Sonos finds in Play the portable speaker that it had been wanting to make for years

There are products that arrive to inaugurate a new category and others that arrive to perfect it. He new Sonos Play It clearly belongs to the second group. The brand takes everything learned with the excellent Move, reduces its size without giving up the sound quality that characterizes it and signs what is probably the most interesting portable speaker in its entire catalog. A device that also leaves behind many of the limitations of the Roam, until now the company’s most discreet proposal.

The sensation from the first moment is that of being in front of an authentic miniature Move. It maintains the ‘premium’ philosophy of Sonos, but in a format that is much easier to transport and use on a daily basis. It is precisely that combination of mobility, power and ease of use which makes it the new spearhead of the brand within this category and, probably, the most attractive entry point to the Sonos ecosystem.

As it could not be otherwise, sound is once again the great argument of the product. Sonos has spent years building a practically impeccable reputation in this section and the Play once again demonstrates that accumulated knowledge. Its configuration with two inclined tweeters and waveguides offers a surprisingly wide and precise stereo image, while the midrange ‘woofer’ achieves very natural voices and bass with a lot of presence. All this supported by two passive radiators with force cancellation capable of offering deep bass without generating unwanted vibrations in such a compact enclosure.

EXCELLENCE IN SOUND IS GUARANTEED

The result is sound that easily fills indoor spaces and also outdoor gatherings thanks to its 180-degree coverage. Besides, Automatic Trueplay technology automatically adapts the speaker’s response to the environmentmanaging to maintain tonal balance regardless of where we use it. Sonos once again demonstrates that its experience in acoustic engineering continues to be one of its greatest differentiating elements compared to the competition.

If we talk about design, the firm continues to consolidate its own identity that many compare with what Apple has achieved in the world of consumer electronics. Materials, finishes, proportions and extremely careful aesthetics They make the Play a device that fits just as well on a bookshelf in the living room as it does on a terrace or during a getaway. We only used some more colors (instead of the classic black and white). Its resistance to water and dust (IP67), together with a practical carrying ring and a construction prepared to withstand bumps and falls, reinforce this product philosophy designed to accompany us anywhere.

The commitment to mobility goes far beyond its size. Its battery offers up to 24 hours of autonomy, an outstanding figure within its category, and also incorporates a convenient wireless charging base included as standard that greatly simplifies the recharging process. Simply leave the speaker on it for it to start charging, without having to search for connectors or cables.

SPEAKER AND EXTERNAL BATTERY AT THE SAME TIME

One of the smartest features of the set is the incorporation of a USB-C port capable of converting the speaker itself into an external battery. If we are traveling or spending the day away from home and the phone runs out of battery, the Sonos Play can power the phone while continuing to play music. A very practical detail that provides real added value and that fits perfectly with the concept of a speaker designed for leaving the home (of course, that port is used to charge the speaker itself). In addition, the possibility of replacing the battery when it reaches the end of its useful life also speaks of a product designed to last for many years.

Another of its great successes is providing greater flexibility of use, as it is a product that will not only be in our home. At home it takes advantage of all the power of the WiFi connection to integrate within the brand’s ecosystem and synchronize with other speakers, while outside it automatically switches to Bluetooth to continue working with any device. This double connectivity is something that many users demanded in other products of the brand and here they will be satisfied.

The only aspect that continues to generate certain doubts is the Sonos app. The company already experienced a significant reputational crisis after the redesign of its software and, although a large part of those problems have been solved, remains the main Achilles heel of the system. Synchronization between devices continues to be fast and very clean, but small delays or occasional errors may still appear, and the interface is still not as intuitive or pleasant as one would expect in a product of this level.

With a price of 349 euros, the Sonos Play probably represents the best portable proposal that the brand has ever launched. It brings together everything that made the Move our favorite speaker, adapts it to a much more manageable format and far surpasses the Roam in practically all sections.. For those looking for a portable speaker with authentic sound quality, premium design and an experience designed to move inside and outside the home, this new Play is emerging as one of the references on the market.

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