Question! Can you pair the Amp with 2 sets of in ceiling speakers (sonos) and the arc soundbar and sub together for surround? They really need to provide different set up options on their website for the wired and wireless speakers for surround
Great videos! Could you explain why if Sonos speakers are used you can power 3 pairs with only one sonos amp, but if other brand of speakers are used only 2 pairs?
I recently removed the center channel on my 5.1 setup since i upgraded my front bookshelf speakers. I can absolutely say that a center channel is optionnal and i'm still hearing dialogs very well. Since Sonos Amp is compatible with 5.1 audio source, the "phantom center" function is very good. You should try try one and see for yourself.
That sounds so weird to us older gentlemen. My 90s Pioneer 7.1 (5.1 + 2) center speaker was my centerpiece. IMO, when spatial audio is recorded poorly that center channel speaker, or sound bar, really does place voices where they belong.. ... but that's it. When it comes to music or not giving a crud if film/TV vocals aren't positioned perfectly then I suppose it's a waste.. if you already have a good setup. Though I am not a fan of modern mainstream "value" built home audio [many just sound too hollow and cheap] there are a couple of sound bars out there with a great processor, tons of speaker, great surround virtualization, and even decent bass. Back on subject.. +1 for Yamaha WXC-50 I use one to stream in our dental office with a browser based GUI on all networked computers (that way anyone can turn it off end of day) as well as the MusicCast app on my Android.. but the browser UI is my go to.
When watching a movie on a smart TV, can you have a sound bar connected to the tv (optical input), the tv connected via HDMI to the sonos amp (with two wired in ceiling speakers), and have all speakers playing sound from the tv at the same time? The sonos amp doesn't seem to have an optical input.
Would I be able to use the Sonos Amp in conjunction with my Atmos pre-pro’s heigh channel ? I want to use my in ceiling speakers as heigh channels but wan the flexibility to stream music to them as a stereo pair when not used for home theater….
Great review as always. You always do an awesome job and show the pros and cons as well as the use cases. I bought my first Sonos product very early on and have loved them. I currently have a very mixed S1 and S2 system. What are your thoughts on trading in (30% discount) the Connect:Amp (Gen 1) connected to 2 of the original Sonos book shelf speakers for a Sonos Amp? Is that overkill for those speakers? Do you feel that is the right way to go or would it be better to use the 30% discount on a Sonos Five to replace it, or even spending more to get a pair of Move's or something like that?
May I ask your advice. currently I have the Sonos amp connected to two Sonos outdoor ceiling speakers for my pool deck. I would like to add just one speaker connected to the amp for my living room - but I want that speaker to have its own volume control so that the inside speaker plays music at a lower controlled volume vs the outdoor speaker volume. My question is: which speaker to purchase to allow me to have the best of both worlds? and... can that single speaker be connected to the amp by wire to one of the two existing outputs? would the wireless MOVE speakers be a good addition - I want the same music to be played simultaneously on the wired speakers as the wireless speakers.
I have just bought a Sonos amp. At the moment it is hooked up to my Turntable and stereo bookshelf speakers. I’m moving home soon, and the new house has 2x ceiling speakers. Is it possible to connect the stereo speakers and ceiling speakers to one Sonos amp to create a “surround sound” type setup? Thanks for your help
You gave us all the features and benefits but I want your opinion on *how it sounds* - is it actually any good? Also I saw that Sonos downscales sound quality. Is this true? Maybe want to add that to the cons list
So this amp will only allow me to connect two in wall speakers? Meaning I will need a second amp for the in ceiling speakers, and a third amp for the outdoor speakers?
What would happen if I was to add 3 sets of Bose 251s to this or 3 sets of Bose ceiling speakers? I love the sound quality of Bose and the app / connectivity of Sonos
I currently have two 6" Sonance and two 6" Yamaha outdoor speakers connected to my Sonos amp. I just recently bought two 8" Sonance in-ceiling speakers. Can you tell me how to wire them to get the best sound? I currently have one of each plugged into each channel.
Will this work with dumb ceiling speakers in multiple rooms as well as outdoors? I have about 20-speakers inside and outside. I’m looking to play music through my phone and select zones. Will this amp work for that?
I think he forgot a big plus, you can also add rear Sonos speakers if you are using your amp to power bookshelf or tower speakers. also you can add a sub mini or the regular bigger sub
Could you answer the following please. Apologies if this has been answered before. Can I connect the Sonos amp to my 1980’s Marantz hi fi system? The Hi fi consists of a record deck, tape deck, CD player, tuner and amp which are all separates and I have a set of wired speakers connected. I would like to be able to listen to the Marantz through my sonos one speakers. Can this be achieved with the Sonos amp? Thank you.
Hi there, if the intention is simply to be able to use your existing HiFi as a Sonos zone that can be grouped with your other Sonos speakers, you will only need the Sonos Port for £399. Feel free to check out our review of the Sonos Port on our UA-cam channel. Hope that helps.
I currently have a 5.1 in ceiling speaker setup, but my in wall cat5 wires will not support new 4k tv. So decided to buy Sonos Ark and go away from receiver all together. I understand that I can buy the Sonos amp and use them with my Ark, but does it make sense to hook up 4 speakers rather just the back two in my setup? And I can still hook up my current subwoofer to amp? Thanks for your advice….
Hi will the older connect amp be able to link my turntable (which is sonos compatible) to my sonos arc, sub and surround speakers? This new amp is too expensive just for me to be able to use a $300 turntable.
You can use any passive speakers you like with the Sonos Amp. This is if you would like to power the speakers and benefit from the Sonos ecosystem at the same time. Sonos do their own range of in-ceiling, in-wall and outdoor speakers that are optimised with the Sonos Amp but you can use any speakers you like.
Hey - Great review, as always. Could you confirm if using with your TV via HDMI, the volume would not be controlled through HDMI, but only via IR from the remote? TIA!
Great Review. I have a room with 6 ceiling speakers installed. What might be a solution to add these speakers to the SONOS ecosystem since the SONOS AMP can only drive max 4 speakers?
Hi George, if the ceiling speakers you have installed are not Sonos in-ceiling, you would need 2 Sonos Amps to be able to power 6. You'll need to think about which Amp you want to have 4 on and which Amp to have 2 on as all speakers connected to the same Amp would play the same music at the same volume. Hope that helps!
In some videos I am seeing the banana plugs joined together in two pairs. I have just received my Amp and it is not like that (I have 4 individual plugs). I can see that in your images that you have 4 individual plugs as well. Any idea if this was changed at some point by Sonos.
Hello! Thanks for the great review! Question for you: What's the best way for me to play the highest QUALITY music on my Sonos Amp? I have it connected to a pair of Definitive Mythos STS towers and I want to take full advantage of them. Is this a decent method: Download lossless files to an iPhone or iPad, etc. and then use the line in to push the music through the amp and to the speakers? Is there a better way? Simpler way? Better quality way? Thanks in advance!
Hi there, we'd recommend avoiding connecting any live equipment to the Amp as it would need to be connected to the line in which would produce a minimum of a 70ms delay between what is input to the microphone and what is output to the speakers. I hope that helps!
Very nice video!! May I ask is the amp or the sonos speakers exposed to apple HomeKit home app?? And one more how many watts are the ceiling and the outdoors speakers?? Thanks!!
GREAT review. If I use a Sonance (MAG6R) ceiling speaker can all amps be configured to play the same content if desired? Or, do I have to have the Sonos speakers?
Wiring your wireless speakers up to an amplifier. If it comes to that you may as well get 5.1 set up. You can then get decent speakers. I thought the idea of sonos was sacrificing sound for convenience.
Hi Craig, thanks for the comment. The Sonos Amp is designed exactly for that purpose if you want to use your own HiFi speakers but still benefit from the Sonos ecosystem. Sonos do their own versions of in-ceiling, in-wall and outdoor speakers but that is just one option. You can use any of your existing HiFi speakers and use the Sonos Amp to power them. I hope this helps.
in using the Amp to drive a home theater system - front tower speakers - can I add sonos satellites and utilize surround sound? (I am positing the same question under Sonos Port)
You certainly can. I do this utilising a Sonos Sub and Play Ones as surrounds with floor standing towers plugged into the Amp. It sounds much better than my previous set up when I used a Playbar
Is it possible to power 4 speakers with 1 amp? Meaning two speakers on the left and two on the right channel. Obviously you would need double the wattage for the same speaker volume, but 125 watts per channel is probably plenty to do that?
Hi Matteo, you can connect up to 6 Sonos in-ceiling speakers or 4 non-Sonos in-ceiling speakers on the Sonos Amp. Just be aware that all speakers connected to the same Amp will play the same music at the same volume. Hope that helps!
So, each amp can do a one thing at a time... does that mean that if i wanted to have in ceiling speakers in my living room, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. i would need to have 4 amps ?
Hi there, thanks for your comment. The Sonos Amp is a single-zone amplifier so all ceiling speakers connected to the same Amp will play the same music at the same volume. It is possible to install up to 4 ceiling speakers on the same Amp if using non-Sonos branded speakers or 6 speakers if using Sonos' own in-ceiling speakers. That means it would be possible to install 2 in the living room, 2 in the bedroom and 2 in the kitchen all on the same Amp but you would not be able to play different music on each room at the same time. It all depends on how you would like to zone your system.
Hi, I had a question. I have the following Sonos set up - beam, two one’s as surround and the Sonos sub. I’ve been thinking about getting the amp to power my two Polk Audio LSi25 floor standing which I rarely use because they aren’t compatible with the Sonos ecosystem. Your review was very helpful and I’m excited that I can use the amp to make my floorstanding a part of the ecosystem. My question is you mentioned the sub has a arc output which is great however how does that work with the beam which is currently using my one arc input on my TV? Which of the two should I use with my arc input and will get a 5.1 setup as result?
Hi Chris, this is a great question! The Sonos Amp has a phantom centre channel which works extremely well if used with a pair of floor standing speakers as it'll balance the sound from the left and right. This will definitely sound greater than the Beam on its own. However, do note that if you go for the Amp as the front channels and then you add surrounds to the zone such as Ones or One SLs and a Sub, this will achieve 4.1 and not 5.1. But as the Amp does a good job of providing a centre channel, I wouldn't say this is a great concern. You may wish to try both of them out and see which sound you personally prefer. We do offer 30 days to try the Amp out and if you're not getting on with it, you can return to us for a full refund. Hope this helps!
@@smarthomesounds thank you for your response. I’ll definitely give the amp a shot. Unfortunately I’m in the US but I’m a fan of your channel and will continue to tune in. Thanks!
Hi, Great review, Thank you. I have a Sonos ARC + SUB + 2 x ONE SL system in the living room, Beam in the bedroom and ONE SL in the kitchen and bathroom. Everything sounds great, I love it, but I would like to have a real stereo and here is my question is the Sonos AMP + B&W 606S2 a good combination or is it better to buy a pair of Sonos Five?. My room is 21 m, am asking for advice. Thank you
Hi there, you will in fact need a speaker switch to be able to turn off 1 pair to the other. You can pick up a 2-way speaker switch for about £70. We recommend a brand called QED for that. The switch would sit in between the Amp and ceiling speakers. Hope that helps!
Wondering if I connect a TV (via HDMI) to the Sonos Amp, can I control the volume with my TV's remote control even if the AMP is not in visual range of the TV remote (in a closet)?
Hi Paul, thanks for watching. Unfortunately, to use your TV remote to control volume through the Amp, the Amp will need to be situated in view of your TV remote otherwise it won't be able to receive the signal. Most people mount it on a nearby stand (not necessarily next to the TV but somewhere else in the room). I hope this helps!
@@smarthomesounds I contacted Sonos Support, Scott said the HDMI Arc connection would control volume to the Sonos Amp without needing line of sight. I ordered the product but likely won't get it until November to verify this. (Backordered)
What happens in 30 years from now? does this thing still work? will the app still be around and working, will it even work on the devices we use then? Main problem Im seeing with this, MY AB amp from 40 years ago still works fine, I dont trust this thing to work in 10 years?
I wouldn't be running stacked amps in a rack unless it was a data centre grade rack with high airflow. These amps run very hot and stacking them only reduces airflow.
I have the sonos arc for the front channels for my home theater. I have two in wall passive speakers and a subwoofer i want to use to complete a 5.1 surround. Will conneciting the two passive speakers to the right and left channels work for what i want? thx
Hi Paul, the Sonos Arc can only be used as the front centre, left and right and it's not possible to add an additional 2 speakers at the front as the app does not allow for this configuration. You would need to use the in-wall speakers with the Sonos Amp as surround speakers, finished off by Sonos Sub. This would give you a 5.1.2 Atmos set up and will sound great!
@@smarthomesounds Yes. The arc would be the three front channels. The amp would power two rear and a sub (all non-sonos brand). I already own the speakers/sub so it would be a lot cheaper than buying a Sonos sub and two sonos rear in wall speakers.
Thank you for the video. May I ask if the speakers in the house will all be Sonos, do we still need to buy the Amp? Also are the ceiling and wall speakers wired or wireless?
Thanks for this great overview! Can I plug in my digital piano (Kawai CA59, two 1/4 inch audio Jack for left/right) into the Line in to power up a set of bookshelf speaker? And additionally stream the whole thing around my flat with additional SONOS devices? Or is this not meant to be streamed via wifi due to latency?
Hi Lennart, live devices are not recommended due to the lag between playing the piano and what you'll hear out of the speakers, which makes playing the piano through the Sonos system unusable. I'd recommend keeping your digital piano as a separate set up. I hope this helps!
Thanks, but using the SONOS Amp just as a usual AMP would work out, right? Without steaming to other devices than the AMP itself? Because using it as a usual AMP would not require streaming in the first place, or am I missing something?
@@trannel73 Hi Lennart, unfortunately even if you just connect the piano to the Amp, the nature of the line in will cause a delay, even if you're not streaming to other rooms at the same time. You'd need to use a traditional amplifier for this function.
Ok, I talked to the technical support of SONOS and talked this through. Seems to be ok-ish... I have to deal with 75ms and should set audio compression to "uncompressed". I think this motivates me to give it a try! :) Edit: Oh... shoot. Does not work out. You're right all along! :D 75ms is unusable!
Another great video review, but wondering are you able to enable and disable the speakers connected to the amp individualy through the Sonos app (ie. when in dual mono mode). For example in a 4 speaker setup, only have music coming out of one or two of the speakers.
Thanks for your comment. Unfortunately, all speakers connected to the same Amp will play the same music at the same volume at all times. However, you can install a speaker switch in between which will let you cut power temporarily to each of the pairs of speakers, leaving one pair playing if you wish. We recommend the brand QED and sell a 2-way switch for £69. I hope this helps!
So, a review of an amplifier without even mentioning how it actually sounds, which is really the main function of an amplifier ? How does it for example compare sound quality wise to the options you mentioned? What's the voicing like ? Is it mid-centric? What's the sound stage like ? Also, 125watts into what impedance? At what distortion level ? Why mention any specs at all of you are only giving half of it ?
Hello Sherman, thank you for watching. To install 3 pairs of ceiling speakers on the Amp, you would simply triple up the cable to each of the binding posts on the Sonos Amp, so essentially 3 wires are threaded through the same hole. I hope this makes sense.
If this is all about wiring speakers, why would I ever limit myself to this system over buying a receiver that supports more sound formats and also have an a/b selector if needed. Receivers today likely cost the same and can be controlled by apps on your wired or wireless networks. I don't understand why this choice.
I was thinking the same thing as I just moved into a new place and have the wired drops in the ceiling for 5.1 in three different rooms. Now I just need to decide what speakers to buy. I already have two receivers that I can use as well in those different rooms.
Hi Wilson, the maximum that Sonos will support currently is 5.1.2 comprised of the Sonos Arc, Sub and 2 rear speakers which can be One SLs or ceiling / in-wall speakers powered by the Sonos Amp. I hope this helps!
How could it work with the new xbox series x released later this year with a 40 inch 4k uhd tv (yet to get, no room for a bigger one. Panasonic tx 40 gx 800b is the favourite at the moment) and a pair of existing jbl studio 230 speakers? Great video on UA-cam 🙂
Hi Stephen, thanks for watching. As the Amp has an HDMI-ARC input, you can use this to connect directly to the TV and once you have wired the speakers to it, whichever HDMI source you're on, it will automatically come through the Amp and speakers, so will work great. I hope this makes sense!
But if you have special sound effects like atmos etc then you likely are better with a real receiver. Even if it means adding height channel speakers later.
In general Sonos seems to be just OK with its offerings. The company charges an arm and a leg for their products and they are feature limited. If you have a 5.1, 5.1.2, or greater system then this is NOT an option. In fact, one could buy a pretty decent AVR with streaming capability and do much better than this product. If this product had the ability to do a true surround setup then I'd be considering this product. Just not enough speaker connections to warrant the price. Who the heck wants to buy multiple Amps to run their system?
brian robinson, agree, I am missing Bluetooth both as receiver and transmitter. Sometimes friends without Apple phones may want to play some of their music when visiting, and also it would be nice to be able to use Bluetooth headphones ... of course Bluetooth doesn‘t make sense for house installations, but a Bluetooth chip only costs a fee dollars and there should be enough customers using this as „normal“ room amplifier on a shelf.
I think the sonos Amp ecosystem is great but not 699.00 Great. 2 Amps To get 2 fronts and surround? That means I have to invest a lot and I don't even get a center speaker? The sound Is good not great. I guess to each it's own. No Thanks I will keep my Denon capable of 9.2.2 and spent less than these 2 amps. I get it the software is straight forward and very convenient. Marantz Denon onkyo Yamaha should start Integrating this Idea into their own receiver. Y the way this gentleman is a little bit bias. I don't think he has any business reviewing the amp without being objective. I have one 699.00 dollar one that I was going to use for another zone outside but ai will just run the cables and save 700 dollars and buy a set of kikk butt speakers for the outside .I like the amp but is going back . Is absurd to spend this much in average sound for 2 channel playback
Sub'd Sub'd and Sub'd! Just watched two videos from you folks and got all of the answers I've been waiting weeks for calls back on in the states! Thanks for doing what you do!
This review page is underrated!!
Question! Can you pair the Amp with 2 sets of in ceiling speakers (sonos) and the arc soundbar and sub together for surround? They really need to provide different set up options on their website for the wired and wireless speakers for surround
Did you ever figure this out?
What you forgot to talk about is
- Trueplay works only with Apple iPhones
- The high standby power consumption of the Sonos Amp
Great videos! Could you explain why if Sonos speakers are used you can power 3 pairs with only one sonos amp, but if other brand of speakers are used only 2 pairs?
What’s the maximum amp can you group at once ?
I'm still baffled that there's no option for a real center channel, either via an extra speaker connection, or by adding a beam as center :(
I recently removed the center channel on my 5.1 setup since i upgraded my front bookshelf speakers. I can absolutely say that a center channel is optionnal and i'm still hearing dialogs very well. Since Sonos Amp is compatible with 5.1 audio source, the "phantom center" function is very good. You should try try one and see for yourself.
That sounds so weird to us older gentlemen. My 90s Pioneer 7.1 (5.1 + 2) center speaker was my centerpiece.
IMO, when spatial audio is recorded poorly that center channel speaker, or sound bar, really does place voices where they belong..
... but that's it. When it comes to music or not giving a crud if film/TV vocals aren't positioned perfectly then I suppose it's a waste.. if you already have a good setup.
Though I am not a fan of modern mainstream "value" built home audio [many just sound too hollow and cheap] there are a couple of sound bars out there with a great processor, tons of speaker, great surround virtualization, and even decent bass.
Back on subject.. +1 for Yamaha WXC-50
I use one to stream in our dental office with a browser based GUI on all networked computers (that way anyone can turn it off end of day) as well as the MusicCast app on my Android.. but the browser UI is my go to.
When watching a movie on a smart TV, can you have a sound bar connected to the tv (optical input), the tv connected via HDMI to the sonos amp (with two wired in ceiling speakers), and have all speakers playing sound from the tv at the same time? The sonos amp doesn't seem to have an optical input.
I have a Sonos Amplifier sir, for sale
Would I be able to use the Sonos Amp in conjunction with my Atmos pre-pro’s heigh channel ? I want to use my in ceiling speakers as heigh channels but wan the flexibility to stream music to them as a stereo pair when not used for home theater….
Great review as always. You always do an awesome job and show the pros and cons as well as the use cases. I bought my first Sonos product very early on and have loved them. I currently have a very mixed S1 and S2 system. What are your thoughts on trading in (30% discount) the Connect:Amp (Gen 1) connected to 2 of the original Sonos book shelf speakers for a Sonos Amp? Is that overkill for those speakers? Do you feel that is the right way to go or would it be better to use the 30% discount on a Sonos Five to replace it, or even spending more to get a pair of Move's or something like that?
Backordered until late September 2021. Sonos seems to be having difficulty meeting demand with a lot of it's product line.
May I ask your advice. currently I have the Sonos amp connected to two Sonos outdoor ceiling speakers for my pool deck. I would like to add just one speaker connected to the amp for my living room - but I want that speaker to have its own volume control so that the inside speaker plays music at a lower controlled volume vs the outdoor speaker volume. My question is: which speaker to purchase to allow me to have the best of both worlds? and... can that single speaker be connected to the amp by wire to one of the two existing outputs? would the wireless MOVE speakers be a good addition - I want the same music to be played simultaneously on the wired speakers as the wireless speakers.
I have just bought a Sonos amp.
At the moment it is hooked up to my Turntable and stereo bookshelf speakers.
I’m moving home soon, and the new house has 2x ceiling speakers.
Is it possible to connect the stereo speakers and ceiling speakers to one Sonos amp to create a “surround sound” type setup?
Thanks for your help
You gave us all the features and benefits but I want your opinion on *how it sounds* - is it actually any good? Also I saw that Sonos downscales sound quality. Is this true? Maybe want to add that to the cons list
I can not find the link to the compared blogpost about connect amp and the new amp
Are you able to connect to the amp via bluetooth to your phone and play music that way?
Great Review. Thank you. Made my life much easier. This is def the amp for me.
So this amp will only allow me to connect two in wall speakers? Meaning I will need a second amp for the in ceiling speakers, and a third amp for the outdoor speakers?
What would happen if I was to add 3 sets of Bose 251s to this or 3 sets of Bose ceiling speakers?
I love the sound quality of Bose and the app / connectivity of Sonos
Can you add two wired speakers to the amp and two play 1s and have it run as a soround system that way?
Is there just one "gen" of the black amp your reviewing
Does the Amp support Dolby Atmos?
Can i use Sonos in ceiling speakers as Dolby Atmos speakers?
I
currently have two 6" Sonance and two 6" Yamaha outdoor speakers connected to my Sonos amp. I just recently bought two 8" Sonance in-ceiling speakers. Can you tell me how to wire them to get the best sound? I currently have one of each plugged into each channel.
Will this work with dumb ceiling speakers in multiple rooms as well as outdoors? I have about 20-speakers inside and outside. I’m looking to play music through my phone and select zones.
Will this amp work for that?
I think he forgot a big plus, you can also add rear Sonos speakers if you are using your amp to power bookshelf or tower speakers. also you can add a sub mini or the regular bigger sub
Can I hook up the outdoor speakers to this amp while also hooking up a turn table to the same amp? Or will I need two of these amps to achieve that?
Could you answer the following please. Apologies if this has been answered before. Can I connect the Sonos amp to my 1980’s Marantz hi fi system? The Hi fi consists of a record deck, tape deck, CD player, tuner and amp which are all separates and I have a set of wired speakers connected. I would like to be able to listen to the Marantz through my sonos one speakers. Can this be achieved with the Sonos amp? Thank you.
Hi there, if the intention is simply to be able to use your existing HiFi as a Sonos zone that can be grouped with your other Sonos speakers, you will only need the Sonos Port for £399. Feel free to check out our review of the Sonos Port on our UA-cam channel. Hope that helps.
Is sonos planning to come out with a 3 channel amp to power a passive higher quality sound bar for TV
I currently have a 5.1 in ceiling speaker setup, but my in wall cat5 wires will not support new 4k tv. So decided to buy Sonos Ark and go away from receiver all together. I understand that I can buy the Sonos amp and use them with my Ark, but does it make sense to hook up 4 speakers rather just the back two in my setup? And I can still hook up my current subwoofer to amp? Thanks for your advice….
Can you use the amp to drive home theatre chair bass shakers while also using a Sonos ARC 5.2 (two wireless subs) connected?
Hi will the older connect amp be able to link my turntable (which is sonos compatible) to my sonos arc, sub and surround speakers? This new amp is too expensive just for me to be able to use a $300 turntable.
There isn’t any way to connect a wireless microphone system from shure or sennheaiser through a sonos amp to sonos 1 and wired speakers?
Does Sonos have high Resolution too or would tidal Master be a waste of money?
Hi there, Sonos does not support Hi-Res yet, but this is hopefully coming soon!
So is this product for connecting speakers that are not made by Sonos?
You can use any passive speakers you like with the Sonos Amp. This is if you would like to power the speakers and benefit from the Sonos ecosystem at the same time. Sonos do their own range of in-ceiling, in-wall and outdoor speakers that are optimised with the Sonos Amp but you can use any speakers you like.
Smart Home Sounds Ltd. Ok thank you.
Hey - Great review, as always. Could you confirm if using with your TV via HDMI, the volume would not be controlled through HDMI, but only via IR from the remote? TIA!
Great Review. I have a room with 6 ceiling speakers installed. What might be a solution to add these speakers to the SONOS ecosystem since the SONOS AMP can only drive max 4 speakers?
Hi George, if the ceiling speakers you have installed are not Sonos in-ceiling, you would need 2 Sonos Amps to be able to power 6. You'll need to think about which Amp you want to have 4 on and which Amp to have 2 on as all speakers connected to the same Amp would play the same music at the same volume. Hope that helps!
Could you use the sonos amp, two bookshelves, and a sub as rear surrounds in combination with the Sonos Arc as the front speakers?
In some videos I am seeing the banana plugs joined together in two pairs. I have just received my Amp and it is not like that (I have 4 individual plugs). I can see that in your images that you have 4 individual plugs as well. Any idea if this was changed at some point by Sonos.
Hello! Thanks for the great review! Question for you: What's the best way for me to play the highest QUALITY music on my Sonos Amp? I have it connected to a pair of Definitive Mythos STS towers and I want to take full advantage of them. Is this a decent method: Download lossless files to an iPhone or iPad, etc. and then use the line in to push the music through the amp and to the speakers? Is there a better way? Simpler way? Better quality way? Thanks in advance!
An outdoor speaker system and setup video would be cool.
Nice idea!
Thank you for your review. Can you connect a microphone to the amp?
Hi there, we'd recommend avoiding connecting any live equipment to the Amp as it would need to be connected to the line in which would produce a minimum of a 70ms delay between what is input to the microphone and what is output to the speakers. I hope that helps!
I'm after a ceiling set up for my new 65" oled. Is there anything similar with atmos? I just need it for one room so multi room is not required
Very nice video!! May I ask is the amp or the sonos speakers exposed to apple HomeKit home app?? And one more how many watts are the ceiling and the outdoors speakers?? Thanks!!
i own a pair of B7W cm8, any idea if this AMP deliver enough power to feed the CM 8's?
GREAT review. If I use a Sonance (MAG6R) ceiling speaker can all amps be configured to play the same content if desired? Or, do I have to have the Sonos speakers?
Is there any way to connect the amp to a passive sub?
Yes the Sonos Amp has a Sub out port for connecting to a third party Subwoofer.
How would you compare their sound quality against the rega io?
Excellent review and content as always 👌
Would you mind answering the following novice’s question? Would Sonos Amp work with just a smart TV and a Sonos Beam? Thank you!
Can you use this for the MAG series 6 1/2 “ 5.1 in ceiling
Can u use floorstanding wired speakers and add 2 x One SLs????
Yeah you just have to group them together in the Sonos app
Question - is it possible to also connect this to an external amp as well?
Great overview! Very helpful.
Aren't there multiple lines in? (Two RCA and 1 HDMI?) The Cons said only 1 line in.
So, it appears that there is no option to use a group of these amps in a true 5.1 amp setup, correct?
Great overview. Thank you.
Can I use the Amp to connect Sonos Arc to AudioEngine S8 subwoofer and AudioEngine A2+ Active Bookshelf speakers as the rear surrounds?
Can we connect to a third party subwoofer ?
yes
Yes, we can 😁
Wiring your wireless speakers up to an amplifier. If it comes to that you may as well get 5.1 set up. You can then get decent speakers. I thought the idea of sonos was sacrificing sound for convenience.
Hi Craig, thanks for the comment. The Sonos Amp is designed exactly for that purpose if you want to use your own HiFi speakers but still benefit from the Sonos ecosystem. Sonos do their own versions of in-ceiling, in-wall and outdoor speakers but that is just one option. You can use any of your existing HiFi speakers and use the Sonos Amp to power them. I hope this helps.
in using the Amp to drive a home theater system - front tower speakers - can I add sonos satellites and utilize surround sound?
(I am positing the same question under Sonos Port)
You certainly can. I do this utilising a Sonos Sub and Play Ones as surrounds with floor standing towers plugged into the Amp. It sounds much better than my previous set up when I used a Playbar
Can i run 4 monitor audio C280’s on a single Sonos amp even though they are 6 ohms Or do you have to run 4 speakers at 8 ohms?
Is it possible to power 4 speakers with 1 amp? Meaning two speakers on the left and two on the right channel. Obviously you would need double the wattage for the same speaker volume, but 125 watts per channel is probably plenty to do that?
Hi there, yes this is possible as long as the speakers are 8ohms in impedance. Hope this helps.
@@smarthomesounds and if 4ohms?
How many speakers can you join in the amp
Hi Matteo, you can connect up to 6 Sonos in-ceiling speakers or 4 non-Sonos in-ceiling speakers on the Sonos Amp. Just be aware that all speakers connected to the same Amp will play the same music at the same volume. Hope that helps!
So, each amp can do a one thing at a time... does that mean that if i wanted to have in ceiling speakers in my living room, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. i would need to have 4 amps ?
Hi there, thanks for your comment. The Sonos Amp is a single-zone amplifier so all ceiling speakers connected to the same Amp will play the same music at the same volume. It is possible to install up to 4 ceiling speakers on the same Amp if using non-Sonos branded speakers or 6 speakers if using Sonos' own in-ceiling speakers. That means it would be possible to install 2 in the living room, 2 in the bedroom and 2 in the kitchen all on the same Amp but you would not be able to play different music on each room at the same time. It all depends on how you would like to zone your system.
Hi, I had a question. I have the following Sonos set up - beam, two one’s as surround and the Sonos sub. I’ve been thinking about getting the amp to power my two Polk Audio LSi25 floor standing which I rarely use because they aren’t compatible with the Sonos ecosystem. Your review was very helpful and I’m excited that I can use the amp to make my floorstanding a part of the ecosystem. My question is you mentioned the sub has a arc output which is great however how does that work with the beam which is currently using my one arc input on my TV? Which of the two should I use with my arc input and will get a 5.1 setup as result?
Hi Chris, this is a great question! The Sonos Amp has a phantom centre channel which works extremely well if used with a pair of floor standing speakers as it'll balance the sound from the left and right. This will definitely sound greater than the Beam on its own. However, do note that if you go for the Amp as the front channels and then you add surrounds to the zone such as Ones or One SLs and a Sub, this will achieve 4.1 and not 5.1. But as the Amp does a good job of providing a centre channel, I wouldn't say this is a great concern. You may wish to try both of them out and see which sound you personally prefer. We do offer 30 days to try the Amp out and if you're not getting on with it, you can return to us for a full refund. Hope this helps!
@@smarthomesounds thank you for your response. I’ll definitely give the amp a shot. Unfortunately I’m in the US but I’m a fan of your channel and will continue to tune in. Thanks!
Hi,
Great review, Thank you. I have a Sonos ARC + SUB + 2 x ONE SL system in the living room, Beam in the bedroom and ONE SL in the kitchen and bathroom. Everything sounds great, I love it, but I would like to have a real stereo and here is my question is the Sonos AMP + B&W 606S2 a good combination or is it better to buy a pair of Sonos Five?. My room is 21 m, am asking for advice. Thank you
B&W 606S2
@@jimbopaez Thx That's what I did 👍
How many channels/speakers can I wire in? I have 7 speakers that were previously wire to my old aplifier, will I bill able to hook all of them?
Hi there, we would recommend a maximum of x 4 8 Ohm speakers with the Sonos Amp. You could use a speaker switch or purchase another Amp also.
May i ask... Sonos amp with 4 inceiling speakers is it possible to turn off the two of them?
Hi there, you will in fact need a speaker switch to be able to turn off 1 pair to the other. You can pick up a 2-way speaker switch for about £70. We recommend a brand called QED for that. The switch would sit in between the Amp and ceiling speakers. Hope that helps!
@@smarthomesounds Thanks i appreciate your help!!!!
Wondering if I connect a TV (via HDMI) to the Sonos Amp, can I control the volume with my TV's remote control even if the AMP is not in visual range of the TV remote (in a closet)?
Hi Paul, thanks for watching. Unfortunately, to use your TV remote to control volume through the Amp, the Amp will need to be situated in view of your TV remote otherwise it won't be able to receive the signal. Most people mount it on a nearby stand (not necessarily next to the TV but somewhere else in the room). I hope this helps!
@@smarthomesounds So an IR-repeater would be the solution then?
@@smarthomesounds I contacted Sonos Support, Scott said the HDMI Arc connection would control volume to the Sonos Amp without needing line of sight. I ordered the product but likely won't get it until November to verify this. (Backordered)
I got my amp and confirmed volume control over HDMI earc does work!
What happens in 30 years from now? does this thing still work? will the app still be around and working, will it even work on the devices we use then? Main problem Im seeing with this, MY AB amp from 40 years ago still works fine, I dont trust this thing to work in 10 years?
I have an Sonos ARC, if I purchased the Sonos AMP, would I be able to add a SVS PB3000 sub and have it work with the ARC instead of the Sonos sub?
Yes you can
I wouldn't be running stacked amps in a rack unless it was a data centre grade rack with high airflow. These amps run very hot and stacking them only reduces airflow.
I have the sonos arc for the front channels for my home theater. I have two in wall passive speakers and a subwoofer i want to use to complete a 5.1 surround. Will conneciting the two passive speakers to the right and left channels work for what i want? thx
Hi Paul, the Sonos Arc can only be used as the front centre, left and right and it's not possible to add an additional 2 speakers at the front as the app does not allow for this configuration. You would need to use the in-wall speakers with the Sonos Amp as surround speakers, finished off by Sonos Sub. This would give you a 5.1.2 Atmos set up and will sound great!
@@smarthomesounds Yes. The arc would be the three front channels. The amp would power two rear and a sub (all non-sonos brand). I already own the speakers/sub so it would be a lot cheaper than buying a Sonos sub and two sonos rear in wall speakers.
Thank you for the video. May I ask if the speakers in the house will all be Sonos, do we still need to buy the Amp? Also are the ceiling and wall speakers wired or wireless?
i wish there is a picture of illustration
Thanks for this great overview! Can I plug in my digital piano (Kawai CA59, two 1/4 inch audio Jack for left/right) into the Line in to power up a set of bookshelf speaker? And additionally stream the whole thing around my flat with additional SONOS devices? Or is this not meant to be streamed via wifi due to latency?
Hi Lennart, live devices are not recommended due to the lag between playing the piano and what you'll hear out of the speakers, which makes playing the piano through the Sonos system unusable. I'd recommend keeping your digital piano as a separate set up. I hope this helps!
Thanks, but using the SONOS Amp just as a usual AMP would work out, right? Without steaming to other devices than the AMP itself? Because using it as a usual AMP would not require streaming in the first place, or am I missing something?
@@trannel73 Hi Lennart, unfortunately even if you just connect the piano to the Amp, the nature of the line in will cause a delay, even if you're not streaming to other rooms at the same time. You'd need to use a traditional amplifier for this function.
Ok, I talked to the technical support of SONOS and talked this through.
Seems to be ok-ish... I have to deal with 75ms and should set audio compression to "uncompressed".
I think this motivates me to give it a try! :)
Edit:
Oh... shoot. Does not work out. You're right all along! :D 75ms is unusable!
@@trannel73 You would have to convert the piano to optical, then use the Sonos optical to HDMI. This allows the Sonos amp without any delay.
My turntable has a ground wire.
What would I need to do with that if I use the Sonos amp?
Does your TT have a built in preamp?
@@stevepollard7107 I have technics 1210
I’m pretty sure they don’t.
Another great video review, but wondering are you able to enable and disable the speakers connected to the amp individualy through the Sonos app (ie. when in dual mono mode). For example in a 4 speaker setup, only have music coming out of one or two of the speakers.
Thanks for your comment. Unfortunately, all speakers connected to the same Amp will play the same music at the same volume at all times. However, you can install a speaker switch in between which will let you cut power temporarily to each of the pairs of speakers, leaving one pair playing if you wish. We recommend the brand QED and sell a 2-way switch for £69. I hope this helps!
Excellent review
So, a review of an amplifier without even mentioning how it actually sounds, which is really the main function of an amplifier ? How does it for example compare sound quality wise to the options you mentioned? What's the voicing like ? Is it mid-centric? What's the sound stage like ? Also, 125watts into what impedance? At what distortion level ? Why mention any specs at all of you are only giving half of it ?
I would like to see how you can install 3 pars of Sonos In-Ceiling speakers into the amp. Like How!?!?
Hello Sherman, thank you for watching. To install 3 pairs of ceiling speakers on the Amp, you would simply triple up the cable to each of the binding posts on the Sonos Amp, so essentially 3 wires are threaded through the same hole. I hope this makes sense.
@@smarthomesounds Make a lot of sense! 3 lefts and 3 rights. Got It!
@@smarthomesounds Can you daisychain the speakers?
This was a great review very well executed. But this is so not the amp for me.
I have a project where’ I need 22 amplifier
1:21 The “older” Connect looks great! The new square black box just looks bland & boring.😕
If this is all about wiring speakers, why would I ever limit myself to this system over buying a receiver that supports more sound formats and also have an a/b selector if needed. Receivers today likely cost the same and can be controlled by apps on your wired or wireless networks. I don't understand why this choice.
I was thinking the same thing as I just moved into a new place and have the wired drops in the ceiling for 5.1 in three different rooms. Now I just need to decide what speakers to buy. I already have two receivers that I can use as well in those different rooms.
Can I Combine amp with arc to make the system 7.1.2
Hi Wilson, the maximum that Sonos will support currently is 5.1.2 comprised of the Sonos Arc, Sub and 2 rear speakers which can be One SLs or ceiling / in-wall speakers powered by the Sonos Amp. I hope this helps!
How could it work with the new xbox series x released later this year with a 40 inch 4k uhd tv (yet to get, no room for a bigger one. Panasonic tx 40 gx 800b is the favourite at the moment) and a pair of existing jbl studio 230 speakers? Great video on UA-cam 🙂
Hi Stephen, thanks for watching. As the Amp has an HDMI-ARC input, you can use this to connect directly to the TV and once you have wired the speakers to it, whichever HDMI source you're on, it will automatically come through the Amp and speakers, so will work great. I hope this makes sense!
But if you have special sound effects like atmos etc then you likely are better with a real receiver. Even if it means adding height channel speakers later.
great video briefing
It’ll be unsupported in five years time?! 🤔
App controls stop being supported.
Wouldnt you rather have 1 big amp than this little 4 speaker one, it ends up taking more space adding them up to do a house
In general Sonos seems to be just OK with its offerings. The company charges an arm and a leg for their products and they are feature limited. If you have a 5.1, 5.1.2, or greater system then this is NOT an option. In fact, one could buy a pretty decent AVR with streaming capability and do much better than this product. If this product had the ability to do a true surround setup then I'd be considering this product. Just not enough speaker connections to warrant the price. Who the heck wants to buy multiple Amps to run their system?
The amp needs to drive more than two speakers. Six or eight speakers would make the amp so much more useful!
It's great value at it's price but it's not hifi.
With no Bluetooth setup it's a deal breaker
brian robinson, agree, I am missing Bluetooth both as receiver and transmitter. Sometimes friends without Apple phones may want to play some of their music when visiting, and also it would be nice to be able to use Bluetooth headphones ... of course Bluetooth doesn‘t make sense for house installations, but a Bluetooth chip only costs a fee dollars and there should be enough customers using this as „normal“ room amplifier on a shelf.
jonathan spent all his money on this sonos amp and didnt have any left over for food
Why would you want this amp while there’re tons of old receivers sold for less on Facebook marketplace??
Well 70’s amp’s are better than this Sonos😂😂😂😂
nah
you need to eat something
I think the sonos Amp ecosystem is great but not 699.00 Great. 2 Amps To get 2 fronts and surround?
That means I have to invest a lot and I don't even get a center speaker? The sound Is good not great. I guess to each it's own. No Thanks I will keep my Denon capable of 9.2.2 and spent less than these 2 amps. I get it the software is straight forward and very convenient. Marantz Denon onkyo Yamaha should start Integrating this Idea into their own receiver.
Y the way this gentleman is a little bit bias. I don't think he has any business reviewing the amp without being objective. I have one 699.00 dollar one that I was going to use for another zone outside but ai will just run the cables and save 700 dollars and buy a set of kikk butt speakers for the outside .I like the amp but is going back . Is absurd to spend this much in average sound for 2 channel playback
Sub'd Sub'd and Sub'd! Just watched two videos from you folks and got all of the answers I've been waiting weeks for calls back on in the states! Thanks for doing what you do!
Awesome! Thank you!