Right out of the wrappers, the Sonos Play tells you it’s a speaker made to travel. A loop at the top lets you pick it up easily, plus the plastic enclosure (sans any cloth) signals that this is something that will survive splashes at the pool.
Indeed, Sonos’ latest portable speaker is aimed squarely at a popular segment now – those who want music at their barbecue gatherings as well as their bedroom with a sound box they can carry between places.
The 1.3kg Sonos Play comes in unoffensive black or white finishes and is IP67-rated, which means it’s dustproof and waterproof. Yes, it can even be submerged in 1m of water for up to 30 minutes, so remember to pick it up if it falls into the pool.
There is nothing flashy about the design on the Sonos Play, to be honest, but it feels solid enough for chugging into a bag and even to take a few knocks on the road.
At the back are a few handy controls. In particular, a microphone switch lets you turn it off, if you’re concerned about privacy and don’t use a voice assistant.
At the top of the speaker, there is a control panel that lets you easily manage playback and volume instead of solely relying on your phone.
The surface seems to be rubberised, which is great to keep out water, though I’m a little worried about it getting sticky over time in Singapore’s humid weather. I can’t test for that in a week or two, unfortunately.
In terms of Sonos’ lineup, the Sonos Play sits between the Coke-can-sized Sonos Roam 2 and the significantly larger Sonos Move 2. Sonos probably believes its new speaker offers the best of both worlds for folks who want something in between the two well-received models.
Let’s start with the revamped setup process and app interface, which the company had previously got a lot of stick for. I’d say the setup is generally easy, as long as you follow the instructions.
I got into some trouble because I run different virtual LANs at home on my Wi-Fi so the app got stuck halfway. I also had to reset the speaker a couple of times to get things going, but my test unit isn’t a standard one out of a retail box, so it may have needed the extra steps.
To be fair, once things are set up, it is easy to play music back on the Sonos app or straight from Spotify, for example. Just tell the Spotify app to connect and play back via the Sonos Play speaker on the same Wi-Fi network and you can kick back and enjoy the tunes.
The Sonos app is detailed but doesn’t go overboard with too many features. What I like is the ability to control if it tracks your recently played songs.
Of course, the equaliser controls are important as well. On this speaker, I find the bass a little heavier than previous Sonos portable speakers, such as the original Roam, which I loved.
I didn’t have them side by side to compare but my first instinct on listening to the new Sonos Play was to reach for the equaliser to reduce the bass and bring up the treble a little.
The quality is fine if you’re just using the speaker for background music, like loud rock tunes for a poolside barbecue or shoe-gazing dream pop before dozing off to sleep in your bedroom.
However, I am not as stoked as I was when I fired up the original Sonos Roam and the Move 2 later on.
I probably wouldn’t complain if I’m just trying to get music to fill a room but the Sonos Play isn’t the speaker you look to for an airy, transparent presentation.
Vocals come across clear enough, say, in Kings of Convenience’s folky tunes, but you wish there are more details on the guitars and percussions.
You can say the same about some bossa nova tracks from Baila Nova, for example. The vocals sound focused and unfussed but you might want more of the supporting instruments to create a more engaging soundscape in your head.
The new Sonos speaker does sound better with Leonard Cohen’s In My Secret Life, where the singer’s trademark low-pitch voice resonates so well.
Okay, Cocteau Twins works well too, with the jangly guitar and ethereal vocals (and ambiguous lyrics) lifting your day after you’ve tried to listen critically and forgot to simply enjoy the music!
Perhaps I shouldn’t be too difficult and judgemental of this Sonos speaker, which comprises two tweeters and a mid-woofer that are powered by three Class H amplifiers that promise efficiency.
Yes, don’t forget the Sonos Play runs on a 35Wh battery promising 24 hours of playback. In my study room, it works well whether it’s a couple of metres away from me or if I place it right next to me on the table. That’s versatile.
If there’s one problem I foresee, it’s the price. Costing S$549, the Sonos Play isn’t cheap in Singapore. The speaker is more expensive than Bang & Olufsen’s S$349 Explore, which already isn’t cheap.
The Sonos speaker, notably, also doesn’t come with an USB charger. The charging base which you place the speaker on needs to be plugged into your phone or laptop charger, if you have one. Otherwise, you need to buy a separate charger, which adds to the cost of an already expensive speaker.
I’d say give the Sonos Play a listen at the shops in Singapore. It’s certainly easy to like and handily portable, with sound that’s good enough for chilling. Look out for any sale, which happens from time to time for Sonos speakers.
