It wasn't always very easy to turn your Sonos speakers into your Mac speakers, but that changed in 2021 when Apple rolled out its Big Sur 11.3 macOS update. This allows you to better use any speaker that supports AirPlay 2 as your Mac's default speakers. It's not a perfect solution — and we'll get into that shortly — but it's easier and better than it was in past years. You can only stereo pair two of the same model of Sonos speakers. This means you need two Play:1s, two Ones, two Era 100s or two Fives, for example. You can not create a stereo pair with different model Sonos speakers, like a One and an Era 100. SL and non-SL varieties of a speaker count as the same speaker, for pairing purposes. You can create a stereo pair with a One and a One SL, or a Roam and a Roam SL. Be mindful, though, that not all speakers are Bluetooth compatible as the Sonos speaker system was meant to provide a Wi-Fi enabled method of connecting your home’s surround sound speaker system. However, connecting the main Sonos speaker is often done with a wired setup. But, do not be dismayed. You can still connect your Sonos to your TV wirelessly so that there are truly no tangled, jumbled wires casting dismay on your home theater’s beautiful aesthetic that you have worked so hard to achieve. The reason for this audio delay is that the Sonos speaker is doing some digital signal processing (or DSP) to optimize its sound and prevent distortion. According to Sonos, the audio delay "reduces the chance of audio issues occurring when your Sonos products are playing line-in audio in a group." The problem is that this audio delay defeats a lot of the purpose of using your Sonos speakers as computer speakers. The good news is that you can adjust it.

Sonos Three: The compelling case for a Play:3 upgrade Sonos Three: The compelling case for a Play:3 upgrade

So, if the four reasons above are good enough for a new Sonos Play:3, or Sonos Three, here's what we want to see:Select the Sonos speaker as your computer's default speaker (open the Settings app on your computer > select System Preferences > Sound > Output > select the Sonos speaker). Now don't get us wrong, despite its dated design, the Play:3 still sounds excellent. It also still receives software updates - such as TruePlay tuning - meaning it continues to improve and develop. In essence, this attachment acts as a tool that turns your TV into a Bluetooth-enabled device whether or not your streaming service generally permits this. The thing is, even if every one of the 21 million Sonos speakers ever sold were bought solely for their audio quality or multi-room capabilities, Sonos itself cares about design. The company takes pride in delivering premium, intricately-designed, devices. So much so it took several years to design and deliver the Playbase. Every single detail was meticulously planned. If your sound icon isn't located on your Mac's menu bar, you're going to want it to be — because the AirPlay connection is going to frequently be severed if your Mac falls asleep or if you don't play audio for a period of time. To make your sound icon appears on your Mac's menu bar, go to System Preferences > Sound > and select the bottom option that says "Show Sound in menu bar" > and select "always" in the drop-down menu.

3 Easy Ways To Connect Sonos To TV Wirelessly 3 Easy Ways To Connect Sonos To TV Wirelessly

But the Era 300 is clearly a cut above. Spatial audio, Bluetooth and the USB-C line-in make it Sonos's most versatile speaker yet, but it's the audio performance that's ultimately more refined and more capable. It's hands-down our winner.

New wireless music system is cheaper but is it still as cheerful?

The Era 300 has an immense sense of scale that screams 'spatial audio'. It projects sound further into the room and overhead more confidently than any other similar wireless speaker we’ve heard, such as the Apple HomePod 2. The main reason why using AirPlay to turn your Sonos speakers into Mac speakers isn't a great option is the connection will constantly get disrupted. What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

Speaker | Sonos Five: Our Most Powerful Wireless Hi-Fi Speaker | Sonos

The Sonos Five launched first – it's the brand's priciest speaker, and comes with a 3.5mm line-in port for connecting a turntable. The new Era 300 is positioned just below the Five. Its special skill? Spatial audio. Hence the unique design – the idea is to spread tunes all around the room, and this cinched hourglass form factor is the best way to do that, apparently. To get the good stuff – like Spotify, Deezer and so on – you need to have signed up for a Sonos account. These extra services are available from within a “More Music” submenu, but can only be added to the main menu once you’re signed in with your Sonos user name. Getting an account is free though, and only takes a minute. The usual Sonos qualities also continue to shine through, from excellent build, streaming from Spotify, Napster and internet radio, and brilliant format support – although we would like to see high-res studio masters included in a future update. Verdict Now that your transmitter is plugged into your TV and your Sonos speakers are enabled via Wi-Fi, you will simply wait until the two devices (the transmitter and the speakers) are paired with one another. Plus, keep in mind that most Sonos devices that are meant for your TV will require some kind of cable for their wired connection.

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You might be planning on pairing the two devices in this way, but if you have overlooked the fact that one of these two components is not Bluetooth-enabled, then you might be thoroughly disappointed when you find out that you have to seek out another solution.