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SonosFive

Home speaker
Multi-room

£449View retailers

Test score

Lowest available prices

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The Sonos Five is the brand’s flagship multi-room speaker, replacing the Sonos Play:5. Sonos promises it has the same great-sounding acoustic design, while upgrading the tech to include a more powerful processor and increased memory, and is available in black or white. It aims to be the go-to choice for those looking for a superior-sounding multi-room audio setup. Our professional listening panel cut through the hype to reveal how it really performs compared with rivals.

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cons

What's included?

What is it?
What’s the sound like?
What’s it like to use?
Is there anything I should watch out for?
Is there anything I should know?
Should I buy it?

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KEY TEST RESULTS
Sound quality
Ease of use
Features, audio sources and connections

Feb 2024Last checked by Which?
Jun 2020First reviewed by Which?
Jun 2020Released

The overall Which? test score is made up of the following star ratings, all determined by our rigorous lab tests.

How we test speakers main image - Sonos One SL

How we test wireless, smart and Bluetooth speakers

29 Apr 2024

Sound quality

Overall
Classical sound quality
Jazz sound quality
Pop sound quality
Speech sound quality

How we test sound quality

We rate sound quality using a professional panel of five expert listeners with a range of ages and musical tastes. They listen to nine recordings per turntable which cover a wide range of music and radio genres, giving a rating per recording and an overall verdict (not an average).

Maximum volume

How we test maximum volume

We test how loud speakers will go before the sound distorts, so you know how loud it can actually go and still sound at its best, rather than the claimed maximum by the manufacturer that can stretch the speaker beyond its limits. Choose a speaker with a louder maximum volume to fill larger spaces.

Ease of use

Overall
Initial Set Up
Everyday Use
Ease of connecting up multiple devices (multi-room)
App ease of use

How we test ease of use

The overall ease of use as rated by our lab professionals. Includes how easy it is to set up, the quality of the instruction manual and the labelling of sockets. Everyday use includes how easy it is to connect devices, wirelessly stream music and control playback features. Multi-room use includes how easy it is to set up and connect to a wireless multi-room speaker system. The portability rating only applies to models with a battery.

Features, audio sources and connections

How we test features, audio sources and connections

Our lab professionals assess the number of different ways you can connect an audio source both wirelessly and via a cable. Watch out for models with a lower star rating - some models can be quite restrictive, like only allow you to connect wirelessly or even only with wi-fi. Check the tech specs tab for full details.

Energy efficiency from mains

How we test energy efficiency from mains

If a speaker can be powered off batteries, the energy efficiency rating is based on battery life from a single charge compared to the competition - in this case, it's therefore not a measure of total energy consumption, as a speaker could have a better battery life through having a larger battery. If the speaker is mains-powered only, the energy efficiency rating is based on power consumption from the mains - we test both when the speaker is playing and when it is on standby. Power consumption tends to be pretty low for speakers, but can add up particularly for mains-powered speakers you have plugged in a lot of the time.

Security
Support expected until at least	December 2027
Brand update policy	At least 5 years after discontinued

General
Type of speaker	Home speaker
Height	20.4cm
Width	36cm
Depth	15.4cm
Weight	6.3kg
Battery powered	No
Claimed speaker output	None claimed
Recommended sound settings	Trueplay set up, Loudness - Off

Connections
Bluetooth	No
Wi-fi	Yes
Smart speakers	No
Voice assistant(s) supported	Works with Alexa
Multi-room	Yes
Chromecast multi-room	No
Ethernet	Yes
3.5mm line input	Yes
USB charging port	No

Features
Can be linked in stereo	Yes

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SonosFive

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