Sonos PLAY:5 User manual

THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION THAT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including but not
limited to photocopying, recording, information retrieval systems, or computer network without the written permission of Sonos, Inc.
Sonos and all other Sonos product names and slogans are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sonos, Inc. Sonos Reg. U.S. Pat. &
Tm. Off.
Sonos products may be protected by one or more patents. Our patent-to-product information can be found here:
sonos.com/legal/patents
AirPlay®, Apple Music™, FairPlay®, iPad®, iPhone®, iPod®, Tunes®, and OS X®, are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S.
and other countries.
"Made for iPod", "Made for iPhone", and "Made for iPad" mean that an electronic accessory has been designed to connect specifically to
iPod, iPhone, or iPad, respectively, and has been certified by the developer to meet Apple performance standards. Apple is not
responsible for the operation of this device or its compliance with safety and regulatory standards. Please note that the use of this
accessory with iPod, iPhone, or iPad may affect wireless performance.
Windows® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.
Android™ is a trademark of Google, Inc.
Amazon, Kindle, Kindle Fire, Echo, Alexa, and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
The terms HDMI and HDMI High-Definition Multimedia Interface, and the HDMI logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI
Licensing LLC in the United States and other countries.
Sonos uses MSNTP software, which was developed by N.M. Maclaren at the University of Cambridge.
© Copyright, N.M. Maclaren, 1996, 1997, 2000; © Copyright, University of Cambridge, 1996, 1997, 2000.
All other products and services mentioned may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.
May 2018
©2004-2018 by Sonos, Inc. All rights reserved.

Sonos PLAY:5
The all-new PLAY:5®is the ultimate smart speaker for today’s streaming universe—powerfully smart, fine-
tuning its sound to bring you all the energy and emotion the artist packed into the original recording.
• Hardware and software custom-designed by Sonos to produce pure, immersive sound that’s crystal
clear at any volume.
• Powered by 3 tweeters and 3 mid-woofers, each with a dedicated amplifier, perfectly tuned to match the
speakers and acoustic architecture.
• Works seamlessly with the complete range of Sonos products.
New to Sonos?
Download the app from the app store on your mobile device. Open the app and we’ll guide you through
setup. If you’re using a computer, get the app at www.sonos.com/support/downloads.
For the latest system requirements and compatible audio formats, go to http://faq.sonos.com/specs.
Already have Sonos?
You can easily add new speakers anytime (up to 32).
Just plug in the speaker and tap > Settings >Add a Player or Sub.
If you’re using a computer, go to Manage > Add a Player or Sub.

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2
Select a location
You can put your speaker just about anywhere. For maximum performance, we have a few guidelines:
• The PLAY:5 is a substantial and powerful speaker and should be placed on a flat surface that is robust
and durable enough to properly support it. Make sure the PLAY:5’s rubber feet sit completely on the flat
surface.
• Allow at least 2" perimeter all around the PLAY:5 including its power cord.
• For a single PLAY:5 speaker Sonos recommends positioning the speaker horizontally, enabling stereo
sound over a wide sound stage. (A single PLAY:5 speaker positioned in vertical mode is a mono
speaker—there is no stereo separation.)
• Place the PLAY:5 across the room from where you will be listening (at or close to your ear height for best
results).
• For stereo pair placement information, see Stereo pairs.
Caution: The PLAY:5 is humidity resistant so you can use it in the bathroom; however it is not water resistant
so don’t position it near water or leave it outside during a rain storm.
Explore PLAY:5
Play and control your music using the Sonos app or the touch controls.
Note: The front grille is not removable. Tampering with the grille may result in damage to your PLAY:5.
Touch Controls
Swipe left for previous track
(when applicable)
Volume down Volume up
Play/pause
Swipe right for next track
(when applicable)

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Touch controls
Status light
Connector panel
Volume • Touch and hold to quickly change the volume:
• Volume up (right); Volume down (left).
Play/Pause • Press once to play or pause music.
• Press and hold to add the music that’s playing in
another room.
Next/Previous track • Swipe right across the touch controls to skip to the
next track.
• Swipe left to go to the previous track.
Note: You can’t skip or go to the previous track when
listening to radio stations.
Speaker status • Normal operation: dimly lit.
• Listening or replying: full white brightness.
• Thinking: flashing white (dim to full).
For more information, see http://faq.sonos.com/led.
Join button Press Join to connect during setup.
Ethernet port Use the supplied Ethernet cable if you want to connect
to a router, computer, or network-attached storage
(NAS) device (optional).
AC power (mains) input
Join button
Ethernet port
Stereo Audio in

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4
Play music
Open the Sonos app and tap to play your music.
•Radio by TuneIn. Select from more than 100,000 free internet radio stations, podcasts, and shows.
•Music services. Explore and manage your music services—add your own or try something new.
•Music stored on your mobile device. Play music you’ve downloaded to your phone or tablet.
•Music library. Play music stored on your computer or any Network-Attached Storage (NAS) device.
For a full list of the music choices available in your country, go to www.sonos.com/music. For more
information about playing music, check out our mobile app product guide at www.sonos.com/guides.
Tune your room with Trueplay™
Every room is different. With Trueplay tuning, you can put your speakers wherever you want. Trueplay
analyzes room size, layout, décor, speaker placement, and any other acoustic factors that can impact sound
quality. Then it adjusts how each woofer and tweeter produces sound in that room (works on mobile devices
running iOS 8 or later).
Tap > Settings > Room Settings. Pick a room and tap Trueplay Tuning to get started.
Note: Trueplay tuning isn’t available if VoiceOver is enabled on your iOS device. If you want to tune your
speakers, first turn VoiceOver off in your device settings.
Equalization settings
Sonos speakers ship with the equalization settings preset to provide the optimal playback experience. You
can change the sound settings (bass, treble, balance, or loudness) to suit your personal preferences.
1. On a mobile device, tap > Settings > Room Settings.
2. Select a room.
3. Select EQ, and then drag your finger across the sliders to make adjustments.
4. To change the Loudness setting, touch On or Off. (The loudness setting boosts certain frequencies,
including bass, to improve the sound at low volume.)
AC power (mains)
input
Use only the supplied power cord (using a third-party
power cord will void your warranty).
Note: Insert the power cord firmly until it is flush with
the bottom of the speaker.
3.5mm (1/8") stereo
audio in
(2V)
Use to connect external music players.

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Stereo pairs
You can pair two Sonos speakers in the same room to create a wider stereo experience. One speaker serves
as the left channel and one serves as the right channel.
Note: The Sonos speakers in a stereo pair must be the same type.
Placement information
• Place the speakers 8 to 10 feet apart.
• Your favorite listening position should be 8 to 12 feet from the paired speakers—less distance increases
bass, more distance improves stereo imaging.
Create a stereo pair
On a mobile device:
1. Tap > Settings >Room Settings.
2. Choose a speaker and tap Create Stereo Pair.
After you pair your speakers, the room name includes (L + R).
On a computer:
1. Choose one of the following:
• On a PC, go to Manage >Settings.
• On a Mac, go to Sonos > Preferences > Room Settings.
2. Choose a speaker from the Room Settings drop-down list.
3. Click Create Stereo Pair.

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Separate a stereo pair
On a mobile device:
1. Tap > Settings >Room Settings.
2. Choose the stereo pair (room name includes (L + R)) and tap Separate Stereo Pair.
On a computer:
1. Choose one of the following:
• On a PC, go to Manage >Settings.
• On a Mac, go to Sonos >Preferences >Room Settings.
2. From the Room Settings drop-down list, choose the stereo pair (room name includes (L + R)).
3. On the Basic tab, click Separate Stereo Pair.
Surround speakers
Turn two Sonos speakers (same model) into separate right and left channels for your home theater.
Note: If you create a room group or stereo pair instead, you won’t have surround sound.
Add surrounds
On a mobile device:
1. Tap > Settings > Room Settings.
2. Choose the room with the home theater speaker and tap Add Surrounds.
On a computer:
1. Select Manage > Settings (PC) or Sonos > Preferences (Mac).
2. Select Room Settings.
3. Choose the room with the home theater speaker from the Room Settings drop-down list.
4. From the Basic tab, select Add Surround Speakers.
Change surround settings
When you add your speakers as surrounds, surround sound is optimized for your room. You can adjust these
settings:
Surrounds Turn surround sound On or Off.
TV Level Adjust surround volume for TV audio.
Music Level Adjust surround volume for music.

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On a mobile device:
1. Tap > Settings > Room Settings.
2. Choose the room with the surround speakers (name includes (+LS+RS)).
3. Select Advanced Audio > Surround Settings and change the settings.
On a computer:
1. Select Manage > Settings (PC) or Sonos > Preferences (Mac).
2. Select Room Settings.
3. Choose the room with the surrounds from the Room Settings drop-down list.
4. Select the Surrounds tab and change the settings.
Remove surrounds
If the speakers were part of your Sonos system before you added them as surrounds, they’ll revert back to
their previous room names. Otherwise, they’ll appear as Unused in Rooms.
On a mobile device:
1. Tap > Settings > Room Settings.
2. Choose the room with the surround speakers (name includes (+LS+RS)) and tap Remove Surrounds.
On a computer:
1. Select Manage > Settings (PC) or Sonos > Preferences (Mac).
2. Select Room Settings.
3. Choose the room with the surrounds from the Room Settings drop-down list (name includes (+LS+RS)).
4. From the Basic tab, click Remove Surrounds.
Connect an external audio device
You can connect an external audio device to your speaker’s Stereo Audio-In port.
•To connect a portable music player: You need a 3.5mm to 3.5mm stereo audio cable.
•To an external source like a CD player: You need a 1/8" (3.5mm) mini-stereo to RCA audio cable.
Playing music
• On a mobile device, tap > Line-In and choose the device.
• On computer, select Line-In from the MUSIC pane. Click next to the music source and choose Play
Now.
Music Playback Ambient (subtle) or Full (louder, full range). 
Doesn’t apply to TV audio.
Balance Surround
Speakers (iOS)
Manually balance your surround speakers.

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Changing the settings
1. Choose one of the following:
• On a mobile device, tap > Settings > Room Settings. Choose the speaker and tap Line-In.
• On a Mac or PC, go to Manage > Settings (PC) or Sonos > Preferences >Room Settings (Mac).
Choose the Sonos speaker from the Room Settings drop-down list and click the Line-In tab.
2. You can change the following settings:
•Line-In Source Name: Choose a name from the list.
•Line-In Source Level: A default (typical) line-in source level is automatically assigned for each source. If
the volume sounds too low, you can choose a higher line level. (You may experience clipping at higher
volume levels if you set the level too high.)
•Autoplay Room: Choose the room you want this line-in source to play in whenever it’s connected to
Sonos.
•Include Grouped Rooms: Turn on if you want the line-in source to play in rooms that are grouped with
the autoplay room.
•Use Autoplay Volume: Click the Use Autoplay Volume box if you want to use the external source to
adjust the volume in the autoplay room. Use the slider to set a default volume.
Line-in encoding settings
When you have line-in music sources attached to a Sonos product, line-in encoding determines how Sonos
will encode the data coming in from these sources. Your Sonos system defaults to automatic in order to
provide the optimal playback experience. Sonos recommends you do not change this default. However, if you
decide to make a change, we recommend the following usage guidelines:
Use Uncompressed if:
• You want optimal performance with home theaters.
• You want to produce the highest quality sound for your Sonos system (this selection requires more
network bandwidth than compressed audio.)
Use Compressed if:
• You are connecting more than 4 rooms wirelessly.
• You are in an environment with heavy wireless interference and are experiencing dropouts.
To change the line-in encoding setting, select one of the following options:
• On a mobile device, go to > Settings > Advanced Settings >Audio Compression.
• On a PC, go to Manage > Settings > Advanced.
• On a Mac, go to Sonos > Preferences > Advanced.

Sonos Play:5 9
Your home network
Your Sonos speaker and the mobile device with the Sonos app must be on the same network.
Wireless network
• High-speed internet connection such as DSL/cable modem or fiber-to-the-home broadband connection
• High-speed DSL/cable modem (or fiber-to-the-home broadband connection)
• 2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n wireless home network
Note: Satellite internet access may cause playback issues.
Wired home network
Use an Ethernet cable to connect a Sonos Boost or speaker to your router if:
• Your network is slow, unreliable, or does not reach all the rooms where you want to use Sonos
• Your network is already in high demand with streaming video and internet usage and you want to create
a separate wireless network for your Sonos speakers
• Your network is 5GHz only (not switchable to 2.4GHz)
• Your router supports only 802.11n (you can’t change the settings to support 802.11b/g/n)
Note: Use an Ethernet cable to connect the computer or NAS drive that contains your music library files to
your router for uninterrupted playback.
Got a new router?
If you purchase a new router or change your internet service provider (ISP), you’ll need to restart your Sonos
products after the router is installed.
Note: If you keep a Sonos product connected to your router and an ISP technician connects it to the new
router, then you’ll only need to restart your other Sonos products.
1. After the router is set up, disconnect the power cords from your Sonos products for at least 5 seconds.
2. Reconnect all the power cords—if you keep a Sonos product connected to your router, start with that one.
The speaker status light turns solid white on each product when the restart is complete.
If you don’t have a Sonos product connected to your router, you’ll need to change your network password
in the Sonos app.

Product Guide
10
Change your network password
If you change your network password (and you don’t have a Sonos product connected to your router), you’ll
need to update the password in the Sonos app.
1. Connect a Sonos speaker to your router with an Ethernet cable.
2. Choose an option:
• On a mobile device, go to > Settings > Advanced Settings > Wireless Setup.
• On a PC, go to Manage > Settings > Advanced. On the General tab, select Wireless Setup.
• On a Mac, go to Sonos > Preferences > Advanced. On the General tab, select Wireless Setup.
3. Enter the new network password.
Once the password is accepted you can unplug the speaker from the router and move it back to its original
location.
Turn Sonos on or off
Your speaker is designed to stay on. You can stop the music from playing with just a touch of a button.
• To stop the music: touch (you can also use the app).
• To stop the music everywhere: In the app, tap Rooms >Pause All.
Note: Your speaker uses minimal electricity when not in use.
Important safety information
1. Read these instructions.
2. Keep these instructions.
3. Heed all warnings.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Do not use this apparatus near water.
6. Clean only with dry soft cloth. Household cleaners or solvents can damage the finish on your Sonos
components.
7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus that
produce heat.
9. Protect the power cable from being walked on or pinched, particularly at plugs, convenience
receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
10. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
11. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.

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Specifications
12. Refer all servicing to Sonos qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has
been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cable or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or
objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not
operate normally, or has been dropped.
13. The Mains plug should be readily available to disconnect the equipment.
14. Warning: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or
moisture.
15. Do not expose apparatus to dripping or splashing and do not place objects filled with liquids, such as
vases, on the apparatus.
Feature Description
Audio Hardware and software custom-designed by Sonos to produce pure,
immersive sound that’s crystal clear at any volume.
Speakers Six driver speaker system—three 10cm mid-woofers, two 20mm tweeters
and one 23mm center tweeter, each with a dedicated amplifier, designed in-
house and perfectly tuned to match the speakers and acoustic architecture.
Stereo Pair Turn two PLAY:5s into separate left and right channel speakers to create
wider, bigger deeper sound.
5.1 Home Theater Add two PLAY:5 speakers to a Sonos home theater product and Sub for a
true surround sound experience.
Music
Audio Formats Supported Support for compressed MP3, AAC (without DRM), WMA without DRM
(including purchased Windows Media downloads), AAC (MPEG4), AAC+,
Ogg Vorbis, Apple Lossless, Flac (lossless) music files, as well as
uncompressed WAV and AIFF files.
Native support for 44.1kHz sample rates. Additional support for 48kHz,
32kHz, 24kHz, 22kHz, 16kHz, 11kHz, and 8kHz sample rates. MP3 supports
all rates except 11kHz and 8kHz.
Note: Apple “Fairplay”, WMA DRM and WMA Lossless formats not currently
supported. Previously purchased Apple “Fairplay” DRM-protected songs
may be upgraded.
Music Services Supported Sonos works seamlessly with most music services, including Apple
Music™, Deezer, Google Play Music, Pandora, Spotify and Radio by
TuneIn, as well as downloads from any service offering DRM-free tracks.
Service availability varies by region. For a complete list, see 
http://www.sonos.com/music.

Product Guide
12
Internet Radio Supported Streaming MP3, HLS/AAC, WMA
Album Art Supported JPEG, PNG, BMP, GIF
Playlists Supported Napster, iTunes, WinAmp, and Windows Media Player (.m3u, .pls, .wpl)
Networking*
Wireless Connectivity Connects to your home Wi-Fi network with any 802.11 b/g/n router.
802.11n only network configurations are not supported—you can either
change the router settings to 802.11 b/g/n or connect a Sonos product to
your router.
SonosNet™Extender Functions to extend and enhance the power of SonosNet, a secure AES
encrypted, peer-to-peer wireless mesh network dedicated exclusively for
Sonos to reduce Wi-Fi interference.
Ethernet Port One 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port allows a connection to your network or to
other Sonos speakers
Internet connectivity Internet connection required for access to Internet radio stations, online
music services and software updates. (DSL, cable modem or LAN-based
high-speed Internet connection required.) Internet functionality may require
payment of separate fee to a service provider; local and/or long distance
telephone charges may apply.
General
Power Supply AC 100 - 240 V~, 50/60 Hz, 2.3A, universal input
Controls Volume +/-, Play/Pause, Next Track, Previous Track; swipe horizontally
across the touch controls to skip to next track or previous track.
Status Light Indicates status
Audio Line-In Auto-detecting 3.5mm audio line-in connection
Microphones Two microphones are built into speakers that have a serial number starting
with 1703 or lower. These microphones are not enabled and cannot be
used. Speakers that have a serial number starting with 1704 and higher do
not have microphones. If you have any questions please visit 
www.sonos.com/support.
Dimensions (H x W x D) 14.33 (w) x 8.03 (h) x 6.06 (d) in. / 364 (w) x 203 (h) x 154 (d) mm
Weight 14 lb / 6.36 kg
Threaded Mount None
Operating Temperature 32º to 104º F (0º to 40º C)
Storage Temperature 4º to 158º F (-20º to 70º C)
Feature Description

Sonos Play:5 13
* Specifications subject to change without notice.
Product guide feedback?
We’d love to hear from you! We’ll read your feedback carefully and use it to help us improve our product
guides. Write to us at: [e-mail]
If you’re having a problem with your Sonos system, please contact Customer Care so they can help. Email
them at http://www.sonos.com/emailsupport.
Need more help?
•Tap > Help & Tips to get some simple tips for getting the most out of your speakers.
• Visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) pages at www.sonos.com/support.
•Ask us a question at http://www.sonos.com/emailsupport.
Humidity Resistant Designed to withstand high humidity, such as in a bathroom with a running
shower, but the PLAY:5 is not waterproof or water resistant.
Product Finish White matte or black matte exposure, graphite grille
Package Contents PLAY:5, power cord, Ethernet cable, QuickStart Guide, and Legal booklet
Feature Description