Sonos Working on New 'Era' High-End Speakers

[waterfta]

I don't mean audiophile-grade. Half the price of a few basic sonos products will get far better sounding speakers and a receiver. And that better sounding setup will be far more versatile in terms of what you can play on it.

And when new formats/wi-fi standards/etc come along, you can replace the relatively inexpensive receiver and the speakers will be good and up-to-date for literally decades. And given that, I feel better about splurging more on those speakers.

I do agree with you in theory, but also consider we didn't have a need for upward-firing/height speakers until Dolby Atmos became more mainstream, so there are even times (while less rare I can admit) that speaker upgrades/replacements are needed. Also, these types of powered speakers, for someone like me renting an apartment in Tokyo where I can't cut into the wall to run speaker cables nor do I have a stealth way to run wires to rear surround speakers, are a great option.

So, it really is a "to each their own" situation, but a more high-end soundbar setup (as oxymoronical as that may come across) is quite attractive for people like myself who need that combination of quality/convenience/aesthetic that companies such as Sonos/Bose/Apple offer.

 

[ujE3vyVG8xh?tz]

Hard pass for us, we have the OG HomePods. We love them and can’t imagine Wi-Fi 6 making any difference at all. It’s great marketing however! 😉

I think Sonos might be going after multi-channel home theater market. The Sonos Arc has a wifi 4 radio that they reserve to communicate with the other speakers in the setup. By bumping up to wifi6, this gives them more bandwidth for the signal and the ability to handle more channels. It will also allow them to handle high resolution audio and you might look at this as marketing.

 

[SFjohn]

I think Sonos might be going after multi-channel home theater market. The Sonos Arc has a wifi 4 radio that they reserve to communicate with the other speakers in the setup. By bumping up to wifi6, this gives them more bandwidth for the signal and the ability to handle more channels. It will also allow them to handle high resolution audio and you might look at this as marketing.

Makes sense. If you’re a happy Sonos person that’s fantastic! We are happy HomePod people, but for serious listening we have a completely built in DOLBY/VISION/ATMOS system 7.2.4 that we play when the neighbors are away… whatever makes you happy is great.

 

[ujE3vyVG8xh?tz]

People aren't buying Sonos/Homepod/etc for the fidelity. They are buying for the ease of use and the software ecosystem.

Very true. I bought the Sonos Arc setup to get away from wires running everywhere for my home theater. There are a lot of stuff way better, but most a hell lot more.

 

[ujE3vyVG8xh?tz]

Makes sense. If you’re a happy Sonos person that’s fantastic! We are happy HomePod people, but for serious listening we have a completely built in DOLBY/VISION/ATMOS system 7.2.4 that we play when the neighbors are away… whatever makes you happy is great.

I am jealous of your setup. I once wanted something like that, but gave up because of cost. However, I do have a 2 channel system for music that blows the my Sonos setup out of the water. I don't think the Arc is that good for music, but acceptable for watching movies.

 

[chachawpi]

Makes sense. If you’re a happy Sonos person that’s fantastic! We are happy HomePod people, but for serious listening we have a completely built in DOLBY/VISION/ATMOS system 7.2.4 that we play when the neighbors are away… whatever makes you happy is great.

Tell me more! What kind of gear do you have?

 

[ozaz]

Ok so what's the trick. I have a linksys mesh network and when I had just the OneSL, it would play music for 5 min then start cutting out. Only way I could fix it was to plug directly into one of the nodes. Now, I have added to my Sonos collection with 3 OneSL, Beam, and mini sub. I haven't tried to run it completely wireless. The beam is connected to one of my nodes...

I don't know what the trick is but just to add that I'm another who has a Sonos system connected directly to a mesh wifi network without any issues. I have Netgear Orbi mesh system purchsed in 2017 and 7 Sonos speakers all connected to the Wifi (none connected via ethernet).

 

[ozaz]

On the criticism of the Sonos app - I get why people say its a bit simplistic but I think that's a strength.

My experience is that whilst I'm ok with any approach to music streaming (I've tried Sonos, Airplay, Chromecast, Bluetooth) and do generally prefer using first party apps provided by individual music services, I've found that those who aren't great with technology (I have a couple in my house) much prefer the simplicity of the Sonos app (all services available in one app). So I use a Sonos system largely because it means less chance of me having to troubleshoot or explain why something isn't working as expected.

Also, for Apple users there is no need to use the Sonos app (beyond setting up or tweaking settings) if its disliked. I'm pretty sure every Sonos speaker released since late 2015 (Play:5 Gen 2 onwards) is compatible with AirPlay.

 

[darthbane2k]

On the criticism of the Sonos app - I get why people say its a bit simplistic but I think that's a strength.

My experience is that whilst I'm ok with any approach to music streaming (I've tried Sonos, Airplay, Chromecast, Bluetooth) and do generally prefer using first party apps provided by individual music services, I've found that those who aren't great with technology (I have a couple in my house) much prefer the simplicity of the Sonos app (all services available in one app). So I use a Sonos system largely because it means less chance of me having to troubleshoot or explain why something isn't working as expected.

Also, for Apple users there is no need to use the Sonos app (beyond setting up or tweaking settings) if its disliked. I'm pretty sure every Sonos speaker released since late 2015 (Play:5 Gen 2 onwards) is compatible with AirPlay.

I've always wondered this about a purely sonos system.. how do guests / family control the speakers to play music? I could be wrong but as far as I was aware only one account could be attached to the sonos system - so do you have to sign into everyone's phones with your account?

 

[ozaz]

I've always wondered this about a purely sonos system.. how do guests / family control the speakers to play music? I could be wrong but as far as I was aware only one account could be attached to the sonos system - so do you have to sign into everyone's phones with your account?

Sonos account is only really needed for those being tasked with administering the system. It's needed for certain things like adding and removing services to be accessible via the app. Only one Sonos acocunt can be connected to a single system (but that account can be signed into multiple apps if you want multiple administrator points). Those on the network who don't need this can just install the Sonos app without signing in, and they get access via the Sonos app to all the services that have been installed on the system by someone who is signed into the Sonos account.

Sonos account holder can install multiple instances of a particular music service to the Sonos system - e.g. multiple instances of Spotify so that each member of the household can use their own Spotify account via the Sonos app. Each user would then just select their own Spotify account via a menu from within their instance of the Sonos app.

Also, it's not a requirement to install a particular service into the Sonos system in order to be able to Airplay that service to a Sonos speaker (or for the Airplay source device to have Sonos app installed).

 

[SFjohn]

Tell me more! What kind of gear do you have?

Aside form homepods, we have Martin Logan in wall/ceiling speakers, a Monoprice Monolith THX 215 for a sub, a recent LG 65” OLED all run by a Denon AVR X6400H

 

[ujE3vyVG8xh?tz]

Aside form homepods, we have Martin Logan in wall/ceiling speakers, a Monoprice Monolith THX 215 for a sub, a recent LG 65” OLED all run by a Denon AVR X6400H

I have Martin Logan stat panels for my 2 channel. Not that I don't like HomePods, I got some for my son.

 

[SFjohn]

I have Martin Logan stat panels for my 2 channel. Not that I don't like HomePods, I got some for my son.

You got him the minis? We use those as intercoms. We have an OG pair of large home pods and they are definitely high fidelity. P.S. Don’t you love your panels? I started with a pair of SL3s and I was shocked at the sound from them, I never realized sound, could sound so good!

 

[East India Company]

Sonos would have been a logical Apple acquisition. High-end, but tightly integrated with a loyal following. Makes more sense than the Beats acquisition, frankly. Sonos could have been Apple's push into the home audio market the way Beats was into the portable audio market.

Well I hope they are never bought, by Apple or another. It would kill their product and limit them greatly, especially with apple.

 

[ujE3vyVG8xh?tz]

You got him the minis? We use those as intercoms. We have an OG pair of large home pods and they are definitely high fidelity. P.S. Don’t you love your panels? I started with a pair of SL3s and I was shocked at the sound from them, I never realized sound, could sound so good!

I have the Aerius i, the model below your SL3. They are great for voices. I have not found anything better. I heard the new ones and they are kind of similar.

Do you have a smart home? I use an Apple TV hooked to ethernet as a home hub. I have been afraid to add HomePods because I hear they are slow in responding to automations. You can exclude any Apple TV from being a home hub, but you can't on the HomePods. When I went from the first gen 4k Apple TV to the 2nd gen 4k, I noticed the automations were a bit quicker. I am sure the new Apple TV might even be better. The minis are not in my house. They are with my son in college.

 

[SFjohn]

I have the Aerius i, the model below your SL3. They are great for voices. I have not found anything better. I heard the new ones and they are kind of similar.

Do you have a smart home? I use an Apple TV hooked to ethernet as a home hub. I have been afraid to add HomePods because I hear they are slow in responding to automations. You can exclude any Apple TV from being a home hub, but you can't on the HomePods. When I went from the first gen 4k Apple TV to the 2nd gen 4k, I noticed the automations were a bit quicker. I am sure the new Apple TV might even be better. The minis are not in my house. They are with my son in college.

Yes, we have a smart home with the last gen Apple TV (probably need to upgrade as this one is slowing down). We have a stereo pair of OG HomePods spread out on a desk in the living area (we crank these up to dance to 1 night each week), a mini in the bedroom, a mini in the kitchen, and a stereo pair of minis in the work office. The thing is, is that Siri is turned off on ALL of them, we hate them talking to us. They don’t slow down our automations. All our HomePods are great for intercoms, listen to music in the background, check the temperature or humidity in a room. In order to activate ours you have to touch and hold the top of the HomePod and we almost never do that. That being said with so many IOT devices in our home, we have high speed internet, and a router that can handle ~200 devices.

 

[ujE3vyVG8xh?tz]

Yes, we have a smart home with the last gen Apple TV (probably need to upgrade as this one is slowing down). We have a stereo pair of OG HomePods spread out on a desk in the living area (we crank these up to dance to 1 night each week), a mini in the bedroom, a mini in the kitchen, and a stereo pair of minis in the work office. The thing is, is that Siri is turned off on ALL of them, we hate them talking to us. They don’t slow down our automations. All our HomePods are great for intercoms, listen to music in the background, check the temperature or humidity in a room. In order to activate ours you have to touch and hold the top of the HomePod and we almost never do that. That being said with so many IOT devices in our home, we have high speed internet, and a router that can handle ~200 devices.

We kind of don't need intercoms. The house is not that big and everyone hears when one of us speak up. I guess I don't have to worry about HomePods affecting automations. I have these Aqara air quality things that display the temp and humidity in quite a few places in the house. Even have one in the bathroom to sense when to turn the fan off via automation.

Sound like you have a really nice place.

 

[ujE3vyVG8xh?tz]

Aside form homepods, we have Martin Logan in wall/ceiling speakers, a Monoprice Monolith THX 215 for a sub, a recent LG 65” OLED all run by a Denon AVR X6400H

I presume you have two Monolith subs?

 

[SFjohn]

We kind of don't need intercoms. The house is not that big and everyone hears when one of us speak up. I guess I don't have to worry about HomePods affecting automations. I have these Aqara air quality things that display the temp and humidity in quite a few places in the house. Even have one in the bathroom to sense when to turn the fan off via automation.

Sound like you have a really nice place.

Thanks! If you wanted to listen to music a stereo pair of the large HomePods might be worth a 2 week try… we don’t subscribe to Apple Music, but we stream from our iPhones or computers over AirPay. The sound is amazing for the size and price!

 

[ujE3vyVG8xh?tz]

Thanks! If you wanted to listen to music a stereo pair of the large HomePods might be worth a 2 week try… we don’t subscribe to Apple Music, but we stream from our iPhones or computers over AirPay. The sound is amazing for the size and price!

Not in much of a hurry since I still have my stat panel system. When I am on that system, I use Qobuz. I have Apple Music because of Apple One and Apple Music works well on the phone.

I went with Sonos on the video because both of my systems are in the same room. It was too difficult to integrate that system into a home theater and having more big speakers up with really take up too much space. My speaker cables are already pretty thick. I don't want more speaker wires.

 

[SFjohn]

Not in much of a hurry since I still have my stat panel system. When I am on that system, I use Qobuz. I have Apple Music because of Apple One and Apple Music works well on the phone.

I went with Sonos on the video because both of my systems are in the same room. It was too difficult to integrate that system into a home theater and having more big speakers up with really take up too much space. My speaker cables are already pretty thick. I don't want more speaker wires.

Got it, you certainly don’t need HomePods if you have Martin Logan panels, there’s no comparison.