Will 2 play 5's Work with playbar? Or did I make a mistake?
I just bought into the Sonos Experience on New Years. The sales rep. said their was rumor of the playbar..which led to my decision to buy (2) play 5's, in hopes that in the near future I could also use them for Hometheater experience. What I have read thus far concerns me. No mention of Play 5 combined with Playbar.?? Will they work, or did I make a mistake....??
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Forgot to mention, the Playbar is great as a TV speaker if a little pricey..
Hello all, me again.. Personally I don't think the playbar is loud enough for a movie or music sub, I've used it with music & movies on loud with the rest of my Sonos and it just farts & distorts. Disappointed with the Playbar tbh (previous system Bose AM15, ground shaker, would buy Bose again) Mark x
Userlevel 7
+26
As Jgatie said, the SUB does have 5GHz which is used when it's paired with a PLAYBAR in either 3.1 or 5.1 setups.
The sub has 5GHz.
Userlevel 1
+1
If 5GHz is necessary for surround, then why is the sub not mentioned anywhere for having it?
Userlevel 7
+26
We don't have any plan or news available for an updated PLAY:5 with 5GHz support or setting up a way to add it as the surround for a PLAYBAR. As mentioned here, aside from the technical limitations, the audio profile out of the PLAY:5 would very likely overwhelm the PLAYBAR unless it was highly limited.
5GHz is only used for bonding Sonos components with the PLAYBAR in the surround setup. The PLAY:1 for example, has both 5GHz and 2.4GHz. It uses the 2.4GHz for all communication with Sonos components or your home network except for when you want to bond it as rear surround speakers with the PLAYBAR.
Userlevel 1
+1
I read somewhere else that the issue is because the play 5 is old and doesn't have 5GHz wireless... If this is the case, when doesn sonos plan to update the current play 5's to meet the requirement and if my speakers were all wired (ethernet connected), this should cancel the need for the faster wireless? I was just looking to buy a second play 5 but looking at these threads really makes me unsure if I want to invest in a product that is already outdated... I'd probably get the play 3 or 1 just to find out that the next feature they release isn't compatible.
Had the same problem but somehow was able to work it out by pairing the living room configuration with the Tv's Playbar and then setting the volume for each configuration. It's not perfect as it does not really works as real surrounds but it works.
Sorry for the mistakes, as I'm not a native speaker. I hope I helped you guys.
Sorry for the mistakes, as I'm not a native speaker. I hope I helped you guys.
Userlevel 7
+17
Sonos have never claimed the 5's could be used as rear speakers. They are also total overkill for that purpose. I would suggest you buy another play 1 to make up a pair then you can swap one play 5 in place of the original play 1 - you then have a 'spare' play 5 to use somewhere else 😉 I should add, the reason a 5 cannot be used is because it does not have the necessary wireless capability (5 ghz). I do think however they should allow for them to be hard wired as rear speakers in the same way as the connect amp.
I'm more p*ssed off.. I've been slowly adding to my Sonos collection over 2 years with two play 5's, a 3 and a 1 and a connect, and just recently added (yesterday) a playbar to my pair of 5's to find out they are not compatable, WTF! This must be a joke. Sonos can't do this surely? This defeats the object of a same brand wireless system. I'm now thinking should I take it back and get a Samsung surround soundbar for half the price??! Not a happy customer..
Hi Gabbe. As Jgatie's response implies, it makes no difference whether or not Sonos has read this thread. The Play:5 is technologically incapable of operating as surrounds with the Playbar, which is why Sonos has never, ever suggested that it could be so used.
You can use either Play:3's or Play:1's for surround. Costs less and gives you about the same experience. And while I can understand your misgivings about the misinformation supplied by Future Shops, why would you ever feel "misled by Sonos"? They certainly never state in any literature that a Play:5 can be used for surround sound. Matter of fact, right on the "Home Theater" information page it states:
Get full 5.1 surround sound with a PLAY:1 or PLAY:3 pair.Complete your home theater with a PLAY:1 or PLAY:3 pair as rear speakers. They’ll deliver deep, richly textured sound, and your movies and music will thank you.Emphasis mine.
Has anyone at Sonos read through all posts in this thread?
I have exactly the same frustrations and issues. I tried to buy top end and find that only the cheaper play 1 & play 3 are suitable. I also just bought my complete system together due to the great individual sound. Very disappointed in Sonos for not trying to resolve our issue with some solution given my system is only 2 months old.
I'm pissed! Just purchased two Play 5's and a Playbar from future shop. They didn't have a sub in stock so I was going to add one of those at a later date. Sales guy at future shop told me the play 5's could be used on their own for listening to music, or be combined with Playbar and sub for surround sound. Obviously this is not the case. I'll be returning these items tomorrow. I had great expectations and hopes for the sonos system but feel I've been misled by both sonus and future shop. I'm not a happy camper.
Has Sonos ever thought about some sort of exchange system? I've got a pair of Play 5's and would buy a Playbar in a heartbeat if it was compatible.
Hello. I'm not happy with this comment either. If you look at the top left room in the Sonos 'house' in the Sonos web videos (the room with the brown coffee table and brown shelves opposite the TV), you will see two P5s opposite a TV and a playbar with a Sub beside the TV. Is this a fib or just two different systems in the same room?
ChrisW has stated the issue perfectly. Okay, we get the Play 5s our out of sync with the new products in terms of frequency-why are the good folks at Sonos not trying to figure a retrofit to make the Play fives integrate with the new technology. If my Play fives were even 2 years old I would be willing to write them off because I absolutely love the new soundbar and bass- but my 5s are only months old.
Paradoxically, I'm frustrated yet pleased with what you folks at Sonos are doing to get rid of all those damn wires and improve sound quality!
Bruce from Oregon
I am lost. I just bought the play bar and the sub woofer. Should I add the Play 3s or the 5s for the "best" surround sound experience? Thanks in advance for your input. Phil
I'm totally with the boatload of people complaining the Play 5s don't work with the new sound bar and bass! I have the same issue.Your Company is doing great things with wireless but you are also punishing the loyal customers, like me, who bought Play 5s because we wanted more quality in our speaker system. Is this a marketing ploy to get us to buy an inferior speaker to increase your revenue? Figure a way to use the Dock or bridge to convert to the new HRZ level and treat your loyal base right!
CHECK THIS OUT...(btw. I'm the one who started this post). I recently purchased a sub and playbar with the understanding that my play 5's will not work for 5.1... I wanted it for our home theater experience and to expand my sonos system. I was told by the best buy rep. that the new update will allow us to use paired play fives as rears. I let him know that I would have to see it to believe it....Is this True?? Anyone? btw...the playbar(for music) with Sub sounds just as good if not better than paired play5's with sub....Great Sound!!!!
Userlevel 1
i was able to make this work..... although you cannot pair the play 5's w the playbar, you can still use them when watching tv by grouping them together. I have a setup with playbar, sub, and 2 play 3 surrounds, and I then add the play 5's in "stereo" to the mix while watching tv..... i was able to eliminate the audio echo tw the playbar and play 5's by manipulating the lip sych setting within the playbar advanced audio. works fine, all synched up and awesome! For SURROUND purposes, the play 3's with the sub and the playbar are more than adequate for my room - 20' x 20'. The play 5's just give another kick to the mix
I am in the same boat! But my play:5s are WIRED (so the 5GHz card cant be the issue). Is there some way to make this work?
+1
Thanks Paul. If it were simply a cost issue I would agree. But having already got two Sonos speakers and the SUB in the room this is simply leveraging the investment I have already made rather than add another technology. And the Sonos solution with soundbar + SUB + 2 Play 3s will give me 5.1 surround sound with all the quality of my Sonos system.
The Bose Solo is half the price and puts out enough sound to make it the only need for your TV. and no I am not a Bose employee.
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