Avid Contributor I

Question

Own a play:1 pair, what to get next?!

16 replies
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Quite a simple really. I currently own two play:1 set as a stereo pair at one end of my open plan rectangle living room dining room (facing into the room from the dinning room end wall but clearly audible from the living room). They really are great speakers for the size and I am now looking into my next sonos purchase. These are the options I am considering;

1/ Add a sub to my current setup.
2/ Buy a play:5 to replace my current setup (which would then be distributed between the kitchen and bathroom) which would also allow me to add a record player in the future but loose out on the stereo separation I now enjoy.
3/ Buy a play:1 for the kitchen and for the bathroom.

I had thought about the soundbar but I am a little put off by what I have read about DTS and TV pass-through issues.

So tell me, what would you do?

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jgatie

The Sub is awesome. But if I were you, I'd get a feel for the multi-room aspect by getting a Play:1 in other rooms. Multi-room is where Sonos really shines. Then go back for the Sub/Play:5 another time. But only you can know if that's what you want.

P

Paul Watkins

Enthusiast I

Quite a simple really. I currently own two play:1 set as a stereo pair at one end of my open plan rectangle living room dining room (facing into the room from the dinning room end wall but clearly audible from the living room). They really are great speakers for the size and I am now looking into my next sonos purchase. These are the options I am considering;

1/ Add a sub to my current setup.
2/ Buy a play:5 to replace my current setup (which would then be distributed between the kitchen and bathroom) which would also allow me to add a record player in the future but loose out on the stereo separation I now enjoy.
3/ Buy a play:1 for the kitchen and for the bathroom.

I had thought about the soundbar but I am a little put off by what I have read about DTS and TV pass-through issues.

So tell me, what would you do?

I have a room setup similar to yours, though I have stereo Play:3's in my dining room that are audible from my living room. I bought a Play:1 for the living room, which I group with the stereo pair, which just helps bring the sound and greater clarity into the living area. Maybe I'll add a second Play:1 to it in the future.

K

Kumar

But if I were you, I'd get a feel for the multi-room aspect by getting a Play:1 in other rooms.

I agree; but if you have a large and easily accessible kitchen, put the record player and a 5 unit in it. Of course that will take away some of the reasons for having a record player, for other people to see and wonder at it:-) But that will allow music from it to be heard in both or just either of the two places.
The record player will possibly need an external phono amp, depending on what kind you have/buy.

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p1rate_chrisAuthor

Avid Contributor I

Thanks for your comments. I think I will "buy and try" both a sub and a play:5 through Sonos. The 100 day return policy seems a good opportunity to test both set-ups. One of the minor complaint I have read regarding the sub is that if you listen to diverse music genres, which I do, you might have to alter the strength of the bass quite often to compensate. As I am not really a bass-head, maybe the sub would be too much. However, if it compliments my play:1 without being too over-powering then maybe a sub would be a worthwhile investment.

K

Kumar

Worthwhile is always subjective, and the best way to decide is to try at home whenever possible. I found the Sub very worthwhile for a play 1 set up and I am no bass head either. The Sub adds a welcome richness to the sound at low listening levels as well, and I have not had to disturb its output level, once set to taste for one music genre.

Paulw123

Virtuoso

I think I would forget the sub(only really needed with movies when it gets its own .1 special track), get 2 x play5's for living room set-up as stereo pair (more bass than play1s, better sound stage), move play1s to bedroom and kitchen.

P

p1rate_chrisAuthor

Avid Contributor I

Worthwhile is always subjective, and the best way to decide is to try at home whenever possible. I found the Sub very worthwhile for a play 1 set up and I am no bass head either. The Sub adds a welcome richness to the sound at low listening levels as well, and I have not had to disturb its output level, once set to taste for one music genre.

Kumar, have you any experience of the play:5? If so, how do you find a single unit compares to a play:1 stereo pair plus sub? I really enjoy the stereo separation my play:1 pair provide, does a play:5 provide a comparable experience?

K

Kumar

I have only played around with the new 5 unit, and it is impressive. But physics will always prevent it from offering the stereo effect that a play 1 pair can, when properly placed with respect to the listening position.

And the play 1 pair + Sub completely outclasses a single 5 unit. For much the same reasons of stereo effects. So no, while a better speaker than the 1 on an apples to apples basis, it isn't comparable to a 1 pair + Sub. The only advantage it would offer is the line in feature that the 1 does not have.

But if you are getting a 5 and a Sub on a buy/try basis, you don't really need anything more than trying different set ups for yourself - quite easy to with Sonos kit.

Chris

Lead Maestro

I have a Play:5 (both the old one and a 2nd Gen).

It is a very good room filling speaker. However, 2 play:1s with a sub is going to beat it out with stereo separation and lower end ability.

2 Play:5's setup in stereo would be a much closer comparable to 2 Play:1s with sub. You would get a little better mid range with that setup but still not the low end the sub gives the Play:1s.

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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p1rate_chrisAuthor

Avid Contributor I

So that's a sub and play:5 ordered, I will keep you posted on my impressions!

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