Sonos Play:5 Review

Music is a part of everyday life. No matter what kind of music you prefer, going without a jam for too long can affect some people’s moods.

But what device are you listening on? Your computer? Your phone? Some old headphones? Chances are the audio coming out of those speakers is not the best.

If you want your music to sound better, or want a device that works with your Amazon Echo and streams music from all the major streaming services, then the Sonos Play:5 might be what you’re looking for.

The high price and the lack of Bluetooth connectivity have upset some users, but the number of features and the sound quality seem to make this the most highly rated speaker on the market.

Still need some convincing? Keep reading while we go into all the features, both the good and the bad, of the Sonos Play:5 Wireless Speaker.

Sonos Play:5: The Details

Specs

• Weight: 14 lbs.
• Dimensions: 14.3 x 8 x 6 inches
• Product type: Wireless speaker
• Compatible with Amazon Alexa?: Yes. It’s Wi-Fi connectible, and the Sonos app works on both Apple and Android phones. Trueplay calibration only works with Apple devices. It’s not Bluetooth-compatible and doesn’t work with Google Cast or Airplay

How Does It Work

The Sonos Play:5 was made to provide the best sound possible while still being wireless.

With six amplifiers, six speaker drivers, three woofers, three tweeters, and a completely sealed enclosure, there is sure to be some big sound.

The creator’s goal was to be able to hear (and probably feel) the bass, but without any reverberation or echoes when listening to music.

Setup

To set up your Sonos speaker, you are going to want to download the Sonos app to your phone. The app will help you with setup and give you instructions. It will also work as the remote to control your music.

If you are using an Apple device, setup will also include calibrating your Sonos speaker with Trueplay.

A red dot will appear in the app next to the speaker that has gone through Trueplay (just in case you have more than one). Then you will slowly walk around the room with your device so that the program can sonically map the area you’re in. It will probably take no more than 45 seconds.

If you don’t have an Apple device, you don’t have to worry about Trueplay. It is not available for Android devices yet.

The Sonos also works with the Amazon Echo and Dot, so you can have Alexa help you control your speaker.

You will also need to connect the speaker to your WiFi by typing in your WiFi password and pushing the sync button on the speaker. In total, setup will take around five minutes.

If you have any issue with connecting your WI-FI, there is an Ethernet socket in the back of the speaker and you can hook it up to your router.

Streaming

The Sonos Play:5 can stream Amazon Music, Pandora, Apple Music, Soundcloud, Sirius XM, Napster, Google Play, TuneIn, and Spotify.

While you can control the speaker (and probably will) with your Apple or Android device, there are also touch sensors on the speaker that allow you to control the volume and to skip tracks or pick the song you want without those devices.

This is especially helpful when your phone is out of reach and you are too lazy to get up and get it (that applies to all of us at one time or another).

Sonos: The Brand

Founded in 2002 in Santa Barbara, California, by John MacFarlane, Tom Cullen, Trung Mai, and Craig Shelburne, Sonos started out with the vision to “fill every home with music and make listening a valued experience again.”

Now, Sonos sells products in over 60 countries, providing their wireless speakers to people all around the world.

The Sonos Play:5 was first released to the public in November of 2015.

Sonos Play:5 Review

The Positives

The Sound

Multiple users have commented on how good the sound is coming through the Sonos. It is balanced and detailed.

You can hear every nuance of the music and maybe even catch things you never have when listening to your favorite song on other devices.

At its price point, you should expect it to sound amazing and it seems to at least meet those expectations. It can also get very loud, so you might want to watch the volume levels if you live in an apartment, condo, or have neighbors that live close by.

Portability

As the Sonos Play:5 is a wireless speaker, you can use it and control it from anywhere that is connected to your Wi-Fi.

As long as you have your Apple or Android device, you can control what song is playing, how loud, or whether you want the music playing or not.

You can even place the speaker in the bathroom or outside because it is humidity resistance.

Additionally, if you can swing for more than one of these, you can put them in different rooms and either play a different song in each room or play one song from all the speakers.

You might be able to feel the bass all the way through the floor if it’s the right song!

Easy Set-Up 

Those who aren’t too in-tune with technology need not worry – you won’t have to suffer through hassle and confusion when setting up the Sonos Play:5.

Setup is simple: plug it in, and follow the steps on the app. Et voila, you’ll be experiencing top-notch sound quality in no time.

When it comes to connecting your streaming services, Amazon Alexa and additional speakers to the Sonos Play:5 it won’t be any more daunting than the initial set-up.

If ease of use is what you’re after, you’ll be pleasantly satisfied with this speaker.

Compact and Stylish

The Sonos Play:5 shows you don’t need an extensive and bulky set-up to get superior sound quality. With its wireless capabilities, gone are the days of trying to hide all of your cords in a large entertainment console.

This speaker is compact to fit in almost any space from small studio apartments to dorm rooms, without taking all the attention, and what’s better is that you won’t have to hide where the sound is coming from.

Its minimalistic design makes it easy to adapt to any decor, and its contemporary style (available in both black and white) gives a modern touch to your space.

Whether you decide to lay it horizontally or vertically, it won’t be an obnoxious piece, but more of a complimenting item.

Here’s what the Sonos Play:5 looks like out of the box and setup.

Warranty

Investing in entertainment devices is always a little less unnerving when a warranty is included. In this case, Sonos has you covered.

Sonos has included a 1-year limited warranty with the Play:5 Speaker, covering any product defects that you may find during this time period.

Should you find an issue, you’ll simply make a call to customer service, and if the problem can’t be resolved over the phone, they’ll be in charge of repairing or replacing your speaker at no additional cost to you.

Many customers have found the Sonos customer service department to be helpful, polite, and efficient so you won’t have to dread contacting them should a problem arise.

The Negatives

The Sonos App

Multiple users noted issues with the Sonos app. They have had it either completely shut down on them or stop working in the middle of using it.

One user even stated that it seems to have gotten worse the more the app has been updated.

When deciding on purchasing this smart speaker, keep in mind that you may have to have some patience while the company works out all its tweaks.

Trueplay

The Trueplay calibration feature, which allows your Sonos speaker to sound the best it can, is only available if you have an Apple device, leaving out a lot of customers with other phones.

Sonos has spoken about the issue, citing that Android phones are not consistent with the type of speakers they have.

This issue does not look like it is going to be addressed for some time so if you’re not an iPhone or don’t have Alexa, you’ll be out of luck.

No Bluetooth

A number of users also complained about the lack of Bluetooth-connectivity, GoogleCast, and Airplay.

Since the Sonos doesn’t support them, there is no good way to stream all audio from your phone to the speaker.

If you want to watch a YouTube video or play Candy Crush with the sound on, the sound will not come out of your Sonos, which is disappointing if you hope to use it as your main speaker.

Price

The Sonos Play:5 isn’t the cheapest option on the market and not all consumers will be able to afford such a high price tag.

If you can, great, and if it does everything it says it’s going to do, awesome. But based on the problems people are having with the speaker, the Sonos might not be delivering what users are expecting for the price.

If you’re on a budget, this may not be the right option for you.

Overall Verdict

Based on all the factors, the good and the bad, we do recommend the Sonos Play:5 Wireless Speaker.

It delivers quality sound and does it wirelessly. While it is clear Sonos needs to make some improvements with its app and the services the speaker works with, overall, the speaker does what it says it’s going to do: it plays music really well.

Where to Buy the Sonos Play:5 Wireless Speaker

The sheer power of the Sonos Play:5 has made it a popular choice amongst music lovers, as they’re able to really immerse themselves in their favourite sounds.

This could be one of the number of reasons you’re able to easily find this wireless smart speaker both in-store and online.

To start, check out the following online retailers.

• Best Buy (from $499)
• BH Photo Video (from $499)
• Sonos (from $499)

And of course, you can also find this speaker on Amazon.

That’s it for our Sonos Play:5 Review. Are you tempted to give it a try?