A New Era of Portability

The Sonos Play has quickly become my go-to speaker for desk and kitchen use. As someone who works from home, I've always wanted a compact speaker that doesn't take up too much space, and the Play fits the bill perfectly.

A Hybrid Speaker

Launched in March, the Sonos Play is a hybrid speaker that's part home speaker, part portable. Weighing in at 1.3 kilograms, it's easy to carry around the house or take outside. The Play sits on your desk in a pill-shaped dock, but can be easily removed and taken on the go.

Sound Quality

The speaker features dual-angled tweeters, a mid-woofer, and three digital amplifiers, with two passive radiators to reinforce bass outdoors. The result is balanced and detailed sound at moderate volumes, with good instrument separation. However, the soundstage is narrow, making the music feel somewhat contained rather than expansive.

Additional Features

The Play has a range of useful features, including a built-in power bank that can charge your phone in a pinch. It's also IP67-rated, making it resistant to rain and brief submersion. I put it to the test by running it under a tap, and it worked perfectly.

App Issues

While the Play is a solid speaker, it's not without its flaws. The Sonos app has had its share of issues in the past, and the Play is no exception. Sync between the speaker and my MacBook was occasionally laggy, and playing or pausing audio on YouTube sometimes produced a noticeable delay before the speaker responded.

Conclusion

Despite its minor flaws, the Sonos Play is a convincing case for itself. It's a solid speaker that delivers on its premise, offering balanced sound and a range of useful features. If portability isn't a priority, the Era 100 or Era 100 SL offer more volume for less money. But if you want a speaker that works equally well on a desk and a back porch, the Play is worth considering.