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The Sonos Play is most attractive when it will spend much of its life at home. Wi-Fi streaming, room grouping and a charging base make it a flexible part of a Sonos system, while the battery and carry loop let it follow you outside. The value depends on using both sides of that design.
For someone buying only a travel speaker, the decision is harder. Several of its most useful controls depend on a network, and the included base still needs a separate power adapter.
Two angled tweeters give the Play a stereo-capable layout in one cabinet, with a midwoofer and passive radiators supporting the lower frequencies. Automatic Trueplay adjusts the tuning to placement once enabled through the Sonos app and Wi-Fi. This is useful for a speaker that moves regularly between a shelf, counter and outdoor table.
SoundGuys found an enjoyable but bass- and treble-emphasized balance, and wished for more detailed EQ than the available bass and treble sliders. 1 Those controls are enough for broad adjustments, but listeners who like correcting individual frequency bands should consider that limitation before building a pair.
Wi-Fi is the reason to pay for this speaker. It supports Sonos room grouping and AirPlay 2, so music can remain part of a home system while the phone does other things. Two Plays can form a stereo pair over Wi-Fi. Away from home, Bluetooth grouping can include up to three additional Play or Move 2 speakers, which is a separate arrangement from the Wi-Fi stereo pair.
SoundGuys found that app adjustments still depended on Wi-Fi while Bluetooth music was playing. 1 Set preferences before leaving the network and expect fewer controls on a remote outing. A separately sold Sonos Line-in Adapter adds an analog source, and the Combo Adapter can add Ethernet. Budget for the relevant adapter if a turntable or wired network is part of the plan.
Sonos quotes up to 24 hours under its usage assumptions. In SoundGuys’ continuous playback test at 80 dB measured one meter away, the speaker lasted 14 hours 25 minutes. 1 That result is a more useful planning reference for a louder gathering than assuming the full headline figure will apply at every volume.
The charging base encourages a simple return-and-recharge routine, but requires an 18 W or higher compatible USB-C PD adapter bought separately. Its indoor-only design also means the base should remain inside when the speaker moves outdoors. The replaceable battery is valuable for longer ownership, while phone charging is a convenient occasional use of the same energy reserve.
The upright enclosure has a small footprint and a removable carry loop. At 1.3 kg it is comfortable territory for moving between rooms, with more weight than an incidental pocket speaker. IP67 protects the speaker against dust and temporary immersion under the stated conditions.
A physical switch disconnects the microphone hardware. That is useful for anyone who wants a clear choice about voice services and room sensing, though microphone-dependent functions also cease when it is off. The physical playback controls keep everyday operation straightforward without opening the app for each track.
A Sonos Move 2 is worth considering when its larger format fits a mostly home-based role, and it can also join Play’s Bluetooth grouping. For a simpler portable approach, the Session 900 offers phone charging and custom EQ through a phone app. The choice turns on whether room-to-room streaming is part of daily use.
The Play earns its place through home-system convenience, a charging routine and the ability to leave the house without changing speakers. It is a good fit for an existing or planned Sonos setup. Buyers whose listening is almost entirely away from Wi-Fi should put more of their budget toward outdoor playback features.
This is a research-based review. The Fasit has not physically tested this product.
Independent sources cited in this article.
Test unit ran 14 hours 25 minutes at 80 dB measured at 1 m. Reviewer found bass and treble emphasized and limited EQ. App controls required Wi-Fi even during Bluetooth playback.