Sonos Speakers Coming to Apple Online Store Today, Retail Stores on October 5

[Madmic23]

I really like my Sonos except for the lack of AirPlay.

If you really want AirPlay, plug an AirPort Express into the audio line-in jack of a Sonos Play 5 or Sonos Connect Amp. Not only will you be able to AirPlay to that speaker, but it will make the source available to any other Sonos speakers in your setup.
http://blog.sonos.com/tips-and-tricks/tip-using-line-in-on-sonos

 

[karlth]

Sonos is so limited in what you can do. No bluetooth. No aux. If you have a guest over and want to hear their library, its a pain.

I purchased 6 Chromecast audio dongles and can do the same as Sonos but with more versatility and speakers of my choice.

I ditched Chromecast due to audio interference issues.

 

[muddygun]

I actually plan to buy Sonus speakers soon and here is the main reason why. I would really like to have airplay with Sonus, but without spending 300 bucks on this basic connect thing, you can't do it. UNLESS, you have an Apple TV with the Sonus Playbar. Now, I recognize this isn't the best situation; but i shall explain. The Playbar can be connected to TV with a optical cord. So, you can airplay anything on your phone or iPad to your apple tv. Your apple tv is connected to your tv which has audio out going to the Playbar. The Playbar then sends that music or sound to the other speakers. True, I spend 700 bucks on the Playbar, but I wanted that anyway. I am saving that 300 dollars on the connect which basically serves one function, letting me do Airplay.

 

[Fall Under Cerulean Kites]

Never really understood the advantage of Sonos over Airplay, and I'm surprised that Apple is supporting a proprietary competing format in their stores.

I've got Airplay in 4 rooms of the house. The only feature I wish it had that it doesn't is the ability to play to multiple zones directly from the iOS and not just my Macs (though the Remote App covers that pretty well).

A similar Sonos setup would be much more expensive and have a poorer selection of Amps and speakers to play through.

Sonos’s proprietary network works better than WiFi. It has better range and coverage, but more importantly, allows all Sonos devices to play 100% in sync with each other. Most other systmes will have noticible delay between zones. Maybe only a few ms of delay, but it’s there. Also with Sonos, you can use whatever amps or speakers you want. I have all-in-one units in some rooms, amp units driving my own speakers in another room, and a receiver-only unit conneted to an external amp (and speakers) in yet another. It’s 100% flexible. I’ve had Sonos for 7 years and love it.

 

[sransari]

I'm suffering from the same lack of understanding I guess. I've never used a Sonos system, but no one has actually been able to clearly describe what it provides that AirPlay or chromecast don't.

For the combination of wireless control/streaming and sound quality, it is probably less expensive than an Airport express or chromecast plugged into a stand-alone speaker.

 

[TheMountainLife]

I ditched Chromecast due to audio interference issues.

Interference issues like drop outs?

I will say it occurs from time to time when I had them configured to the 2.4 side of things but no issues with 6 on 5ghz. This is with a Linksys WRT1900AC and apartment with 40+ networks nearby. I was using a Time Capsule previously but it does not manage fiber 1gb up/down well.

 

[Hg-203]

I actually plan to buy Sonus speakers soon and here is the main reason why. I would really like to have airplay with Sonus, but without spending 300 bucks on this basic connect thing, you can't do it. UNLESS, you have an Apple TV with the Sonus Playbar. Now, I recognize this isn't the best situation; but i shall explain. The Playbar can be connected to TV with a optical cord. So, you can airplay anything on your phone or iPad to your apple tv. Your apple tv is connected to your tv which has audio out going to the Playbar. The Playbar then sends that music or sound to the other speakers. True, I spend 700 bucks on the Playbar, but I wanted that anyway. I am saving that 300 dollars on the connect which basically serves one function, letting me do Airplay.

If you were planning on getting the Play:5 you just need something that can be a AirPlay receiver. There's an Aux jack in the back of the Play:5 that should do what you want it to.

 

[danielwsmithee]

Try connecting more than one set of stuff in the same listening environment. That's the first benefit. I had 4 zones in one BIG room - 25m long 4m wide. Stuff plays seamlessly and as one moves through the room(s), the music moves with you.

Does this mean the music automatically turns off in your previous zone and turns on in your new zone? That would be a killer feature, but how does it know which zone you are physically located in. I can manually switch zones very easily with Airplay or have multiple zones enabled.

They also integrate with a multi speaker TV setup.

As does every other solution, AirPlay/Chromecast.

The SONOS vs Airplay argument has been going on for years. It's a generational thing.

I doubt its as much a generational thing. More like a customer thing. Some people will pay more something they perceive to be a simple solution even if it costs more. Same reason why Bose has been successful so long even though they charge a ridiculous premium for what they offer.

 

[TXCherokee]

Sonos is a fabulous music distribution system. You can use their self-contained amp/speakers (which, in pairs, can be set up as L/R) or a Sonos amp to power your own speakers. The ability to play music in different rooms (called Zones) or combine them together is amazing. If you love music, Sonos is for you. I've had it in my house for about 6 years (5 zones) and it is worth every penny.

I disagree. Having owned the system (and subsequently sold it off) there are some things that potential buyers should be aware of:

1 - You are tied to using the Sonos app to control the speakers. UI is good, but not everyone will agree here.
2 - The app only works with premium subscriptions of most services.
3 - The speakers have good sound, at best. Bass is fair. And I'm no audiophile.

I loved the idea and bought into it. WiFi is definately better than BlueTooth at this time, but I've found that a good quality sound bar hooked to a Apple TV fits my needs and is much less expensive while providing more options.

 

[Sowelu]

Sounds like a great setup. You have 3 SUBs in your apartment? Are your walls/floor/ceiling made of cement? lol

Ha! I initially had a SUB in the living room and one in the bedroom. Since the kitchen is in the middle of the apartment, I placed one in there as well, which really tied everything together nicely.

What's amazing about the SONOS SUB is that the unit itself doesn't move. Regardless how high you crank the bass, the SUB enclosure doesn't move at all. There is no rattle or shake, just the internals move (if you look inside the opening). Very impressive, solid and well made hardware.

Even at the very lowest volume you can hear audio very clearly from all speakers, and even feel the bass. Couldn't be happier. And, when a new speaker is introduced, I know it will be easy to incorporate it into my existing setup (plug the speaker in, launch app, hit the lit button on the speaker, click next, add it to a room).

I stayed away from SONOS for years because I didn't understand it and thought it would be confusing and hard to maintain. The complete opposite is true.

 

[danielwsmithee]

Now, you could get a refurb airport express for around $50 and a standalone speaker for $25, but you would sacrifice a bit of sound quality and have a less sophisticated, multiple component setup.

Or you could get the airport express and pair with some quality powered speakers from Audioengine, NHT, Pardigm, Emotiva and have better sound quality for about the same price.
[doublepost=1474912410][/doublepost]

Sonos’s proprietary network works better than WiFi. It has better range and coverage, but more importantly, allows all Sonos devices to play 100% in sync with each other. Most other systmes will have noticible delay between zones. Maybe only a few ms of delay, but it’s there. Also with Sonos, you can use whatever amps or speakers you want. I have all-in-one units in some rooms, amp units driving my own speakers in another room, and a receiver-only unit conneted to an external amp (and speakers) in yet another. It’s 100% flexible. I’ve had Sonos for 7 years and love it.

I've used Airplay for 10+ years and have never noticed any delay at all between zones.

 

[mbeachcontrol]

Sonos is a premium brand as is Apple. If a person is looking for a $400 laptop vs $2700 laptop, Sonos probably isn't for that person.

I used Airplay for several years and couldn't understand the value add associated with Sonos. Two years ago, I received a multiple Sonos as birthday presents. The functionality and ease of use was amazing and don't think twice about using Airplay anymore. Through the one app, I can play local radio stations, podcasts, Apple Music and a few other less used services. I have built up to six zones including backyard speakers.

The Sonos integration with Apple Music is most extensive versus any other streaming service I have used on the platform. I have little doubt that a large percentage of Sonos users probably have a paid Apple Music subscription by now.

 

[bounou]

No AirPlay = No purchase.

I'm surprised Apple would sell this product in their store without AirPlay support. I hope they're not turning their back on it as it's such a great high quality speaker streaming protocol.

Sonos is currently beta testing direct control of your speakers from inside the Spotify app, I would be shocked if Apple music is not next.

Sonos is just much better then airplay.

 

[OneZweiThree]

Spoken like someone who has never used a Sonos system before Play:5 has an input. And quite honestly 6 chromecast audio dongles isnt the same thing but clearly the Sonos isn't built for you.

As far as I know, there is no way to simply listen to a YouTube video from your phone via sonos, for example. So I would say sonos has its own limitations. A sonos player with airplay would be the perfect solution.

 

[ipedro]

Does Sonos appear in the AirPlay drop down menu in Control Center like AirPlay and Bluetooth speakers do?

 

[DudeDad]

Except if you don't want to be tied to one app.

Not following you.....unless there's something you want to hear that is not offered by Sonos....what do you want to listen to that Sonos does not provide access to? Here's the Sonos list:

http://www.sonos.com/en-us/streaming-music

And they add services often....
[doublepost=1474912844][/doublepost]

Sonos is so limited in what you can do. No bluetooth. No aux. If you have a guest over and want to hear their library, its a pain.

I purchased 6 Chromecast audio dongles and can do the same as Sonos but with more versatility and speakers of my choice.

For aux input:

http://blog.sonos.com/tips-and-tricks/tip-using-line-in-on-sonos

Sonos once offered a cradle that a guest could use to play their music....I beta-tested it...could not see too many purchasing it. If you are listening more to your guests' music than your own, than Sonos may not be for you.
[doublepost=1474912894][/doublepost]

As far as I know, there is no way to simply listen to a YouTube video from your phone via sonos, for example. So I would say sonos has its own limitations. A sonos player with airplay would be the perfect solution.

http://blog.sonos.com/tips-and-tricks/tip-using-line-in-on-sonos

 

[TheAnimal]

Except if you don't want to be tied to one app.

Who cares about being tied to one app when all of your music services feed into that app? Would you rather bounce between Pandora, Spotify, Apple Music, iHeart Radio, iTunes while searching for the right song?

 

[Hanzu Lao]

Not following you.....unless there's something you want to hear that is not offered by Sonos....what do you want to listen to that Sonos does not provide access to? Here's the Sonos list:

http://www.sonos.com/en-us/streaming-music

And they add services often....
[doublepost=1474912844][/doublepost]


For aux input:

http://blog.sonos.com/tips-and-tricks/tip-using-line-in-on-sonos

Sonos once offered a cradle that a guest could use to play their music....I beta-tested it...could not see too many purchasing it. If you are listening more to your guests' music than your own, than Sonos may not be for you.
[doublepost=1474912894][/doublepost]


http://blog.sonos.com/tips-and-tricks/tip-using-line-in-on-sonos

Through a single app which i honestly don't like at all.

 

[ipedro]

If you have Sonos, airplay is not relevant. You can access your entire iTunes library from the Sonos app, as well as SiriusXM, Apple Music, and many others.

That's not true. AirPlay is system wide. If you're in Safari and play a video or some audio like a podcast, you can AirPlay it to your speakers. You can't do that with Sonos.

 

[Hanzu Lao]

Who cares about being tied to one app when all of your music services feed into that app? Would you rather bounce between Pandora, Spotify, Apple Music, iHeart Radio, iTunes while searching for the right song?

It's not only about music services for me.

 

[jasonkratz]

As far as I know, there is no way to simply listen to a YouTube video from your phone via sonos, for example. So I would say sonos has its own limitations. A sonos player with airplay would be the perfect solution.

If that functionality is important to you make sure you have a Play:5 or a Connect. Those have an aux input to which you could hook up an airport express.

I agree that they should have AirPlay, and at the cost of the system its ridiculous that they dont. The other option is to try AirSonos which I've used with some success in the past.

 

[TheAnimal]

Double post by accident. Deleted.

 

[cdpage]

I'd love to have been a Fly on the Wall for that meeting.

I'd love know the difference it costs Sonos to be there verses any other brand.

 

[jonthegeologist]

Sonos is simply excellent: incredibly easy to set up, to build up and to use. The build-quality of the kit is very high and, while I recognise that audio quality is a very personal thing, I've been impressed with the outputs.

They're a very Apple-like company. It would not surprise me at all to see this announcement as a pre-cursor to stronger collaboration, particularly around Homekit/Siri/Echo-like products.

This thread through does appear to separate folks into the AirPlay v Sonos teams! Here, enjoy, have both: http://www.sonos.com/en-us/airplay

 

[tx4app]

If you have Sonos, airplay is not relevant. You can access your entire iTunes library from the Sonos app, as well as SiriusXM, Apple Music, and many others.

Accessing the Sonos queue (before hitting play) when Apple Music is the source continues to confuse me. I have yet to discover how to access the queue then. Also, wish that the Sonos interface would enable me to like/not-like songs from Apple Music, but don't know if Apple's API provides that capability. Lacking that, the only way I have found that I can like/not-like is via the Apple Music app itself. I almost never use the Apple Music app, but instead play music via Sonos.