Sonos is like the Apple of the distributed audio scene. Its products “just
work” thanks to intuitive design, and they strike an aesthetic that is
simultaneously simple and classy. Unfortunately for many, the similarities
between Sonos and Apple also extend into pricing. The fantastic Sonos:Playbar,
for instance, is one of the best sounding options in the sound bar category, but
it runs a spendy $700, and that’s without a subwoofer. But the latest speaker
from Sonos, the $200 Play:1, is a deliberate effort to attract a new fan base to
the company’s walled sound garden, and it looks mighty enticing.
The Play:1 is smaller in both stature and price than the larger, $400
Play:5 or the $300 Play:3, but that doesn’t mean it will sound smaller. Sonos
has a way of coaxing big sound out of its small packages, and we expect this
speaker will be no exception.
The Play:1 isn’t a Bluetooth speaker, and it doesn’t work off of Apple’s
AirPlay wireless protocol. Instead, it works off a dedicated wireless “mesh
network” that you set up in your home using a Sonos:Bridge. The Bridge simply
hooks up to your home’s network and sets up a peer-to-peer network exclusively
for any Sonos products in the home. You control the speaker with your phone or
tablet, and can stream just about anything – from Spotify to Pandora to your
personal music library – to any number of Sonos speakers.
The Play:1 is a mono speaker, but if you use two of them, they can be
paired to offer stereo sound. And, since the Play:1 is part of the Sonos family,
a pair could also be used as surround speakers in conjunction with a Playbar
and/or Sonos:Sub.
Through the holidays, the Sonos:Bridge is free with purchase of a Play:1,
but when the deal runs out it will cost you $50. The Play:1 comes in white and
black and is available now. Check out Sonos’ video below to see the Play:1 in
action.
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