Contributor I

Question

How do I connect Play:5s to the TV? And Will Quality be compromised?

23 replies
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Hello! I'm not really interested in buying a playbar because my primary objective is to play music in my living room via my mobile devices, etc. However, since my TV is also in my living room, I think it a bit of a waste to have a music system in place that doesn't integrate with my TV. So...originally, I was thinking of purchasing two Play:3s, since my buddy has this setup in his home. I really liked the sound quality of the Play:3s for the value! However, I notice that the Play-3s have no in-line input to connect to the TV. Can you tell me the different solutions for integrating the Play:3s or Play:5s to the TV - other than purchasing the playbar? If I were to purchase two Play:5s instead, how would I set them up to my TV? Would there be any sound delays from TV to the Play:5s in this scenario? FWIW, I have a Sharp Aquos TV. Thank you! D

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Ryan S

Retired Sonos Staff

Hello David,

The CONNECT, CONNECT:AMP, and PLAY:5 all have analog audio inputs which you could have wired into the TV and use it to stream the audio to any Sonos components. The Line-In on these components isn't designed for use with a TV and you can experience some latency issues while the audio signal is converted through the RCA.

If you have a pair of PLAY:5s, you can use the Line-In on either or both of those units. Have the 3.5mm headphone jack from the TV plugged into the Line-In on the PLAY:5 and you can use that to listen to your TV.

The PLAYBAR has an optical connection instead of the RCA for decreased latency and increased quality of playback. For use with a TV, that is our recommended player.

Cheers.

Mark good posts by pressing the like button, and select the best answer on questions you've asked to help others find solutions.

A

Andy_69

Contributor I

Hello David,

The CONNECT, CONNECT:AMP, and PLAY:5 all have analog audio inputs which you could have wired into the TV and use it to stream the audio to any Sonos components. The Line-In on these components isn't designed for use with a TV and you can experience some latency issues while the audio signal is converted through the RCA.

If you have a pair of PLAY:5s, you can use the Line-In on either or both of those units. Have the 3.5mm headphone jack from the TV plugged into the Line-In on the PLAY:5 and you can use that to listen to your TV.

The PLAYBAR has an optical connection instead of the RCA for decreased latency and increased quality of playback. For use with a TV, that is our recommended player.

Cheers.

Hi there. Im having an issue thats similar to your advice above. Can I set up a strereo pair of 2 Play 5s using the mini jack line in from a TV source into just one of the play 5s? Works ok for music (from sonos library etc) but when I switch to the Home Theatre I just get sound from one Play 5. Help? Stereo pairing doesnt seem to carry over. I can group them but thats not a stereo pair.

Ryan S

Retired Sonos Staff

Hello David,

The CONNECT, CONNECT:AMP, and PLAY:5 all have analog audio inputs which you could have wired into the TV and use it to stream the audio to any Sonos components. The Line-In on these components isn't designed for use with a TV and you can experience some latency issues while the audio signal is converted through the RCA.

If you have a pair of PLAY:5s, you can use the Line-In on either or both of those units. Have the 3.5mm headphone jack from the TV plugged into the Line-In on the PLAY:5 and you can use that to listen to your TV.

The PLAYBAR has an optical connection instead of the RCA for decreased latency and increased quality of playback. For use with a TV, that is our recommended player.

Cheers.

Hi Andy,

You only need to be wired to one side. The 3.5 mm signal going to your PLAY:5 will be stereo so if you're in a stereo pair you'll get audio from both sides. Make sure you're wired to the Left side for optimal connection strength.

If you're still having trouble, can you please submit a diagnostic from your system and reply back with your confirmation number? Make sure you're listening to the TV audio and aren't getting sound from one side. Please note which side you doesn't have audio from.

Thanks

Mark good posts by pressing the like button, and select the best answer on questions you've asked to help others find solutions.

A

Andy_69

Contributor I

Hello David,

The CONNECT, CONNECT:AMP, and PLAY:5 all have analog audio inputs which you could have wired into the TV and use it to stream the audio to any Sonos components. The Line-In on these components isn't designed for use with a TV and you can experience some latency issues while the audio signal is converted through the RCA.

If you have a pair of PLAY:5s, you can use the Line-In on either or both of those units. Have the 3.5mm headphone jack from the TV plugged into the Line-In on the PLAY:5 and you can use that to listen to your TV.

The PLAYBAR has an optical connection instead of the RCA for decreased latency and increased quality of playback. For use with a TV, that is our recommended player.

Cheers.

Diagnostic confirmation number is: 3845507
I have the line in running to the left play 5 unit (living room 2) and when stereo paired with the other play 5 (living room) the audio only comes from the right speaker (living room). Living room 2 goes silent.
The Sonos was in this state when I ran the diagnostic.
As I mentioned before - when grouped both units work correctly (but obviously not stereo!).

Thanks for the help on this.

Chris

Lead Maestro

I have a question with the original poster - you said that you are not interested in the Playbar because your primary objective is playing music in your living room.

You do realize the Playbar plays music exactly the same as if it were a Play:5 and has very good sound.

A Play:5 has 2 tweeters, 2 mid-range, one 3.5 woofer. The Playbar has 3 tweeters and 6 mid-range. Stand alone it may not get as low in bass as the Play:5 but it is pretty close with all of those mid's (of course a Sonos Sub paired with it would make for sound that would rival 2 Play:5's).

But functionally the Playbar is no different then a Play:5 other than having the TV input.

Respect the Queue (2)Move (3)Beam (1) Era100 (2)ARC (1)SonosOne (1)Playbar (4)Play5 (4)Play1 (3)Play3 (1)Port (2)Connect (1) Roam (2) Ace (1)Connect:Amp (4)Sonos Amp (1)Sub + (9) Echo + Smartthings; (2)Play)

Chris

Lead Maestro

Hello David,

The CONNECT, CONNECT:AMP, and PLAY:5 all have analog audio inputs which you could have wired into the TV and use it to stream the audio to any Sonos components. The Line-In on these components isn't designed for use with a TV and you can experience some latency issues while the audio signal is converted through the RCA.

If you have a pair of PLAY:5s, you can use the Line-In on either or both of those units. Have the 3.5mm headphone jack from the TV plugged into the Line-In on the PLAY:5 and you can use that to listen to your TV.

The PLAYBAR has an optical connection instead of the RCA for decreased latency and increased quality of playback. For use with a TV, that is our recommended player.

Cheers.

Your not accidentally plugging the TV output into the headphone jack on the back of Living Room 2 are you?

Respect the Queue (2)Move (3)Beam (1) Era100 (2)ARC (1)SonosOne (1)Playbar (4)Play5 (4)Play1 (3)Play3 (1)Port (2)Connect (1) Roam (2) Ace (1)Connect:Amp (4)Sonos Amp (1)Sub + (9) Echo + Smartthings; (2)Play)

A

Andy_69

Contributor I

I have a question with the original poster - you said that you are not interested in the Playbar because your primary objective is playing music in your living room.

You do realize the Playbar plays music exactly the same as if it were a Play:5 and has very good sound.

A Play:5 has 2 tweeters, 2 mid-range, one 3.5 woofer. The Playbar has 3 tweeters and 6 mid-range. Stand alone it may not get as low in bass as the Play:5 but it is pretty close with all of those mid's (of course a Sonos Sub paired with it would make for sound that would rival 2 Play:5's).

But functionally the Playbar is no different then a Play:5 other than having the TV input.

Hi Chris,

No - I'm running a 2 x (RCA) phono to 3.5mm stereo mini jack cable from tv to line in on Living room 2 play 5.
If I was running to the headphone jack I would have no signal at all as the line into Living room 2 is the only audio source to either play 5.

Any ideas?

Cheers for the help

Chris

Lead Maestro

I have a question with the original poster - you said that you are not interested in the Playbar because your primary objective is playing music in your living room.

You do realize the Playbar plays music exactly the same as if it were a Play:5 and has very good sound.

A Play:5 has 2 tweeters, 2 mid-range, one 3.5 woofer. The Playbar has 3 tweeters and 6 mid-range. Stand alone it may not get as low in bass as the Play:5 but it is pretty close with all of those mid's (of course a Sonos Sub paired with it would make for sound that would rival 2 Play:5's).

But functionally the Playbar is no different then a Play:5 other than having the TV input.

But they both work if not a stereo pair. Only thing I can think is - is their something wrong with cable that it is only sending the right audio channel via the wire.

What happens if you flip the red/white wires plugged into TV. Does the sound go from the right to the left. I'm thinking your only inputting the right channel into Sonos.

Respect the Queue (2)Move (3)Beam (1) Era100 (2)ARC (1)SonosOne (1)Playbar (4)Play5 (4)Play1 (3)Play3 (1)Port (2)Connect (1) Roam (2) Ace (1)Connect:Amp (4)Sonos Amp (1)Sub + (9) Echo + Smartthings; (2)Play)

A

Andy_69

Contributor I

I have a question with the original poster - you said that you are not interested in the Playbar because your primary objective is playing music in your living room.

You do realize the Playbar plays music exactly the same as if it were a Play:5 and has very good sound.

A Play:5 has 2 tweeters, 2 mid-range, one 3.5 woofer. The Playbar has 3 tweeters and 6 mid-range. Stand alone it may not get as low in bass as the Play:5 but it is pretty close with all of those mid's (of course a Sonos Sub paired with it would make for sound that would rival 2 Play:5's).

But functionally the Playbar is no different then a Play:5 other than having the TV input.

I swapped the phones round and attempted the stereo pair again - same thing happened. I expected the 'dead' play 5 to switch sides but it didn't.
Confused....

Chris

Lead Maestro

I have a question with the original poster - you said that you are not interested in the Playbar because your primary objective is playing music in your living room.

You do realize the Playbar plays music exactly the same as if it were a Play:5 and has very good sound.

A Play:5 has 2 tweeters, 2 mid-range, one 3.5 woofer. The Playbar has 3 tweeters and 6 mid-range. Stand alone it may not get as low in bass as the Play:5 but it is pretty close with all of those mid's (of course a Sonos Sub paired with it would make for sound that would rival 2 Play:5's).

But functionally the Playbar is no different then a Play:5 other than having the TV input.

If you connect the output to the other speaker - does it then become the dead speaker.

Respect the Queue (2)Move (3)Beam (1) Era100 (2)ARC (1)SonosOne (1)Playbar (4)Play5 (4)Play1 (3)Play3 (1)Port (2)Connect (1) Roam (2) Ace (1)Connect:Amp (4)Sonos Amp (1)Sub + (9) Echo + Smartthings; (2)Play)

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