Using my new SONOS 5's

Fives should have no Sub issues.

https://support.sonos.com/en-us/article/set-up-your-sonos-sub

Fives don't really need a Sub in a lot of rooms, consider it with the Play 3s (I use one with mine) or with the Playbar.

Maybe the old Play 5s as surrounds and the new Fives elsewhere, maybe as stereo speakers in your cave?

Firstly, the Fives require the current Sonos app, so if you are currently using the S1 app for your system due to the Play:5 (Gen1) being incompatible with the current app, you will have to upgrade the firmware of the other devices so they can be used in the same app.

The Fives will work with your existing Sub, either in a stereo pair or if you add them as surrounds with the Playbar.

Personally, I would have replaced the Play:5 (Gen1)s with a stereo pair of Era 100s and possibly a Sub Mini and left the man cave setup as it is.

Thanks Stanley _4 and Mr. T. Very helpful. I’m leaving the Play 5 Gen 1’s because they are the remnant that only use S1. Good to know that my Sub is not useless but sounds like it may be redundant. 

Probably late to this party…

However, to thoroughly answer your question with a bit of Sonos education…the Fives being used as surrounds would have no impact (interaction) with the Sub. The sub is bonded to the Playbar.

All information to the Sub and the Fives would come from the Playbar. Just as the current play:3’s being used as surrounds cannot be used independent of the Playbar nor would the Fives.

You would possibly have to factory reset the Playbar and Sub to get them working on S2 status with the Fives assuming you were using them on S1 to be compatible with the  play5 Gen1’s.

Personally, using the Fives as surrounds IMO is a waste of their potential especially being bonded to a Playbar. I’d factory reset the Playbar, sub and Play 3’s to bring them on S2 with the Fives. I’d swap out  Play 5 Gen1’s for the Fives. You could then do away with the S1 system and mothball the Play5 Gen1’s or sell them on eBay.

AjTrek1

Thanks for the incredibly helpful response.  As you could probably see, I’m not terribly sophisticated with these — just love the sound.  Looks like I will need to re think what I was going to do.  My plan was to move the play 3’s to a stand alone/independent status in a different room.  Sounds like that isn’t possible if I understand your note.  Is that correct?  They must be linked to the playbar?  I could always leave the Mancave system as is — playbar, sub and play 3’s.  Will have to transition to the S2 since the old play 5 gen 1’s were only compatible with the S1.  Do I need to do a factory reset on all of the units?  I can simply swap out the old play 5 gen 1’s for the new Fives in a separate room (wife permitting!)

​@JBWay4 

OK...thanks for thew reply.

The following assumes no longer using the Play:5 (Gen1)’s.

• Unless you want to run separate S1 and S2 systems for the Play:5 (Gen1)’s and other Sonos components respectively.
• S1 and S2 systems cannot be Grouped
• Click this link to learn more about separate S1 and S2 systems 

Current ManCave

• Consists of Playbar, Sub and Play:3’s as surrounds which is your Sonos Home Theater. Hereafter referred to a “HT”.
• If the HT was capable of being Grouped to the Play5 (Gen1)’s that means the HT was also on S1

Using Fives as Surrounds

• To use the Fives as surrounds in your HT the Playbar and Sub must be factory reset to be S2 compatible with the Five’s. This will require you to setup the HT as new from ground zero.

Using Fives as Stereo Pair

• If the Fives are setup as a stereo pair all components in the HT must be factory reset to S2; if you want to Group them (Fives and new HT) together at some point.

Five’s Impact on Sub

• None of the above impacts the Sub in reference to using the Fives.
• The sub is bonded to the Playbar.

What to do with Play:3’s

• Play 3’s must be removed from the Playbar using the “remove surrounds” option in the App
• Assuming the Play:3’s are on S1 they should be factory reset to S2 which will allow using them in a Group with the new HT; if desired. Afterwards you may set them up as a stereo pair or place them in separate rooms. 

Final Recommendation

• Use the Fives as a stereo pair to replace the Play:5’s (gen1)
• Factory Reset current HT to S2 assuming they are S1 at this point 
• Mothball or sell the Play:5 (Gen1)’s on eBay

I hope this clarifies your available options!

​@JBWay4 - If you are upgrading your existing S1 system to S2 then you should follow the guide to do so.

https://support.sonos.com/en-gb/article/update-to-the-latest-sonos-app-using-the-s1-controller

If you factory reset the devices as previously suggested then you will lose any Sonos playlists, favourites etc that you have previously created.

The only speakers you should potentially be factory resetting are the Fives as these are the most recent purchase, in order to have the majority of your devices on the newest firmware.

Mr. T, Thanks for the link.  Will follow.