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lbreezy225's Reviews
Expand your home audio setup with this Sonos Playbase. The 10 amplified drivers produce a full range of sound, as they consist of six midrange drivers, three tweeters and a woofer, and it's compact enough to place anywhere. This Sonos Playbase also includes a controller app for effective customization and easy streaming from mobile devices.
Posted by: lbreezy225
I've been in the market for a new home theatre sound system, one that also performed well with music as it did with tv/movies. I decided that I wanted to go with the Sonos eco-system due to the quality of sound, simplicity, and overall very impressive reviews.
What immediately plagued me next was the introduction of the Playbase. Up until now after numerous trips to Best Buy and other Audio/Video stores I was pretty set on getting the Playbar. The Playbase however immediately sparked my interest due to the fact that it was a brand new entry from Sonos and that my tv would fit perfectly over the base (Sony XBR65x900E) plus the Playbase in white looked aesthetically pleasing to me. Much more so than the outdated, clunky look of the Playbar.
So that was it, I decided to build my set up around the Playbase. I went back to Best Buy to test it out before my purchase. I was immediately confused by what I was hearing. The Playbase sounded inferior to the Playbar. Every single review I read stated that they sounded almost identical except the Playbase was superior due to it's added sub. That didn't matter to me because I was already committed on purchasing the Sonos Sub.
The only way to know for sure was to bring these baby's home. I purchased the Playbase and the sub. I immediately set up Trueplay along with the sub and played a few songs on it. I was not happy, the music sounded flat and the highs/mids/lows sounded bunched up together. The sound didn't fill my living room like I imagined it. I couldn't really FEEL the music (some of you know what I'm talking about, when I say this). Not the way a system that costs $700 should anyway. The Playbase still had a good amount of lows coming out of it even with the Sub connected. On a side note the Sub is amazing, handled even the slightest low frequency with detail and control. Which leads me to the next issue. The lows coming from the sub were significantly of better quality than the mids and highs that were being out put by the Playbase. It just didn't blend well together as if they were not made to work together cohesively. Then I tested out some tv shows and movies. It sounded better and I was pleased, though not ready to bust out of my pants excited. The dialogue was clear but I didn't really get the "surround" sound effect. Again, the sub overshadowed everything that was coming out of the Playbase.
So after testing the Playbase out for a week I was a little bummed out, possibly considering even not going with Sonos anymore. Still I remember being really impressed with all the demos I heard with the Playbar at the stores. So I went to Best Buy and picked up the Playbar came home and set it up. My suspicions were in fact true, the Playbar was by far the superior product. The sound filled my room, possibly by the bigger sized tweets and that they face out in a angle rather than straight out like the Playbase. It didn't matter that the Playbase has an extra speaker. This was the sound that impressed me in my numerous visits and what sold me to Sonos. I played the same songs and this time around I felt the music. It justified the price tag. It blended with the sub so well as if they were a match made in heaven.
The thousands of positive reviews for the Playbar can't be wrong, though mark my words. The Playbase will without a doubt be rated much lower as time passes. I can say without a doubt that while the Playbar sounds like a premium sound system the Playbase sounds like a nice upgrade to to your tv speakers, but why pay $700 for that?
Overall I feel a little bittersweet about my findings. The Playbase fit better for my set up and looks better. I wish it really did sound the same. It just doesn't. Not by a long shot. Bottom line: if you plan to buy the sub get the Playbar. The Playbase as many reviews have stated is a head scratcher. I wish they just updated the Playbar.
I hope this helps those that are planning to buy into the Sonos eco system and I also hope this helps those who already own a Playbar that's eyeing the new Playbase. If you don't have the sub, get it.
What immediately plagued me next was the introduction of the Playbase. Up until now after numerous trips to Best Buy and other Audio/Video stores I was pretty set on getting the Playbar. The Playbase however immediately sparked my interest due to the fact that it was a brand new entry from Sonos and that my tv would fit perfectly over the base (Sony XBR65x900E) plus the Playbase in white looked aesthetically pleasing to me. Much more so than the outdated, clunky look of the Playbar.
So that was it, I decided to build my set up around the Playbase. I went back to Best Buy to test it out before my purchase. I was immediately confused by what I was hearing. The Playbase sounded inferior to the Playbar. Every single review I read stated that they sounded almost identical except the Playbase was superior due to it's added sub. That didn't matter to me because I was already committed on purchasing the Sonos Sub.
The only way to know for sure was to bring these baby's home. I purchased the Playbase and the sub. I immediately set up Trueplay along with the sub and played a few songs on it. I was not happy, the music sounded flat and the highs/mids/lows sounded bunched up together. The sound didn't fill my living room like I imagined it. I couldn't really FEEL the music (some of you know what I'm talking about, when I say this). Not the way a system that costs $700 should anyway. The Playbase still had a good amount of lows coming out of it even with the Sub connected. On a side note the Sub is amazing, handled even the slightest low frequency with detail and control. Which leads me to the next issue. The lows coming from the sub were significantly of better quality than the mids and highs that were being out put by the Playbase. It just didn't blend well together as if they were not made to work together cohesively. Then I tested out some tv shows and movies. It sounded better and I was pleased, though not ready to bust out of my pants excited. The dialogue was clear but I didn't really get the "surround" sound effect. Again, the sub overshadowed everything that was coming out of the Playbase.
So after testing the Playbase out for a week I was a little bummed out, possibly considering even not going with Sonos anymore. Still I remember being really impressed with all the demos I heard with the Playbar at the stores. So I went to Best Buy and picked up the Playbar came home and set it up. My suspicions were in fact true, the Playbar was by far the superior product. The sound filled my room, possibly by the bigger sized tweets and that they face out in a angle rather than straight out like the Playbase. It didn't matter that the Playbase has an extra speaker. This was the sound that impressed me in my numerous visits and what sold me to Sonos. I played the same songs and this time around I felt the music. It justified the price tag. It blended with the sub so well as if they were a match made in heaven.
The thousands of positive reviews for the Playbar can't be wrong, though mark my words. The Playbase will without a doubt be rated much lower as time passes. I can say without a doubt that while the Playbar sounds like a premium sound system the Playbase sounds like a nice upgrade to to your tv speakers, but why pay $700 for that?
Overall I feel a little bittersweet about my findings. The Playbase fit better for my set up and looks better. I wish it really did sound the same. It just doesn't. Not by a long shot. Bottom line: if you plan to buy the sub get the Playbar. The Playbase as many reviews have stated is a head scratcher. I wish they just updated the Playbar.
I hope this helps those that are planning to buy into the Sonos eco system and I also hope this helps those who already own a Playbar that's eyeing the new Playbase. If you don't have the sub, get it.
FYI: Several Best Buy employees also agreed to my assessment and agreed that the Playbar had a much fuller sound. I'm sure Sonos wants people to believe that the Playbase is just as good but this just not true.
My Best Buy number: 2990333908
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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