If you’re building a home theatre setup or want crisp, clear audio while listening to some tunes, Sonos is usually the way to go. Between their range of soundbars, subwoofers, wired and portable speakers, the ability to build an ecosystem across and beyond your household is an experience that allows virtually limitless options.
The Sonos Play, their newest portable speaker, fits right in with its existing siblings. The larger and heavier Sonos Move 2 sounds great, but might be a bit too pricey for some at A$799. The cheaper Raom 2, however, at A$299, while more affordable, simply lacks the amount of volume and bass required for larger settings, particularly outdoors.
At A$499, the Sonos Play gives you some impressive volume levels, in addition to punchy bass and an even soundstage that justifies its price tag, and ultimately feels like the most versatile and value-packed portable option.
Design
Available in Black or White, the Sonos Play does look like a smaller version of the Move 2, or even a flatter version of the wired One/One SL. Given the minimalistic design of their range, there’s really nothing to write home about in terms of how it looks, but I’m generally a fan of it.
Inside the box, you get the speaker itself and the included Wireless Charging Base. While there’s no USB-C adapter in the box (which is a little annoying, but has ultimately become the norm), I’m admittedly more surprised by the hardwired base. The inability to replace the USB-C cable down the track is a little worrying, as there’s not really much you can do if it’s broken, chewed on by your dog, or stepped on and torn off. You can’t even buy a replacement at this point, and will then have to rely on charging the speaker directly, doing away with the base altogether.
On top, the speaker itself includes plus and minus buttons for volume control, in addition to a play/pause button between them. Above those buttons, you’ll also find a dedicated voice control button that can allow voice commands.
Around the front of the speaker, you’ll find a light towards the top to indicate various types of connectivity, and a light below to indicate battery life and charging states.
Finally, on the back of the speaker, you’ll find a detachable rubber loop for carrying, a Bluetooth connection button, a switch to turn voice control on or off, a dedicated power button, and a USB-C port.
Everything about the Sonos Play feels super premium. The rubber top, bottom, and back of the speaker feel smooth without ever feeling sticky, while the black grill wraps around the remainder of the speaker nicely. It’s not only going to fit perfectly into your existing Sonos range, but into any room or area of your house, without feeling out of place.
Performance
The Sonos Play packs a real punch as far as volume is concerned, and the overall soundstage feels nice and even, without ever being overpowered by the bass, of which there is plenty of.
Volume aside, like any Sonos product, it’s the overall clarity of that soundstage at any volume level that speaks for itself. There’s no distortion at peak volume levels, but that’s to be expected.
I’ve been using this in my kitchen area as a central speaker to listen to music and podcasts while I do my stuff around the house, and this really reaches all areas. If the portable nature of the device wasn’t enough, I’ve barely had to carry this thing around to bedrooms and other areas of the house, because I can still hear it so clearly.
Similar to the Sonos One, the Sonos Play provides two directional tweeters, a single mid-woofer and three Class-H digital amplifiers, which really have to hit your ears to be believed.
I’ve used a bunch of speakers in the past, in addition to my current Sonos products, but for a speaker of this size, I’ve really never heard anything as impressive as this. Sure, audiophiles might prefer a pair of KEF R3 Meta bookshelf speakers, but for its price and portable nature, it might just be the best in its class.
The Sonos Play also includes Automatic Trueplay, a feature that automatically reads and responds to how sound bounces off surrounding walls and objects, and adjusts sound quality throughout its various tweeters and woofer, to reflect this change in positioning. It’s admittedly hard to tell if the speaker is out in the open, but if you put this against a wall or in a corner, you can tell it’s making an effort to bounce sound in one direction over another.
But it doesn’t end there. The Sonos Play also includes a whopping 24-hour battery life, a drop-resistant exterior, and a waterproof IP67 rating, making it suitable for party environments, where it might be knocked off a table, doused in spilt drinks or even knocked into the pool. And if that wasn’t enough, the battery can also be removed and replaced down the track.
Users can connect to the Sonos Play via WiFi or Bluetooth, the former of which allows for better range and audio quality, but might not be the most convenient option for when multiple guests are around, unless you’re happy to pass around your WiFi password along with the speaker.
That being said, Bluetooth allows those around the Sonos Play to connect with the touch of a single button, in a matter of seconds. There’s even a line-in option if you want to rely on a tried and tested method, which will even charge your phone in the process.
The fact that the Sonos Play sounds this good, in addition to doing this much, is honestly insane, and more than justifies its price tag. Beyond all that, Sonos as an ecosystem will even allow you to pair this up with your other Sonos speakers via WiFi to help add that extra value.
Software
It’s no secret that the Sonos app has been a bit of a mess over the past year or so. Thankfully, the awkward menus and multiple bugs have now been fixed, and the app itself is now more intuitive and responsive than ever. It’s an app that goes well beyond the Sonos Play, so we’ll try to keep it relevant.
The app will essentially pick up the Sonos Play once you power it on, and the setup only takes a couple of minutes, as you pop in your WiFi password and install the necessary updates. Trueplay also only takes a second to tune, before the app gives you the option to link any of your music streaming services, which can all then be navigated through within the Sonos app itself.
As basic as it is, you’ll also have the option to tune your bass and treble through the EQ settings, and adjust your Trueplay if need be. This app will come in handy, as you’ll need to access it frequently to control the master volume levels while connected via WiFi.
Overall, it’s a fine app that has now been given a much-needed facelift to make experiences like setting up and tuning new speakers that much easier.
Verdict & Value
The Sonos Play not only fits perfectly into the existing Sonos range in terms of both price and size, but also justifies that price tag with sublime audio quality and a laundry list of features and perks that make this one of the best in its class.
To even suggest that Sonos, as good as its ecosystem is, requires you to already have invested in the brand, feels incorrect. This actually might be the best way to get started.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Incredible audio quality; Solid build and sleek design; Easy setup; Versatility and value only Sonos offers in terms of its ecosystem
Lowlights: Hardwired charging base cable cannot be replaced if broken; No charging adapter in box
Manufacturer: Sonos
Price: A$499
Available: Now
Review based on unit supplied by Sonos and available via the official Sonos website.
