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Recommendations for a Mobile TV Setup

  • December 11, 2025
  • 6 replies
  • 43 views

I have a fairly unique use case and I’m having trouble finding the right solution. 

Application: A mobile (portable) campervan setup, audio will be transmitted mostly via Airplay 2/Bluetooth from a portable projector and the content will majority be streamed TV shows with compressed audio. Van is appromately 150sf in it’s entirety but speaker would be placed directly in front of viewers, mounted at ear level and at about a 4’ distance away. Viewing will all be indoors. 

Goal: A portable, easy to setup/take down, speaker(s) that can do a decent job presenting dialogue and a decent cinema experience when necessary.

I realize there aren’t any single (or at worse 2) speakers that are going to reproduce anything close to a home theatre experience so I’m going for the best I can get.

Speakers I’ve looked at;

Sonos Beam Gen 2

Sonos Move 2

Sonos Era 300

Sonos Five

Sonos Era 100 (pair)

 

I’ve only heard in person the Beam Gen 2 which is decent but it’s pretty long so it is a bit hard to store and needs a lot of table area to setup. Dialogue sounds decent though so if that’s the best option I can handle that. The Move 2 has the benefit over the others of battery power and is the smallest of the group (outside of the 100s but I’d be getting 2) so that’s a decent perk. The Era 100 I could handle carrying a pair of them, all other items would be 1 only max (maybe 2 Move could work).

Appreciate any thoughts so I can try to find a passable solution. 

6 replies

Airgetlam
  • December 11, 2025

Given the delay necessary on all the other devices for an analog line in, I’d say your only real choice is the Beam. It has that special benefit of being designed for connection to a TV, which none of the others do. 


Stanley_4
  • Lead Maestro
  • December 12, 2025

A Ray isn't much smaller but given your small space it might work.

As you mentioned camping, make very sure you understand the Sonos needs for Internet connectivity and can meet them.

Also Sonos needs good quality power, a decent quality inverter will be essential for safe battery powered operation.


106rallye
Forum|alt.badge.img+18
  • December 12, 2025

The Ray does need an optical connection, that not all TV’s provide anymore. 


Stanley_4
  • Lead Maestro
  • December 12, 2025

  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • December 12, 2025

A Ray isn't much smaller but given your small space it might work.

As you mentioned camping, make very sure you understand the Sonos needs for Internet connectivity and can meet them.

Also Sonos needs good quality power, a decent quality inverter will be essential for safe battery powered operation.

Van will have a full inverter and network system. My understanding is Airplay requires routing through an internal network (router) but does not necessarily require an internet connection - I will have to test that. If I need internet all the time to make Airplay work then I will have to hardwire or go with something with more wireless capabilities than the Beam, even if Bluetooth or other options aren’t as ideal. Appreciate the note.


Stanley_4
  • Lead Maestro
  • December 12, 2025

There are many varieties of inverter, Sonos is going to do best on a well regulated full-sinewave one. The advertising rarely gives adequate information on these details and you need to review the detailed specification sheets. I didn't, and while it was before I got Sonos I burned out some very expensive gear. This isn't the place for an involved inverter discussion, I do recommend one on a camping with inverters forum.

No clue about Airplay,  it is mentioned here:

https://en.community.sonos.com/advanced-setups-229133/using-sonos-in-an-offline-environment-6926305