Home › Product Finder › Home Audio & Video

Sonos Play:3

The Sonos Play:3 features three Class-D digital amplifiers and three drivers--one tweeter and two 3-inch mid-range drivers, as well as one passive, rear-firing bass radiator. The cabinet has volume and mute control and it measures up 5.2 x 10.5 x 6.3 inches (132 x 268 x 160 mm) while weighing in at 5.7 pounds (2.6 kg).

Based on 34 reviews

Excellent:

12
Good:

15
Average:

4
Bad:

3

Pros

Insane amount of music options.
Very affordable for Sonos.
Wireless is an option.
Two boxes make a nice (and loud) "stereo pair".
Strong audio performance.
Can be paired with a second unit to make a stereo pair.
Switches to mono output automatically when in vertical orientation.
You can control the Sonos Play: 3 single-speaker streaming-audio system from any iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, or Android smartphone using a free app.
Painless to set up.

Cons

Sound gets distorted at high volumes.
No option to hook to a larger AV setup.
Needs hardwired connection or $50 more for wireless.
No aux input for direct listening from a mobile device.
Needs the Sonos Bridge to function wirelessly (not included).
Sonos Desktop Controller does not automatically update your music library.
The Play:3 has almost no stereo separation and doesn't offer the detail and clarity of the step-up Play:5.
Frustrating software controls.
Slightly pricey.
Muddy bass at top volumes.
Now Sonos is more affordable than ever, but you still need to shell out money for the $49 Bridge. Would be nice if there was an easy way to integrate it into preexisting stereo setup.

By PC Authority on November 02, 2011

Can the latest gadget from the wireless streaming pioneer compete with its AirPlay-packing rivals?...

83
By Whathifi.com on October 24, 2011

It might not feel like it, but has been around for quite a while. Perhaps the reason it always feels fresh and vibrant is because the company is constantly evolving.A recent rebranding exercise has resulted in the Play:3, which brings with it an all...

100
By Stuff.tv on October 01, 2011

Easy to install, sounds great and won't break the bank. Top marks all round...

100
By RegHardware on September 27, 2011

Sonos has at last built a wireless music box for the less well-off - and built a rather good one too. The Play:3 is physically small enough to be easily sited in any lounge, office or bedroom but produces a big enough sound to act as a primary...

90
By CNET UK on September 19, 2011

The cheapest Sonos speaker yet, the Play:3, is as easy to use and as versatile as we'd expect. But, if you can lay down a few more notes, the Sonos Play 5 is worth the...

80
By Computeractive on September 16, 2011

The new Play: 3 finally makes Sonos (relatively) affordable – and quality is great...

100
By Big Picture Big Sound on September 16, 2011

The PLAY:3 isn't the best-sounding product that Sonos makes, but it's certainly the most compact, the simplest to use and configure, and the most affordable. On its own, in a single speaker configuration it doesn't quite belt out the music...

88
By Macworld Australia on September 09, 2011

If you are looking for state- of-the-art sound quality mixed with the ability to have millions of songs at your fingertips, this is the system for you. The Play:3 is the most seamless wireless networking solution I have ever tried. Sonos does become...

100
By PC Advisor on August 22, 2011

The Sonos Play:3 is a really impressive network music player that is ideal for music fans with smaller homes to fill with sound. Though the need for a separate Bridge unit bumps up the price a smidgen, for £300 you have an incredibly flexible music...

-
By PC Mag on August 17, 2011

The Sonos Play:3 sounds fantastic and is finally affordable, but the omission of an aux input or the ability to dock or stream directly from a phone or iPod make the system less versatile than other wireless audio options....

70