DESIGN
Available in black or white models, both of which have black front panels consisting of speaker grilles, the Play:5 has a minimal and sleek look; it seems meant to blend into a setting, not stand out. Measuring 8 by 14.3 by 6 inches (HWD) and weighing 14 pounds, the Play:5 has all its buttons on the top panel: one for Play/Pause and volume controls on either side. The volume controls are capacitive—each looks more like four tiny pinholes than a button, and it’s almost surprising when they work so well. From a visual standpoint, it keeps the top surface looking uncluttered. The volume levels work in conjunction with the master volume levels in the Sonos app. Furthermore, the volume controls act as track navigation tools when you swipe from one to the other. It’s a simple, smart design that makes the most of the speaker’s surface. Behind the grille, the Play:5 boasts three tweeters and three midrange drivers that are all driven individually by six class-D digital amplifiers. The back panel, where the power cable plugs in, also houses an Ethernet cable connection (for a direct network connection) and a Join button for connecting the speaker to an already-present Sonos system. There is also a 3.5mm aux input to which the speaker will automatically switch when it detects a signal (though no 3.5mm audio cable is included). Sonos claims the Play:5 can adjust its audio performance based on the acoustics of the room it’s in. There’s undoubtedly some digital signal processing going on here, but it’s subtle enough that purists likely won’t be irked, and it will please everyone else. The speaker can also be paired with another Play:5 to make a stereo pair, with one acting as the left channel and the other as the right. Sonos even claims the speakers are designed to work in relatively heightened humidity, so you can place the Play:5 in a bathroom and not worry about steam ruining it (the speaker is not water- or splash-proof, however).
WIRELESS AUDIO
Sonos was one of the first big names in Wi-Fi multi-room audio, and it’s stayed committed to the concept. The Play:5 doesn’t support Bluetooth; if you want to use the speaker without relying on the 3.5mm auxiliary input, you’ll need to use the free Sonos app for Android, iOS, OS X, and Windows, and connect the Play:5 to your home Wi-Fi network. Fortunately, this is a simple process of following a few software prompts and watching the speaker’s indicator light. All music playback is controlled through the app, which, thanks to Sonos’ constant development, now supports a startling number of streaming music services. You can listen to music from Amazon Music, Google Play, Pandora, SiriusXM, Spotify, Tidal, and dozens of others. The speaker also supports playing any of your locally stored music from up to 16 different storage devices on your network, and can access more than 100,000 streaming Internet radio stations outside of the different apps. It’s a safe bet that, even without Bluetooth as a backup, the Play:5 has you covered for your favorite music sources. The app handles all of the aforementioned multi-room and multi-speaker setups, including pairing two Play:5 speakers or playing music across multiple rooms. You can have up to 32 Sonos speakers on a single network at a time.
PERFORMANCE
On tracks with intense sub-bass content (we tested The Knife’s “Silent Shout”), the Play:5 delivers some serious thunder. Not only can this system get exceptionally loud, but the bass does not distort even at top volumes. That said, things certainly sound a bit more balanced at more moderate, sane listening levels. At a medium-loud volume, the Play:5 produces robust, deep bass. It also still provides a strong sense of bass response even at low volume levels, which is rare. Bill Callahan’s “Drover,” a track with less in the way of deep bass content, gives us a better idea of the Play:5’s overall sound signature. The system’s drivers definitely have the capability to boost the drums to unnaturally hefty levels the way some bass-forward systems tend to do, but instead the drums sound full and powerful without getting boosted in the deep lows. The Play:5 beautifully highlights the rich presence in the low mids of Callahan’s baritone vocals, and complements with a solid presence in the high mids. The guitar strums on “Drover” also benefit from the strong highmid presence, and from some extra brightness in the highs. This is a slightly sculpted, but balanced, sound signature. On Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “No Church in the Wild,” the kick drum loop’s attack gets plenty of that high-mid treble edge, retaining its sharp contour so it can slice through the mix. This track highlights what the Play:5 is capable of on deep bass—when the sub-bass synth hits occur, it sounds as if there’s a powerful subwoofer in the room. But the Play:5 avoids adding deep bass when it isn’t in the mix. And when there is exceptionally powerful deep bass present, as there is on this track, the Play:5 really brings it. On the opening scene in John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, the higher-register strings, brass, and vocals own the spotlight—they sound crisp and articulate through the Play:5. When there is lower-register instrumentation, it is delivered in a balanced manner, and the occasional subbass sound gets the appropriate level of presence in the mix. Absolute purists might find things a bit too boosted in the lows, but most listeners will find the overall mix crisp, rich, and well balanced. The main reason Sonos has remained relevant is the continuous improvement of its speaker lineup. Simply put, Play speakers sound great. If you’re looking for a top-quality wireless speaker, but don’t need the multi-zone capability, consider the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless ($699) or the Bang & Olufsen Beolit 15 ($599); for something more affordable, try the Marshall Stanmore ($399) or Audioengine B2 ($299). If you want to start a bit smaller and much less expensive—and also less powerful—Sonos’ Play:1 ($199) is a fine choice. At $500, the Play:5 isn’t cheap, but it doesn’t sound, look, or behave like a cheap system. Sonically, it’s a winner, and from a multi-room home audio standpoint, Sonos still leads the pack.
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