I've been using the Sonos Play 3 for a couple of weeks now with a Sonos wireless bridge and I have to say it is quite a remarkable system. I never give 5 stars, but I have never been so impressed with a technology system before. Very simple to use, well designed, and the controller app for PC and IOS is excellent. The Play 3 sound quality is quite good for a small set of powered speakers. The major benefit of the Play 3 is the easy portability of the system. I can move it to the porch or garage and within a minute the system is linked (you can easily tell its status - when the white led stops blinking, it is connected) and can use my ipad or iphone to control what I want to listen to. The ease of set up with the bridge is quite good. The system uses a simple auto-connect process to add devices to the Sonos network where, after being prompted by the application software, you press a button on the Sonos device and it automaitcally searches for a Sonos network to join. This is similar to the easy connect process many new wireless routers use to add devices. No passwords, but secure.
The Sonos wireless bridge does not use a standard wifi network, it creates its own proprietary wireless Sonos network which cannot be seen by standard wifi devices. I believe the Sonos uses some of the channels in the 2.4GHz range. I have not seen any interference issues with my existing wifi network.
You should do the initial set up from a PC or Mac, not a mobile device. I tried to do the initial set up from my ipad but when I added the app to my PC, the devices weren't recongnized and I had to reinitialize the system. To be fair, the Sonos app warned me that it is recommended to initialize the system from the pc app, so I don't consider this a problem - it was no big deal.
The design of the components is very good, not cheap or cheesy looking, and the ease of use is excellent. One's reaction is that this is the wireless music system I'd expect to see come from Apple in terms of robustness, design, and ease of use. Although my first reaction was that the system seemed to be a bit expensive, the Play 3 is not much more than a set of of higher end powered PC speakers, and when you include the Sonos functionality, my assessment changed to thinking it was actually a good value.
The system integrates easily with iTunes library and seems to support almost any media library. I've only really started to explore this aspect. Setting up music queues and playlists is trivially simple. The biggest drawback is that it is addictive - since getting the Play 3, I've added a Play Connect to my existing stereo amp and speakers. I can play to and from the Sonos system with my stereo now. This is really cool - I can play different streaming radio or music library tunes on the different Sonos devices in different rooms, or the same, or whatever the heck I want to do - all easily controlled from the Sonos app. I'm just seeing how soon before I justify another Sonos component. It's clear there is a very complex technological base for the Sonos system, both hardware and software, but that complexity is well hidden behind a simple to use interface for the user.
Sonos may not be the "cheapest" system for home music, but it is the best. I did a lot of research before purchasing and no one else nailed this application nearly as well as Sonos. It just does this, but it does it exceptionally well. Over the years, we've made a significant investment in our music library and I view the Sonos as a great way to unlock the value in this investment by making it easy for me to enjoy my library wherever I am in the house. Kudos to the Sonos team for a job well done.
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From the manufacturer
Stereo sound.
Even if you’re not an all-out audiophile, you still deserve great sound. Play:3 delivers, in stereo. Three Class-D amplifiers and three custom-built drivers create a full, wide sound stage so the instruments and vocals really shine. There’s also a bass radiator to pump out the lows.
Multiple orientations.
Stand it tall or set it on its side. Either way, Play:3 automatically optimizes the sound. When it's horizontal, it's in stereo. When it's vertical, it's in mono. The rubber feet on two sides make it safe for any surface.
Sonos Comparison Chart
 Play:3 |  One |  Play:5 |
|---|---|---|
Voice ControlWhen connected to Alexa device | Voice ControlYes - Alexa built in | Voice controlWhen connected to Alexa device |
Drivers3 | Drivers2 | Drivers6 |
Line-inNo | Line-inNo | Line-inYes |
Multiple orientationsYes | Multiple orientationsNo | Multiple orientationsYes |
Wall mountableYes | Wall mountableYes | Wall mountableYes |
Compare with similar items
This Item  Sonos Play:3 - Mid-Sized Wireless Smart Home Speaker for Streaming Music, Amazon Certified and Works with Alexa. (Black) |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | $283.83 | -7% $449.99 New Price: $482.99 | $449.00 | $248.00 | $738.00 | -7% $203.00 List: $219.00 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | Get it as soon as Monday, May 13 | Get it as soon as Monday, May 13 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14 | — | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Sound quality | ||||||
| Bluetooth connectivity | ||||||
| Value for money | ||||||
| Sold By | Renovar Tech | Mlaags | Amazon.com | Group Usa | Group Usa | Esquared Trading |
| power source | AC | Battery Powered | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | AC | Corded Electric |
| connectivity tech | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | WiFi, Ethernet |
| speaker type | Wireless | Bookshelf | Multi Room | Multi Room | Smart Speaker | Bookshelf |
| mounting type | Play | Tabletop | Tabletop | Shelf Mount | Play | Table Top |
| weight | 2.6 kilograms | — | 4.5 kilograms | — | 14 pounds | 1.9 kilograms |
| control method | voice | voice | application | voice | voice | voice |
| model name | Play:3 | — | Sonos Era 300 - Black | Sonos Era 100 - Black | Play:5 | Sonos One (Gen 2) |
| surround channels | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | 2 |
Videos
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2 of the Very Best Bluetooth Speakers to Get! #thisorthat
the Harts
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Using for Music and Movie Surround Sound. WiFi Sync Delay?
Daniel Anton
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My tips and a DEMO of the app
Jenny- lady from the 80s
Reviews with images
Fabulous sound throughout your house
I bought one Sonos PLAY:3 in 2016 and was amazed at the sound quality - which is better than my compact Bose speakers! We usually stream Google Play on it so we can call up any song or artist we like on demand. But we also play TuneIn channels like Radio Paradise or our favorite SiriusXM stations. After a year, I finally bought a second PLAY:3 for the 2nd floor of our home and it's great to roam around the house listening to your favorite music uninterrupted.My wife and I both realky love this little speaker. I can't recommend it highly enough. I wish I'd bought these earlier...
Top reviews from the United States
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Top reviews from other countries
Fer García
Excelente calidad de sonido con un diseño sumamente atractivo
Reviewed in Mexico on June 21, 2019Style: PLAY:3Color: WhiteVerified Purchase
GreyMittens
Another Sonos Hit!
Reviewed in Canada on July 30, 2015Style: PLAY:3Color: WhiteVerified Purchase
Kavita Boga
This speaker completes my suround system & the sound is very good. Unfortunately Sonos has no customer care in India ...
Reviewed in India on November 6, 2015Style: PLAY:3Color: BlackVerified Purchase
P
It does one thing beautifully, but ONLY ONE THING
Reviewed in India on February 5, 2018Style: PLAY:3Color: BlackVerified Purchase
Casicien
El futuro del audio en casa
Reviewed in Mexico on January 16, 2017Style: PLAY:3Color: WhiteVerified Purchase
