How to Achieve the Best Sound with a Sonos PLAY:3

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

Sonos is a home sound system of Wi-Fi connected speakers that lets you listen to anything you want, wherever you want.

PLAY:3 is the mid-size speaker with stereo sound from Sonos, and their most versatile player.

This guide will help you understand how your speaker works and how to set it up for the best sound.

2. Orientation

The Sonos Play:3 can be placed in multiple orientations (horizontal and vertical) allowing some flexibility with regards to placement. However if set in the vertical position it will not play in stereo. It will only play in mono.

3. Speaker Location

Each room is unique, and there is no hard and fast rule for speaker placement. There are many variables that can affect the sound of your speakers, such as furnishings, room size and shape, listener preferences, and even more.

Regardless of where your speakers are placed, you can use the Sonos App to run Trueplay tuning to adapt the speaker to the acoustic qualities of your room.

In general, you want to have your speakers pointed towards you for better sound.

The Sonos Play:3 has a threaded mounting hole on the back. If desired, you can easily wall mount your Play:3 using a suitable mounting bracket (not included). Choose a location to mount the speaker in, taking care to avoid heat, steam, dripping water or hidden wiring, and follow the instructions included with the wall mount kit.

4. Multiple Speakers

Purchasing multiple Sonos speakers can lead you to wanting to connect them all together. By doing this you could produce surround sound, or have the same music play in all rooms of your house.

You'll need to make sure your speakers are the same model and orientation when using the Sonos App to create a surround sound group.

While you can chain Sonos devices together, it is recommended that you connect them all individually to a network device for best performance.

5. App Overview

Choose what to play, where to play it, and how loud. In one room or all over your home. Track down songs across all your music services with a single search. Create playlists in an instant. The Sonos app does it all.

• You can control your Sonos speakers using the lock screen on your smart device. It will appear automatically while the connected speaker is being used.
  

• The Sonos app lets you search for songs across every music service linked to your account, as well as your personal digital collection.
• Using the settings to your speaker in the app, you can change bass and treble.
  

6. Install Android App

1. Open Play Store.
   

1. Search for "Sonos Controller for Android" and tap on the app.
   

1. Tap Install to start downloading the app.
   

1. Once installed, tap Open.
   

7. Trueplay

If you use an iOS device with your Sonos app you can use Trueplay. With the built in mic in your smart device the app will measure how the sound reflects off walls and furnishings. It then adjusts speaker's audio settings for the best sound in your room.

To Access Trueplay:

1. Open the Sonos app.
   

1. Tap the More tab.
   

1. Tap Settings.
   

1. Tap Room Settings.
   

1. Tap the room you wish to tune. If tuning has not yet been performed for a room, a red dot will appear next to the room name.
2. Tap "Trueplay Tuning" and follow the in-app instructions to complete tuning.
   

8. Turning Off the LED

Don't want a light flashing away while you're trying to watch a movie or trying to sleep? Sonos speakers only have little LED light indicators, but you can still turn them off if you want some peace.

1. Open the Sonos app.
   

1. Tap the More tab.
   

1. Tap Settings.
   

1. Tap Room Settings.
   

1. Tap the room you want to adjust.
2. Toggle White Indicator Light off.
   

9. Connecting to Alexa

Though the Sonos Play:3 doesn't have a built in mic, with the Amazon Echo, you can use it with Alexa. If you have an Echo or similar device and want to connect it to your Sonos Play:3, follow these steps.

1. Make sure both your Echo and Sonos device are setup.
2. Open your Alexa app.
   

1. Select the Menu.
   

1. Select Skills.
   

1. Search for Sonos, select it to open the Sonos Skill Detail Page.
   

1. Select Enable Skill or sign into your Sonos Account.
   

10. Limitations

• Sonos products are not water resistant. Do not leave them outside during a rain storm or position them near water.
• Certain surfaces can affect the WiFi signal. Avoid placing Sonos products on metal, concrete, brick, or marble surfaces to receive the best wireless signal.
• Do not place Sonos products on top of, or directly next to, other wireless devices (e.g. WiFi router, cordless phone, baby monitors).
• Stereo Pairing allows you to group two Play:1, Play:3 or Play:5 speakers in the same room to create a wider stereo experience. In this configuration, one unit serves as the left channel and the other serves as the right channel.

11. 3 Wireless Speaker

Show Me HowClicking this button will open a new guide that will provide you with steps to resolve your issue.

12. Install IOS App

1. Open the App Store.
   

1. Type in "Sonos Controller" in the search bar.
2. Find Sonos Controller in the search results and tap on GET.
   

1. Tap on Install to start download.