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My worry (before buying 2 of these, second-hand):

  • That when using them, through a modern wifi-6/ax wifi-connection, then problems will be = the reality.
  • => So, I worry, that the Sonos-Play5-gen1 will have trouble with Wifi-6/AX - because they can connect through BOTH 5-GHz AND 2.4GHz band,
  • and since the 5GHz-band is usually preferred by end-devices - then esablishing & keeping a wifi-connection” seems challenging - unless one does disable at-least “wifi-6/AX” on the 5 GHz-band !!

At the same time: Firmware updates-wise, this should be fixable - but sinse these speakers were 9 y.o. when wifi-6 did arrived, then I am unsure.

Plus: I see A LOT of end-users selling their “Play-5, Gen-1” speakers - and I fear, that “wifi-6 5GHz” IS a main reason.

 

ANY insight, from people having direct experience with this, is very welcomed.

I don’t have it implemented, but I thought WiFi 6 was supposed to be backwards compatible with WiFi ?

And wouldn’t these speakers still connect, using S1, to a 2.4 GHz signal?

 

You are right in, that they ALSO use 2.4GHz (I had overlooked this).

 

‘And, regarding the “backwards-compatibility” with wifi-6:

  • wifi-6 is “on-paper /claimed” 100% backwards compatible.
  • But, in practice, equipment made before wifi-6 did arrive, struggles!
  • AND, the Play5-gen1 ALSO uses the 5GHz band - and units doing so, tend to want to connect to the “faster/higher” band (here: 5GHz) - resulting in problems: Here, the clash between wifi-6 and the old-hardware & -software in the Play5-Gen1 speakers!
  • I have fx. yesterday had serious issues with an Echo-2 speaker (released in 2017, and it had not been FW-updated by the previous owner - that I got working with wifi-6 enabled (jn the 5GHz-band), after updating its FW). … And I have had some light-strips that didn’t get any FW-updates => that I had to disable wifi-6 (from 2021-2025 - before buying new light-strips .. and the problematic/old light-strips did even ONLY work in the 2.4GHz-band (as is usually the case, with IOT-equipment)!!).
  • So - this IS the issue: Wifi-6 is a big leap forward (it introduced very cool technologies).  The “collective” behind wifi-6, even themselves are writing about “the need for firmware-updates” (meaning that without firmware-updates, equipment become useless, unless one disables wifi-6) !!

Here’s what to consider with Wi-Fi 6 and a Play:5 (Gen1).

  • Wi-Fi 6 routers will typically default to WPA 3 security. Although you can set security to WPA2/WPA3.
  • The Play:5 (Gen1) will not connect to a router configured for WPA3.
  • The Play:5 (Gen1) will only connect to a 2.4Ghz band meaning it will (or should) ignore 5Ghz and 6Ghz

Sonos Limitations that may be created with Play:5 (Gen1)

  • Play:5 (Gen1) will only operate on S1.
  • That’s OK as long as you don’t purchase Sonos products that are S2 only.
  • If you do purchase Sonos S2 only products, you’ll have to setup separate S1 and S2 systems.
  • S1 and S2 systems will not communicate with each other. 

In My Opinion

  • Purchasing a Play:5 (Gen1) introduces too many variables and/or constraints.

Play:5 (Gen 1)_PDF

Sonos Wi-Fi Modes

EDIT: I personally use a mesh network comprised of three (3) ASUS Wi-Fi 7 routers

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