Sonos Play:3 smaller in size, price

$299 for wireless music player that can “play anything”

I’ve been covering Sonos since the company began in 2003, fascinated with its wireless music players and high-end audio systems. Back then, owning a system that could play multiple streams of music in multiple rooms (or the same song in many rooms) could cost $1,000 or more, putting it out of reach for many consumers. With today’s announcement of the $299 Play:3 wireless player, the company is allowing more people to enjoy the Sonos experience.

The Play:3 is the successor to the company’s S5 all-in-one player – the device includes speakers and power and a network connection (Ethernet cable in the back). Users can either plug the Play:3 directly into a router, or purchase an optional $49 Zone Bridge to connect to the router. If using the Zone Bridge, the system utilizes a proprietary 2.4GHz wireless network to communicate with the router and other Sonos players (mesh networking at its finest).

The really cool part, though, is what can be played on the unit. The system can play an owner’s digital music stored on a PC or network-attached storage device (including non-DRM ITunes songs). With the Internet connection, the unit can stream more than 100,000 radio stations, shows and podcasts, as well as connect to Internet music streaming services. This includes sites like AUPEO, iheartradio, Last.fm, MOG, Napster, Pandora, Rdio, Rhapsody, SiriusXM Internet Radio, Spotify, Stitcher SmartRadio, TuneIn and Wolfgang’s Vault. Streaming from those services, however, requires subscriptions or accounts with those services. All of the music can be controlled through a user’s smartphone – Sonos supports Android phones, the iPhone and the iPad with its Sonos Controller app.

The design of the Play:3 is also impressive – the unit has three digital amplifiers and three drivers (one tweeter and two 3-inch mid-range drivers). The compact device can be placed horizontally (getting left and right stereo speakers) or vertically (each speaker includes left/right). You can also take two Play:3 devices and designate one as a left and the other as a right, if you desire.

If you haven’t experienced the Sonos system yet because of the price, the $100 reduction (the S5 was about $400) should be enticing for many. The $1,000 price tag for the system years ago will now get you three of these units, which you can place in multiple rooms or combine together for a massive stereo room (well, at least two of them).

More details on the Play:3 are at the Sonos Web site – check out the video that I also did at the Sonos offices in Cambridge, Mass.

• Wireless / Mobile
• Smartphones
• gadgets
• home networking
• music players
• Sonos
• wireless music