Roundups

Sonos Play:5 Review Roundup

The new Play:5 wireless speaker is the simplest way to start building a whole-home audio system that is all controlled from a single app.

Brian Mitchell

Published

January 19, 2016

Sonos Play:5 Wireless Speaker (2015) White

Consenus

The 2nd-generation Play:5 is the largest and best Sonos speaker, both in looks and sound quality. But you’ll need to buy more than one to realize the full potential of the whole-home Sonos wireless eco-system.

Average Overall Rating

★★★★★★★★★★

4.37 out of 5 stars (6 reviews)

Critics Reviews (Around the Web)

Is the Cambridge Audio AXA35 Integrated Amplifier the best way to connect with your music below $350? Read full review →
– Ian White · Jul 13, 2021

★★★★★★★★★★
4.67 out of 5 stars
It's capable of filling a large room with excellent bass output and an incredibly wide soundfield that’s almost impossible to believe comes from a single speaker. Read full review →
– Sound & Vision · Jan 19, 2016

★★★★★★★★★★
4.38 out of 5 stars
... when you consider just how good the PLAY:5 sounds - especially relative to its modest footprint - and add in the fun and potential of a Sonos whole house system, coupled with the fact that you won't need to add external amplification or a subwoofer, the PLAY:5 makes a rather compelling case for itself. Highly recommended. Read full review →
– Big Picture Big Sound · Dec 3, 2015

★★★★★★★★★★
4.5 out of 5 stars
Its minimalist design will please even the most fussy and the new touch controls are effortless to use. The sound that comes out of this thing is impressively loud and audio does distinctively change when Trueplay is used. Read full review →
– TechRadar · Nov 1, 2015

★★★★★★★★★★
4 out of 5 stars
I’m recommending it is because it's simply the most advanced and most complete piece of hardware Sonos makes. Read full review →
– WIRED · Oct 29, 2015

★★★★★★★★★★
4.45 out of 5 stars
The Play:5 is the best speaker Sonos has ever made. Its reliance on a single app for controlling all your audio services means the software experience isn't quite as slick as it could be, but it's easy to set up and sounds as good as its $499 price tag suggests. Read full review →
– Engadget · Oct 29, 2015

Sonos speakers all sound very good, and the new Play:5 continues the legacy. It's got plenty of low-end power and a realistic soundstage, even when you’re using it in a single speaker configuration. Read full review →
– Gizmodo · Oct 29, 2015

★★★★★★★★★★
4.2 out of 5 stars
The 2nd-generation Sonos Play:5 is a sleek, well-designed Wi-Fi speaker that delivers rich sound for its size and strong bass. It offers the full Sonos wireless experience, controllable from iPhone, iPad and Android apps, with compatibility with nearly every key music service. Read full review →
– CNET · Oct 28, 2015

Pros

Auto-senses and adjusts output for vertical and horizontal orientations
Capacitance touch controls with audible feedback
Great look
Easy to setup
TruePlay room correction software improves sound
More open, bright sound
Easy to turn into multi-room system with other, cheaper Sonos speakers
Excellent audio quality
Line-in adds limitless music options
Works with Spotify, TIDAL, and more
Unlimited users can control it
Stereo listening possible with two units
Software updates should improve features over time
Works in vertical or horizontal orientations
Built-in accelerometer knows orientation
Whole-home audio capabilities
Swipe and touch controls on top of speaker
Six antennas built-in

Cons

Slight high-frequency edginess when used vertically
Does not support Hi-res audio
Small feet on side and bottom detract from look
TruePlay only works with iOS (not Android)
Apple Music support is coming soon
No remote control offered (must use app)
Sonos app could be more user friendly
Music must play through Sonos app
Bluetooth not supported

Our Final Conclusion

The new Play:5 wireless speaker is the simplest way to start building a whole-home audio system that is all controlled from a single app.

Product Overview

October 29, 2015 - Sonos announced the all-new PLAY:5 wireless speaker, which claims to offer the purest, deepest, most vibrant sound yet from Sonos. The company says the new PLAY:5 delivers a listening experience that is closer than ever to how every track was mastered in the studio. Built with six synchronized, custom-designed drivers, the speaker’s three mid-woofers create smooth mids and deep, powerful lows, and three tweeters deliver crystal clear highs at any volume. The array produces a soundstage... Read product announcement →