Sonos Launches a Portable Speaker that Doubles as a Desk Companion

The new Sonos Play is a $299 speaker that can act as a portable speaker inside and outside your home. It sits on your desk in a pill-shaped dock, but at 1.3 kilograms, it's easy to carry around the house or take outside. This hybrid speaker is part home speaker, part portable, and it's Sonos's first new device in more than a year.

I recently tested the Sonos Play and found it to be a solid speaker that largely delivers on its premise. I often started a podcast at my desk and carried the Play to the kitchen while I cooked or made coffee. The advantage over wearing AirPods is that you remain aware of your surroundings, and you don't need to rely on voice commands to control playback. Physical controls are another advantage, as skipping tracks or adjusting volume with greasy hands is awkward on AirPods.

The Sonos Play has a sturdy design and is IP67-rated, meaning it can handle rain and brief submersion. It can also charge your phone in a pinch, doubling as a power bank, which is a welcome feature for outdoor use. For sound, the Play relies on dual-angled tweeters, a mid-woofer, and three digital amplifiers, with two passive radiators to reinforce bass outdoors. The result is balanced and detailed at moderate volumes, with good instrument separation.

The Sonos Play is well-suited to a desk or a patio, but it isn't trying to fill a room. For that, Sonos's Era 100 SL is the better choice. Two Play units can be paired into a stereo configuration, either through the app or by holding the play/pause button on both speakers simultaneously. This feature makes a noticeable difference for music, but less so for television audio, which these speakers aren't really designed for anyway.

Sonos has also built in Trueplay, which uses the speaker's microphones to automatically calibrate sound based on the room. This feature handles the calibration automatically, which is an improvement over earlier versions that required waving your phone around the space to tune the audio. However, the Sonos app still has some rough edges, with occasional lag and delays when playing or pausing audio on YouTube.

The Sonos Play is a solid speaker that works equally well on a desk and a back porch. It's a great option for those who want a portable speaker that can handle both indoor and outdoor use. While the app issues are real, they're not deal-breakers, and Sonos has shown it is willing to iterate and improve its products.

The Sonos Play is part of a larger trend of portable speakers that are designed to be used both indoors and outdoors. These speakers are perfect for people who want to listen to music or podcasts while they're cooking, gardening, or just relaxing in their backyard. They're also great for people who like to take their music with them when they're on the go.

In terms of competition, the Sonos Play faces off against other portable speakers like the Sonos Roam 2 and the JBL Charge 6. These speakers offer similar features and functionality, but they may not have the same level of sound quality or durability as the Sonos Play. The Sonos Play is also more expensive than some of its competitors, but it's worth the extra cost for the quality and features it offers.

Overall, the Sonos Play is a great option for anyone who wants a portable speaker that can handle both indoor and outdoor use. It's a solid speaker that works well in a variety of settings, and it's a great addition to the Sonos lineup.

One of the key benefits of the Sonos Play is its ability to seamlessly transition between indoor and outdoor use. This makes it perfect for people who like to listen to music or podcasts while they're cooking, gardening, or just relaxing in their backyard. The speaker's sturdy design and IP67 rating also make it durable enough to withstand the elements, so you don't have to worry about it getting damaged if you leave it outside.

The Sonos Play also has a number of features that make it easy to use and control. The physical controls are easy to access and use, and the speaker's integration with the Sonos app makes it easy to stream music and podcasts from your phone or tablet. The speaker also has a utility loop on the back, which makes it easy to carry around.

In terms of sound quality, the Sonos Play delivers balanced and detailed sound at moderate volumes. The dual-angled tweeters and mid-woofer provide clear and crisp sound, and the two passive radiators help to reinforce the bass. The speaker's soundstage is narrow, but it's perfect for a desk or patio, and it's not trying to fill a room.

What happens next for the Sonos Play is unclear, but it's likely that the company will continue to iterate and improve the speaker and its app. Sonos has a history of listening to customer feedback and making changes to its products, so it's likely that the company will address some of the issues with the app and the speaker's design.

What do you think about the new Sonos Play, is it worth the $299 price tag, and do you think it's a good option for people who want a portable speaker that can handle both indoor and outdoor use? Should companies prioritize sound quality or durability when designing portable speakers, and what features do you think are most important for a speaker like the Sonos Play?

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Filed under: SonosPlay, PortableSpeaker, HomeAudio, OutdoorSpeaker, TechReview