As a remote worker, I often use headphones or AirPods for audio, but I’ve been searching for a compact desk speaker. This led me to review the Sonos Play, which is a recent addition to their product lineup.
Released in March, the Play is Sonos’s first new offering in over a year. Priced at $299, this speaker is a versatile blend of home and portable speaker qualities. It features a pill-shaped dock for your desk and weighs only 1.3 kilograms, making it easy to transport within the house or outdoors thanks to its convenient “utility loop” on the back.
In my testing, I would often start listening to a podcast at my desk, then move the Play to the kitchen while preparing meals or brewing coffee. Unlike AirPods, this speaker keeps you aware of your environment — meaning you won’t miss conversations happening around you. Additionally, you won’t have to rely solely on voice commands since both Sonos Assistant and Alexa are integrated into the device.
Another benefit is the physical controls. Adjusting your audio settings with messy hands can be frustrating on AirPods, but the Play’s buttons are much easier to use. However, the controls can be hard to find since they are the same color as the silicone top and are not very prominent. After a few days, I became familiar with their locations, but initially, this lack of contrast was a small annoyance that could have been improved.
This speaker is built to last, with an IP67 rating for water resistance, so I tested it under running water without any issues. It can also serve as a power bank to charge your phone, which is a practical feature when outdoors.
In terms of sound quality, the Play utilizes dual-angled tweeters, a mid-woofer, three digital amplifiers, and dual passive radiators to enhance bass performance outdoors. The audio is well-balanced and detailed when played at moderate volumes, with impressive instrument separation. However, the soundstage is somewhat narrow, which can make music feel constrained, and the clarity diminishes at higher volumes.
The Play excels as a desk or patio speaker but isn’t designed to fill an entire room. For that purpose, the Sonos Era 100 SL, which was launched alongside the Play, is a more suitable option. Notably, you can connect two Play units in stereo mode either through the app or by simultaneously pressing the play/pause button on both speakers, leading to a tangible audio improvement for music, though it is less effective for TV audio, which isn’t its primary purpose.
The Play includes a feature called Trueplay, which uses the speaker’s microphones for automatic sound calibration based on the room it’s in. Previous iterations required you to wave your phone around to tune the audio, which was cumbersome. The new version simplifies this process.
Sonos has faced challenges with its app’s reliability, including disappearing speakers and volume control issues. While there have been improvements, some minor glitches remain. For example, the synchronization between the Play and my MacBook was occasionally slow, and audio playback delays have occurred when using YouTube.
Transferring audio between speakers worked well via AirPlay but often failed in the Sonos app until I integrated Apple Music — and even then, this process felt unnecessarily complex. The app requires an “Apply” button to confirm speaker changes, which seems redundant compared to AirPlay’s single-tap functionality.
Additionally, there is a glitch with Pocket Casts where podcasts restart from the beginning instead of resuming where you left off.
In summary, the Sonos Play is a robust speaker that largely meets its expectations. The app’s issues are real but not severe enough to deter potential users, and Sonos has demonstrated a commitment to improvement. If portability is not essential, the Era 100 ($219) or Era 100 SL ($189) provide greater volume at lower prices. For a more rugged and portable option, consider the Sonos Roam 2 or JBL Charge 6. However, for a speaker that performs well both on your desk and outside, the Play establishes a convincing argument for itself.
