Sonos Play:3 — Still Worth It?

The Sonos Play:3 isn’t new. In fact, Sonos quietly retired it years ago. But here’s the real question: in 2021, is it still worth picking up? And if yes, how much should you actually pay for one?

The short answer: yes, absolutely. The Play:3 still holds its own in sound quality, especially if you’re looking at a second-hand bargain. Let’s break down why.

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Sound: Where the Play:3 Still Shines

Put simply, the Play:3 outperforms the Sonos One and One SL. It’s bigger, it breathes easier, and you get a fuller, richer sound without needing a sub to fill the low end.

When paired in stereo, the Play:3s deliver a soundstage that rivals the Beam. No, it won’t match the raw muscle of the Play:5, but honestly? In a small to medium-sized room, you’ll be impressed.

The one catch: unlike newer Sonos speakers, the Play:3 doesn’t have built-in voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. But here’s the workaround—grab a cheap Google Nest Mini or Echo Dot (often £15–20 second-hand). Link it with Sonos, and suddenly your “outdated” Play:3 is modern again, seamlessly controlled by voice.

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Price: What’s Fair in 2025

Since the Play:3 is discontinued, you’re only going to find it second-hand. My rule of thumb:

• £100 / $120 or less for a single Play:3
• Around £150 for a stereo pair is a real bargain

Don’t pay above those numbers—you’re better off stepping up to a Sonos One (Gen 2) if prices climb higher.

The good news is that Sonos fans behave a lot like Apple fans: they chase the latest thing. That means plenty of gently used Play:3s end up on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and second-hand stores at fair prices.

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Placement: Bedroom, Kitchen, or Stereo Pair?

Where the Play:3 really shines is in secondary rooms:

• Bedroom — one Play:3 fills the space effortlessly, even at low volume.
• Kitchen — punchy sound, no need to push it past halfway.
• Stereo pair — brilliant, but often more than you’ll actually use unless it’s in your main living room.

Truthfully, I rarely pushed my pair beyond volume level 3 or 4. With EQ tweaks (bass and treble up), it shakes the house. For most people, a single Play:3 per room is plenty.

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Modern Features: Trueplay Tuning

Even though it’s an older speaker, the Play:3 still benefits from Sonos Trueplay. This is Sonos’s room-tuning feature—your phone’s mic listens while the speaker emits test tones, then adjusts EQ to suit your space.

The result? A speaker that feels custom-tuned for your room, not just a generic output. It’s one of the best reasons to stick with Sonos as a whole, and the Play:3 slots in nicely.

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Verdict: A Smart Buy for Smart Money

The Sonos Play:3 might be discontinued, but it’s far from obsolete.

• Still sounds better than the Ones
• Easy to “modernize” with a cheap smart speaker
• Integrates with the full Sonos ecosystem
• Available at very reasonable second-hand prices

If you can find one around £100 / $120, grab it. If you can find a pair around £150–180, even better.

The Play:3 proves that not every “retired” product deserves retirement. Sometimes, it just deserves a second life in your kitchen, bedroom, or home office—still filling rooms with sound that punches above its price.

Conclusion

The Play 3 is a brilliant starter or additional speaker for Sonos enthusiasts. The rich and room-filling sound that it produces means that it outperformers some current Sonos speakers. Using the Sonos Trueplay settings, you can create a suitable sound for small to medium-sized rooms. Save yourself some money and enjoy the premium sound of the Play 3. Click here for more reviews.