Thinking about updating your home’s audio system? Flirting with the idea of going wireless? Keep hearing good things about Sonos? You’re in the right place.

This guide is designed to show you exactly what you can and can’t do with Sonos speakers. I will detail all the current models, show you the best places to buy them, and finally, provide information on what makes them tick – meaning, specs and performance.

Speaking personally, I am a huge Sonos advocate. Have been for years. But if you’re new to the wireless speaker space, think of this article as a quick primer on everything you need to know about Sonos speakers.

What Is Sonos?

Sonos is a very well known brand these days. The company has spent a lot of money developing its brand over the years and the net result of this is that Sonos is now one of the most well known and visible brands in the home speaker space.

Originally formed in 2002, Sonos has grown rapidly in recent times as the demand for wireless speakers, driven by the proliferation of phones and digital music streaming, has grown.

The company has developed an extensive range of speaker solutions for the home that, while expensive when viewed as a whole, offer a innovative build-it-as-you-go-style approach to developing a complete speaker network for one’s home.

For instance: you can buy a single speaker or a pair, then, add in a TV stand speaker or a unit in your bedroom at a later date. There’s no time frame, so you can grow your system at your own rate – or just stick with one or two units.

Everything is controlled wirelessly via the Sonos App, available for iOS and Android, as well as Mac and Windows, so once the speakers are setup and connected to a network, everything is handled on your phone or computer.

Why Sonos?

For me, Sonos is all about great-sounding music and subtle, yet attractive design. The speakers are rather minimalist-looking; they kind of just blend into the background wherever they are situated.

Setup is super simple, although it would be nice to have other connection options for when you’re having issues with your WiFi – something like Bluetooth or NFC would be great.

For most, though, it is the sound quality and the ease with which you can grow your home system. The starter units are very small but produce impressive sound. Add in bigger units and sub-woofers and you can create something truly impressive.

How Sonos Works

It’s wireless, obviously. But the INS and OUTS of how Sonos runs its speakers is a little more complicated than merely streaming music around your home, as noted on the company’s Wikipedia page.

“The Sonos system creates a proprietary AES-encrypted peer-to-peer mesh network, known as SonosNet. This allows for each unit to play any chosen input and if desired share it as synchronised audio with one or more other chosen zones.

“A single ZonePlayer or ZoneBridge must be wired to a network for access to LAN and Internet audio sources when using this feature, or when creating a 3.1/5.1 surround setup.[37][38] SonosNet 2.0 integrates MIMO on 802.11n hardware, providing a more robust connection. Sonos does not implement wake-on-wireless technology, instead requiring that every Sonos player or bridge constantly maintains a wireless connection, even when in standby mode or connected by cable.

“Sonos devices do not have power buttons, and the company claims that each speaker consumes 4-8W in idle/standby.”

The Sonos Speaker Family

As of right now, Sonos makes five styles of smart speaker: a trio of smart speakers (PLAY:1, PLAY:3 and PLAY:5), a soundbar (PLAYBAR) and a subwoofer (SUB).

The smart speakers are where most people, including myself, start their Sonos journey, so let’s begin there.

Sonos PLAY:1, PLAY:3 and PLAY:5

Sonos PLAY: 1

The Sonos PLAY: 1 speaker was the first one I bought. It is also the most common of all Sonos speakers. Mostly because it is the cheapest, but also because it offers great sound quality and it looks great.

The Sonos PLAY: 1 is designed to fit anywhere; you can have it in your living room, on a shelf in the kitchen, attached to the wall – whatever. It is small, but do not be fooled by its size – this is one potent unit.

Key Features Include:

• Two Class-D digital amplifiers perfectly tuned to match the speaker drivers and acoustic architecture.
• One tweeter creates a crisp and clear high-frequency response.
• One mid-woofer ensures you’ll hear the faithful playback of mid-range vocal frequencies plus deep, rich bass.
• Adjustable bass and treble controls let you customise your sound by individual room or groups of rooms.

The Sonos PLAY: 1 exact dimensions are 161.45 x 119.7 x 119.7 mm and it weighs just 1.85KG.

If you’re looking at dipping your toe into the world of Sonos speakers, the Sonos PLAY: 1, in my opinion, is the best place to start, as it offers excellent sound, doesn't cost too much and will get you fully acquainted with how the Sonos ecosystem works.

Who’s This For?

• Newbies to Sonos ecosystem. 
• Those on tighter budgets. 
• People that live in small flats.

Click Here To Buy Yours Direct From Sonos

Sonos PLAY:3

Like the Sonos PLAY: 1, the Sonos PLAY:3 is again designed to fit inside any room. It is larger and it does look different to the Sonos PLAY:1, but if you’re after a slightly bigger sound, say, for a big kitchen or an extension, then this is potentially a better, though pricier, option.

You can mount this speaker to a wall, hide it behind a sofa or chair, or simply leave it on a shelf. As I said earlier, Sonos speakers are designed to blend in with the design and aesthetics of your home.

Key Features Include:

• Three Class-D digital amplifiers perfectly tuned to match the three dedicated speaker drivers and the acoustic architecture.
• One tweeter creates a crisp and clear high-frequency response.
• Two mid-woofers deliver stereo sound and ensure you’ll hear the faithful playback of mid-range vocal frequencies plus deep, rich bass.
• A bass radiator provides deep, clean, and surprisingly powerful bass from such a small package.
• Adjustable bass and treble controls let you customise your sound by individual room or groups of rooms.

Who’s This For?

• Ideal for the living room or larger, social space. 
• Those with medium sized kitchens or spaces. 
• Perfect addition to a Sonos PLAY:1 for a bigger, more rounded sound.

Click Here To Buy Yours Direct From SONOS

Sonos PLAY:5

The Sonos PLAY:5 speaker is Sonos’ flagship smart-speaker, the one you go for if you want the best of the best. It is significantly bigger than the PLAY:1 and PLAY:3 and when you switch it on and start listening you will notice the difference.

The PLAY:5 has exceptional sound quality with huge, deep bass response and crystal clear mids. Everything sounds great through these speakers from The Pussy Cat Dolls to Mastodon.

If you want the biggest sound possible, the PLAY:5 is the one to go for. I’m thinking about adding one of these into my current mix of Sonos speakers, as I just moved house and have a much bigger kitchen that I think would benefit from the PLAY:5’s bigger specs.

Key Features Include:

• Six Class-D digital amplifiers perfectly tuned to match the six dedicated speaker drivers and the acoustic architecture.
• Three tweeters create the crispest and clearest high-frequency response.
• Three mid-woofers ensure you’ll hear the faithful playback of mid-range vocal frequencies plus deep, rich bass—without distortion, even at high volumes.
• Phased speaker array (three drivers on top and three on the bottom) create a wide stereo soundstage that directs the sound left, right, and centre.
• Audio line-in. An auto-detecting 3.5 mm connection.
• Adjustable bass and treble controls let you customise your sound by individual room or groups of rooms.

Who’s This For?

• Those that want the biggest and best sound. 
• Those that don’t mind paying more. 
• People with larger houses/spaces. 
• Ideal for medium to large open-plan offices/spaces

Click Here To Buy Yours Direct From Sonos

Sonos PLAYBAR

If you’re TV is lacking in the sound department, as a lot of models do, then the Sonos PLAYBAR could be just what the doctor ordered, as it saves you getting a new TV and doubles as a brilliant speaker for when you’re entertaining guests, gaming or just want to listen to tunes in the living room.

The bar, which sits in front of your TV, is styled beautifully and, when paired with Sonos’ sub-woofer, creates a HUGE sound that makes any film or gaming experience infinitely more engaging.

My old flatmate had one of these and I was so impressed by it I ended up buying one when I moved out. Turns out I couldn’t live without it; gaming and movies just weren’t the same.

These are pricy units, mind, but if you watch a lot of films or play games on a console and value excellent sound performance, you cannot go wrong with one of these in your home. I adore mine and would buy it again in a heartbeat.

Key Features Include:

• Nine Class-D digital amplifiers perfectly tuned to match the nine dedicated speaker drivers and the acoustic architecture.
• Three tweeters create the crispest and clearest high-frequency response.
• Six mid-woofers give you the full range of sound effects and music from the left and right channels, and crisp, clear dialogue from the centre. Mid-woofers act together as a phased speaker array so what you hear matches what you see on screen.
• Optical input to connect to your TV. Allows PLAYBAR to work with DOLBY DIGITAL and stereo.
• Adjustable bass, treble, and loudness controls to customise your sound preferences.
• Autoplay setting lets you choose whether or not TV audio will begin playback automatically.

Who’s This For?

• Anyone that wants cinema-grade audio in their living room. 
• Gamers. 
• People looking to up their TV’s audio capabilities. 
• Film buffs. 
• Anyone, really. This thing is an immense addition to any living room.

Click Here To Buy Yours Direct From Sonos

Sonos SUB

As the name suggests, the Sonos SUB is a sub-woofer and is designed to add A LOT more bass grunt to any Sonos system. Paired with the PLAYBAR, you get some seriously epic sounds when gaming or watching movies.

But it can also be paired with any of Sonos’ PLAY:1, PLAY:3 or PLAY:5 speakers for bigger and better bass response around the home.

I’m not a HUGE bass man, myself, so I don’t think this is a speaker I would ever purchase – the PlayBar does more than enough for my needs. You might be different; you might love the bass. And if you do the Sonos SUB is one of the best looking and well engineered options on the planet.

For starters it looks stunning. Second, there’s zero cabinet buzz or rattle. Third, it sounds enormous, adding in masses of depth to music and other media. Fourth, it is super simple to setup.

Key Features Include:

• Two Class-D digital amplifiers perfectly tuned to match the two dedicated speaker drivers and the acoustic architecture.
• Two force-cancelling speaker drivers positioned face-to-face for deeper, richer sound and zero cabinet buzz or rattle.
• Dual acoustic ports carefully tuned to enhance SUB performance.
• Frequency response: Plays down to 25 Hz.
• Automatic equalisation. Audio settings adjust to perfectly balance SUB and the paired Sonos speaker or component to optimise sound quality.
• Adjustable volume controls let you customise your sound.

Who’s This For?

• Bass freaks. 
• Anyone that wants the fullest sound possible. 
• Added oomph for gaming and movies. 
• Those that want a complete setup with the best possible, overall sound quality

Click Here To Buy Yours Direct From Sonos

That’s it – all of Sonos’ speakers detailed. If you’d like to know more, or have any questions about this speakers, drop me a line in the comments section below and I’ll get right back to you.