What is the Sonos System?
Sonos has become synonymous with multiroom audio by making it quick and easy to have music playing wirelessly throughout your entire home. Whether you subscribe to the myriad of streaming services out there or just want to play your own local music, it’s possible to control it all from one central app. You can have a specific song playing in the kitchen or the bedroom, or the same song playing throughout the entire house, perfect for your next party. The other great thing about multiroom audio is that you can upgrade and expand your system over time.
There are plenty of options in the Sonos range but it can be tricky deciding which speaker is right for your home and what accessories you need. We’ve helped you out by detailing every Sonos speaker and component below to help make it easier to get the party started.
Sonos Bridge
In the past, you needed to use a Sonos Bridge to create a dedicated Sonos Network to stream music. Nowadays, with the introduction of the Sonos 5.1 firmware update, it’s no longer necessary. Sonos’ speakers are now able to connect wirelessly to your home network. That doesn’t mean the Bridge is now redundant, however. If you find that your wireless network is heavily congested or you have a lot of interference that is disrupting your music streaming, the Bridge will still create a dedicated Sonos Network.
It should be noted that connecting any Sonos Play speaker directly to your router through an Ethernet cable will also create a dedicated network. Each subsequent speaker that connects to the Sonos Network will then relay the signal, expanding the overall reach of the network. Very clever. Keep in mind the Bridge (and Boost, below) are still required if you want to create a home theatre setup using the Playbar and Sub.
Sonos Boost
The Sonos Boost was released following the recent 5.1 firmware update that removed the need for the Bridge and can partially be seen as its replacement. It functions very much like the Bridge but on steroids, expanding the wireless range considerably through its enterprise-grade antenna. This will be handy if your wireless network doesn’t quite reach your loft extension but you want to keep the party going on every floor.
Sonos Play:1
The Sonos Play:1 is the smallest and least powerful speaker in the Sonos range. Its small and inconspicuous size makes it perfect for a bookshelf speaker, however. The Play:1 only outputs mono sound from its single tweeter but you’re able to pair two of them together for stereo. You can also connect it to the Playbar and Sub for 5.1 surround sound (see below).
Sonos Play:3
The Play:3 will happily sit horizontally or vertically, making it easier to find a place to put it in your home. More powerful than the Play:1, it's better suited to medium-sized rooms. It uses a three driver system consisting of a tweeter and two mid-range drivers, supplemented by a bass radiator for the lower frequencies. Like the Play:1, you can pair two of them for greater stereo separation.
Sonos Play: 5
The Play:5 is the top-of-the-range Sonos speaker and produces the biggest sound, making it ideal for larger rooms. It incorporates a five speaker system using two tweeters, two 3in mid-range drivers and a dedicated 3.5in woofer. Unlike the other speakers, the Play:5 also has a headphone jack for discrete listening and a 3.5mm line-in if you want to connect a wired audio device, making it the most versatile.
Sonos Playbar and Sonos Sub
It's possible to create a wireless home theatre setup using the Sonos System. The Playbar is Sonos’ soundbar for improving the audio from your television’s built-in speakers. It uses six mid-range and three tweeters as part of its nine speaker system, all of which are amplified. It has an optical cord for connecting to your television and it can be paired with other Sonos speakers to create home cinema surround sound. Pair it with a Sonos Sub to bring the low-frequency response to add to the explosions and rumble of your movies for 3.1 audio. Throw in two extra Play:1s on top for full 5.1 surround. You’ll need to use the Sonos Bridge or Boost t synchronise all the speakers.
Sonos Connect
You might have an existing hi-fi or home theatre setup that you’re perfectly happy with but wished it was wireless. The Sonos Connect helps integrate your existing equipment into the Sonos System to either use independently or to integrate with other Sonos speakers in your home for multiroom audio. You simply connect the Connect through analogue RCA jacks on its back or through digital optical or coaxial connections.
Sonos Connect:Amp
If you have a set of passive loudspeakers that you want to use, the Connect:Amp can drive speakers up to 55W with its built-in speaker amplifier. You can hook up your existing speakers through its speaker binding posts on its back and there is a subwoofer out as well. You also have the option of connecting speakers through analogue RCA jacks.