Review on Enhanced Home Theater Surround Sound System: Sonos 3.1 Entertainment Set with Playbase, Sub, and Alexa Compatibility (White) by James Brault

This is what the world has been waiting for Great concept - perfect implementation There have been a few other similar form factors, but none of them made such an impression as the Sonos Playbase. They were either not thin enough, thin but thin, or too small to support common TV sizes. Sonos Playabase shows up and they kick it out of the park! Incredible sound and great aesthetics - thin, rugged, stylish, with a killer sound - a real home run! Where will I put it? This is always one of the biggest problems with any music or home theater system - if it sounds great, it requires multiple speakers, cables and connections. Where are you going to put all that if your living room doesn't look like a mixing studio? Even something as simple as a Playbar takes up space and can be difficult to integrate into your environment. Even better, since you already have a TV in your living room, the Playbase sits directly under the space already used for your TV! It's like it doesn't take up any space at all. So simple, easy, fun and enjoyable. You literally unwrap the Playbase, lift the TV up and lower the Playbase underneath, connect the power cord and plug the optical cable into the TV. , download the app, set up your Playbase with the push of a button and start racing! I really think almost anyone can do this. Amazing sound - for music or video What's really impressive is that Playbase sounds just as good with music as it does with video. So we all know the benefits of Sonos — access to any streaming music service you want, or your own music library, with the ability to group as many Sonos players as you want to create a great multi-room music system. Now add amazing home theater sound to the equation with a design that really doesn't take up any extra space in your living room. Suddenly, amazing sound fills your room and you hardly know where it's coming from. It's really exciting! How about bass? How can something so thin have so much bass? I mean really - it sounds like you're playing a subwoofer, but all there is is a Playbase about 2 inches thick! Looking at this elegant, graceful and subtle work of art and then hearing the sound coming out is truly an incredible experience. Plus it's proportioned so it actually looks like a beautifully designed TV stand - my family can't believe all the sound they hear is coming from the Playbase. Constructive criticism $699 is a decent amount of money, but I think it's worth it as the benefits are so significant. I'm really impressed with the simple, elegant design that almost disappears into my living room and yet delivers such a powerful music or home theater experience. However, I would have liked it to be a little cheaper. No HDMI input - optical only. My TV has an optical output, so there is no problem here. I think there are some TVs that don't have optics so just check to make sure. After meeting Playbase I would buy a new TV with optical cable if my TV didn't have one. Not everyone wants or can afford it, so just check before you buy. Full 5.1 surround sound? Not really, especially compared to a surround back speaker system. The clarity of the sound is very good, especially the vocals and dialogue. The front surround effects are also very good. Playbase has a very wide soundstage that is really immersive. Low frequencies are extremely powerful for small to medium sized rooms at moderate volume levels. If you have a huge room or want to wake up the neighbors, you need more than Playbase can provide. But there is good news: you are buying a modular and expandable system. The Playbase supports two Sonos Play:1 speakers that can be wirelessly connected as surround speakers (you just need a power outlet to plug them in). And for truly massive rooms, you can pair the Playbase with the Sonos Sub for a truly unparalleled experience. The reality is that the Playbase is actually too loud for my small to medium sized room. Only on weekends, during the day, can I turn it on at full power without disturbing the neighbors. Sound that impresses with music or video content in a slim package that fits right under your TV! It seems so obvious, but I don't think it was possible until now - there just wasn't the technology or innovation to make it all possible. Yes, it's a bit pricey, but the quality and experience is top notch. Sonos prefers simplicity, only 1 optical connection. So if you're a techie looking for all the bells and whistles, you won't find it on Playbase. What you will find is a really great all-in-one system that will fit perfectly into your living space. You'll find yourself listening to more music than ever and enjoying more TV than you ever imagined.