I dont think a 'perfect' wireless home audio solution exists which will give you reliable streaming for both TV and music from any device and application across multiple speakers - like buying a house, you will have to make a compromise somewhere.
Sonos has most of the boxes ticked but isnt perfect.
The good:
- best in class for 'wireless' reliability due to mesh network rather than the 'star' of all the others. in other words each device talks to the next to create a mesh of devices. 'Star' means all network traffic has to go through one central point - your wireless router. If there are multiple streams to multiple speakers things can go awry !
- Simplicity - very simple to set up. No technical skills required or a degree in IT to keep it all running.
- Integrates Home Cinema - the playbar allows for TV audio (or full 5.1 if you go down that route) whilst also being a Sonos speaker in its own right so can play music the same as any other sonos device and be grouped together with or even send TV audio to other speakers elsewhere. Adding the sub and surrounds makes a great surround system without the wires and boxes typically associated with home cinema.
- Large selection of streaming services - Sonos supports all the major streaming services in addition to your own local library. HOWEVER, they are all done via its own app so there are features missing from some services. e.g. Spotify Radio.
- Support - Sonos has a fantastic support in case things go wrong. You can just pick up the phone and talk to someone. You can submit a diagnostic report of your system and they can identify what may be wrong. I dont think any other vendor will do this. In addition, their 'app' is constantly evolving by adding new features and services. 3-4 times per year a new version is released.
The bad:
- price !
- 'Walled Garden' app - you are generally confined to working within the sonos app. This has changed recently with the possibility to stream content from Google Play Music on android to Sonos but otherwise you are restricted to whats possible in the app (which is still a lot!). There are calls to allow for streaming from other apps e.g. Spotify, Youtube etc but this isnt possible yet. However, it may happen in future - there is rumour of a universal 'Stream to Sonos' option but it hasnt materialized so far.
There are workarounds using the sonos devices with 'line-in' (Playbar, Play5, Connect, ConnectAMP) together with Aiport Express, Apple TV, Chromecast + HDMI to composite converter etc etc. Where there's a will theres a way !! These will allow to you send, for example, airplay content to a Sonos Play 5 which in turn can send it to any other Sonos speaker.
- Playbar limitations - the Playbar has only 1 optical input on the basis your TV has an optical output and can handle all of the audio and video switching itself. However, not all TVs support 5.1 audio from external devices so may get stereo even though the source is 5.1. This depends on the TV. In addition, the Playbar does not currently support DTS. There are workarounds to both of these issues if necessary (check the sonos forums!)