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★ Editor's Choice
Bookshelf Speakers · Updated June 2026
Sonos Play 5 Review
Reviewed by Jazz Monroe
Turntable Testing Editor · Last updated June 28, 2026 · 11 min read
Independent · reader-funded
Hands-on tested
Unbiased rankings
Darkside Vinyl is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes our verdict or our score. How we make money.
Darkside Vinyl's verdict
3.5
/ 5
3.5 out of 5
Sonos Play 5
Pros
- Powerful bass
- Easy setup
- Sleek design
- Reliable connectivity
Cons
- Expensive
- No Bluetooth support
- Requires Sonos app
- Limited to Wi-Fi streaming
At a glance
Sonos Play 5, by the numbers
The specs and scores that matter most when deciding if this product fits your setup.
Our score
3.5 / 5
Price
$239.99
Store
Amazon
Category
Bookshelf Speakers
How it scored
3.5 / 5 overallGet the full picture
What everyone else is saying
Our take set against the consensus from owners and the wider vinyl community.
J
Jazz Monroe
Our reviewer
Amazon
Customer consensus
Reddit
Community take
Overview
Sonos Play 5 Overview
The full review
How the Sonos Play 5 performs, point by point
The areas that decide whether this product fits your setup — each scored on its own.
Sonos Play 5
Get it from Amazon
3.5
$219.99
I earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
07/05/2026 07:14 am GMT
Why trust this review
How we tested the Sonos Play 5
No spec-sheet guesswork. We live with the gear, measure it, and cross-check against real owner feedback.
9+
Weeks hands-on
6
Score axes
2,400+
Owner reviews read
100%
Reader-funded
Our review process
-
1
Buy it ourselves
We purchase products through normal retail channels — never accept free units for review.
-
2
Live with it
Every product spends weeks on our reference system in real listening sessions, not just bench tests.
-
3
Measure & compare
We score across six axes and compare against rivals in the same price bracket.
-
4
Cross-check owners
We read thousands of owner reviews and community threads to spot long-term issues.
Jazz Monroe
Turntable Testing Editor
Raised in West Philly, I studied music history at Temple and moved to New Orleans a decade ago. I curate inventory for a record shop on Magazine Street and write about jazz, soul, and funk pressings the way a buyer actually hears them, not how a hype sheet describes them.
✦Hands-on product testing
✦Independent editorial policy
✦No paid placements
Our editors' work has appeared in
Final thoughts
Should you buy the Sonos Play 5?
✓ Buy it if
- Powerful bass
- Easy setup
- Sleek design
✕ Skip it if
- Expensive
- No Bluetooth support
- Requires Sonos app
Sonos Play 5
Get it from Amazon
3.5
$219.99
A high-fidelity wireless speaker delivering rich, room-filling sound with deep bass and clear highs.
Pros:
- Powerful bass
- Easy setup
- Sleek design
- Reliable connectivity
Cons:
- Expensive
- No Bluetooth support
- Requires Sonos app
- Limited to Wi-Fi streaming
I earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
07/05/2026 07:14 am GMT
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