You can also add a Sub, but only the most fanatical bass lovers will need more than what the Playbase outputs. If the Playbase itself doesn't create an immersive enough experience, you can use Sonos' Play:1 speakers as left and right surrounds. The bass was richer and the sound field wider after I ran Trueplay. It feels quite silly, but the sound improvements are well worth it. The speaker will play sounds and you walk around your room waving your phone around. To make the Playbase sound its best, you'll want to run Trueplay, Sonos' room-modeling effect. You can also control the volume with the app or with the touch-sensitive buttons on the front of the unit.
The unit doesn't come with a remote, but it can learn how to use your existing TV's remote to control volume. While there are quite a few screens to run through, from connecting to Wi-Fi to detecting any other Sonos speakers you have, most people should have no problem getting the system set up. There's little to do to physically connect the Playbase to your TV: plug the speaker into the wall and connect the digital optical audio cable to your display. If you don't have a place to put it under the TV, the Playbar would be a better choice. It's intended to go under a TV stand, and not to be mounted on a wall. The Playbase is easy to set up and use - a key qualification for a good soundbase. The unit filled my living room with sound, and it can get plenty loud for most viewing situations. The acoustic guitar on Big Star's "Thirteen" was sharp and realistic. The bass breaks on Jidenna's "Long Live the Chief" rattled the room, while Rihanna's vocals on Future's "Selfish" sounded full and clear. The Playbase's strengths in home theater also translate to music. MORE: Best Bluetooth Speakers for Home or On-the-Go The orchestral arrangements in Doctor Strange swelled with bright horns and strings, while the crowd noise in the background of the UNC-Kentucky basketball game helped make the experience more engaging.
Sonos' Playbar has been the soundbar/base to beat in terms of movie and music performance for the past few years, and the Playbase exceeds it in all areas. The bass also adds resonance to dialogue when you're watching movies or TV shows, making David's debates about his mental health in Legion easy to understand. When Doctor Strange's car crashed, the booms and thuds shook the floor - without a subwoofer. Bass performance was phenomenal for movies.