Sound Review Hub’s Verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
The Sonos Five wireless speaker, released on May 12, 2020, is Sonos’ top-tier speaker with high-fidelity sound. You can connect two Sonos Five speakers for a stereo system, use them as surround speakers with a Sonos Arc soundbar and Sonos Sub for your home theater, or connect them separately to the Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB Turntable to play your vinyl collection. The Sonos Five speaker is adaptable to your preferences.
In this review, we’ll thoroughly examine the Sonos Five and its features to help you determine if it’s the perfect fit for your audio needs. From the design to the sound quality, connectivity options, and setup process, we’ll cover everything contributes to a seamless listening experience.
Overview of the Sonos Five
The Sonos Five speaker produces an immersive, room-filling soundstage with impressive bass, providing a unique listening experience.
It includes six amplifiers dedicated to each mid-range driver and tweeter and four far-field microphones that can detect voice commands from across the room. In addition, the sound profile can be customized to suit personal preferences, thanks to its adjustable equalizer settings and Trueplay technology.
With advanced Bluetooth connectivity, music can be streamed wirelessly from any compatible device without interruption. Setting up and using this wireless speaker is easy, and it seamlessly integrates into multiroom systems for ultimate convenience and flexibility.
Overall, the Sonos Five is a must-have speaker for those seeking a one-of-a-kind audio experience.
Design And Build Quality
The Sonos Five speaker is expertly crafted from a blend of premium materials, including a metal grille, high-quality plastic, and a die-cast aluminum alloy body. Its compact size makes it an excellent fit for any room without taking up too much space. In addition, the sleek and subtle design of all Sonos speakers ensures that the Five looks great in any setting.
When it comes to sound quality, the Sonos Five doesn’t disappoint. It boasts six Class-D digital amplifiers that produce a full range of sound, from deep bass frequencies to crisp highs.
The Sonos Five speaker passed the test with flying colors. The attack and decay of each sound were precise and clear, allowing me to appreciate the intricate details of The Chemical Brothers track. I could hear every beat, every squeal and squeak, and every thrumming bass sound as if it were in the room with me. The Sonos Five speaker delivered a powerful performance that brought this track to life.
Features and Connectivity
The Sonos Five speaker has WiFi, Bluetooth, and Apple Airplay 2 capabilities. This allows you to connect it to compatible devices and pair two Sonos Fives for a true stereo system.
With these features and connectivity options, you can stream music or podcasts from Spotify, Pandora, Sirius XM, or any other streaming service. You can also use Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to control the Sonos Five with voice commands. You can also connect multiple speakers for a multi-room audio setup with other Sonos products. This is personally my favorite feature of Sonos!
Audio Performance
The Sonos Five speaker, when paired with two Sonos Five speakers, a Sonos Arc soundbar, and the Sonos Sub subwoofer, is an ideal setup for watching movies. For example, I watched House of Flying Daggers, and the two Sonos Five speakers’ sound was amazing! Combining these four devices creates a fully immersive experience that brings the action to life.
The Sonos Five speakers are designed to provide a wide soundstage that envelops you in the audio. With five drivers in each speaker, they deliver powerful bass and clear highs without distortion. The tweeters are especially impressive at providing crisp treble detail without harshness or sibilance.
The Sonos Arc soundbar adds depth to the soundstage by providing directional audio from its eleven drivers and Dolby Atmos technology. This allows for a more immersive experience as you can hear sounds coming from above and around you.
The Sonos Sub subwoofer provides deep bass that will bring out all of the low-end details in the soundtrack, such as drums and explosions. It also helps create a more balanced overall soundscape by filling in gaps between the other speakers.
This setup provides an exceptional audio experience when watching House of Flying Daggers. It can accurately reproduce all of the nuances in the soundtrack while still providing enough power and clarity for louder moments like battles and explosions.
Setup and Ease of Use
Setting up the Sonos Five speaker is a breeze, especially if you’re familiar with other Sonos products. But even if this is your first Sonos speaker, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how effortless the whole process is.
After plugging in the Sonos Five to the power outlet, download the Sonos app and link it to your account. Follow the app’s instructions, and you’ll be up and running in just a few minutes! The software may need updating, but that only takes a minute or two. Once that’s done, you can start playing music from your device on your Sonos Five speaker. Personally, I enjoy jamming to Kanye West’s Good Life to test my new speakers. You can also connect your Sonos Five speaker with various streaming services, including YouTube Music, Pandora, Apple Music, Tidal, and many more!
The Sonos app is user-friendly, letting you adjust the volume and manage streaming services for your Sonos speakers. If you have other Sonos speakers, you can link them and play the same music across different rooms. I love this feature since I can groove to the same song in the living room and bedroom while cleaning the house.
Sonos Five vs Sonos Era 300 vs Sonos One
Three Sonos speakers were released on different dates: Sonos One on February 8, 2019, Sonos Five on May 12, 2020, and Sonos Era 300 on March 13, 2023. All three have unique features and serve different purposes. Sonos One is the most affordable at $219, while Sonos Era 300 is priced at $449 and Sonos Five at $549. Which one to choose depends on your specific needs.
I recently tested three speakers as a stereo setup for my Sonos home theater system, connecting my Sonos Arc soundbar and Sonos Sub subwoofer. The smallest of the three, the Sonos One, produced good sounds that I enjoyed. However, compared to the Era 300, the larger and more technologically advanced speaker, the Era 300 was better.
On the other hand, the older Sonos Five speaker outperformed both speakers in terms of high-fidelity design, though it lacks Dolby Atmos. When it comes to playing music, the Sonos Five is the best option out of the three. I recommend the latest Sonos Era 300 speakers for a complete Dolby Atmos setup.
Here’s a quick comparison between the three speakers:
| Sonos One | Sonos Five | Sonos Era 300 | |
| Dolby Atmos | No | No | Yes |
| High-Fidelity | No | Yes | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| WiFi / Bluetooth | WiFi | WiFi | Both |
| Voice Assistant | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 3.5 mm Line In | No | Yes | No |
| Cost (as of 5/29/2023) | $219 Check for Latest Price | $549 Check for Latest Price | $449 Check for Latest Price |
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Superior Sound Quality: The Sonos Five delivers crystal-clear, high-fidelity audio that will make you feel like you’re at a live concert. It boasts powerful bass, crisp mid-range, and sparkling highs, ensuring an unparalleled listening experience.
- Easy Wireless Setup: Connecting the Sonos Five to your WiFi network is a breeze, allowing you to enjoy seamless streaming from your favorite music services without any hassle.
- Multi-Room Capability: Pair multiple Sonos speakers to create a synchronized audio experience throughout your home. Listen to the same song in every room or choose different tracks for each space – the choice is yours.
- Elegant Design: The sleek, minimalist design of the Sonos Five makes it a stylish addition to any room. Its compact size allows it to fit seamlessly into your decor without taking up too much space.
- Voice Control Compatibility: The Sonos Five works with popular voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, giving you hands-free control over your music and smart home devices.
Cons:
- Price: The high-quality audio experience the Sonos Five offers comes at a premium price, which may be a drawback for some.
- No Bluetooth Connectivity: The Sonos Five relies solely on WiFi for streaming, meaning you can’t connect devices via Bluetooth.
- No Battery Power Option: The Sonos Five needs to be connected to a power outlet, limiting its portability and making it unsuitable for outdoor use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the sound quality of the Sonos Five?
The Sonos Five is renowned for its high-fidelity sound quality. It uses Trueplay technology to adjust the audio according to the room’s acoustics, ensuring that no matter where you place it in your home, you’ll get the best sound possible.
How does the Sonos Five compare to other Sonos speakers in terms of sound quality?
The Sonos Five is considered among the best speakers in the Sonos product lineup.
Unlike other Sonos speakers, the Sonos Five offers high-fidelity sound but lacks Dolby Atmos, like the Sonos Era 300 speaker.
What is the maximum volume level of the Sonos Five?
The Sonos Five can reach a maximum volume of 115 dB, making it one of the loudest speakers in the Sonos lineup.
How difficult is it to connect the Sonos Five to other speakers?
Connecting the Sonos Five to other speakers is easy. With its wireless capabilities, you can link multiple Sonos Fives together, creating a more extensive sound system with synchronized playback. In addition, the setup process is simple; all you need to do is create a Sonos account and follow the on-screen instructions provided by the app.
Once connected, you can control the volume independently for each speaker or set it to one level across your entire system.
Should You Buy It?
The Sonos Five speaker is the way to go if you’re looking for an exceptional high-fidelity experience. I enjoy using two Sonos Five speakers as a stereo setup for my Sonos home theater system when watching TV and movies.
Additionally, I can connect my Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB Turntable to play my favorite vinyl records. This is a new hobby of mine, and the Sonos Five speaker sounds exceptional when playing vinyl records. Finally, as a fan of Chvrches, it’s a joy to listen to their Love is Dead record on this speaker.
If you plan to set up a stereo system with your Sonos home theater system and do not require a complete Dolby Atmos system, the Sonos Five speaker is an excellent choice. However, if you’re looking for a full Dolby Atmos system, the Sonos Era 300 might be a better choice.
It’s crucial to note that only the Sonos Five speaker can connect to the Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB Turntable. While you can connect a Sonos Era 100 speaker to the turntable, the speaker is significantly smaller than the Sonos Five, so this is worth considering.
