Sonos PLAY 1 vs PLAY 3: Pros & Cons and Verdict

Several manufacturers create powerful audio speakers that stream digital music. One of the most famous and respected brands that manufactures reliable speakers is Sonos.

They’ve released several best-selling and out-of-the-box devices that exceed the capabilities of every other product on the market.

Two notable releases are the PLAY:1 and the PLAY:3. The latter is the newest product and is larger than its younger brother. As for the PLAY:1 model, it’s the first-generation Sonos speaker and well-respected on the market.

Sonos PLAY 1 vs PLAY 3: Pros & Cons and Verdict

In this Sonos PLAY:3 vs PLAY:1 article, we’ll compare, evaluate and rate the most important aspects of both speakers. We’ll also present detailed charts, and lastly, we’ll come up with a reasonable verdict and crown one as the leading product.

Setup Process

The first topic to cover is the setup processes of Play 1 and Play 3. It’s essential for these speakers to have straightforward and intuitive installation processes since no one likes wasting hours reading manuals, surfing the community forums and watching guides on YouTube.

SONOS PLAY:1 AND PLAY:3

Since both speakers are from the same manufacturer, Sonos Play 1 and Play 3 have an identical setup process, which is simple, intuitive and straightforward.

We’ve completed the setup of both and can confirm that it only takes a few minutes to activate either of these two. If you’re interested in the step-by-step guide, we’ve uploaded this excellent video which takes you through the whole process.

In case you prefer a written guide, I’ve also listed the steps just below. Alternatively, your Sonos speaker package will include a well-written user manual that perfectly explains the whole thing.

• First, connect the speaker to the power source
• Then turn it on
• Connect it to Wi-Fi using the mobile application
• Do the wavy-wavy-hand-dancey
• Done. You can start playing music.

That’s pretty much everything you’ll have to do to activate your Sonos speaker. If you still find any issues with the setup, simply reach out to the Sonos support team, who are superbly helpful.

Design

It’s essential for all modern devices to have eye-catching, attractive and eye-pleasing designs since everyone wants products that will improve the overall aesthetics of their home interior.

What I love about Sonos Play 1 and Play 3 is that they blend well with any interior design. Plus, they’re well-sized and can comfortably fit anywhere in the house.

Sonos PLAY:1

While the PLAY:3 and PLAY:5 flawlessly blend with your home decor, they still look a bit odd. The main reason why I have this strange feeling about them is due to their not having the traditional Sonos look.

By contrast, the PLAY:1 has the signature Sonos design and looks terrific in any room. The black one (Sonos PLAY:1 is also available in white) is my favourite.

On the speaker itself, you’ll find a volume rocker, play/pause button and an Ethernet socket.

So you can judge for yourself, I’ve uploaded this picture of the Sonos PLAY:1.

Considering the price you’re paying for the Sonos PLAY:1, it’s exceptionally well made. A single interaction is enough to feel the quality and the reason for its high-class status. It never feels like a cheap speaker.

The dimensions of the PLAY:1 is 4.7 x 4.7 x 6.4 inches and weighs 4.1 pounds. While the speaker is quite heavy, note that there’s no built-in battery. Sonos PLAY:1 is meant to be placed in a room and not moved about (although, of course, you can relocate it to a different room should you so wish [but never outdoors if not covered]).

Sonos PLAY:3

The PLAY:3 is larger than the PLAY:1 and smaller than the PLAY:5. The size of the speaker is just right, and you won’t have trouble placing it in your house. The coolest part is that you can position it either vertically and horizontally.

Like the PLAY:1, the PLAY:3 is also available in two colours – black and white. It has three buttons on top to change the volume or mute the speaker. We’ve included a picture that shows how attractive this particular model is.

The dimensions of the Sonos PLAY:3 are 5.2 x 10.5 x 6.3 inches, and it weighs 5.7 pounds. The main concern people have about the speaker is the placing. Some think that the size is too big and that it won’t fit on a bookshelf, or a side or night table.

If that’s your concern, remember that you can place it either vertically or horizontally without worrying about the sound being muddy. The PLAY:3 auto-switches to mono and stereo modes and calibrates the room so that it makes the sound just right.

Features

What we have to discuss now are the features of Sonos PLAY:1 and PLAY:3. After all, the purchaser’s decision about whether to buy will largely be based on the speaker’s features.

So it’s crucial to know what these two have to offer and if they are indeed worth the investment. Hence we’ve created a detailed chart where we’ve included all the vital features of both Sonos speakers.

The chart above shows the difference between these two, and the superiority of the PLAY:3 speaker is visible. While there’s also a significant difference regarding capabilities and sound, we should note that the PLAY:1 and PLAY:3 are for different purposes.

Sound Quality

We can consider this part of our comparison article as the most important since the main reason why people purchase these Sonos speakers is due to their sound capabilities. If either of these two can’t meet our minimum requirements, there’s no need for us to invest in such products.

Sonos PLAY:1

The first thing we need to make clear is that a PLAY:1 is a small speaker and can’t compete or match the sound capabilities of the PLAY:3 and PLAY:5. If you’re looking for something sturdy, read our Sonos PLAY:3 vs PLAY:5 article.

As a standalone speaker, it has a rich sound and, for its size and price, the PLAY:1 delivers an out-of-the-box experience.

As for the insides of the speaker, a single Sonos PLAY:1 has two drivers, a mid-range/bass driver and a smaller tweeter. What makes the sound of the speaker exceptional is the stronger driver magnets it uses.

While the speaker isn’t meant to be the primary music source, the sound is so good that a few of my friends use it as the principal speaker.

Usually, a speaker that is similar in size to the PLAY:1 has to compromise the sound quality, but the PLAY:1 works terrific on high volumes. What makes the speaker stand out from its competitors is the fact that it refuses to distort the sound even when maxed out.

So you’ll never have to worry about the sound being dull.

The most significant drawback of the PLAY:1 is that it can’t handle more than a small room. If you think about placing the speaker in a large room with high ceilings, don’t expect much from the PLAY:1. For larger spaces, you’ll have to purchase at least a pair of PLAY:1 speakers to fill the room.

Unlike the PLAY:3 and PLAY:5, the PLAY:1 is more sensitive to placement. According to our tests, it works better if placed in a corner.

The next thing we did was pair two PLAY:1 speakers, which unlocked the full potential of the device. As a result, two speakers filled the room, and the whole listening process became more enjoyable.

The difference was so big that, if you’re willing to invest a bit more, we’d recommend getting two Sonos PLAY:1 speakers over a single PLAY:3.

Sonos PLAY:3

Compared to the PLAY:1, the PLAY:3 is quite loud and can be heard throughout a 550 square-foot apartment. That’s pretty impressive considering the size of the Sonos speaker.

Since the PLAY:3 was mainly built to fill a large room, it has three amplifiers and three speaker drivers. What makes the speaker even better is the ability to detect its position. In other words, if you have it placed in vertical or horizontal position, PLAY:3 will take notice and will switch to mono or stereo mode to improve the sound quality.

What we’ve noticed while testing the PLAY:3 was that it flawlessly works on low and medium volume, but as soon as we went all out, the sound became a bit muddy.

Luckily, there are a few ways to manage the sound issue to maximise the capabilities of the Sonos PLAY:3:

• Purchase a Pair – Purchasing a pair of PLAY:3 speakers can be the best option. If you’re willing to invest in two PLAY:3 models, each can take one side of the stereo channel, and it’ll take care of the bass issues.
• TruePlay – While the TruePlay doesn’t do wonders, it’s still a terrific feature that adjusts the sound of the speaker to the needs of a room.

Here’s the other side of the story:

Even if you purchase two PLAY:3 speakers (the same goes for PLAY:1), you’re unlikely to place them in the same room. Everyone loves diversifying things and the majority of Sonos owners I know (who own a pair or more), have their speakers placed in different rooms like the bedroom, kitchen, living room and even in a bathroom.

Compared to the iPhone docks that are in the same price range as the PLAY:3, the Sonos speaker exceeds their capabilities, sound quality and durability.

One of the most debated topics I’ve lately heard is whether Bluetooth is better than Wi-Fi for wireless audio.

Firstly, all Sonos speakers use Wi-Fi, and I’ve never seen a buyer who had connectivity issues.

Secondly, The biggest perk of Wi-Fi connectivity is that it allows you to stream high-quality audio files, making the sound cleaner and more enjoyable.

The TruePlay we’ve mentioned above is a new feature that helps with the speaker placement. Since a lot of buyers complained about the sound quality of Sonos that was caused by poor placement, Sonos released a feature that compensates for lousy placement by adjusting its sound so that it’s more transparent and optimised.

While the effect of TruePlay isn’t significant if you’re using a single speaker, there’s a considerable difference if you own several PLAY:3 devices.

Mobile Application

It’s crucial for a company like Sonos to have a functional, reliable and well-built mobile application since we have to use it quite often to control our speakers.

If the Sonos mobile app were buggy, crashy and hard to use, it could lower the user experience that would cause a lot of trouble in the future. So we need to be sure that Sonos’ app is intuitive and straightforward.

Luckily, the app is well-built and doesn’t cause extra hassle and headaches. It’s well-structured, easy to use and very straightforward. Whenever you get your first Sonos speaker, the first thing you’ll have to do is to download the mobile app for it to guide you through the whole setup process.

The best part of the app is that you can stream music from different sources, including the most popular ones like Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, Google Play Music, Pandora and Groove. Plus, you can play your private collection using your computer and drive.

The only drawback here is that TruePlay only works with iOS devices. If you have an Android phone, you’ll have to live without it.

If you’re interested what the app is like, we’ve dropped a picture below that shows a few main sections displayed on an Android phone.

The one thing that would’ve made the app an out-of-the-box experience is if it could stream music, YouTube clips or video game sounds directly from your smartphone. It can still do it by having a cable and the 3.5mm jack, but it would’ve been great if these were as directly accessible as Apple Music or Spotify.

Frankly, the app is well-built, straightforward and intuitive. We’ve never had a case of it crashing, freezing or bugging.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Besides everything we’ve discussed, it’s important to know the advantages and disadvantages of Sonos PLAY:3 and PLAY:1 to avoid any misunderstandings before purchase.

In order to find out the pros and cons, we’ve created two detailed charts that list the advantages and disadvantages of both speakers.

These are the advantages of both Sonos speakers. While the chart doesn’t properly show the superiority of the Play:3, it definitely exceeds the Play:1’s capabilities.

Disadvantages of PLAY:1 and PLAY:3

Besides the advantages we discussed, it’s essential to know the shortcomings of these smart speakers.

These are all the advantages and disadvantages of PLAY:1 and PLAY:3. While the pros and cons of both are nearly identical, the main difference is in terms of capabilities.

he Bottom Line

Both Sonos PLAY:1 and PLAY:3 are excellent audio speakers that have thousands of positive reviews and satisfied customers. These two are best-selling devices on Amazon and exceed the capabilities of their competitors.

Sonos speakers stand out from others due to their uniqueness, sleek design, terrific audio capabilities and innovative discoveries. We do believe that if someone plans on investing in audio speakers, Sonos is the only way to go.

As for the actual comparison, if you want to purchase a single speaker, go for the PLAY:3 since it’s more powerful and enhanced. The PLAY:3 delivers an out-of-the-box experience and is the best mid-sized speaker on the market.

The sole case where we’d recommend you to get the PLAY:1 is if you’re willing to invest in a pair. Without a doubt, two SONOS PLAY:1 speakers exceed what a single PLAY:3 device has to offer.

On the other hand, pairing two PLAY:3 speakers will blow your mind. The vibe it has is truly unmatchable.

So that sums it up. If you’re not willing to purchase more than a single speaker, the PLAY:3 will better meet your needs.