Sonos Playbar (2013) - Black

I wrote a review for the new HEOS sound bar and realized that I had not yet written one for the Sonos. I thought the HEOS review explained enough of both to be included here. This review will be in the form of a Head to Head comparison of the HEOS Soundbar and Sub vs. the Sonos Playbar and optional Sub as Denon is entering the growing Wireless Speaker Category that Sonos has led the evolution in for the past several years. Clearly the entire product range is matching the Sonos lineup. Play:1 - HEOS 1, Play:3 - HEOS 3, Play:5 - HEOS 5, Connect - HEOS Link, Playbar - HEOS Soundbar. Denon is also taking it up a notch by adding a few more products like the HEOS 7 and HEOS 1 GO Pack that are not in the Sonos lineup. I have been using Denon since my time in the professional music industry in the early 2000's where we sold a lot of Denon Pro Audio Equipment to Recording Studios. I have been using and installing a lot of Sonos gear for over 3 years now during remodeling of a lot of my clients homes. Here's my take from a Professional point of view.... Sound Quality: Denon equipment sounds great. They have a long pedigree and know this area well. They have made their name based on this. You can tell right out of the box that this soundbar and sub combo have been matched and tuned to work together seamlessly. The factory settings are very good. You will probably keep the EQ settings for Treble and Bass center line. You may want to change the sub's level depending on how much Bass you prefer and where you place the sub. Every surface plane that you place the sub against will increase its perceived volume level. Floor = 1, Against a Wall = 2, In a Corner = 3. So placing your sub in a corner will make your bass sound the strongest. I was surprised by how well the system sounds compared to the Sonos because the weight of the soundbar and sub are lighter and smaller than the Sonos Playbar and Sub. Sonos gear sounds great also. They splashed onto the scene with great sound meets easy tech interface and app all wireless done. They also paired up amps and speakers 1:1 so everything is crisp and clean sounding and runs as efficiently as possible. Sonos speakers have a deep and rich sound with plenty of presence. The Playbar sounds wonderful and full range on its own. If you add the Sub then it really shines with a large sonic range. I usually adjust the EQ a little out of the box dialing the Treble and Bass up or down a notch as well as the Sub level if one is going to be in the room. The Sub is a separate purchase and doubles the price of the system compared to the HEOS. I often install Playbars without the sub in bedrooms for example or condo and townhouse units where neighbors are close. I do install Subs in main entertainment rooms that are medium to large in size and especially if a 5.1 system is desired. During initial setup of the system the HEOS app doesn’t ask for any level settings and goes straight to factory defaults. The Sonos has a 2 part calibration section that first asks you if A or B is louder, then a second that asks you if the sub level needs to go up or down. The first part I believe is setting the phase of the sub, the second is setting the level. It plays a really cool sounding repeating test pattern as you perform these steps, and my clients are always impressed by this and often walk into the room to see what that sound is. Overall the Sonos system has great Sound Pressure Levels and packs a greater punch. The Denon is like a 250 HP sports car and the Sonos a 400 HP production muscle car. I will leave the Exotic cars reference to the Audiophile gear that is in a league of its own. Speaker Design: The HEOS soundbar and sub are lighter in weight and smaller than the Sonos. Of course price must be considered. To be fair the HEOS is $799 and the Sonos are $699 each ($1398 for playbar and sub). That is a huge difference and I believe Denon feels they can attract a larger market segment by offering a different pricing strategy on these components. The rest of the HEOS lineup matches the Sonos lineup in price. (HEOS 1 $199 - Play:1 $199, etc…) I am not sure if making the HEOS Soundbar and Sub a lesser priced component was the best idea as it quality wise puts it at a disadvantage, but in affordability it makes it reachable to a larger purchasing base. They must be hoping that they can pull it off with good enough sound quality. Which they may have. However when handling the Soundbar and Sub and Handling the Playbar and Sub, you can tell immediately the difference in design quality that the extra money goes into. The Sonos Sub is a work of art. The Denon Sub is nicely designed but I wouldn’t want to display it. The HEOS has many more connectors in the back. Power, Ethernet, Optical, Coax are the same, but it also has 1/8” mini jack, HDMI ARC in and out, USB and an IR emitter as well. The instruction booklet is minimal and doesn’t fully explain the functions of everything. Perhaps Denon is planning on being able to control TV’s via the IR Emitter thru the App, but currently their is no reference to its function. The USB can be used to play preloaded sound files and maybe more?, the line in jack allows hookup of a device, but being on the back of a soundbar is not an ideal location, but it is there none the less. All of their speakers have the line in which is great. Only the Play:5 has one. This allows you to say for example hook your laptop to the system and let it play Youtube video music thru out your new wireless home audio system. Great usable feature. The HDMI inputs are a big deal to me. The Sonos limits you to Optical cable to hookup to TV. Not all TV’s will transfer HDMI 5.1 coding to Optical coding, so some of your connected to TV via HDMI devices will not be in 5.1 surround when it reaches the Sonos Playbar. This is not true for all TV’s but for the majority it is. The Indicator light on the front of the Soundbar is a bit old school, too big and not that cool really. You can dim it to off for the bedroom or dim it almost to off, which I have done. It changes colors to indicate situations and Blue is the working normal color that it will be most of the time. Installation: Sonos sells an optional wall mount ($49, and they may want to start including it free with the playbar). It is very well made, has a built-in level vial, and makes wall mounting the Playbar a breeze. It leaves room for cables to run behind the Playbar. The HEOS Soundbar has two large keyhole slots on the back and includes a cardboard template to help you place the screws. (level and screws not included). Running the app to setup the Soundbar and Playbar is required. The Sonos creates a temporary wireless network that you join during the setup process, the HEOS requires you to hookup an included 1/8” mini cable between your device and the AUX 1/8” mini input on the back of the Soundbar. (take the soudbar off the wall 1st time). The Sonos enters setup mode as soon as you join its wifi network. The HEOS requires you to press the Connect button on the back when the front panel light turns a certain color (take if off wall 2nd time, try to look at front light while pressing back button with power, HDMI and ethernet cords dangling). After setup is complete your device will drop the Sonos wifi and return to your home’s wifi and now the Sonos will be on your home’s wifi too and/or also using the hardwire ethernet connection too (recommended). After setup is complete your HEOS will be on your home’s wifi and now you can unplug the mini cable (take off wall 3rd time). Sonos installation went so much more smoothly. App Control: The Sonos app has been out longer and is so much more intuitive, pretty, and functional. The HEOS app is clunky, unrefined and still under development by comparison. I’m sure it will become more more than it is over time and probably resemble the Sonos app in many ways. The ease of use and delight is really a big part of the Sonos equation. I know that I can leave an installation and know that the new owners can learn and run the system fine without me. That is a huge part of the benefit for me. The HEOS app is still in its infancy and I would be much more reluctant to recommend and demo it. Overall Impressions: This is a review I wrote for the Denon HEOS Soundbar and Sub and I have posted it here under the Sonos Playbar because I realized that I have not yet written a review for it and this review has a lot of pertinent information. This review will be in the form of a Head to Head comparison of the HEOS Soundbar and Sub vs. the Sonos Playbar and optional Sub as Denon is entering the growing Wireless Speaker Category that Sonos has led the evolution in for the past several years. Clearly the entire product range is matching the Sonos lineup. Play:1 - HEOS 1, Play:3 - HEOS 3, Play:5 - HEOS 5, Connect - HEOS Link, Playbar - HEOS Soundbar. Denon is also taking it up a notch by adding a few more products like the HEOS 7 and HEOS 1 GO Pack that are not in the Sonos lineup. I have been using Denon since my time in the professional music industry in the early 2000's where we sold a lot of Denon Pro Audio Equipment to Recording Studios. I have been using and installing a lot of Sonos gear for over 3 years now during remodeling of a lot of my clients homes. Here's my take from a Professional point of view.... Sound Quality: Denon equipment sounds great. They have a long pedigree and know this area well. They have made their name based on this. You can tell right out of the box that this soundbar and sub combo have been matched and tuned to work together seamlessly. The factory settings are very good. You will probably keep the EQ settings for Treble and Bass center line. You may want to change the sub's level depending on how much Bass you prefer and where you place the sub. Every surface plane that you place the sub against will increase its perceived volume level. Floor = 1, Against a Wall = 2, In a Corner = 3. So placing your sub in a corner will make your bass sound the strongest. I was surprised by how well the system sounds compared to the Sonos because the weight of the soundbar and sub are lighter and smaller than the Sonos Playbar and Sub. Sonos gear sounds great also. They splashed onto the scene with great sound meets easy tech interface and app all wireless done. They also paired up amps and speakers 1:1 so everything is crisp and clean sounding and runs as efficiently as possible. Sonos speakers have a deep and rich sound with plenty of presence. The Playbar sounds wonderful and full range on its own. If you add the Sub then it really shines with a large sonic range. I usually adjust the EQ a little out of the box dialing the Treble and Bass up or down a notch as well as the Sub level if one is going to be in the room. The Sub is a separate purchase and doubles the price of the system compared to the HEOS. I often install Playbars without the sub in bedrooms for example or condo and townhouse units where neighbors are close. I do install Subs in main entertainment rooms that are medium to large in size and especially if a 5.1 system is desired. During initial setup of the system the HEOS app doesn’t ask for any level settings and goes straight to factory defaults. The Sonos has a 2 part calibration section that first asks you if A or B is louder, then a second that asks you if the sub level needs to go up or down. The first part I believe is setting the phase of the sub, the second is setting the level. It plays a really cool sounding repeating test pattern as you perform these steps, and my clients are always impressed by this and often walk into the room to see what that sound is. Overall the Sonos system has great Sound Pressure Levels and packs a greater punch. The Denon is like a 250 HP sports car and the Sonos a 400 HP production muscle car. I will leave the Exotic cars reference to the Audiophile gear that is in a league of its own. Speaker Design: The HEOS soundbar and sub are lighter in weight and smaller than the Sonos. Of course price must be considered. To be fair the HEOS is $799 and the Sonos are $699 each ($1398 for playbar and sub). That is a huge difference and I believe Denon feels they can attract a larger market segment by offering a different pricing strategy on these components. The rest of the HEOS lineup matches the Sonos lineup in price. (HEOS 1 $199 - Play:1 $199, etc…) I am not sure if making the HEOS Soundbar and Sub a lesser priced component was the best idea as it quality wise puts it at a disadvantage, but in affordability it makes it reachable to a larger purchasing base. They must be hoping that they can pull it off with good enough sound quality. Which they may have. However when handling the Soundbar and Sub and Handling the Playbar and Sub, you can tell immediately the difference in design quality that the extra money goes into. The Sonos Sub is a work of art. The Denon Sub is nicely designed but I wouldn’t want to display it. The HEOS has many more connectors in the back. Power, Ethernet, Optical, Coax are the same, but it also has 1/8” mini jack, HDMI ARC in and out, USB and an IR emitter as well. The instruction booklet is minimal and doesn’t fully explain the functions of everything. Perhaps Denon is planning on being able to control TV’s via the IR Emitter thru the App, but currently their is no reference to its function. The USB can be used to play preloaded sound files and maybe more?, the line in jack allows hookup of a device, but being on the back of a soundbar is not an ideal location, but it is there none the less. All of their speakers have the line in which is great. Only the Play:5 has one. This allows you to say for example hook your laptop to the system and let it play Youtube video music thru out your new wireless home audio system. Great usable feature. The HDMI inputs are a big deal to me. The Sonos limits you to Optical cable to hookup to TV. Not all TV’s will transfer HDMI 5.1 coding to Optical coding, so some of your connected to TV via HDMI devices will not be in 5.1 surround when it reaches the Sonos Playbar. This is not true for all TV’s but for the majority it is. The Indicator light on the front of the Soundbar is a bit old school, too big and not that cool really. You can dim it to off for the bedroom or dim it almost to off, which I have done. It changes colors to indicate situations and Blue is the working normal color that it will be most of the time. Installation: Sonos sells an optional wall mount ($49, and they may want to start including it free with the playbar). It is very well made, has a built-in level vial, and makes wall mounting the Playbar a breeze. It leaves room for cables to run behind the Playbar. The HEOS Soundbar has two large keyhole slots on the back and includes a cardboard template to help you place the screws. (level and screws not included). Running the app to setup the Soundbar and Playbar is required. The Sonos creates a temporary wireless network that you join during the setup process, the HEOS requires you to hookup an included 1/8” mini cable between your device and the AUX 1/8” mini input on the back of the Soundbar. (take the soudbar off the wall 1st time). The Sonos enters setup mode as soon as you join its wifi network. The HEOS requires you to press the Connect button on the back when the front panel light turns a certain color (take if off wall 2nd time, try to look at front light while pressing back button with power, HDMI and ethernet cords dangling). After setup is complete your device will drop the Sonos wifi and return to your home’s wifi and now the Sonos will be on your home’s wifi too and/or also using the hardwire ethernet connection too (recommended). After setup is complete your HEOS will be on your home’s wifi and now you can unplug the mini cable (take off wall 3rd time). Sonos installation went so much more smoothly. During first time setup both the HEOS and Sonos will likely need to update their internal firmware. The Sonos update takes about 2 minutes and the HEOS took almost 15! Just keep that in mind if you need to install within a certain amount of time. App Control: The Sonos app has been out longer and is so much more intuitive, pretty, and functional. The HEOS app is clunky, unrefined and still under development by comparison. I’m sure it will become more more than it is over time and probably resemble the Sonos app in many ways. The ease of use and delight is really a big part of the Sonos equation. I know that I can leave an installation and know that the new owners can learn and run the system fine without me. That is a huge part of the benefit for me. The HEOS app is still in its infancy and I would be much more reluctant to recommend and demo it. Overall Impressions: Denon is a little late to the party but hey, at least they are creating competition in the marketplace and that helps keep it in balance, creates innovation and provides more choices. I like that. I like the new components they are adding like the HEOS 1 Mobile Pack which turns a HEOS 1 speaker into a battery powered and bluetooth capable speaker. I have always been frustrated with Sonos for not having Bluetooth capability. I bought a separate bluetooth speaker to take to work with me on jobs to listen to music with streaming from my smartphone. I always thought that I should just be able to take my Play:1 with me. But it requires wifi. I had to purchase a different companies product that their own could have served. Maybe Sonos will counter with their own Play:1 Go Pack. That would be great. I like that all the HEOS speakers have a Line In Input, Sonos makes you get the Play:5 to have that feature. The features and expandability of the HEOS line is large. It does add some complexity to the system which may cause the user interface and ease of the system to be negatively affected, maybe so or maybe not, but that will depend on the evolution of the HEOS app and how well they can integrate everything. I really have to say that the Sonos reminds me of Apple products which take complex amazing hardware functional designs and put them under the hood of a simple, intuitive and beautiful design interface. The HEOS reminds me of Windows and Android which breaks free of Proprietary and Control Limitations to allow more user customized experience. Both are great approaches and needed in my opinion. I look forward to the continued refinements in the HEOS world. I hope this review via comparison has left you with enough information to make an informed decision and not too much so that you can’t. Anyway you choose you are committing to one platform or another. So take your time. Who knows maybe cross platform technology will emerge that will allow you mix the systems and control via one App! Now that would be really great!

Sonos is legendary for a good reason - because they really produce these components for the discerning consumer as well as for the neophyte looking for new sonic frontiers... It all started when I bought the LG ND8630 (the white washtub Airplay speaker). I loved the Airplay ability, the looks, and the deep sound. Now discontinued, it is a killer speaker for a killer price. Then, I happened to drop into a Bose store (big mistake), and walked out with the Gold Standard of wifi-speakers, the Bose Soundtouch 30. Wow, this has the "Bose Sound", deep with crisp highs and an OK interface (I hated the limiting 6-favorite Bose app) that worked with Airplay, Spotify Connect, and aux inputs. It is the best in a single speaker one can find, in my mind, for $500. The Bose was King of my music experience at home...but something was missing... Comparing the Bose 30 with the Bose QC15 headphones, I noticed what most (if not all) wifi- or wireless speakers were missing - the ambience of stereo separation! Music is produced with a lot consideration about how the track will sound in a stereo environment; the typical wireless speaker mixes or blends the two channels together - by virtue of the fact that any left-right channels are only inches- to two feet apart. Sounds great but is hardly a listening "experience". So, I noticed the Sonos Play:1 world. I had not given Sonos any consideration because i was not into the "music in every room" advertising approach. With caution, I bought a single Play:1 and liked the deep sound from a relatively small coffee-can sized speaker. Wow, then I discovered that by adding a second Play:1, I could easily make these into a left and right stereo pair, over wifi and with zero expertise, they just worked! For only $400, I had a pair of totally wireless speakers that filled the living room with the most amazing sound. I had been missing the true ambience of songs by playing Apple Music and Spotify, Amazon, Google Play, and Pandora over a single speaker. Note that compared to the Bose Soundtouch 30, each individual Sonos Play:1 could not match its presence, but together, the Sonos Play:1 pair just killed the Bose, sad to say! Rich bass (go figure!) and crisp highs, they sound great. Every playlist on every service was a new experience. Thanks for reading to this point. So, I thought...I went from 1-D sound (on the wireless speakers) to a much richer 2-D stereo sound with the Sonos Play:1 pair, why not expand into 3-D sound with the added Sonos Playbar? Yes, it is $699 but I had spent double that much of goofy surround systems, subwoofers, and gadgets. So, Amazon delivered the Playbar (1-Day shipping!) and I plugged it in. The iPhone Sonos app is an example of simplicity and yet flexibility (learn this lesson, Bose!) and within a minute I had a true surround system! It uses your old TV or Cable remote for volume, has an IR-repeater strip across the back, in case the Playbar blocks the TV remote, has only a power cord, an optical connect to the TV, and an ethernet cable for the connectivity to the Play:1 pair. It uses its own wifi band so it offloads any wifi traffic over this completely wireless surroundsound system. Amazing! BTW, did you know that many of the commercials have incredible 5.1 DD sound! Imagine that shock. Yes, most modern TV's do throughput 5.1 Dolby digital over the HDMI-optical pathway. Yes, Comcast and Dish do broadcast most shows and movies in 5.1. And yes, the Playbar-Play:1 combo is incredibly lifelike. You have number of variables, like the surround and ambient effects, the rear speaker adjustments, and a sound calibration with the TV volume (I left my TV speakers disconnected). The Playbar comes on with the TV and shuts off with the TV. I don't even have to think about it...easy! But wait, there's more! Using the iPhone Sonos app (...now I found the perfect solution for an old iphone or ipad laying about...!) I played my Spotify playlists over the Sonos Playbar-Play combo. WHOA. Amazing sounds, not only left- to right but also across the room. The playbar sits in front the TV while the Play:1's sit behind the sofa. The sound is very airy, and each instrument appears in different parts of the room - eery! It's more like an expanded sound field across the room, even for the standard mp3 two-channel streaming files. So, what have I got? A killer surround system that just works ( I decided against getting the SUB woofer from Sonos for now) in addition to a very fascinating room stereo experience. The Sonos combo knows if content is 5.1 and if so, the rear channels play the surround information, otherwise, it fills the room with the Left-Right stereo content. What about my gripes? I thought I would hate the app as much as I had no love for the Bose app. Actually, the Sonos app has a lot to offer; each Sonos playlist can contain content from each or any of the music services you have, all rolled into one playlist. So, until Sonos supports Apple Music, I am stuck to iTunes content that I have downloaded onto my iPhone or iPad. Cmon, Apple and Sonos - fix this! I wish the Playbar would recognize more than 5.1 (I don't think DTS is supported). Before you buy the Playbar, MAKE SURE: your TV has HDMI inputs for each of your devices such as cable, PS3, PS4, etc. Make sure your TV can support 5.1 over the HDMI and then out to the Sonos on the optical SPDIF output. Make sure, you can plug the Playbar into an ethernet router in the room, so that the Sonos combo can operate on its own net. You cannot play the Playbar and both rear Play:1's only on the local wifi network, you have to use a Bridge, Connect, or the Playbar through the router. I think... So, get these components and experience the best in 2-D and 3-D sound. I'll add more as I gain insights.

simply amazing...easy set up and the best sound quality ever.

Después de mucho análisis de investigación entre diversas marcas, principalmente Bose para reemplazar mi viejo Onkyo-Harman Kardon 5.1 Home Theater, me decidí por comprar a través de Amazon mi PlayBar, 2 Sonos One y el Sub. Me llegaron en menos de 24 hrs a mi domicilio y me tardé más en desempacarlas que en lo que lo estaba disfrutando. Super sencillo de usar y con una calidad de audio IMPRESIONANTE! Mi esposa está feliz también porque la estética y el evitar cables es un gran PLUS! Es super sencillo el set-up y el usarlo a través de diversas fuentes, todo es automático! Aparte algo que no sabía es que puedes usar tu actual control remoto y ajustarlo para manejar el volumen de Sonos... en mi caso uso el de mi TV Sony. Estoy muy satisfecho!

After owning this and listening to this for a couple of weeks, here are my thoughts: Pros: - Great sound (like everyone else indicates).. Sounds even better when grouped with sub/other speakers. The syncing is virtually perfect - it sounds like one unit. - Powerful enough to fill a small apartment. Can get pretty loud as well. - Easy setup and really convenient to use - controllable with your phone/tablet/computer, so you can really control what's playing anywhere in your home any time - Looks clean - not only aesthetically but also you won't get messy wires as there's a max of 3 wires running to the soundbar (optical, power, and ethernet) - From packaging to the physical feel of the Playbar - it feels like a well-made quality product Cons: - Pricey, but worth the money if it's within your budget. - Bass is not very strong, but acceptable for regular use Overall, the good sound quality is only half of what you're really paying for. It's true that you can get other soundbars that sound just as good if not better for $750, but the other half of the price is really the convenience of what they call "the Sonos system". I think a lot of people really underestimate the convenience factor. You can use virtually everything as a controller (phone/tablet/computer) as long as they're on the same LAN and have the app. As a simple (but surprisingly common) example, this means I can use my phone to select a playlist and then walk around the house; grab my tablet to adjust the volume a bit; and stop the music via my computer later on. You also don't need to keep any of these controllers on while the music is streaming, since it's all streamed by the Playbar itself. Other notes: - You'll need a good wireless network - Works great with popular music streaming services (I use Spotify premium and it's really well integrated) - You won't be able to use this as a wireless AUX speaker (no Bluetooth either)

The Playbar is on the expensive side but it does deliver excellent sound and is an excellent device for streaming music. I bought the Playbar to replace an existing speaker system because although the speakers were okay for TV sound, I was very dissatisfied with them for music. I did look at other soundbars but decided to spend the money on the Playbar because of its capabilities as a music streaming device. So far I am very happy with it for both TV and music but especially for music. Setting it up as a streaming device was really easy but setting it up with my TV was more of a hassle. My TV is an old Sharp Aquos which does have an optical out port as Sonos requires but unfortunately the older Aquos models don't split the audio signal for HDMI inputs. As a result I had to order a device that could split the audio signal to an optical out port. Once I had that, everything worked. So I would recommend that you make sure your TV has an optical out port that is compatible with the Playbar to avoid disappointment. But even if it isn't, there is a fix.

No puedo estar más contento con el Playbar. Suena extraordinario con cualquier contenido, incluyendo música. Se integra rápidamente al sistema Sonos y tiene dos funciones increíbles: 1. Speech enhancement, en el que eleva el audio de las voces y 2. Modo nocturno en el que baja el volumen a los ruidos fuertes y eleva los bajos de tal manera que en la noche la calidad de audio sea impecable. Sí, Sonos es caro pero la calidad de audio, interfase e integración son insuperables.