I have a Sonos AMP and love it - not because it’s the last word in sound quality, but because my wife knows how to use it, bringing a bit of audio joy to everyone in the house through ease of use and accessibility. It’s also great for the occasional 4.1 surround sound experience with Netflix, love the versatility! Move over audio snobbery, long live music!
The family not being intimidated by our Sonos gear is the #1 reason I love it so much. You have some very high end kit passing under your nose ( I follow your channel congrats on the new addition!) what good is having only high end gear if you have a family and momma is afraid to use it ? Been there not going back,I like watching mine sway ;)
Likely repeating what I’ve said elsewhere, but my son has been deeply invested in in the Sonos ecosystem for at least 5 years, and while I’m not a huge fan of the sound of any of their speakers I’ve heard so far ( i.e. not yet the ERA300), I hafta admit their ease of use and system expandability is very attractive. He is running one of the amps to power rear surrounds along with the ARC and sub, wherein it’s seamless, and as far as I’m concerned the amp is definitely a sleeper. For my own case, the Node N130 and separate power amp for an upstairs streaming system works like a charm - in fact the only reason for not buying the Powernode was I already had the amp in my collection.
The minimum delay for analog sources to the Sonos Amp is 75ms, not 1 second. The short delay IS noticeable to a degree, but still provides the "real-time" effect of dropping the needle and hearing the "pop". There are 4 delay settings all the up to a full 2 seconds, which allows Sonos to further compress the stream to increase playback reliability.
Agreed. I've set up the Sonos Amp and the app provides a delay option that's effectively audibly indetectable....but the setting needs to be changed from the default to this setting in the app.
Great review. Think you covered most things. Got my Sonos AMP when it just came out so only cost me £400 as they were doing 20% off the original price of £499. Now for £400 its been amazing driving my B&W floor standing speaker.
I have and same setup. My b&w are a bit too the bright side, so Sonos Amp is perfect. I play a lot of vinyl, works marvelous. Also, having all the vinyl music in all the rooms is a great added bonus)
It is a good sound for many of us and easy setup. The big problem, imho, is that there are many problems (see the fora) in using third party subs, which are much better value than the Sonos sub.
Really enjoyed this video. I built a system for my parents and since they used Sonos before I paired a Sonos amp with Klipsch RP-8000’s. Was pleasantly surprised how good the system sounded for both music and movies. I felt your impressions were spot on, and thx for highlighting the differences with vinyl playback, etc. Cheers!
I think that the Bluesound Powernode really hits the mark below $1000. I thought I would end up with a class A/B amp for the long haul after listening to the CA AXR100 for many weeks and hearing other amps recently. The Bluesound Powernode has remarkably better sound than sub-$1000 Yamaha class D receivers, way better than NAD for sound and bass, good software, HDMI, sub out, tone controls in-app, better bass than other class D amps I have tried, minimalistic design and the ability to learn your TV remote’s button functions using the Bluesound app. I recommend the Powernode for all these reasons, plus you don’t get the listening fatigue you would get from class A/B amps such as the AXR100 or a Marantz.
Nothing winds up Audiophile’s on the internet like saying Sonos is good / good enough to enjoy music on. I am a fan of Sonos but I have other Audiophile toys also. Sonos helps me listen to more music more often. I love the fact you do these side by side comparisons, it really helps show how small the sound differences can be in reality at similar price points.
Their app updates and planned obsolescence is what I hate about the brand. I threw out my first gen play 5 in frustration because it’s essentially no longer supported. And, there was nothing wrong with the speaker, which is exactly what they wanted.
@@jdavis234 it’s a shame you don’t know anyone you could have given it to. I gave my nephew my gen 1 play 5, worth more me to help somebody then the 30% brick discount and he is happy as can be with the S1 app. His young family uses it every day 😊
Why run sound from Apple TV through the televisions hdmi to the bluesound then Bluetooth to headphones with lip sync issues when you can just connect Bluetooth headphones directly to the Apple TV?
As always, a great review. I have an older Sonos ZP style amp and can alter the input latency, and as I don’t use it as a multi room set up it’s happy at the lowest latency. Also there’s an option to change the compression level on the input, or choose no compression. Not sure if these options are available on the newer Amp however. May be worth a look.
Sonos speakers do competent job to play background music around the house when entertaining and this Sonos amp does good job powering my 4 outdoor speakers. It's a great product as long as you're not expecting to consciously listen.
Dear John. I really like your style of doing these reviews and side by side comparisons. I would, however, like to add one advantage to the two way Bluetooth on Bluesound devices. As an Apple user I do not have access to higher end BT codecs from my phone (other than the obvious AAC) but with Bluesound I can use aptX HD when using that as a source. Not a huge difference but still a nice little workaround on the codec limitations, that doesn’t bother me the slightest. Keep up the good work 👍
You can use 2 subs as well. 2 Sonos Subs or one Sonos sub plus a non-sonos sub hardwired to the sub out. And you can EQ the system overall. Very pleasing system overall.
Great vid! Couldn't find the Jimmy van M's Balance album on spotify (but many other great tracks). As far as Mom & Dad are concerned, the Bluesounds have it with their (optional) IR remote control capability. My parents don't want to have to grab their phone, unlock it, go to the app to just change volume, skip a track or access one of the presets (another great Bluesound feature for radio stations). That more than overrides the one-time setup complexity which actually is not that difficult for Bluesound either. Apple music integration for the Sonos is great though.
So i can get a $400 Yamaha receiver that has every connection known to man, with room correction, and subwoofer integration. But in order to get any of that in a 2 channel amp, i have to pay 3,4,10 x as much? Idk why those features are so easy to incorporate into a receiver but are seemingly so difficult and or expensive to incorporate into 2 channel
I used Sonos amp for a while with B&W 703s2 and recently upgraded to Willsenton R8. Its no contest, even with stock tubes R8 sounds much, much better. Sonos is thin sounding in comparison.
Great video! By the way, you can actually remove the analogue input latency in the settings. I believe the default is set to 2000ms but can be reduced to 75ms. I was also baffled by this at the time, whilst testing my vinyl player. Sonos claim it's for "more reliable audio" which must mean they need some processing buffer to allow you to stream it to other Sonos devices.
So true. The default delay is a nogo for record listening. So i switch to 75ms. This leads to drop outs. Even a nonevergo. The final solution was connecting a sonos device via cable. Than sonos creates it's own wireless network channel for music transfer. So i get a used sonos boost and placed it near to my router to connect it via cable. Now i'm able to stream from my turntable in all 3 levels of my house with the 75ms delay.
Yes, lowered the delay immediately, too. But, if you look at the Sonos subreddit and support forums, 90% of problems people have are with bad Wi-Fi so you can’t entirely blame them for turning it on out of the box.
I used the AMP to power my computer speakers for a while, and dropping that delay down to 75 is a must. I can't imagine how annoying the default delay would be with a vinyl player, but it makes it useless on a computer. The only thing I don't really like on on their inputs is that it won't leave it on if there is no audio. So there is a initial portion that is cutoff once it senses sound. I wish you could over ride that function as well.
I have just played a direct comparison on a Sonos Arc using the Sonos App on Amazon Music playing Demons by tears for fears . The sound on airplay using Amazon’s app was poor compared with Sonos app it had an unbelievable difference. The atmos mix seriously came through .
Great overview and comparison to the Blue Node and Rotel plus streamer. So many good choices now. I wonder how the Sonos amp fits into the rest of their ecosystem. Cheers
John, hello from a fellow Aussie, can I just say a huge thank you for putting me onto Barry Adamson, I swear I have had Oedipus Schmoedipus on repeat for a week, one of those amazing albums that comes once in a generation. Can you do another video of recommendations of albums, I Need more !!!
Oh man you’ve veracity to say the truth 😄 absolutely loved it. Your video tell so much about your honest reviews! You’ve not been sold to sonos and berate powernode altogether.
Great video, good to see someone actually doing the comparison with Sonos. Just wondering if you know of any similar options with Chromecast built in, the bluesounds seem like great options but unfortunately I'm too invested in Chromecast speakers. The Harman Kardon Citation Amp looks like an interesting product but I haven't seen a lot of reviews, it doesn't seem to be available in many markets. Anyways great video and if you know of any Chromecast options I'd really appreciate it, keep the great work!
Sonos offering native Apple Music playback is commendable. Unfortunately playback is limited to Apple’s compressed AAC codec streaming at 256. This I believe applies to Airplay 2 as well.
If you want the better sound quality and also the higher wattage, try the Bluesound Node paired to the XTZ Edge A2-300. Together they cost about a €1000,- and bring you unadulterated earporn.
I’ve been considering pairing the XTZ Edge with a Sonos Port for the Sonos ease of use I have a multi unit Sonos home (wife & kids who love music but could care less about audio gear) My understanding is the XTZ is a fantastic amp may have to pull the trigger on one…
I bought an open box Rotel A12 MkII and a Sonos AMP to compare. I fed the dac in the A12 with a WIIM and I added a Rega Fono Mini to the Sonos...The price all in is relatively close. I ran them through a pair of DeFTech D9's and a pair of Elac Unify B52's. The Definitive Technology do a decent job with detail but are more laid back than the Elacs (You can check measurements at audio science that show a bigger scoop around 3-4k with the DefTechs). With the Sonos amp the Def Techs were lifeless the treble just wasn't. There was no detail, a quick listen killed that combo. Then I ran the Sonos into the B52's and it sounded pretty good, though listening to one of my favorite test tracks exposed that a soft ride cymbal was missing. I could not hear it even while straining to do so. Then I tested the A12 MKII with the super cheap WIIM streaming puck running an optical cable into the built in dac. It sounded better. Bass was bassier, the missing Cymbal showed up and most importantly, low volume listening was more representative of all frequencies. That combo made me decide to keep the Elac's which were very likely to be returned. The sonos was great with the TV and not needing remotes was pretty appealing but the Rotel worked fine w the TV using typical optical table (it has two optical inputs). That's my 2 pennies.
I returned a much more expensive Marantz amp (the 40n) after comparing it with my Sonos amp. They both sound great, nice and clean and couldn’t justify the almost $2000 price difference. Marantz sounds great but so does the Sonos amp! This isn’t 1970s anymore…
I am considering ditching my Node2i becuase I want Apple Music back. I have a denafrips ares 2 which sounds amazing, but volume jumps from Tidal does my head in... Also Tidal CarPlay is just mental...
I got some Nubert Nujubilee 40 (4 Ohm 84db (1W/1m)) and some old Canton Karat 60 (4 Ohm 93,4db (1W/1m)) would you get the bluesound or the sonos amp for these speakers?
As ever great review..... wondering if if the Sonos amp with sonos speakers and Sonos sub would sound Btw the original halo by Depeche mode is far better lol
Hi john, loving the content lately. I have an issue im hoping you may be able to help with. I have no optioon other than to place a set of bookshelf speakers on a low sideboard (40cm high) which puts the speakers lower than my ears! Can you recommend a product or solution to raise the speakers up. The speakers in question are ma silver 50's
Hi John, thanks for considering reviewing the Sonos Amp… I thought this day would never come 😂 Was about to purchase the sonos amp until you mentioned the delay with vinyl… Just to be certain: 1. if dj’ing two Technics 1210 and a mixer… with the bluesound powernode will there be zero delay? 2. The sonos amp combined with the and sonos/sonance ceiling or wall speakers do offer trueplay support. In that situation would you recommend the sound performance of trueplay?
Dear John, thanks for the nice review, but you are missing the point of the Sonos Amp. I see no reason to consider Sonos Amp as a single room or just one system in your home. It is a part of Sonos network / multiroom system and it should be judged as that. I think it is a pretty good amp, but nowhere near good amps in 1-2k euro range. However, it is a part of Sonos system, so I have them grouped with my other speakers in other rooms, and it works brilliantly. There is a "alarm" function which enables you to auto start music (albums/playlists), so there is music playing in the house when you wake up or arrive home. I would like Sonos to produce better amp such as Marantz Model 40n, but in the mean time, it is very enjoyable. And the subwoofer output works very good, so you can build pretty good system.
Dear John, the bluesounds can also do automatic switching of sources between music and TV. You have to enable the auto-sensing toggle in the blueOS settings. It’s a really good feature, but I don’t understand why it’s switched off by default! This functionality needs to come to the bluesound Hub as well, which currently lacks auto-sensing.
This is true, but with a caveat:. You can only have auto sensing for one input. I have mine one of mine auto sense for HDMI so that my wife has ease of a single remote for watching TV in the bedroom. It's a handy option, but I wish it could be for all input sources.
Thanks Micah. I had been annoyed by this lack of auto-switching on BluOS; but your comment resolved the main reason I was about to rush an expensive AVR purchase.
The auto-sensing is switched off by default because although it is available on the optical, coax and HDMI inputs it can only be active on one input. It is switched off by default because the manufacturer cannot know which input you will want to use it on.
If you like to watch TV (silently with subtitles) whilst listening to music, then the HDMI auto switching is a no no on the Bluesound. It's great to have the option to enable/disable it.
The fact that you have to so carefully craft a description to adequately describe the subtle differences between these two is a sure sign that adding a SONOS amp to play nice with the rest of my SONOS products will sound just fine for me.
I own 3 Sonos Amps, and am strongly considering a 4th or even 5th. I love the Sonos ecosystem, but find their speakers to be inconsistent. Like you pointed out, for every Five there's an Arc. The Amp essentially gives me all the best parts about Sonos while getting to choose my own drivers. If they ever come out with a 5.2.4- or 7.2.4-channel model supporting eARC for home theater use, I will back a truck full of money up to their HQ's front door.
I've owned Marantz, Hegel and Cambridge audio amplifiers over the years, paired with various DACs and streamers. I now have a Sonos AMP hooked up to a small pair of Monitor Audio silver series bookshelf speakers and I listen to music more than I ever have. Is it as good as separates, likely not. Does it sound good, yes it does. HDMI ARC from my TV is the icing on the cake No qualms from me. One device, one set of speakers. I was very surprised and am more than happy.
I'm very grateful for your focus on future-fi. I used to be all about conventional separates with traditional sources but having watched your videos my audio horizons have definitely been broadened.
Great balanced review from an audiophile, which I am thankfully not. I like my music to sound good though and the convenience, usability and yes simplicity of Sonos for music and home cinema, combined with really decent reproduction is massive for me. Last year I ripped apart my previous amp/separates set up to obtain a system that was usable for everyone in the house and also to ensure that as old age gets ever closer, I am not left scratching my head about what buttons to press to watch a movie or play a record etc. On the subject of the delay when queuing up a record - your main bug bear it seemed; if you go into settings/system and the particular ‘room’ where the record deck is ie ‘amp’, then line in/audio delay you are able to reduce the delay to 75ms making it imperceptible. It was something that bugged me about, for me an otherwise perfect system. I accidentally came across this watching a TH-cam channel about using a record deck with Sonos. I hope this may help others decide without the delay being the deal breaker that it was for you. You can also use an autoplay feature without physically swapping sources on the app, from whatever the previous source was to the record as soon as the stylus touches the vinyl (there I said vinyl!) Under the same Line in menu go to ‘auto play’ and tick Amp.
Is this yet another Sonos product that won’t work unless you spend an absolute fortune constantly updating your phone because Sonos can’t be arsed (read money) to maintain app backwards compatibility? I have some Sonos, but an old phone which basically renders the Sonos useless (who wants to start up a computer to play a tune?). Never again will I give Sonos my money - built in obsolescence just shows pure contempt for the customers...
Can’t believe you were recently listening to Balance 010 by Jimmy Van M! I was just revisiting that one myself - what an amazing journey of a compilation.
I was really looking forward to this and found it very informative. I bought the Sonos Amp before the price increase and with 30% off for older upgrades that I kept. I’m just curious for the turntable did you selected uncompressed audio in the Sonos settings? I found what you said about speaker choices interesting as I’ve been much happier with the amp with B&W 686 than the KEF Q100s I have. I only have a cheap AT-LP60 anyway as I’m more a steamer that likes the occasional physical feeling of vinyl. I’ll have a similar setup to you in a few weeks. Frame 85 inch. Sonos amp to 686s2 and REL T Zero with rears of 2 play 1s (also a big perk of the Sonos amp and you can even use another amp for wireless rears with proper speakers that might be of use to some). As am Apple Music family plan user another nice thing with the built in Apple Music is being able to play different music on each Sonos around the house.
One thing.... You hate the delay on a vinyl which you can't see unless you look at the record but do don't care about a small lip sync delay with the TV? 🤪 If I want to watch tv with headphones I just use the bluetooth (Airpod Pros) on my Apple TV then you get zero delay and it auto mutes the TV (AMP) too.
I purchased Sonos Amp to drive ceiling speakers and figured I'd first try it with my Elac FS 207.2 floor stand speakers - provided a great sonic upgrade from the home theatre receiver that had been driving the Elacs. I was going to purchase something like a Bluesound Powernode till I tried this setup. Pleasantly surprised.
This is a fantastically well presented video. I hung onto every word... Now I'm in a proper dilema. Which one to buy? Decisions, decisions. I need to listen to them both. Fantastic work Darko Audio.
Hi John, I also did the side by side comparison at hifi klubben, and I do agree with the comparison between the powernode and Sonos AMP. You made a very good point that the Sonso AMP has loudness, and many modern amps are lacking that functionality, has this feature gone missing or just ignored as it is very valuable during nighttime/ low volume listening?
I’ve had a Sonos Amp for close to a year now, used for TV and music. Upgraded speakers to a pair of KEF Q150s and very happy. New to having decent audio equipment but it’s a really great, easy to use system so far.
Sonos is one of the few platforms or devices that integrate Apple Music, so there is that. But how good is that integration? Is it as good as say streaming Tidal Connect on a Bluesound Node? Will Apple Music ever come out with an "Apple Music Connect" app that could be licensed to manufacturers?
which amps would you recommend for some audio monitor bronze 50 and silver 100/200/300 ? I'm new to the "hobby" and I want to spent the right amount.. not too much and I'm not into switching weekly my gear.. Hearing all kind of stuff also watching TV/movies
I received my Sonos Amp exactly on the same day when you did your unpacking Video 😂. a) if you have ordered from Sonos directly you could have also purchased two Sonos One just for fun to use them as wireless surround speakers, so much fun for movies b) have you checked the Phase on the Amp? Which side is it? c) have you used a subwoofer? If so, which cut of frequency would you use for the KEF LS 50 Meta? d) would you recommend the use of a higher quality main cable instead of the enclosed one? Looking forward to see a lot of stuff from you Channel, greetings from Duisburg (which should explain my school English)
I do not agree with you about the Sonos arc. Sonos arc paired with a pair of 300 eras, watching a movie with Dolby trueHD is breathtaking. With two subwoofers of course lol without the subs, it lack the low end frequencies. With it being just a sound bar, you can definitely differentiate the left and right channels. Even the height channels. But if you’re comparing it to a traditional AVR system, it stand no chance. No sound bar does. The only sound bar system that can beat the arc, is the nakamichi dragon.
I think this video aged well with your comment about heading toward native apps, especially with the current Sonos disaster. At this point, I just want the best eArc amp with builtin Airplay 2.
Connect headphones to the apple tv. It works very well. I agree with other comments, including an easy to use device for wife and kids makes Sonos more viable. Watching her try and setup my 70’s era analog system is hilarious.
I had the Sonos amp feeding a pair of Monitor Audio Silver 100 and it sounded awful. Overly compressed / strangled. Lacked detail and harsh at volume. Swapped it for the Powernode 2 which was vastly better in every single area. Case closed.
I got the Sonos amp last December and I have probably used it more than all my other audio gear. It is not the best sounding audio product I have but it does most of the things I need so easily that I just use it more.
Loved the video , love the channel . One little detail to mention ! Sonos sells a OPTICAL to HDMI arc adapter for the AMP. So you can when optical in if you really want to . I’ve connected that adapter to a Optical Switcher and now I am running my Minidisc player in all rooms of my house . As well as my TV (Samsung the frame) as well as a Fiio BTA30PRO reviving LDAC from my DAP all over the house . So even though the amp doesn’t have Optical In (which pisses me off) there is a workaround by getting rid of the HDMI Arc The only thing that is a catastrophe in this method of mine is that the remote of the Samsung can no longer control the volume of the Sonos .. massive flaw but that can be fixed with a Harmony Hub I think . ALSO you can stream Bluetooth into the amp with this tip. If you are willing to spend money on the BTA30Pro and the adapter
John: your videos helped me understand the wonderful world of hifi better! Thank you . Is Sonos the only way to have an all home music streaming or can I do it with any network streamer ?
THANK YOU!!!!!! finally someone has mentioned the fact that Apple Music is native!!!! Best benefit. Honestly that is what keeps me from even trying the Blue Sound. I really dislike Airplay and Bluetooth because once streaming your device is useless for anything else with audio. But I have A/B compared to my 6000a play thinking I would love the extra watts, but it sounds so thin.
Can the bluesound run fine without the software? The problem with Sonos is that if they go out of business, their products will be dead. You can't even change the inputs on the Sonos Amp without the software.
Thank you for doing a fair review on this. Sonos has become almost Bose in the sense audiophiles never like speaking the name. Sonos is by no means reference level equipment. I have a few systems in different rooms and homes and blend Sonos as part them. I have a room with a Sonos Amp driving Klipsch RP600-M’s, with Sonos sub. It is surprisingly decent sound for the money and the simplicity of single box. More recently I decided to use a Sonos amp in my beach condo to drive a pair of Klipsch La Scala’s. Is it the best I’ve hear La Scala’s sound? Absolutely not. But, for a simple system used like you mentioned, with a TV, it’s great for non-reference listening. The La Scala’s rock out, and the dual subs add punch to music and movies, all while only using an Apple Remote for the TV and iPhone for music. I try to keep my digital life in the Apple ecosystem, which means I listen mostly to Apple Music, aside from listening to Tidal and Quboz on my Innuous streamer in my reference system. So, the fact Sonos can use Apple Music is a plus. I’m also a Roon user in my main house, and find the Sonos integration to be simple and useful. I use a Sonos Playbar with the Sub in guest bedrooms. Once again, great sound boost with incredible simplicity with the Sony TV. I have a combo of built-in speakers powered by Sonos Amp’s in my home, as well as the Sonos Ones and other small speakers through the house. Sonos makes a decent product. They are a bit stagnant on upgrades when it comes to sound; I’d like to see hi-res support, and would love to see them step up in amp sound quality to better compete with the Bluesound, but for the money and convenience, they’re pretty good.
Great review. Don't pass over the Amp if you are looking for a streaming amp, with great connectivity, and sound. I sort of got it by accident, but have paired it with Sonus Faber Lumina 1, Cyrus CDi and Technics 1500c (with a switching box to have multiple sources). Oh, and a Beam and 2 x Sonos One/SL's for the TV. I've owned Cyrus, Meridian, Aragon, Audiolab amps over the years, but I just love this set up, for ease of use, terrific sound from all sources, and a great app for streaming. Ok, not Audiophile, but give the little black box a chance 😬
Good video, John. Even though I'm not much of a streaming guy, I appreciate the knowledge you share about this topic. Maybe one day I'll invest in a streamer amp, but for now use my iPad Pro (2nd Gen) connected to a Dragonfly DAC, then connected to my system. Works pretty well, and sounds really good.............. BTW, I really enjoy your music recommendations; you've opened my ears to new electronic music I didn't know about.....Thanks!
Nice to see the BRA and FSOL albums in there, mate. Both were CDs that I enjoyed on a decent setup ... something I've not had for a while whilst having to move back in with 'rents.
I am an apple user and airplay user since the beginning since AirTunes and I switched from airplay 2 to the Sonos app 100% because of the integrations are flawless.
This review really emphasises the point that people need to listen for themselves! I was able to take a Sonos amp and Powernode home for a demo with my Richter Merlin S6’s. After reading many reviews I was almost certain of dropping cash on the Powernode. During the demo I felt like the Powernode was too smooth, it made me feel like the music was digitally enhanced rather than being natural or organic. I found the Sonos Amp was missing the transparency I was after. I kept on searching and settled on the Cyrus OneCast, I found it paired well with my Merlin’s and gave me the sound I was looking for.
That you heard a difference in the store and again at home tells me Sonus is improving, but hasn't caught Blue Sound yet. As for UI, I just use Tidal Connect.
One big advantage of the Bluesound for those of us who still prefer their own local libraries: Sonos is still restricted to 65000 indexed tracks (which is infuriating when they had every chance to increase that limit with the release of their S2 firmware - they'd always previously claimed that backwards compatibility prevented them from increasing it). As for Bluesound, I'm sure I've read somewhere that their limit is now approx 200,000 tracks, dependent on metadata.
That's interesting. That's the same file limit they pinned on cowon devices years ago. Rebuilding the library was a frequent thing for me (I had over 100,000 flac/mp3's. But yeah...I wonder if theyre using cowon systems inside it. Certainly the description of the audio fits the cowon experience. And cowon stopped making new models of their media players a few years ago. Strange given they were dominating the audiophile world.
I recently bought the Sonos port as a streamer, running it through a zen one signature dac, a Rega brio, and q acoustics speakers, all this gives me great sound, but more importantly listening position ease with brilliant app and ability to switch easily between tidal and Spotify
I have a Sonos AMP and love it - not because it’s the last word in sound quality, but because my wife knows how to use it, bringing a bit of audio joy to everyone in the house through ease of use and accessibility. It’s also great for the occasional 4.1 surround sound experience with Netflix, love the versatility! Move over audio snobbery, long live music!
The family not being intimidated by our Sonos gear is the #1 reason I love it so much.
You have some very high end kit passing under your nose ( I follow your channel congrats on the new addition!) what good is having only high end gear if you have a family and momma is afraid to use it ?
Been there not going back,I like watching mine sway ;)
Love the music 🎶✌️😎 definitely I have to upgrade my old school Av to this one to able to use for everyone in the house not just me. 🤣
My aiyima a07 has better sound than sonos amp. Aiyima is cad $90 while sonos $900.10 times pricier.
Likely repeating what I’ve said elsewhere, but my son has been deeply invested in in the Sonos ecosystem for at least 5 years, and while I’m not a huge fan of the sound of any of their speakers I’ve heard so far ( i.e. not yet the ERA300), I hafta admit their ease of use and system expandability is very attractive. He is running one of the amps to power rear surrounds along with the ARC and sub, wherein it’s seamless, and as far as I’m concerned the amp is definitely a sleeper.
For my own case, the Node N130 and separate power amp for an upstairs streaming system works like a charm - in fact the only reason for not buying the Powernode was I already had the amp in my collection.
Never forger snobery is vital in all domain. Even for Hifi and music
The minimum delay for analog sources to the Sonos Amp is 75ms, not 1 second. The short delay IS noticeable to a degree, but still provides the "real-time" effect of dropping the needle and hearing the "pop". There are 4 delay settings all the up to a full 2 seconds, which allows Sonos to further compress the stream to increase playback reliability.
Agreed. I've set up the Sonos Amp and the app provides a delay option that's effectively audibly indetectable....but the setting needs to be changed from the default to this setting in the app.
Great review. Think you covered most things. Got my Sonos AMP when it just came out so only cost me £400 as they were doing 20% off the original price of £499. Now for £400 its been amazing driving my B&W floor standing speaker.
Do you also play vinyl or just stream?
I have and same setup. My b&w are a bit too the bright side, so Sonos Amp is perfect. I play a lot of vinyl, works marvelous. Also, having all the vinyl music in all the rooms is a great added bonus)
What model is your B&W? Did the Sonos amp run them ok? I keep hearing those speakers need big amp to run them smoothly.
@@AddeDaMan what model is your B&W? The Sonos runs them ok? I got a 704 s2, and thinking getting the Sonos amp to run those.
@@khoiquach s2 603. I love the sound but I’m no audiophile. Get loud with no issues and to sounds great too through them.
It is a good sound for many of us and easy setup. The big problem, imho, is that there are many problems (see the fora) in using third party subs, which are much better value than the Sonos sub.
Really enjoyed this video. I built a system for my parents and since they used Sonos before I paired a Sonos amp with Klipsch RP-8000’s. Was pleasantly surprised how good the system sounded for both music and movies. I felt your impressions were spot on, and thx for highlighting the differences with vinyl playback, etc. Cheers!
THIS is how all tech reviews should be done ...
1) A proper knowledgable person.
2) Detailed end-to-end coverage
Top quality !!
Thanks...
I think that the Bluesound Powernode really hits the mark below $1000. I thought I would end up with a class A/B amp for the long haul after listening to the CA AXR100 for many weeks and hearing other amps recently. The Bluesound Powernode has remarkably better sound than sub-$1000 Yamaha class D receivers, way better than NAD for sound and bass, good software, HDMI, sub out, tone controls in-app, better bass than other class D amps I have tried, minimalistic design and the ability to learn your TV remote’s button functions using the Bluesound app. I recommend the Powernode for all these reasons, plus you don’t get the listening fatigue you would get from class A/B amps such as the AXR100 or a Marantz.
Nothing winds up Audiophile’s on the internet like saying Sonos is good / good enough to enjoy music on. I am a fan of Sonos but I have other Audiophile toys also. Sonos helps me listen to more music more often. I love the fact you do these side by side comparisons, it really helps show how small the sound differences can be in reality at similar price points.
Their app updates and planned obsolescence is what I hate about the brand. I threw out my first gen play 5 in frustration because it’s essentially no longer supported. And, there was nothing wrong with the speaker, which is exactly what they wanted.
@@jdavis234 it’s a shame you don’t know anyone you could have given it to.
I gave my nephew my gen 1 play 5, worth more me to help somebody then the 30% brick discount and he is happy as can be with the S1 app.
His young family uses it every day 😊
@@jdavis234 A gave a friend my S1 devices when the new stuff came out. Years later, still working fine for him. Go figure.
Some audiophiles are determined to stay rigid. Some not all.
@@balooo2863 That’s very generous of you. I personally wouldn’t want to subject someone else to a sonos product.
you can setup de delay to avoid that second... i use my old sonos amp for desktop amp... works without problem (using just analog)
Why run sound from Apple TV through the televisions hdmi to the bluesound then Bluetooth to headphones with lip sync issues when you can just connect Bluetooth headphones directly to the Apple TV?
As always, a great review. I have an older Sonos ZP style amp and can alter the input latency, and as I don’t use it as a multi room set up it’s happy at the lowest latency. Also there’s an option to change the compression level on the input, or choose no compression. Not sure if these options are available on the newer Amp however. May be worth a look.
They are and I asked the same as I noticed a fair improvement even with my budget turntable!
Sonos speakers do competent job to play background music around the house when entertaining and this Sonos amp does good job powering my 4 outdoor speakers. It's a great product as long as you're not expecting to consciously listen.
Dear John. I really like your style of doing these reviews and side by side comparisons. I would, however, like to add one advantage to the two way Bluetooth on Bluesound devices. As an Apple user I do not have access to higher end BT codecs from my phone (other than the obvious AAC) but with Bluesound I can use aptX HD when using that as a source. Not a huge difference but still a nice little workaround on the codec limitations, that doesn’t bother me the slightest. Keep up the good work 👍
You can use 2 subs as well. 2 Sonos Subs or one Sonos sub plus a non-sonos sub hardwired to the sub out. And you can EQ the system overall. Very pleasing system overall.
Great vid! Couldn't find the Jimmy van M's Balance album on spotify (but many other great tracks). As far as Mom & Dad are concerned, the Bluesounds have it with their (optional) IR remote control capability. My parents don't want to have to grab their phone, unlock it, go to the app to just change volume, skip a track or access one of the presets (another great Bluesound feature for radio stations). That more than overrides the one-time setup complexity which actually is not that difficult for Bluesound either. Apple music integration for the Sonos is great though.
So i can get a $400 Yamaha receiver that has every connection known to man, with room correction, and subwoofer integration. But in order to get any of that in a 2 channel amp, i have to pay 3,4,10 x as much? Idk why those features are so easy to incorporate into a receiver but are seemingly so difficult and or expensive to incorporate into 2 channel
Yes the Yamaha products are great value ! really well built for the money and feature packed. Not on John's radar , though it seems?
My Yammaha N601 has a loudness rotary dail and it works amazingly well for late night listening or background music..
I used Sonos amp for a while with B&W 703s2 and recently upgraded to Willsenton R8. Its no contest, even with stock tubes R8 sounds much, much better. Sonos is thin sounding in comparison.
Wise words indeed perhaps amp, sub and bar all Sonos with KEF W150’s and play and play and play some more as I do- sounds great!
Love the Camera Conspiracies easter egg at 16:30! Is that Olaf's doing?
Thank you for covering this product John!
The sound delay on the RCA input for the Sonos AMP can be disabled. Turn off the compression.
Great video! By the way, you can actually remove the analogue input latency in the settings. I believe the default is set to 2000ms but can be reduced to 75ms. I was also baffled by this at the time, whilst testing my vinyl player. Sonos claim it's for "more reliable audio" which must mean they need some processing buffer to allow you to stream it to other Sonos devices.
So true. The default delay is a nogo for record listening. So i switch to 75ms. This leads to drop outs. Even a nonevergo. The final solution was connecting a sonos device via cable. Than sonos creates it's own wireless network channel for music transfer. So i get a used sonos boost and placed it near to my router to connect it via cable. Now i'm able to stream from my turntable in all 3 levels of my house with the 75ms delay.
Yes, lowered the delay immediately, too. But, if you look at the Sonos subreddit and support forums, 90% of problems people have are with bad Wi-Fi so you can’t entirely blame them for turning it on out of the box.
Yep, just set it to 75ms and that latency all but disappears. I have mine connected via RJ45 so there's no dropouts
I used the AMP to power my computer speakers for a while, and dropping that delay down to 75 is a must. I can't imagine how annoying the default delay would be with a vinyl player, but it makes it useless on a computer. The only thing I don't really like on on their inputs is that it won't leave it on if there is no audio. So there is a initial portion that is cutoff once it senses sound. I wish you could over ride that function as well.
I have just played a direct comparison on a Sonos Arc using the Sonos App on Amazon Music playing Demons by tears for fears . The sound on airplay using Amazon’s app was poor compared with Sonos app it had an unbelievable difference. The atmos mix seriously came through .
Great overview and comparison to the Blue Node and Rotel plus streamer.
So many good choices now.
I wonder how the Sonos amp fits into the rest of their ecosystem.
Cheers
Seamlessly. Its just like adding another Sonos speaker.
Never heard this Jimmy van m mix before, thanks for the recommendation!
Any chance you can do a regular session of album recommendations?
John, hello from a fellow Aussie, can I just say a huge thank you for putting me onto Barry Adamson, I swear I have had Oedipus Schmoedipus on repeat for a week, one of those amazing albums that comes once in a generation.
Can you do another video of recommendations of albums, I Need more !!!
Oh man you’ve veracity to say the truth 😄 absolutely loved it. Your video tell so much about your honest reviews! You’ve not been sold to sonos and berate powernode altogether.
John, I believe hifi rose integrates apple music into their products. I don't use apple music but that is an option on my rose product.
Great video, good to see someone actually doing the comparison with Sonos. Just wondering if you know of any similar options with Chromecast built in, the bluesounds seem like great options but unfortunately I'm too invested in Chromecast speakers. The Harman Kardon Citation Amp looks like an interesting product but I haven't seen a lot of reviews, it doesn't seem to be available in many markets. Anyways great video and if you know of any Chromecast options I'd really appreciate it, keep the great work!
Great video. Also liked the brief clip of camera conspiracies..
Sonos offering native Apple Music playback is commendable. Unfortunately playback is limited to Apple’s compressed AAC codec streaming at 256. This I believe applies to Airplay 2 as well.
Really? Only 256kbits? I thought it could stream lossless since it was integrated
Do you have articles about this?
If you want the better sound quality and also the higher wattage, try the Bluesound Node paired to the XTZ Edge A2-300. Together they cost about a €1000,- and bring you unadulterated earporn.
I’ve been considering pairing the XTZ Edge with a Sonos Port for the Sonos ease of use I have a multi unit Sonos home (wife & kids who love music but could care less about audio gear)
My understanding is the XTZ is a fantastic amp may have to pull the trigger on one…
you must do something with the tv cable dangling like that 😆
I bought an open box Rotel A12 MkII and a Sonos AMP to compare. I fed the dac in the A12 with a WIIM and I added a Rega Fono Mini to the Sonos...The price all in is relatively close. I ran them through a pair of DeFTech D9's and a pair of Elac Unify B52's. The Definitive Technology do a decent job with detail but are more laid back than the Elacs (You can check measurements at audio science that show a bigger scoop around 3-4k with the DefTechs). With the Sonos amp the Def Techs were lifeless the treble just wasn't. There was no detail, a quick listen killed that combo. Then I ran the Sonos into the B52's and it sounded pretty good, though listening to one of my favorite test tracks exposed that a soft ride cymbal was missing. I could not hear it even while straining to do so. Then I tested the A12 MKII with the super cheap WIIM streaming puck running an optical cable into the built in dac. It sounded better. Bass was bassier, the missing Cymbal showed up and most importantly, low volume listening was more representative of all frequencies. That combo made me decide to keep the Elac's which were very likely to be returned. The sonos was great with the TV and not needing remotes was pretty appealing but the Rotel worked fine w the TV using typical optical table (it has two optical inputs). That's my 2 pennies.
I returned a much more expensive Marantz amp (the 40n) after comparing it with my Sonos amp. They both sound great, nice and clean and couldn’t justify the almost $2000 price difference. Marantz sounds great but so does the Sonos amp! This isn’t 1970s anymore…
I am considering ditching my Node2i becuase I want Apple Music back. I have a denafrips ares 2 which sounds amazing, but volume jumps from Tidal does my head in... Also Tidal CarPlay is just mental...
Edit: Mental not in a good way... it sucks. Apple Car Play for Apple Music, just worked... the end.
Tidal connect is awesome, come on Qobuz sort it out!!
I got some Nubert Nujubilee 40 (4 Ohm 84db (1W/1m)) and some old Canton Karat 60 (4 Ohm 93,4db (1W/1m)) would you get the bluesound or the sonos amp for these speakers?
I didn’t know there was so much hate for Sonos. I thought that was reserved for Bose. 😅
As ever great review..... wondering if if the Sonos amp with sonos speakers and Sonos sub would sound
Btw the original halo by Depeche mode is far better lol
Hi john, loving the content lately. I have an issue im hoping you may be able to help with. I have no optioon other than to place a set of bookshelf speakers on a low sideboard (40cm high) which puts the speakers lower than my ears! Can you recommend a product or solution to raise the speakers up. The speakers in question are ma silver 50's
IsoAcoustics Aperta
Is the streaming in the Sonos App limited to 256 Kbit for Apple Music? So it can’t play Lossless?
Hi John, thanks for considering reviewing the Sonos Amp… I thought this day would never come 😂
Was about to purchase the sonos amp until you mentioned the delay with vinyl… Just to be certain:
1. if dj’ing two Technics 1210 and a mixer… with the bluesound powernode will there be zero delay?
2. The sonos amp combined with the and sonos/sonance ceiling or wall speakers do offer trueplay support. In that situation would you recommend the sound performance of trueplay?
The delay can be changed in the Sonos app. Just change it to 75ms and it's practically unnoticeable
Whats the Electronica thing sitting on top at 3:58?
I've wanted to join John's Patreon but it's too expensive for me. The lowest tier is no longer available...I'm just a poor musician mate...
I love that he’s watching @vegetablepolice in this
Dear John, thanks for the nice review, but you are missing the point of the Sonos Amp. I see no reason to consider Sonos Amp as a single room or just one system in your home. It is a part of Sonos network / multiroom system and it should be judged as that. I think it is a pretty good amp, but nowhere near good amps in 1-2k euro range. However, it is a part of Sonos system, so I have them grouped with my other speakers in other rooms, and it works brilliantly. There is a "alarm" function which enables you to auto start music (albums/playlists), so there is music playing in the house when you wake up or arrive home. I would like Sonos to produce better amp such as Marantz Model 40n, but in the mean time, it is very enjoyable. And the subwoofer output works very good, so you can build pretty good system.
Dear John, the bluesounds can also do automatic switching of sources between music and TV. You have to enable the auto-sensing toggle in the blueOS settings. It’s a really good feature, but I don’t understand why it’s switched off by default! This functionality needs to come to the bluesound Hub as well, which currently lacks auto-sensing.
This is true, but with a caveat:. You can only have auto sensing for one input. I have mine one of mine auto sense for HDMI so that my wife has ease of a single remote for watching TV in the bedroom. It's a handy option, but I wish it could be for all input sources.
Thanks Micah. I had been annoyed by this lack of auto-switching on BluOS; but your comment resolved the main reason I was about to rush an expensive AVR purchase.
The auto-sensing is switched off by default because although it is available on the optical, coax and HDMI inputs it can only be active on one input. It is switched off by default because the manufacturer cannot know which input you will want to use it on.
If you like to watch TV (silently with subtitles) whilst listening to music, then the HDMI auto switching is a no no on the Bluesound. It's great to have the option to enable/disable it.
Yeah I was wondering- because that’s a large part of ARC 😄
Like an animal! That's hysterical! I think you are underrated as an entertainer. It's one of the things I love about your reviews.
The fact that you have to so carefully craft a description to adequately describe the subtle differences between these two is a sure sign that adding a SONOS amp to play nice with the rest of my SONOS products will sound just fine for me.
Well done John. One of the few audiophiles to even give Sonos a chance.
Love my Sonos stuff,,,, and LOVE the Camera Conspiracy cameo! 😂
I own 3 Sonos Amps, and am strongly considering a 4th or even 5th. I love the Sonos ecosystem, but find their speakers to be inconsistent. Like you pointed out, for every Five there's an Arc. The Amp essentially gives me all the best parts about Sonos while getting to choose my own drivers. If they ever come out with a 5.2.4- or 7.2.4-channel model supporting eARC for home theater use, I will back a truck full of money up to their HQ's front door.
I've owned Marantz, Hegel and Cambridge audio amplifiers over the years, paired with various DACs and streamers. I now have a Sonos AMP hooked up to a small pair of Monitor Audio silver series bookshelf speakers and I listen to music more than I ever have. Is it as good as separates, likely not. Does it sound good, yes it does. HDMI ARC from my TV is the icing on the cake No qualms from me. One device, one set of speakers. I was very surprised and am more than happy.
I'm very grateful for your focus on future-fi. I used to be all about conventional separates with traditional sources but having watched your videos my audio horizons have definitely been broadened.
Hi John...any way you can do a top 50 cd/album list? It would be a truly eclectic list.
Great balanced review from an audiophile, which I am thankfully not. I like my music to sound good though and the convenience, usability and yes simplicity of Sonos for music and home cinema, combined with really decent reproduction is massive for me. Last year I ripped apart my previous amp/separates set up to obtain a system that was usable for everyone in the house and also to ensure that as old age gets ever closer, I am not left scratching my head about what buttons to press to watch a movie or play a record etc.
On the subject of the delay when queuing up a record - your main bug bear it seemed; if you go into settings/system and the particular ‘room’ where the record deck is ie ‘amp’, then line in/audio delay you are able to reduce the delay to 75ms making it imperceptible. It was something that bugged me about, for me an otherwise perfect system. I accidentally came across this watching a TH-cam channel about using a record deck with Sonos. I hope this may help others decide without the delay being the deal breaker that it was for you. You can also use an autoplay feature without physically swapping sources on the app, from whatever the previous source was to the record as soon as the stylus touches the vinyl (there I said vinyl!) Under the same Line in menu go to ‘auto play’ and tick Amp.
Is this yet another Sonos product that won’t work unless you spend an absolute fortune constantly updating your phone because Sonos can’t be arsed (read money) to maintain app backwards compatibility?
I have some Sonos, but an old phone which basically renders the Sonos useless (who wants to start up a computer to play a tune?).
Never again will I give Sonos my money - built in obsolescence just shows pure contempt for the customers...
Can’t believe you were recently listening to Balance 010 by Jimmy Van M!
I was just revisiting that one myself - what an amazing journey of a compilation.
I love that mix set as well.
I was really looking forward to this and found it very informative. I bought the Sonos Amp before the price increase and with 30% off for older upgrades that I kept. I’m just curious for the turntable did you selected uncompressed audio in the Sonos settings? I found what you said about speaker choices interesting as I’ve been much happier with the amp with B&W 686 than the KEF Q100s I have. I only have a cheap AT-LP60 anyway as I’m more a steamer that likes the occasional physical feeling of vinyl. I’ll have a similar setup to you in a few weeks. Frame 85 inch. Sonos amp to 686s2 and REL T Zero with rears of 2 play 1s (also a big perk of the Sonos amp and you can even use another amp for wireless rears with proper speakers that might be of use to some). As am Apple Music family plan user another nice thing with the built in Apple Music is being able to play different music on each Sonos around the house.
One thing.... You hate the delay on a vinyl which you can't see unless you look at the record but do don't care about a small lip sync delay with the TV? 🤪 If I want to watch tv with headphones I just use the bluetooth (Airpod Pros) on my Apple TV then you get zero delay and it auto mutes the TV (AMP) too.
Interesting to hear that you have HiFi Klubben in Berlin! More Dali speakers incoming?
I purchased Sonos Amp to drive ceiling speakers and figured I'd first try it with my Elac FS 207.2 floor stand speakers - provided a great sonic upgrade from the home theatre receiver that had been driving the Elacs. I was going to purchase something like a Bluesound Powernode till I tried this setup. Pleasantly surprised.
if you can review NAD C700 would be great :) Thanks for your contents!!
John…. Weird question. Where did you get that denim shirt? My husband is kinda obsessed.
Yes u can stream your vinyl with powernode to other blusound speakers
This is a fantastically well presented video. I hung onto every word... Now I'm in a proper dilema. Which one to buy?
Decisions, decisions. I need to listen to them both. Fantastic work Darko Audio.
Hi John, I also did the side by side comparison at hifi klubben, and I do agree with the comparison between the powernode and Sonos AMP. You made a very good point that the Sonso AMP has loudness, and many modern amps are lacking that functionality, has this feature gone missing or just ignored as it is very valuable during nighttime/ low volume listening?
I’ve had a Sonos Amp for close to a year now, used for TV and music. Upgraded speakers to a pair of KEF Q150s and very happy. New to having decent audio equipment but it’s a really great, easy to use system so far.
Having just got a pair of KEF Q150s a Sonos Amp might just be the next step. Glad you like it.
Is it worth having the Sonos amp or Powernode when you have Bang&Olufsen speakers?
Need one more digital input on Sonos Amp? Just plug the HDMI to Optical adapter to the HDMI port of Sonos Amp and there you go. 😊 Works perfectly.
Sonos is one of the few platforms or devices that integrate Apple Music, so there is that. But how good is that integration? Is it as good as say streaming Tidal Connect on a Bluesound Node? Will Apple Music ever come out with an "Apple Music Connect" app that could be licensed to manufacturers?
"Like an animal" lol
which amps would you recommend for some audio monitor bronze 50 and silver 100/200/300 ?
I'm new to the "hobby" and I want to spent the right amount.. not too much and I'm not into switching weekly my gear..
Hearing all kind of stuff also watching TV/movies
I received my Sonos Amp exactly on the same day when you did your unpacking Video 😂.
a) if you have ordered from Sonos directly you could have also purchased two Sonos One just for fun to use them as wireless surround speakers, so much fun for movies
b) have you checked the Phase on the Amp? Which side is it?
c) have you used a subwoofer? If so, which cut of frequency would you use for the KEF LS 50 Meta?
d) would you recommend the use of a higher quality main cable instead of the enclosed one?
Looking forward to see a lot of stuff from you Channel, greetings from Duisburg (which should explain my school English)
Aaaand, I caught you an watching Camera Conspiracy 🙃
Awesome to see that!
I do not agree with you about the Sonos arc. Sonos arc paired with a pair of 300 eras, watching a movie with Dolby trueHD is breathtaking. With two subwoofers of course lol without the subs, it lack the low end frequencies. With it being just a sound bar, you can definitely differentiate the left and right channels. Even the height channels. But if you’re comparing it to a traditional AVR system, it stand no chance. No sound bar does. The only sound bar system that can beat the arc, is the nakamichi dragon.
I think this video aged well with your comment about heading toward native apps, especially with the current Sonos disaster. At this point, I just want the best eArc amp with builtin Airplay 2.
Connect headphones to the apple tv. It works very well. I agree with other comments, including an easy to use device for wife and kids makes Sonos more viable. Watching her try and setup my 70’s era analog system is hilarious.
I had the Sonos amp feeding a pair of Monitor Audio Silver 100 and it sounded awful. Overly compressed / strangled. Lacked detail and harsh at volume. Swapped it for the Powernode 2 which was vastly better in every single area. Case closed.
I got the Sonos amp last December and I have probably used it more than all my other audio gear. It is not the best sounding audio product I have but it does most of the things I need so easily that I just use it more.
Loved the video , love the channel .
One little detail to mention !
Sonos sells a OPTICAL to HDMI arc adapter for the AMP.
So you can when optical in if you really want to .
I’ve connected that adapter to a Optical Switcher and now I am running my Minidisc player in all rooms of my house . As well as my TV (Samsung the frame) as well as a Fiio BTA30PRO reviving LDAC from my DAP all over the house .
So even though the amp doesn’t have Optical In (which pisses me off) there is a workaround by getting rid of the HDMI Arc
The only thing that is a catastrophe in this method of mine is that the remote of the Samsung can no longer control the volume of the Sonos .. massive flaw but that can be fixed with a Harmony Hub I think .
ALSO you can stream Bluetooth into the amp with this tip. If you are willing to spend money on the BTA30Pro and the adapter
John: your videos helped me understand the wonderful world of hifi better! Thank you . Is Sonos the only way to have an all home music streaming or can I do it with any network streamer ?
THANK YOU!!!!!! finally someone has mentioned the fact that Apple Music is native!!!! Best benefit. Honestly that is what keeps me from even trying the Blue Sound. I really dislike Airplay and Bluetooth because once streaming your device is useless for anything else with audio. But I have A/B compared to my 6000a play thinking I would love the extra watts, but it sounds so thin.
Can the bluesound run fine without the software? The problem with Sonos is that if they go out of business, their products will be dead. You can't even change the inputs on the Sonos Amp without the software.
Thank you for doing a fair review on this. Sonos has become almost Bose in the sense audiophiles never like speaking the name. Sonos is by no means reference level equipment. I have a few systems in different rooms and homes and blend Sonos as part them. I have a room with a Sonos Amp driving Klipsch RP600-M’s, with Sonos sub. It is surprisingly decent sound for the money and the simplicity of single box.
More recently I decided to use a Sonos amp in my beach condo to drive a pair of Klipsch La Scala’s. Is it the best I’ve hear La Scala’s sound? Absolutely not. But, for a simple system used like you mentioned, with a TV, it’s great for non-reference listening. The La Scala’s rock out, and the dual subs add punch to music and movies, all while only using an Apple Remote for the TV and iPhone for music.
I try to keep my digital life in the Apple ecosystem, which means I listen mostly to Apple Music, aside from listening to Tidal and Quboz on my Innuous streamer in my reference system. So, the fact Sonos can use Apple Music is a plus. I’m also a Roon user in my main house, and find the Sonos integration to be simple and useful.
I use a Sonos Playbar with the Sub in guest bedrooms. Once again, great sound boost with incredible simplicity with the Sony TV. I have a combo of built-in speakers powered by Sonos Amp’s in my home, as well as the Sonos Ones and other small speakers through the house.
Sonos makes a decent product. They are a bit stagnant on upgrades when it comes to sound; I’d like to see hi-res support, and would love to see them step up in amp sound quality to better compete with the Bluesound, but for the money and convenience, they’re pretty good.
Great review. Don't pass over the Amp if you are looking for a streaming amp, with great connectivity, and sound. I sort of got it by accident, but have paired it with Sonus Faber Lumina 1, Cyrus CDi and Technics 1500c (with a switching box to have multiple sources). Oh, and a Beam and 2 x Sonos One/SL's for the TV. I've owned Cyrus, Meridian, Aragon, Audiolab amps over the years, but I just love this set up, for ease of use, terrific sound from all sources, and a great app for streaming. Ok, not Audiophile, but give the little black box a chance 😬
Good video, John. Even though I'm not much of a streaming guy, I appreciate the knowledge you share about this topic. Maybe one day I'll invest in a streamer amp, but for now use my iPad Pro (2nd Gen) connected to a Dragonfly DAC, then connected to my system. Works pretty well, and sounds really good.............. BTW, I really enjoy your music recommendations; you've opened my ears to new electronic music I didn't know about.....Thanks!
Does the Sonos Amp play Apple Music hi-res lossless? Sonos customer support seemed to indicate so, but other online forums say no. Thanks.
Nice to see the BRA and FSOL albums in there, mate. Both were CDs that I enjoyed on a decent setup ... something I've not had for a while whilst having to move back in with 'rents.
I am an apple user and airplay user since the beginning since AirTunes and I switched from airplay 2 to the Sonos app 100% because of the integrations are flawless.
This review really emphasises the point that people need to listen for themselves! I was able to take a Sonos amp and Powernode home for a demo with my Richter Merlin S6’s. After reading many reviews I was almost certain of dropping cash on the Powernode. During the demo I felt like the Powernode was too smooth, it made me feel like the music was digitally enhanced rather than being natural or organic. I found the Sonos Amp was missing the transparency I was after. I kept on searching and settled on the Cyrus OneCast, I found it paired well with my Merlin’s and gave me the sound I was looking for.
Your absolutely right about the one second delay on analogue input. Kind of lipsync with movies. Or gapless playback.
Hi John, love your videos. The Powernode has a auto sense setting, it works well with eArc connection to my Sony tv.
That you heard a difference in the store and again at home tells me Sonus is improving, but hasn't caught Blue Sound yet.
As for UI, I just use Tidal Connect.
New here. Speaking of a 2.1 system, how does the phantom speaker sound?
“…like an animal..” ROTFLMAO
One big advantage of the Bluesound for those of us who still prefer their own local libraries: Sonos is still restricted to 65000 indexed tracks (which is infuriating when they had every chance to increase that limit with the release of their S2 firmware - they'd always previously claimed that backwards compatibility prevented them from increasing it). As for Bluesound, I'm sure I've read somewhere that their limit is now approx 200,000 tracks, dependent on metadata.
That's interesting. That's the same file limit they pinned on cowon devices years ago. Rebuilding the library was a frequent thing for me (I had over 100,000 flac/mp3's.
But yeah...I wonder if theyre using cowon systems inside it. Certainly the description of the audio fits the cowon experience. And cowon stopped making new models of their media players a few years ago. Strange given they were dominating the audiophile world.
I recently bought the Sonos port as a streamer, running it through a zen one signature dac, a Rega brio, and q acoustics speakers, all this gives me great sound, but more importantly listening position ease with brilliant app and ability to switch easily between tidal and Spotify