Відео

Sonos has native integration with Plex so if that's the way you play music this is probably the best choice. You can also Plex to WiiM via Chromecast or share your Plex music library to Bluesound via a file share.

From a fellow green bubble enthusiast, I totally get this!

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video! You're absolutely right, the Sonos doesn't strictly do 'Tidal Connect'. Sonos Connect is pretty similar but limited to the bitrates which Sonos supports i.e. no 24/192, it tops out around lossless CD Quality. The Sonos Amp doesn't do eARC though, I think the only Sonos products with eARC are the Arc, Arc Ultra and Beam Gen2 (Sonos Amp and Beam Gen1 are just ARC). The Tidal App on my TV may not be perfect, but it was certainly useful as a baseline for comparison and to get music playing on the Unifi PowerAmp without Airplay compression.

@@audioflow You're right about Sonos Amp being ARC only, my bad. I was confusing it with the Sonos Beam (I own both the amp and the Beam). Even more reason not to use the Sony TV app as you will be listening to compressed Tidal. Curious where you are getting the specs on Sonos Connect. The majority of the time it doesn't work for me anyway. I would just use the native Sonos app to test Tidal sound quality.

@@keungy I did actually test using the native Tidal service within the Sonos app as well, but couldn't hear any difference between that and Sonos Connect so just went back to the Tidal app so it was easier to switch between different amps. Worked pretty reliably for me.

Damn, I didn't know the WXA-50 was discontinued. I've used those on a project once and thought it was pretty cool!

That is really interesting. I'm pretty delulu for thinking that I listen to music in my Living Room, it really is mainly TV and Movies here since I got married too. But on the flip side, I loved making this review as I got to listen to music on my sofa which was good fun, and musical elements in film are always really enjoyable. I think about your combination of Powernode and 707 S2 and I can understand the warm tone is probably not ideal for dialogue and subtlety hence Arc + Sub being more suitable for you. I think my Monitor Audios may be a touch brighter.

Yes was using the desktop stand for my mic on the floor, wasn't ideal

Thank you

Thank you for your kind words!

Glad you enjoyed it!

Thank you!

Thank you!

Sure you can, but that doesn't give you any HPF (High Pass Filter) function on your main speakers and LPF (Low Pass Filter) for the Sub out which means you're still driving your speakers full range. You probably want to relieve them of the low end near their limit for the best integration. Also it's so much more convenient to be able to control this all from the app while you are in your listening position.

@@audioflow You're right about HPF on main speaker... on PA subs we use you have all settings in hardware on the sub, and once you system is correctly equalized, there is no more need to touch it. So it's a 1 time thing at installation.

Nice. I don't have much experience with PA unfortunately but I do expect at that kind of pro level you would probably have HPF on the mixing stage? On the Unifi PowerAmp without the HPF you can probably get it sounding ok, but it'll be a lot more work and fine tuning which is not what you want in the all-in-one < $1000 domestic mini system demographic these amplifiers are aimed at. Thanks a lot for pointing this out though, using the controls on the sub is a good point! My workflow would usually be to get the controls on the sub roughly +20% of where I want them and then fine tune this down in software from the listening position.

@@audioflow Well, I'm comparing to the Sonos Sub, witch are another way to add bass... They are pretty decent, but IMHO too expensive for what they offer. You can find PA subs from good HiFi brands at roughly 30 to 50% less than the big sub of Sonos... with a much better sound than the Sonos Mini Sub. That said, in simple systems, you're gonna be totally >$1000. An Amp is costing here (Europe) $880 + a good pair of speakers, for example in-ceiling (B&W would be $600 to $1200, Sonance would be around $800 / 900, and we're talking roughly similar prices in other brands with architectural speakers) + a Sub ($880 for big Sonos or $450 / 600 for other brand). So we're talking $2 to 2.5K for 1 zone with subwoofer. It's true that if the 'main' speakers have small and limited bass unit, you'll need an HPF on those to not destroy them or have a very distorded sound. When you use some good speakers with 8" driver (eventually some brands with 6.5" driver) you can just do without HPF IMHO.

Yes exactly, Chromecast on Android is excellent and the WiiM Amp Pro doesn't do Airplay which is very interesting. You're also right about the lack of music services outside of Spotify on the Unifi PowerAmp. I could use my TV for the music services I use but that's really not as practical and not an option that everyone will have.

Great little system!

Yes the Marantz M1 would be interesting to compare although it is already a pretty long video!

I'd be interested in knowing how the Bluesound compares to the Marantz because they are priced similarly

Thanks!

It is interesting. The Sonos Amp and Bluesound Powernode have clear vents for passive ventilation. The WiiM feels like one giant metal heatsink. The Unifi PowerAmp just seems like a big block of plastic! There are no holes, and it gets pretty hot even with the latest firmware.

@@kotec1234 typically, I wouldn't say it is worth switching if you already have a Sonos Amp. Audio quality is of course subjective and personally I do enjoy the sound of the Unifi PowerAmp a little more for sure, but it probably also depends on what speakers you are using and how important that is for you.