How to pick the Sonos speaker that’s right for you
How to pick the Sonos speaker that’s right for you
If a smart speaker hasn’t yet invaded your home, you may be looking to rectify that. Among the many options, Sonos speakers come recommended due to their balance of good design, solid Wi-Fi audio performance and reliability, and their broad compatibility with smartphones and music streaming services. Compared to its competitors, Sonos caters to the most users out of the box. Setting up and using a Sonos speaker can be done with either an iOS and Android device, unlike the Apple HomePod. Nearly every major music streaming service is supported, too, from Spotify and Apple Music to Google Play Music and Tidal, so there’s no fear associated with switching to a different service should you choose to.Unlike the Apple HomePod, Google Home, or Amazon Echo, Sonos’ product lineup includes both smart speakers and soundbars. If you want one or two for multiroom music playback, you can do that. Is a wireless home theater solution the stuff of dreams for you? Sonos has you covered there, too, letting you piece together a unique solution that fits your arrangement and budget. Sonos can’t do everything, though it is getting better. AirPlay 2 support for Sonos speakers has just been added to the Sonos Beam, Sonos One, Sonos Playbase and the second-generation Sonos Play:5. If you’re looking for the smartest options, the Sonos One and the new Sonos Beam soundbar are the only models available that come with native Alexa voice support built in for hands-free playback (Google Assistant is said to arrive as an option at some point in 2018). Photo by Chris Welch / The VergeSonos OneThe Sonos One is a more refined take on the Sonos Play: 1. The company’s smallest and most affordable speaker by a long shot, it competes closely with smart speakers like the Apple HomePod and Google Home in stature and capability with native voice-enabled controls via Amazon Alexa. You can ask Alexa to play music from a wide range of streaming services including Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer, and Pandora. Noticeably lacking from this voice-supported list are the likes of Apple Music, Google Play Music, Tidal, and a load of others — though this won’t prevent you from controlling them with the Sonos app on your phone.This one is worth considering in multiple scenarios: it’s an ideal option if you are low on cash, your living space is small, or both. Conversely, it’s a great launching point if you plan to buy multiple speakers, as it can fit easily in multiple rooms and integrate nicely with Sonos soundbars.Sound quality is good, but don’t expect miracles from the One. By itself, The Verge found its performance admirable for its small size. But if you’re looking for more power, you may want to opt for the Play: 5.The Sonos Play: 1 currently runs for about $50 cheaper than the $199 One, though it’s tough to recommend from a value perspective as it doesn’t support AirPlay (and won’t down the line), nor does it feature Amazon Alexa voice support or touch controls on the unit. It’s important to note that, for reasons unknown, Sonos doesn’t allow users to pair a One with a Play: 1, though it stated that it may change its mind in the future.Buy the Sonos One: Google Shopping | SonosSonos Play: 5The Sonos Play: 5 is the largest singular speaker available through Sonos. If you’re only going to get one Sonos speaker and it has a lot of space to fill with audio, it should be this speaker.Compared to the midsize Play: 3, which isn’t available directly through Sonos any longer and won’t receive the update to AirPlay 2, the Play: 5 offers a few distinct advantages: it’s bigger, louder, and its second-generation model supports AirPlay 2. This option grants you more bass in the soundstage along with room-filling throughput in the low and mid frequencies at the expense of desk or bookshelf real estate. Though, if space is a concern, this speaker operates in horizontal or vertical orientation.At $499, this is a pricier, yet ultimately more powerful option by itself or, better yet, along with a few other Sonos speakers in your arrangement. In terms of controls, the Play: 5 features onboard touch controls that come in handy if your phone isn’t nearby. It lacks the native voice support found in the Sonos One and Sonos Beam, but it plays nicely with an Amazon Echo (or the cheaper Amazon Echo Dot) via an Alexa skill that lets you command the flow of entertainment hands-free.Buy the Sonos Play: 5 : Google Shopping | SonosPhoto by Vjeran Pavic / The VergeSonos BeamThe Sonos Beam is the product that can do the most for the least amount of cash. Compared to the larger, more expensive alternatives, the Playbar and Playbase, the Beam is a small, surprisingly affordable choice to liven up your entertainment center at $399.Perhaps most similar to the Sonos One in terms of its capabilities out of the box, the Beam comes with Alexa voice support and touch controls. As with any of the soundbars, Sonos offers a $699 subwoofer that wirelessly syncs with the Beam, as well as any other Sonos speakers you have, to bring cinema-grade bass. That being said, the sub is not a necessary purchase — especially if you already own the bass-proficient Sonos Play: 5.Unlike the other speakers, the Beam excels at providing a full, encompassing three-channel sound thanks to its four woofers and single center-firing tweeter. And because it can work seamlessly with your TV (and any remote you already use) through an HDMI-ARC input, Alexa allows the Beam to communicate with the Amazon Fire TV to turn on your TV and launch into any movie or television show you want to see. The Beam nails the small details, including one that companies never seem to get right: allowing you to turn off the TV with your voice.The Beam is geared directly toward those trying to loop their TV into the fun. If that’s not your goal, then you’ll be better off opting for any of the options above instead.Buy the Sonos Beam: Google Shopping | SonosPhoto by Chris Welch / The VergeSonos Playbase and PlaybarIf you have a larger room than the Sonos Beam can adequately provide for, Sonos makes two other soundbar options that are better suited to the task: the Sonos Playbase and Playbar. The Sonos Playbase essentially disappears in your entertainment center, sitting right under your television. It’s built to best what your television’s speakers are capable of, which probably isn’t much. Speaking of your TV, it can carry the weight of it, up to 77 pounds, though the stands on certain TV models may exceed its 28-inch width. At $699, this soundbar is quite a bit more expensive than the newer Beam, but it doubles the amount of drivers to 10, including six that cover the midrange, three tweeters, and one woofer for the low-end. As such, you can expect far more power from the Playbase across the soundstage. It is also better for listening to music than the Beam, which is really designed for movie and TV sound.If mounting is a necessity for you, know that the Playbase is the only Sonos product that can’t be stuck on your wall. You should probably shift your attention to the Sonos Playbar, which can be.A more traditional soundbar, the $699 Playbar houses six mid-woofers and three tweeters. While that sounds like enough to pump out a desirable sound, we found that it was serviceable for some TV, but sorely lacking in bass and mids for music playback given its high cost. It’s best when paired with Sonos’ optional sub, but as mentioned earlier, that’ll run you another $699.Of the two, only the Playbase has received the AirPlay 2 update, but neither have much in the way of built-in smarts. You’ll only find an optical audio port here. Compared to the Sonos Beam, which has an HDMI input and supports Alexa (and soon, Google Assistant) for voice commands, the Playbar and Playbase aren’t likely to age well.Buy the Sonos Playbar: Google Shopping | SonosBuy the Sonos Playbase: Google Shopping | Sonos