The Sonos Five delivers immersive wireless hi-fi with a refined build that balances weight and rigidity. Three high-excursion woofers supply a deep, controlled bass in a sealed enclosure, while side and center tweeters create an ultra-wide soundstage. The design emphasizes minimal noise, coherent imaging, and flexible orientation for stereo or mono setups. Setup is quick via the app, with AirPlay 2 and line-in options. Orientation and pairing choices enhance space perception, and more details await.
Design and Build: A Look at the All-New Sonos Five
The All-New Sonos Five presents a refined design that emphasizes build quality and acoustic-focused geometry. The chassis reflects deliberate design aesthetics, with material choices balancing weight, rigidity, and heat management. Finish options offer understated sophistication while resisting fingerprints and wear. Port placement is purposeful, minimizing cable clutter and enhancing accessibility. Weight distribution appears deliberate, supporting stable placement and predictable resonance behavior. The user interface remains streamlined, prioritizing tactile and digital clarity without distraction.
Sound Performance and Tunings: Deep Bass, Ultra-Wide Stage, Center Tweeter
The Sonos Five delivers a notable bass foundation through three high-excursion woofers in a sealed enclosure, minimizing reverb and delivering controlled depth. The tuning yields a pronounced bass depth without sacrificing midrange clarity, enabling musical integrity across genres.
An ultra-wide stage emerges from the combination of side tweeters and a center tweeter, producing a broad, coherent image that preserves vocal intelligibility. Spatial fidelity remains strong when the speaker is oriented horizontally for stereo or vertically for mono playback; pairing options further expand stage width.
Versatility and Setup: Playback Options, Pairing, and Orientation
Versatility in playback options and flexible setup options extend the Sonos Five beyond fixed placement. The speaker supports versatile playback through the Sonos app, Apple AirPlay 2, and line-in connections, broadening integration with sources and rooms. Pairing orientation matters: horizontal use enables stereo spread, while upright pairing yields mono with a wider perceived soundstage, offering practical adaptability for room geometry. Setup options emphasize minimal friction: quick app-based setup, straightforward wireless linking, and easy integration with existing ecosystems. Compatibility features ensure stable performance across devices and formats, reducing drift between input and output. Overall, versatile playback and flexible pairing orientation enhance placement freedom and usability.
Conclusion
The Sonos Five consolidates our understanding of wireless HiFi by delivering deep, controlled bass within a spacious, balanced soundstage. Its tri-woofer design and strategic tweeters create a cohesive center image while preserving breadth, whether oriented for mono or stereo listening. The system’s simplicity—via the app, AirPlay 2, and a flexible 3.5 mm input—complements its sonic strengths. While it fits well within Sonos’ ecosystem, true value hinges on room acoustics and existing multi-room ambitions.
