the strongest all-around choice because it controls the soundbar, TV, and streamers together. On a budget, the DHCHAPU replacement remote brings physical buttons right back to the soundbar over IR. The best remotes for Sonos speakers treat the soundbar as just one part of a larger room.
5. Are wall keypads good for controlling Sonos?
They are, if you want fixed control in a room. The Lutron Caséta and Brilliant panels both mount to the wall and adjust Sonos from a set spot, which families really love. Among the best remotes for Sonos speakers, keypads work best alongside a handheld like the X1S rather than fully replacing it entirely.
Best Remotes for Sonos Speakers Verdict
The best remotes for Sonos speakers come down to whether you want one remote for the whole room or fixed control mounted on the wall.
- Choose the SofaBaton X1S, or step up to the SofaBaton X2, if you want one remote to run Sonos plus your whole entertainment setup.
- Choose the Lutron Caséta or Brilliant if you would rather mount Sonos control on the wall.
- Choose the DHCHAPU replacement remote if you just need physical buttons back for a Sonos soundbar on a budget.
Personally, I run my Sonos with the X1S, and the Alexa integration is the part I love most. I just say “Alexa, play rock music,” and the right playlist fills the right rooms at the right volume. The keypads are great fun too if you can mount them where you live.
For more living-room options beyond Sonos, see my guide to the best universal remotes.