Play 5 Pair vs...

Play1s with Sub sound better. Newer technology as well.

Having both I'd have to say that I would agree that the play:1 pair plus sub would slightly win out but not by much. Also note that the play:5 pair would be about $3-350 cheaper....so it's kind of apples and oranges for price

Do you mean the quality of the bass or the quantity between the two options?

Or, you could get two Play:5s and the sub.

I guess what Im trying to determine if the quality overall is better with play1 pair + sub or just play 5 pair. I'm sure will give alot of bass 😛 but the quality of it is more of a question.

Pure quality I say 2 play 5s trumps the play1 + sub (which had better bass). I have tried both btw.

Personally I would get the 2 play5s now and then leave the option open for the SUB added to it down the road-this option is UNREAL

I brought home a pair of play 5s to demo against my play 1 pair (no sub).
After careful listening back and forth, the pair of play 5 won. Surprisingly, the play 1 pair seemed like they had more bass. I do believe the play 1 is using eq to boost the bass (which is very good BTW).
The 5s upper mid is cleaner with more details, and overall more air than the 1. Some clever tricks indeed Sonos has implemented on the play one which is just a bit harsh on the trebel but the bass is very deep and detailed with the eq they use..just not as smooth and refined as the 5 IMO..

I brought home a pair of play 5s to demo against my play 1 pair (no sub).
After careful listening back and forth, the pair of play 5 won. Surprisingly, the play 1 pair seemed like they had more bass. I do believe the play 1 is using eq to boost the bass (which is very good BTW).
The 5s upper mid is cleaner with more details, and overall more air than the 1. Some clever tricks indeed Sonos has implemented on the play one which is just a bit harsh on the trebel but the bass is very deep and detailed with the eq they use..just not as smooth and refined as the 5 IMO..

I just read this thread and I'm happy to read that the conclusions you came to are approximately the ones I was gonna post.
The Play:1s are pretty impressive I must say, but the Play:5 sounds much richer, especially in the middles (well, at least, it's my opinion). A Sub won't replace that, despite the fact that a pair of Play:1s with a Sub is indeed a good setup.
Of course, a pair of Play:5s, without the Sub, won't give you the rich and full bass of the Sub!... So it's all about trade-offs.

To conclude, I would second Chirosino and say get a pair of Play:5s and wait to have the budget to buy the Sub! :-p
But other aspects come into consideration of course: looks, form-factor (both in favor of Play:1 I think) and functionality (in favor of Play:5 with the Line-In in particular).

This is really helpful. Thank you.

I'm hearing 2 Play:5's have no need for a sub.