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Rated 5 out of 5 stars
The Sonos Experience
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Description:
Totally amazing crystal clear sound comes from this amp and speakers. I don’t know how it could possibly get any better. I would say this amp is average size (approximately 8 1/2-inch-square box) having a slight concave top with a matte black finish that is attractive enough to leave out in the open. It is 250 watt 2.1 channel (125 watts per channel) amp which is very powerful. The design of this makes it nice to hide and not worry about it over-heating (you don’t need a lot of space for air to keep it cool). It has an AUX plug to use with audio devices, such as a CD player or turntable.
The front of this unit is set up with touch controls such as the volume, previous/next track and play/pause for your convenience. I personally don’t think I will ever use them, but they may become useful in the future for something.
The back has an HDMI input for the TV and thumb-screw speaker terminals that can be removed to reveal banana plug inputs for two speakers. There is also an Ethernet port so you don’t have to use Wi-Fi, if you choose to go that route.
Set up:
Download the Sonos app (if you don’t already have it on your phone or tablet) and you just have to follow the instructions from the app to set it up. Sonos has made it so easy for setting up for the average Joe. You can hook this up to nearly every TV on the market, stereo RCA for older TVs and HDMI ARC for newer TVs. This is a nice feature to have in an amp, so you don’t have to have just the latest and greatest TV and still get the Sonos experience.
You can stream music easily, I use my Amazon Music account. There are a lot of ways to stream music with this amp…nearly any way you can think of.
The Experience:
Worth every penny. I have never been so excited about the sound coming out of my speakers. I felt like the whole band was sitting right next to me and seemed I could distinguish every note coming from each instrument in the band or orchestra with my eclectic taste in music.
Recommendation:
This will be great to use for a home theater system. It can have numerous Sonos wireless speakers hooked up to it. I wired 2 vintage Fisher 100 watt speakers to it on either side of the TV and bought 2 Sonos Play 1 speakers (with stands) for the back of sitting area for surround sound for the TV.
WARNING: The Sonos experience can become VERY addictive.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I wanted to add AirPlay support in my front room where I currently have an older B&K receiver and tower speakers. Thought about picking up the PlayBase but figured I'd give the Amp a chance. The Amp actually brought my towers back to life! I plugged my receiver back in and switched back because I couldn't believe something this small could outperform an older, but solid, dedicated receiver.
Setup was clean and simple with the included plugs and the ARC return from my LG tv worked immediately. I would highly recommend the Amp as long as you understand its limitations.
Works perfectly with AirPlay 2 and seamlessly switches to the TV audio when using the XBox. If you're looking for 5.1 or more, I'd find another solution. If you're thinking of hooking up an external device without ARC, you'll need to pick up an adapter. Using ARC is also going to cost you one of your TV HDMI inputs which may limit your connected devices.
If your setup fits well with the Amp, I'd pick one up. I'm currently planning on adding another one to drive the speakers on my patio.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I picked up 2 amps from Magnolia in Best Buy. One to connect a pair of in-wall speakers plus a sub and another for a pair of in-ceiling speakers (both speaker pairs at 150-200 watts). These are creating a home theater setup with a TV and CD player connected to one of the amps. Everything works seamlessly and was a breeze to set up. I purchased an optical to HDMI adapter from the Sonos website to connect my TV using its optical output and free up an HDMI port on the TV. The in-ceiling speakers were inherited when I purchased the house and had wire runs to a completely different room/section of the house, but with the second Sonos amp, I didn’t need to reroute any wires. Sonos detected the overheads and incorporated them as rear surrounds seamlessly. I have no complaints and no regrets. The sound quality is amazing and the integration with my current Sonos ecosystem is seamless. This amp seems incredibly versatile. If it had existed last year I could have saved a few bucks with my turntable setup! Have fun with this gem!
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
If you have any wired speakers that are great, this AMP makes them relevant again! Ford is bringing the Bronco back and Sonos is bringing your older powerful wired speakers back... and sub! I have many Sonos speakers that have replaced my old book shelf to bluetooth speakers. My standing speakers were in an old AV set up. It is amazing to set up the old speakers via speaker wire and instantly being able to play music with the Sonos App. Remember when back in the day you had to wire speakers to Amp, you then had to set up the Turntable, CD Player, cassette player etc. No longer. This sets up within minutes and you can play music through the Sonos App in seconds. IF ONLY WE HAD THIS GROWING UP!! Worth every penny b/c you feel like you helped your older speakers cheat audio death!
Great addition to add wires speakers into an Arc s
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Added this to my Sonos system to connect some wired ceiling speakers to the Arc and Woofer for a surround sound experience. Easy installation and great performance.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
the good:
-crisp, clean power - Class D 125RMS per channel @8ohms, and boy does it deliver. I connected this amp to my Klipsch RP-150m bookshelves, and wow. Clarity, punch, and tons of power. Zero distortion to my ears even at the loudest volumes. It sounds absolutely fantastic.
-Sonos connectivity - Stream a multitude of services through the Sonos mobile app. You can also include this amp in "groups", where they're either playing the same music through each connection, or completely different music, depending on the source. Very cool for "connected" homes.
-small form factor - Actually quite surprising that this much functionality (and amp power) fit into such a small black box.
-multi-purpose, with ability to use non-Sonos speakers and sub - This is one of the things I appreciate most. This versatility allows for placement in something like my setup (2 bookshelves and a sub) or even rear channels where a separate receiver has pre-amp outs. Stack multiples of these amps (as some installers will surely do) and you can build your own high powered surround home theater system.
-control via mobile app - No remote needed. Either control with the Mobile app, or via HDMI CEC.
the bad:
-really none, depending on your application.
overall:
This amp won't be for everyone. If you don't care about the Sonos ecosystem, you may be better served with a 2.1 channel amp without all the additional features. That being said, it has a ton of very clean power; plenty enough for either book shelves or floor towers. For the somewhat niche market that this feature rich amp will appeal to, it's an easy 5 stars. Highly recommended.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I’m old enough to remember when relatively simple separate amplifiers were a common and key part of every “Hi-Fi Enthusiast’s” sound system along with a separate equalizer, tuner, turntable, tape deck and speakers. But, electronics were evolving rapidly in those days and separate components allowed upgrading individual parts of the system as each sub-category improved. It was part of the “fun” of the hobby. Later, as integrated circuits became cheaper and also far more capable and the average consumer just wanted a thing that worked without the mystery, one box does it all systems became the rage. Everything was incorporated into one device. I’m not saying that this hasn’t been progress and this Sonos Amp and a couple of good speakers (and a Sub-Woofer for great bass) can import music from the internet with its built in LAN/Wi-Fi capabilities. However for ME, its greatest feature is the ability to take the line signal from my stereo vinyl record turntable into the amps left and right Line-In RCA Jacks. 1970’s simple visual aesthetics (the round passive heat-vent on the top resembles a Turntable) on the shelf, with 21st century clear powerful sound.
Features:
- 125 Watts per Channel
- Left and Right RCA Line-In for legacy devices like phono turntables
- HDMI ARC connection to connect in from and back to, the speakers or sound bar of an HD TV if the TV and and/or the soundbar are also ARC (two-way over HDMI) compliant.
- An optional Optical Audio Adapter is available at extra cost to connect the Sonos Amp to your TV’s optical audio output if your TV doesn't have an HDMI ARC port.
- LAN and Wireless Network connections
- Can be controlled via the Sonos Phone App, Apple “AirPlay” or many Music Service Apps
- Silent convection assisted Air Cooling System.
- The included Banana-Plug sets, drop the speaker wires 90 degrees straight down for a clean installation.
- Has a separate RCA Out-Jack for a Powered Subwoofer Speaker.
- The Amp’s Operating System is designed to be upgradable over the internet connection if it ever becomes necessary.
- 1 Year Limited Warranty on Parts
PROS:
- A Top Spec, High Performance Stereo Amplifier
- Attractive design
- Very compact for its power
- Well cooled with efficient quiet convection vents
- Works with many Music Services and input devices
CONS:
- Uses only 2.4Ghz for Wi-Fi. In some settings, devices have trouble communicating over 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi because there are so many other devices in the home using 2.4Ghz. In these cases, switching to 5Ghz Wi-Fi will solve the communication problem.
- Its high end price is totally justified by its high end features. However, if simple stereo amplification of a single Left-Right analog Line-In source is all that’s needed, a less feature laden amplifier might suffice.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Bought this on a whim as I can’t stand the sound from sound bars and like to have very large speakers.
I also didn’t want extra remotes and wanted to use the Sonos app to play with my current existing speakers.
I have 2 Polk RTI A7 floor speakers they can handle 20-300 watts. This pushes them exceptionally well in my living room. I also have 2 Sonos ones as the rear channel and they work well in the 4.0 set up. Surround sound through the hdmi arc connection is very good. Immersive and clean. Center image could be better but that’s probably coming up in an upgrade soon. Sound quality is amazing, bass is extremely impressive without distortion volume level is very good as well. I set it to around 1/3-1/2 for music and that’s almost overwhelming for tv/movies it’s around 1/3-3/4 volume level. There is a dialogue increase button for tv as well that doesn’t effect music quality. You can use a powered sub or the Sonos Sub with this unit. It does make you turn on the crossover though if you choose to.
I have played music about half way with the speakers shaking my windows then touched the unit after an hour of continuous playback it wasn’t hot just a little warm. Which is great as every other receiver I’ve used has been almost too hot to touch from driving these speakers.
Only thing I can find to complain about is the treble. It seems just a bit too bright. Not harsh just bright. I lowered that a bit and it sounds fine. Hopefully they will be able to software update that and clean the eq up a bit. As with all Sonos products they make them future proof. When an update comes out they all update and improve.
Truplay would be a nice update
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I don't usually write reviews but after buying this amp I am so impressed with the sound and power. I hooked up two proficent 8inch rock speakers and two 6.5inch profiecet wall speakers and my back yard, it sounds amazing! Buy this amp you will not be disappointed. I also bought another for my inside hooked up to my tv with 4 proficent in wall speakers and sub. Movies and music sound fantastic.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Purchased the Sonos amplifier in our new home to share music and entertainment throughout the house; indoor & out. Great sound and easy to use. Highly recommend if you like to listen to music or TV.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Sonos is the best in the world and everything they do and this AMP is no exception. I hook up some basic bookshelf speakers and a cheap AMP, you would have thought they were from the Magnolia department. With a very low THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) and the banana hook ups make this the Connected AMP to have. So have it. Fast.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Sonos sound system is by far superior than and other sound system. I have sonos in 3 different locations. I am able to listen to one, or all and volume controlled all together, or separate.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Works great as expected with the ease of use and installation as expected for a Sonos product. Sound is clear, no issues and unsurprisingly limited by the quality of the speakers you connect to the amp. I was impressed that the sound from my Sonos One speaker pair was just as good as the floor standing speakers so not much of an upgrade at this point but will probably prompt an upgrade to a nicer pair to take better advantage of bass response you can get with the extra size.