Heos

[phil4]

Hi All,

I've had a Sonos system for well over a decade now, with a lot of the now older kit, 2 x Amps, 2 x Connects, 3 Play 5s and a pair of Play 1 with Sub.

It's become so flakey now that you can't play a single song from Spotify without it skipping to the next or stopping. I've tried hardwiring, adding to local wifi... nothing has resolved it. I've also tried using spotify to connect to the Play 1's, and play that way. Same issue.

Reading about the S2 stuff, sounds like a complete mess, so I'm not inclined to get newer sonos devices in the hope they'll work.

I've looked a Heos stuff where they appear to have amps, Home 150, 250 and 350 etc, as well as being built in to Home Cinema Amps (which I have hence starting to look).

Is anyone familiar with it? Is it likely to be more usable that the Sonos stuff? Any feedback before I spend thousands renewing would be gratefully received.

[dundarach]

My Denon Amp from 2020 has HEOS on it, works fine with my home NAS etc. and Spotify is flawless. The app is pretty basic, however everything works and always has, rock solid.

[SP_]

Get a chromecast audio, used, from ebay or CEX. Job jobbed

[Olivera]

This might be absolutely nothing to do with Sonos, but instead known bugs with the Spotify app. Try restarting app/clearing app cache/re-installing app as required.

[phil4]

Ignoring the spotify app... sonos doesn't work playing spotify (it doesn't need the spotify app to do that).

[Olivera]

How are you running the Spotify app and playing via Sonos?

[phil4]

Olivera said:

How are you running the Spotify app and playing via Sonos?

You can do it two ways. You can run spotify on your phone, and tell it to connect to speakers, and then play. Same problem.

Or you, can use the S1 sonos app, and choose spotify as a source, then browse the music and tell it what to play or add to the queue. This is all done in the sonos app, and doesn't go near the spotify app.

Keep in mind the failure is once it's started playing it stops. I don't think it's an app issue.

Neither way work, hence the question about using something entirely different.

[Olivera]

phil4 said:

You can do it two ways. You can run spotify on your phone, and tell it to connect to speakers, and then play. Same problem.

Or you, can use the S1 sonos app, and choose spotify as a source, then browse the music and tell it what to play or add to the queue. This is all done in the sonos app, and doesn't go near the spotify app.

Neither way work, hence the question about using something entirely different.

Okay. I would double and triple check via a source other than Spotify at all to see whether this problem occurs. I had *exactly* the same issue with the Spotify app - there are well known bugs that cause intermittent stopping of tracks. And yes the Sonos app might appear to not use Spotify, but it might integrate with the app behind the scenes. Worth checking.

[phil4]

Thanks, I tried it with Apple music, via the sonos app, and via the apple music app (ie. like the way I did with spotify) and same issue.

[JaseB]

I've got a few HEOS bits of kit, all bought from Hyperfi as b-stock so mcu cheaper than SONOS.

I have 2x 250's set up in stereo for my lounge, sounds great tbh and can combine with the soundbar to create surround sound.

[Joe M]

Got a denon avr in the main room, heos speakers in the kitchen and bedroom. No issues, the bedroom and kitchen speakers are pretty much only used for Spotify.

[paralla]

I gave up on Sonos after one of the many times they screwed me over with a house full of kit, some of which worked great, some of the time. Turning off previously available features/operability was the last straw.

I'm all-in with a house full of Bang & Olufsen now. Their Motzart platform is night and day compared to the years of frustration with Sonos.

[phil4]

Thanks for the info JaseB and Joe M - sounds like I'm not making a bad choice.

Thanks to others too... I get why you've moved on, as you can imagine I can empathise entirely with you.

And to those who suggested fixes/things to try. I appreciate it.

[pete_esp]

Long time HEOS user here as it's built into my Denon AVR 2400, I've since added a Marantz CD/Network streamer which also has HEOS built in.

Can't fault it, the app is basic but works well and is easy to use.

I stream Tidal via HEOS for lossless quality.

The AVR also has built in Apple Play & spotify as well as bluetooth connectivity so there are plenty of options to stream from most sources.

[Techno9000]

Denon AVR user here, together with a Marantz mini-system both running HEOS.

Don’t use Spotify but do use a wired NAS with music stored upon it and a DLNA server that HEOS can see the music on.

Quite happy with its reliability and stability.