Software
We have indicated mobile and desktop
Comtroller applications of Sonos in previous Sonos reviews, and users’
experience has still been stable since the one-year-ago revolution. There are
three controlling windows for bigger screen: the farthest window on the left
shows all your connected Sonos speakers, the middle window shows a waiting line
of tracks and what are playing on chosen speaker, and the right-hand window
indicates your available audio sources. On the top, they are controls of
volume, EQ, play/pause and track, and one common search field. There are also
buttons to delete current waiting line or save them in playlist, together with
sleep timer, and alarm setting on the bottom.
All these features are ready on mobile
applications, but they are put in menus, totally contrary to availability. For
example, if you want to change setup of bass and treble from “now playing”
screen on mobile app, you will have to go though no less than 5 menus to get
necessary controlling board.
Sonos
Playbar review an excellent and expensive home theater addition
Just saying that multi-window interface of
Controller apps for tablet and desktops is better UI than mobile version
because it makes many your available controller easy to drag and drop songs
into expected row. Going deeply into menu-level system for arriving at all the
sound sources feels to be able to forgive because you can do it while also
control waiting line and what are playing. Regardless of quite secret quality
of Controller, most of the people will not have trouble being comfortable with
it after 1 night or 2 days.
Perharps Sonos has supported all music
services at present, but new streaming foundations seem to appear weekly at
this time. That is the reason why Sonos has Sonos Labs which allows you to try
new services when they are available.
Sound
We have indicated before, but being worth recalling:
Playbar was good when compared to its competitor soundbar, especially in
playing music. It was a flexible speaker which faces well to any kinds of music
we put into, even they were tracks with much bass from The Black Album of Jay Z
to solo guitar tracks from Phish: A Live One, or funny songs from Some Nights
of Fun. Similarly, Playbar is outstanding in playback of film and TV audios,
providing good simulated surround sound. Summary, it is reasonable promotion
compared to any TV speakers that we’ve heard.
We
have indicated before, but being worth recalling: Playbar was good when
compared to its competitor soundbar, especially in playing music.
Is it replacement of your home stereo
system? No. Normal listeners will not seek out the mistakes in audio output of
Playbar, but if you are thinking that such new Sonos can provide depth of sound
and the stereo distinguish is supplied by a quality set of desktop speakers, or
a full component stereo system, you will be disappointed. Playbar excels in
role of soundbar, provides considerable motivation compared to a set of TV’s speakers
and serves as capable and preparative stereo which provides a convenient way to
listen to all kinds of music.
Home-theater performance of Playbar is
reinforced by two exciting features: Night Sound and Speech Enhancement. Night
Sound aims to those who like watching TV in late night, but do not want to wake
up their neighbors. Turn it on and dynamic range of sound going through
speakers is decreased when switching down volume. Some light sound, as
conversations, becomes louder while louder sound, as explosions, is turned
down. It works well for watching movies, but we recognized that feature made
talk show programs sound a little small. In conclusion, we preferred sound with
Night Sound to be turned off.
On the other hand, Speech Enhancement is a
happy addition for our watching TV. It works through combination of decreasing
bass, increasing gain for center channel while turning down gain of competitive
channels and going up or down some specific frequency. In fact, this feature is
really intelligent because it makes the voice sound more plentiful and clearer.
It is not thing that you pay attention until it is turned off, when you realize
that the voices on screen suddenly seem muted and choked in comparison.
In general, the array of nine drivers has
filled up room with sound; and regardless of hesitance of Sonos about product
performance, Playbar can really increase volume. We are saying about waking up
neighbors, and if you like, we did not see any distortion during the short time
we heard in maximum volume. Obviously, if you are desiring that Playbar plays a
center role in next party, you will not be disappointed.
In spite of comprehensive capabilities of
Playbar, we will be irresponsible if do not talk about how much it is better
when combined to Sonos Sub. For all that Playbar works well, it is lack of
low-end power of subwoofer, and sometimes we remember that ability, especially
watching TV. These six 8-centimeter divers only cannot provide low, rumbling
bass which is an indispensable component for truly wonderful experience of
home-theater. We do not say that Playbar does not create good sound of
home-theater; only that if you do not hear soundbar together with Sub, your
experience is much worse. Naturally, home-theater sound can be improved by
setting up a couple of Plays:3 for satellite speakers to create real 5.1
surround sound, but adding Sub is really fill in all sound gaps of Playbar.
Conclusion
Playbar of Sonos is an excellent-designed
soundbar, distinguish sound, but with price of 700USD, it makes a big
challenge; it is not a big bargain. Combine it with Sub to have truly
experience of home-theater, and that combination push costs up to 1,300 USD –
1,400 USD (not including other 50USD for Sonos Bridge). It is a huge number
compared to coming set of soundbar and wireless Sub of Vizio, for instance.
Playbar
of Sonos is an excellent-designed soundbar, distinguish sound, but with price
of 700USD, it makes a big challenge
Vizio’s products will transmit music
directly via Bluetooth, along with 2 satellite speakers and provide sound
quality almost equal to Sonos in price of 329 USD. However, you do not have
all-in-one music transmitting method of Sonos Controller, strong hardware and
good design of Playbar, as well as not have subtle simplicity of setup that
only Sonos can provide. Therefore, while Playbar could not essential represent
for the best thing when mentioning to home-theater system, it provides
excellent user experience and if you have enough money, you will not disappoint
with its performance. Consider it like this way: this is a test model which we
hope that we would not need to return.
Info
·
Price: $699
Strong points
·
Simple setup
·
Wonderful sound, fill in the room with 1
soundbar
·
Top construction quality
Weak points
·
Expensive
·
Mobile app needs better UI
The key point
·
Playbar of Sonos creates an excellent addition
for living room, but only those who are rich and love music can afford.
Specifications
|
General
·
Product type: Sound bar
·
Speaker type: Nine class-D digital amplifiers
·
Speakers included: 6 x Midrange, 3 x Tweeters
·
Dimensions (WxDxH): 35.43 x 5.51 x 3.35 inches
·
Weight: 11.9 lbs
Features
·
Connectivity technology: Ethernet - Wi-Fi,
Wireless
·
Dolby Digital, Android devices, iPhone, iPod
touch, and iPad connect to your Sonos system through your home Wi-Fi network
·
Turn any Mac or PC desktop or laptop computer in
your home into a Controller
·
Endless music from the most popular online music
services
|
