Sonos Playbase Streaming Soundbar

Last updated: October 28, 2021

Sonos Playbase Streaming Soundbar
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We looked at the top Soundbars and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Soundbar you should buy.

Overall Take

If you're looking for easy connectivity to streaming apps, the Sonos Playbase is a great choice. It comes with crisp, high-quality sound for a true home theater experience. Setup is also fairly straightforward as long as you have the app.

In our analysis of 56 expert reviews, the Sonos Playbase Streaming Soundbar placed 11th when we looked at the top 17 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.

From The Manufacturer

Your TV’s got the video part nailed. But the audio? That leaves a lot to be desired. Especially when it’s movie time. Game time. Music time. Come to think of it, any time. The all new PLAYBASE adds pulse-pounding, full-theater sound to all your movies, TV shows, sports and games–and it wirelessly streams your favorite music, too. Its slim, low profile design practically vanishes beneath your TV, yet it fills your entire viewing room with spectacular widescreen sound you just can’t miss. It is part of Sonos, the wireless Home Sound System that fills as many rooms as you want with great-sounding tunes. It’s a new, better way to fill each day with the sounds you love.

Expert Reviews


What experts liked

We’re happy to report that it does in fact sound quite good. Even without Trueplay calibration, the Playbase offered punchy bass, crisp vocals and a good sense of soundstage depth and height.
Sonos supports every major music streaming service and the Sonos app is easily the slickest, smoothest and most user-friendly piece of software I’ve ever seen with an audio product.
Clear, powerful audio regardless of whether you're watching a movie or listening to music. Music streaming is a unique feature in the home theater speaker market. Easy to setup and convert to a wireless 5.1 surround sound setup by buying extra speakers.
Setup worked flawlessly for me. You open the Sonos app, plug the Playbase in, and follow a few screens to get started. Sonos guides you through the steps of turning off your TV’s built-in speakers and programming your regular remote to control volume on the Playbase, which takes just a few seconds.

What experts didn't like

TruePlay calibration for iOS only and virtual surround sounds artificial.
No HDMI and too expensive if you want to build a system.
Expensive, particularly if you're building a 5.1 setup. The lovely white finish scratches and scuffs easily. Stereo separation isn't as good as you'll get with a true multi-speaker setup.
It only uses optical audio. It doesn’t support DTS surround sound. It’s expensive — and that’s even before you consider adding in a Sonos Sub or two Play:1 speakers for a 5.1 arrangement.
View our Soundbar buying guide for in-depth advice and recommendations.

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