Best alternatives to Sonos

Django x2

Django x2

Django x2

Soldato
Joined
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Hey all,

I'm not really in a position to be returning to my love of all things audio so these days I'm happy with a few SONOs units and associated App, but before I shell out, I wondered if there really were any viable alternatives which also have a good UI App for iOS / Android / PC and are preferably WiFi, although I'm thinking Bluetooth actually has more benefit, especially if the speakers are battery powered. (Cambridge Audio do some great Bluetooth speakers).

Ta
 
I bought Sonos and was not impressed had the soundbar, sub and 2 small speakers. Now have Yamaha and it's miles better works just as easy and under half the price.....

Might be worth a look...
 
Depends what you're trying to achieve.

For a surround sound setup without using all the multi room features Sonos is totally pointless. It's far too expensive and compromised.

For multi room home audio I don't think anyone touches Sonos for simplicity.
 
The Yamaha MusicCast stuff is just as easy. Install app tell it which speaker or speakers to play from and play. The Bose setups are also very similar.

I was really disappointed with the Sonos considering how much it all cost me and the praise it gets I was expecting more. It's massively overpriced for what it does and how it sounds.
 
That's the one major thing. I've come from a SONOS 3 environment and always felt the bass was basically a Beats By Dre style approach to EQ. In fact, I hear more instruments in some tracks in the car than I do through the SONOS. I'm not sure I found Bose much better to be honest.

Don't need Home Theatre setup, just a good speaker in a few select rooms (kitchen, lounge, bedroom) and I'm away
 
I have two Yamaha WX-010's they sound great for the price and work well for me. You can also link them together and use them in stereo if required. They are not as loud as the Sonos was but loud enough and sound nice without huge amounts of bass which I'm not really into.....
 
Play5's are awsome.

Paired play1's blew me away compared to 1 Play1.

Play3's were always the runt of the litter.

I have 4 Play1's 4 Play5's, 3 connect amps and a couple of connects. I looked at other systems but knowing we were on a path of house upgrades from a small semi to a much larger house with outside/detached entertaining space I decided that Sonos gave me the best upgrade/future path
 
So get two Play Ones and put them in the same room. How does it work out channels (I'm incredibly susceptible to impaired stereo). Like the idea as long as it's clever enough to do true stereo.
 
Django x2 said:
So get two Play Ones and put them in the same room. How does it work out channels (I'm incredibly susceptible to impaired stereo). Like the idea as long as it's clever enough to do true stereo.
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I'm not 100% sure but it'll send the Left signal to one and Right to the other. This would also eliminate (I would have thought so) crosstalk between channels for a cleaner sound
 
If you want a wireless multi room setup then nothing beats Sonos in terms of how easy it is to use and set up.

If however you are used to good quality audio you will think Sonos isn't that good and it's also ridiculously overpriced in comparison, you are paying a lot for convenience rather than quality.

I have a yamaha amp and I keep seeing music cast. however i keep thinking when would i ever need multi room audio? and the answer is never. if i'm having a party it would be restricted to an area so everyone is together. that is the whole point is it not your all together.

why would i want sound from a movie or football match playing in the kitchen? i wouldn't.

multi room audio setups to me don't make much sense. the only scenario i can think if is the bathroom. if i'm in there shaving and having a shower i wouldn't mind a bit of music in the background. however sonos isn't exactly waterproof i wouldn't risk a £300 speaker in a bathroom.

if you want a wireless setup just buy a wireless yamaha soundbar or yamaha music cast system. if you need multi room audio then go sonos.
 
Psycho Sonny said:
why would i want sound from a movie or football match playing in the kitchen? i wouldn't. But plenty of people do. In fact I'd wager that SONOS are catering for that group

multi room audio setups to me don't make much sense. the only scenario i can think if is the bathroom. if i'm in there shaving and having a shower i wouldn't mind a bit of music in the background. however sonos isn't exactly waterproof i wouldn't risk a £300 speaker in a bathroom. You'd use a connect amp for bathroom etc. That way your only running speaker wires to that room (the amp would be elsewhere)

.
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If they dont make sense to you then chances are you've never had it. Once you go multi you dont go back..(isn't that the phrase..lol)


I have audio throughout the house. Football etc is great if you need to nip the loo can still hear it.

As for parties etc. If you have a large gathering people are all over the downstairs/ outside etc so its really good for that too.
 
mattyg said:
If they dont make sense to you then chances are you've never had it. Once you go multi you dont go back..(isn't that the phrase..lol)


I have audio throughout the house. Football etc is great if you need to nip the loo can still hear it.

As for parties etc. If you have a large gathering people are all over the downstairs/ outside etc so its really good for that too.
Click to expand...

I have a new yamaha amp with music cast. i already have speakers in the kitchen as well.

so i already have setups in place and i don't think spending £5K is going to be worth it for multi room audio. especially since the audio quality would decrease too for that £5K spent.

in fact i could stop bi-amping my floorstanders, get 2 more speakers. sell my kitchen system and wire the new speakers up to my amp and give myself a multi room system. i already have 2 zones and party mode on my amp. would cost me nothing to do as well as offer better SQ than sonos, I don't need it which is why I can't be bothered.
 
mattyg said:
Ok so absolutely no help at all to the OP.
Click to expand...

my first post already explains everything he needs to know

"If you want a wireless multi room setup then nothing beats Sonos in terms of how easy it is to use and set up.

If however you are used to good quality audio you will think Sonos isn't that good and it's also ridiculously overpriced in comparison, you are paying a lot for convenience rather than quality."
 
My Yamaha setup is just as easy to use as the Sonos and sounds considerably better if you ask me. It's also a lot cheaper...... I use it multi room and have no issues at all.
 
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