Sonos has today unveiled its latest product in the multi-room family. Playbase will be an alternative to Playbar and is meant to be placed under your TV. It has been optimized for both TV audio and music, and will launch in April for $699 / €799.

Playbase for TV and music
The American company will launch its first new product since 2013. It is based on the “soundbase” concept that the industry collectively started pushing a few years ago and which has been called by many names. Sonos has named it the “Playbase”.


Sonos Playbase is meant to be placed on your TV furniture, or to be precise under your TV. It obviously supports Sonos’ multi-room features and has been designed to deliver powerful TV audio and music. It is an alternative to the current Sonos Playbar – the company’s soundbar – and not a successor.

The speaker base can carry TV weighing up to 35 kilograms (77 lbs). The actual unit weighs 9 kg. Inside there are 10 units, including 1 woofer. On the back you will find optical out, Ethernet, and of course a power port. There is no HDMI port, meaning that you will have to live without CEC controls. On top there are touch buttons that you may know from other Sonos products.




Can be expanded to 5.1 surround
If you want an even better audio experience you can pair the Playbase with the Sonos Sub and Play units as rear speakers. This way you can set up a wireless 5.1 surround system. We examined this option in detail back when we reviewed Sony Playbar.

It supports Dolby Digital but not DTS. Sonos explains that its products are targeted at streaming users, a space that is dominated by Dolby.


You can play music from services such as Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play, Deezer and many others.

Sonos Playbase will be available in early April in black and white for $699 USD / €799 EUR. Existing Sonos customers can place pre-orders starting today.

 
Sonos Playbase features
  
 
Two-in-one. Full-theater sound for your TV. Streams music, too.
 
 
Low profile design that practically disappears. Sound you just can’t miss.
 
Securely supports TVs up to 77 lbs (35 kg)
 
Simple two-cord setup. One for power, one for your TV.
 
Add SUB and two PLAY:1 rears for wireless 5.1 surround sound.
 
SPEECH ENHANCEMENT SETTING: Keeps dialog volume consistent while reducing the intensity of loud sound effects. So you can clearly understand even the faintest whisper.
 
PLAYS EVERYTHING: Cable boxes. Gaming consoles. Satellite boxes. Blu-ray players. If it’s connected to your TV, PLAYBASE will play it.
 
NIGHT SOUND SETTING: Don’t want to disturb the rest of the house? Turn on Night Sound. At lower volumes, quiet sounds get a slight boost while loud ones are automatically reduced.
 
WIDESCREEN SOUND. NO WALL MOUNT REQUIRED: PLAYBASE securely supports TVs up to 77 lbs. Which covers just about any TV that comes with its own stand.
 
 
Sonos Playbase specifikationer
 
 
Ten amplified speaker drivers – six mid-range, three tweeters, and one woofer.
 
Ten Class-D digital amplifiers.
 
Optical input to connect to your TV. Allows PLAYBASE to speak DOLBY DIGITAL and stereo.
 
Adjustable bass, treble, and loudness controls to customize your sound preferences.
 
Autoplay setting lets you choose whether or not TV audio will begin playback automatically.
 
Power supply
Auto-switching 100-240 V, 50-60 Hz AC universal input.
 
WiFi, not Bluetooth
Connects to your home WiFi network with any 802.11b/g, 2.4 GHz broadcast-capable router for uninterrupted wireless streaming.
 
Ethernet port
A single Ethernet port can connect PLAYBASE to a wired home network.
 
Dimensions
H x W x D - 2.28 x 28.35 x 14.17 in. (58 x 720 x 380 mm).
 
Weight
18.85 lbs. (8.6 kg).
 
Touch-interface controls & lights
Capacitive touch controls for volume up/down, previous/next track, and play/pause.
LED indicates Sonos component status and mute status.