Can sonos work without a wifi router

oh and play 5 has a 3.5mm input jack to play directly on the Play:5

you can hook a Sonos unit directly to a computer or laptop via Ethernet to play music from that computer.  Only a single Sonos unit.

Otherwise pretty much need a router.  I would assume with upcoming wifi connection ability you could use a MiFi device as a router.  Thing is that router is needed to give each Sonos device an IP address.

Another way to answer the OP question:  Yes, you can use a non-Wifi router.

You will need to wire one Sonos device into the router.  No need for wifi.

If you have more than one device, the one that is plugged into a router will create a wireless network (just used by other Sonos devices).  

Of course, if you don't have ANY wifi network or access point on your network, you won't be able to use mobile devices like a phone or tablet as a controller.  You will have to use your computer to control the Sonos system -- or perhaps find one of the discontinued dedicated Sonos controllers.  

(There is one geeky techie workaround involving android devices and setting up a temp wifi network to configure it and then switching it over to sonosnet but that's going off the deep end.)

In short, though:

1) You need a router.
2) It does not have to be a wifi router
3) If you don't have a wifi access point somewhere on your network, you will be limited in how you can control the sonos (hard wired computer will be required).

I was going to buy a Playbar/Sub combo and 2 pair of Play:1 speakers for my getaway cabin (no Internet & no wifi & no router). Need a plan B now. Guess Sonos is not a truly wireless system after all.

Hi Scott. If you are willing to drop that sort of money on a system, why not drop $30 more on a cheap router? It doesn't have to be connected to the internet to run Sonos. You will need to do the setup where you have internet (i.e. home) then just move it over. Plan A is fine. I have done this myself.

I was going to buy a Playbar/Sub combo and 2 pair of Play:1 speakers for my getaway cabin (no Internet & no wifi & no router). Need a plan B now. Guess Sonos is not a truly wireless system after all.
You are good to go.  Get a router, set up the speakers once at your main home with the internet, then run them off the router at the cabin.  

What's your music source at the cabin?

I was going to buy a Playbar/Sub combo and 2 pair of Play:1 speakers for my getaway cabin (no Internet & no wifi & no router). Need a plan B now. Guess Sonos is not a truly wireless system after all.
I would use my laptop hopefully. I would also need a discontinued controller?

Hi Scott. If you are willing to drop that sort of money on a system, why not drop $30 more on a cheap router? It doesn't have to be connected to the internet to run Sonos. You will need to do the setup where you have internet (i.e. home) then just move it over. Plan A is fine. I have done this myself.
Thanks. I did not understand those particular caveats. Not too much trouble I would hope.

I was going to buy a Playbar/Sub combo and 2 pair of Play:1 speakers for my getaway cabin (no Internet & no wifi & no router). Need a plan B now. Guess Sonos is not a truly wireless system after all.
Hhi Scott. No need for the controller. A free controller app on the laptop or on an iPhone iPad or Android device could be used to control the system. The controlling device just needs to join the wifi LAN created by the router. Then added to the Sonos system itself with just a few clicks.

Hi Scott. If you are willing to drop that sort of money on a system, why not drop $30 more on a cheap router? It doesn't have to be connected to the internet to run Sonos. You will need to do the setup where you have internet (i.e. home) then just move it over. Plan A is fine. I have done this myself.
Sonos set up is very straightforward and Sonos Support is very good in the unlikely event of a problem.