At $649, this music streaming device with built-in amplification is very reasonably priced! I’m a dealer, and there is nothing on the market that compares! Denon HEOS has a similar product with more margin, but Sonos has it beat. I used one of these to power a pair of high-end James Loudspeaker speakers and held my breath to see if I’d have to go back to the drawing board. The Sonos amp delivered flawlessly. There is very little margin in Sonos, which is the only downside. The user interface is very intuitive and the sound quality and network-friendly setup is top of the game!
@@RiftValleyAquatics HEOS is not “bad” at all, the user interface is not as intuitive as Sonos, but Denon makes great product. If you have trouble sourcing due to the chip shortage and very limited supply, I have two of the HEOS amps I’d be willing to sell you.
For this price I should really be able to drive more speakers. If this could drive 5.1 channel surround (minimum) I'd buy it in a heartbeat. It's just not enough for the money.
I have 5 of the new Sonos Amps in our home sound system. We use to use the older Sonos Amps. The new Amps are a considerable improvement and have woken up the speakers the old Amps were connected to.
i spend 3 hours trying to figure out how to connect to spoify and wireless you video helped me so much. thank you for being very clear on how to do it...
I have 5 Sonos amps driving 10 OE8 speaker-craft speakers around my pool. I added a 75 inch TV outdoors using ARC into one amp for sound. Music or a ballgame with Sonos is awesome. TV is on rolling trolley slides 35 ft under deck into hidden door of house. Using more Sonos ARC, sub, play 1’s for family room. Love the group feature in Sonos too.
@@chadstern4954 negative. If they're 8 Oms you can connect 2 that becomes 4 oms. You can't connect 2 6 oms because you will blow up your amp. If you connect more you can use the series method which you can connect many speakers. Each side had its own amp and these amls aren't made for 2 oms
First of all, great review and am enjoying consuming this type of content!!! Am looking into building a nice sounding home system (mostly focused on music) , but couldn't stop wondering how does something like the Sonos AMP compare to the likes of the Marantz 1510, Yamaha RX-V4A, Onkyo TX-SR393 - from a sound quality perspective alone?
Absolutely! I think it could power them and provide a very full sound at that as well. I don't think it would be able to fully power more than 2, but at just 2 (one per channel), I believe it would sound great!
I have a number of Adcom, SAE, Denon amplifiers. It would be nice if Sonos made a pre-amp that worked with their system so I could use these amps I have laying around!
Ideally, I wanted 4 Speakercraft OE8’s. However, they are hard to come by being 7-8 years old. Also, budgetary reasons prevented buying new speakers that would better compliment the OE8’s!
Awesome video, and appreciate it. However, I didn't get what you were saying about the ethernet ports and how you can hook up an arc, sub, and amp together using them. I never seen a passthrough ethernet anything so very curious about that. I read that if all are plugged into a switch they create their own network but everyone uses Wifi....does anyone use security anymore? LOL Please cover in another video if you could. Thanks
I have question, does the AMP appear in Google Home amp as wireless speaker? I would like to set it as default speaker for my Google Home Mini for spotify playback.
Sonos products show up in the Google Home app as a device that you can vocally (i.e. "Ok Google, play xyz on Kitchen Sonos") cast your audio to. I've never attempted to set a Sonos speaker as a default audio device, the device as it shows up in the Google Home app is very limited. When you click on an amp device, you cannot adjust the volume or play/pause directly on the device. You must cast to the device and you can control the play/pause from there.
Okay I've purchased Sonos AMP and it works in Google Home as speaker. I've added it using Sonos account and then it shows up as wireless speaker which you can add to your home and exact room. Then I've configured my Google Home Mini to act have Sonos AMP as default speaker and whenever I ask for music playback I get sound from AMP.
Can a Google Nest Mini for example (a device that is not a voice-enabled "Sonos" product) be used to trigger voice commands to stop/start music on streaming services without having to use the Sonos app? Also, would this HDMI ARC product work with a TV that is more up to date with HDMI eARC? It should be backwards compatible right? But Sonos customer support suggest that it will not work with TVs with eARC :/
@Carson, Looking to replace my 20 year old WH Niles A/V system - 6 zones/8 sources. Hoping Sonos will have equivalent functionality using my existing Boston ceiling & wall speakers. Are all speakers in Sonos configuration treated as independent - “smart group” formed? Can they all be tuned on/off or muted/unmuted together?
Should work for your setup! You can get Sonos Ports to plug in all your additional sources that don’t plug into the Amps. Also each amp can be treated independently or they can be grouped together (any zone can be grouped with one another). Each zone can have their volume adjusted independently or as a whole in a group. Each zone can have their own audio source playing over it at any given time
Hi, thanks for you videos. And... why is nobody talking about the true musical power (in watts) of the new Sonos Era300? They specify everything, except that, why?
Will this device, along with the Sonos arc soundbar. Allow me to run my own rear Atmos speakers, and my subs? It looks like a possibility, yes? Thanks.
@@ComicalMusic you can't run both. You may either run the rear surrounds, or the sub. I ended up buying a pair of 1 sl's. And used the amp to run my subs. I ended up taking it all back, because the amp causes a delay with my subs. Guess Sonos doesn't want you using anything 3rd party. What a shame, cause the arc with the sl's sounded really good. But I'll never buy their subs. Not when I have 2 M&K 5000's. Your comparing a Rolls to a Yugo!🤠.
I’m having a home built and it will have 5 Sonos in ceiling speakers. So how many of these damn amps do I need. I also have two outside on the patio I’m assuming I will need a separate amp for those as well.
For the average person and even a non average one no this doesn't make much sense money wise. For half this price I purchased a 7.1 channel Yamaha. The web apps are good. In a four speaker setup you get a little higher watt output. You have the ability to go 7.1 if you want to. Even the size issue this still does not make sense. Speakers are a huge part of a well defined system as you have noted along with a nice sub. For the average no don't spend money on this idea. No ding but no the sound really does not translate through the video. If you want something really good Class-D is probably not where you want to be. Let's focus on the amp and not having to focus on the filters that class-d ends up needing. Again for the average person you can get allot more for allot less and better sound quality. Just some thoughts.
The thing with your setup though is that it doesn’t allow zoning/different rooms (or at least not more than 2 zones). In this case, there are 4 total zones in this building that needed to have the ability to play their own content PLUS also share the same audio source amongst them all.
At $649, this music streaming device with built-in amplification is very reasonably priced! I’m a dealer, and there is nothing on the market that compares! Denon HEOS has a similar product with more margin, but Sonos has it beat. I used one of these to power a pair of high-end James Loudspeaker speakers and held my breath to see if I’d have to go back to the drawing board. The Sonos amp delivered flawlessly. There is very little margin in Sonos, which is the only downside. The user interface is very intuitive and the sound quality and network-friendly setup is top of the game!
How bad is HEOS. I love Denon products. I dont want to bow down to SONOS
@@RiftValleyAquatics HEOS is not “bad” at all, the user interface is not as intuitive as Sonos, but Denon makes great product. If you have trouble sourcing due to the chip shortage and very limited supply, I have two of the HEOS amps I’d be willing to sell you.
@@RiftValleyAquatics Bluesound. That’s the jump
For this price I should really be able to drive more speakers. If this could drive 5.1 channel surround (minimum) I'd buy it in a heartbeat. It's just not enough for the money.
@@shorey66 thats a different category tho
I have 5 of the new Sonos Amps in our home sound system. We use to use the older Sonos Amps. The new Amps are a considerable improvement and have woken up the speakers the old Amps were connected to.
i spend 3 hours trying to figure out how to connect to spoify and wireless you video helped me so much. thank you for being very clear on how to do it...
Great to see you back!
The older amp sounds solid
I have 5 Sonos amps driving 10 OE8 speaker-craft speakers around my pool. I added a 75 inch TV outdoors using ARC into one amp for sound. Music or a ballgame with Sonos is awesome. TV is on rolling trolley slides 35 ft under deck into hidden door of house. Using more Sonos ARC, sub, play 1’s for family room. Love the group feature in Sonos too.
You can drive 4 speakers off one amp if it’s all the same source.
@@chadstern4954 negative. If they're 8 Oms you can connect 2 that becomes 4 oms. You can't connect 2 6 oms because you will blow up your amp. If you connect more you can use the series method which you can connect many speakers. Each side had its own amp and these amls aren't made for 2 oms
Great review, even two years later they are still very expensive for what they are.
First of all, great review and am enjoying consuming this type of content!!!
Am looking into building a nice sounding home system (mostly focused on music) , but couldn't stop wondering how does something like the Sonos AMP compare to the likes of the Marantz 1510, Yamaha RX-V4A, Onkyo TX-SR393 - from a sound quality perspective alone?
Looks taller than 1U in your rack shots?
Someone needs to teach this kid what 1U is.
You are correct. The new Sonos Amp is 1/2 rack WIDTH, and ~1.5 RU (Rack-Unit) tall.
Very nice review and very informative 👍👍ps handsome
Great review and demo. Do you think it’s powerful enough to power a pair of Klipsch R-820?
Absolutely! I think it could power them and provide a very full sound at that as well. I don't think it would be able to fully power more than 2, but at just 2 (one per channel), I believe it would sound great!
@@carsonmtech Thank you for the reply. I recently bought a Sonos amp with Sony bookshelf speakers but might exchange them for the Klipsch.
I have a number of Adcom, SAE, Denon amplifiers. It would be nice if Sonos made a pre-amp that worked with their system so I could use these amps I have laying around!
They do! Check out the Sonos Port
Why did you run two diff speakers in the gym?
Ideally, I wanted 4 Speakercraft OE8’s. However, they are hard to come by being 7-8 years old. Also, budgetary reasons prevented buying new speakers that would better compliment the OE8’s!
Awesome video, and appreciate it. However, I didn't get what you were saying about the ethernet ports and how you can hook up an arc, sub, and amp together using them. I never seen a passthrough ethernet anything so very curious about that. I read that if all are plugged into a switch they create their own network but everyone uses Wifi....does anyone use security anymore? LOL Please cover in another video if you could. Thanks
Is that rack next to a pressure water tank?
Great video though!
Yes, unfortunately, the rack had to end up in the same utility room as all of the in floor heating and water!
it's not paralel this speaker configuration, but serial. So not 4 ohm, but 8 ohm load on your AMP
Great comment and catch on the diagram, it was in series not parallel.
You have a sports hall in your house?
2nd man ❤ love your drone so whears is your phantom 3s and the ather drone❤
Still have them, just not much interest for them on UA-cam anymore!
Great video thanks so much !
I have question, does the AMP appear in Google Home amp as wireless speaker? I would like to set it as default speaker for my Google Home Mini for spotify playback.
That what I also want to know
Sonos products show up in the Google Home app as a device that you can vocally (i.e. "Ok Google, play xyz on Kitchen Sonos") cast your audio to. I've never attempted to set a Sonos speaker as a default audio device, the device as it shows up in the Google Home app is very limited. When you click on an amp device, you cannot adjust the volume or play/pause directly on the device. You must cast to the device and you can control the play/pause from there.
Okay I've purchased Sonos AMP and it works in Google Home as speaker. I've added it using Sonos account and then it shows up as wireless speaker which you can add to your home and exact room. Then I've configured my Google Home Mini to act have Sonos AMP as default speaker and whenever I ask for music playback I get sound from AMP.
@@viktorkovarik thank you
hi carson, is that possible to make input from my analog yamaha mixer to sonos amp? thank's for this great video!
I’ve purchased the Graham ls 6 speakers for their BBC rich and lush mid range. Would the Sonos amp preserve that mid range tonality. Thanks.
Can a Google Nest Mini for example (a device that is not a voice-enabled "Sonos" product) be used to trigger voice commands to stop/start music on streaming services without having to use the Sonos app?
Also, would this HDMI ARC product work with a TV that is more up to date with HDMI eARC? It should be backwards compatible right? But Sonos customer support suggest that it will not work with TVs with eARC :/
@Carson, Looking to replace my 20 year old WH Niles A/V system - 6 zones/8 sources. Hoping Sonos will have equivalent functionality using my existing Boston ceiling & wall speakers. Are all speakers in Sonos configuration treated as independent - “smart group” formed? Can they all be tuned on/off or muted/unmuted together?
Should work for your setup! You can get Sonos Ports to plug in all your additional sources that don’t plug into the Amps. Also each amp can be treated independently or they can be grouped together (any zone can be grouped with one another). Each zone can have their volume adjusted independently or as a whole in a group. Each zone can have their own audio source playing over it at any given time
Hi, thanks for you videos. And... why is nobody talking about the true musical power (in watts) of the new Sonos Era300? They specify everything, except that, why?
Will this device, along with the Sonos arc soundbar. Allow me to run my own rear Atmos speakers, and my subs? It looks like a possibility, yes? Thanks.
Yep!
Interested to know if you did this? Would like to do something similar myself
@@ComicalMusic you can't run both. You may either run the rear surrounds, or the sub. I ended up buying a pair of 1 sl's. And used the amp to run my subs. I ended up taking it all back, because the amp causes a delay with my subs. Guess Sonos doesn't want you using anything 3rd party. What a shame, cause the arc with the sl's sounded really good. But I'll never buy their subs. Not when I have 2 M&K 5000's. Your comparing a Rolls to a Yugo!🤠.
Ah, its not 1 RU tall, your video clearly shows its 1.5RUs.
But two units fit side by side and thats a nice thing!
So is this where Apple got the idea for the Mac Studio? They look very similar. 🤔
I am about to have to buy 7 of these for the 7 zones in our new house 😅🥲
Do U currently have a system operating in those 7 zones?
Awesome video. I got one for 250 bucks !
Can u help me wire my speakers ? Can I show you what I have
Where are your air2s videos
This is a great video on the Sonos amp but his Ohms calculations are wrong. 4Ohm + 4Ohm is not 4Ohm it's going to be 2 or 8 depending on the wiring.
Yeah cool for 3 - 4 years and then the updates come and you loose some options on the device….
I’m having a home built and it will have 5 Sonos in ceiling speakers. So how many of these damn amps do I need. I also have two outside on the patio I’m assuming I will need a separate amp for those as well.
One amp can be used for 6 sonos in ceiling speakers but only 4 in ceiling speakers from other brands.
For the average person and even a non average one no this doesn't make much sense money wise. For half this price I purchased a 7.1 channel Yamaha. The web apps are good. In a four speaker setup you get a little higher watt output. You have the ability to go 7.1 if you want to. Even the size issue this still does not make sense. Speakers are a huge part of a well defined system as you have noted along with a nice sub. For the average no don't spend money on this idea. No ding but no the sound really does not translate through the video. If you want something really good Class-D is probably not where you want to be. Let's focus on the amp and not having to focus on the filters that class-d ends up needing. Again for the average person you can get allot more for allot less and better sound quality. Just some thoughts.
The thing with your setup though is that it doesn’t allow zoning/different rooms (or at least not more than 2 zones). In this case, there are 4 total zones in this building that needed to have the ability to play their own content PLUS also share the same audio source amongst them all.
No dclads amp is with that
I like it but the price is to high
"solid metal lugs" ...those are cheep steel banana plugs. even aluminum would be better. wish these had copper binding posts.
Complains about people trying to sell you an amp. Proceeds to try and sell you an amp.
Through the video, both amps/speakers sound gawdawful...
This design looks like very hard to clean and to mantain dust-free!!
Sonos is a garbage company, can’t maintain continuity of their legacy hardware. Expensive investment ends up in the toilet.
It sounds awful