Combining Beam with existing Play 5

You could group them. They'd play music in sync. However for TV sound they'd be out of sync, which would make the arrangement non-viable.

How much out of sync? Fractions of a second?

I too am getting a Beam as i currently have my play 5 connected to the TV and also group with a play 1 in the adjoining kitchen. I've never noticed them being out of sync in this set up (although there's not a huge overlap in being able to hear them at the same time).

Cheers

@jacob_7, that's a slightly different situation. The play:5 isn't designed to work with your tv. Anything connected to the line in on the play:5 will be slightly buffered (70 ms I think) so that it can be grouped with other Sonos units and play in sync audio wise. Because of that buffer, you may notice the video on your tv to be out of sync with the audio. Some people notice and are bothered by it, others are not.

In other words, for your current situation, I would expect no audio sync issues between your play:5 and play:1. Any sync issues would be between the video and audio.

The Beam is designed to work with your tv. It will play the audio without a buffer so that it's in sync with the video on the tv (only when playing tv audio). However, that means that when you group your Beam with other Sonos zones/rooms the audio will not be in perfect sync (only when playing tv audio).

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@jacob_7, that's a slightly different situation. The play:5 isn't designed to work with your tv. Anything connected to the line in on the play:5 will be slightly buffered (70 ms I think) so that it can be grouped with other Sonos units and play in sync audio wise. Because of that buffer, you may notice the video on your tv to be out of sync with the audio. Some people notice and are bothered by it, others are not.

In other words, for your current situation, I would expect no audio sync issues between your play:5 and play:1. Any sync issues would be between the video and audio.

The Beam is designed to work with your tv. It will play the audio without a buffer so that it's in sync with the video on the tv (only when playing tv audio). However, that means that when you group your Beam with other Sonos zones/rooms the audio will not be in perfect sync (only when playing tv audio).

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Thanks!

I never get the issue with the TV being out of sync with the TV (so I clearly fall into the "not bothered" category)

So I'll just get a 70ms delay with my kitchen when I get the Beam which is probably not going to bother me either. I was worried it might be a whole second or even more.

Thanks for the info.

OK, so does the Sub connectivity differ from Play 5? Sonos market the Sub as "Get immersive sound and deep bass plus voice control for your TV, music, and more."

Yes. SUB is bonded with its parent player, not grouped. It becomes a semi-permanent part of that room. It always plays in sync.

Ah! - and I take it then that the Play 5 can't be bonded...

I mean the Play 5 can't be bonded to a Beam...

Oh well... Thanks for all your advice, it's a pity I can't use the Play 5 how I want... never mind - upward & onward!