What to replace Sonos with?
Discussion
Having jumped on the Sonos train some years ago and having spent several K on it as a result I find myself thoroughly fed up with it.
Current system is:
- 3 X Connect Amps (Sitting Room / Outside)
- 4 X Play 5 (Kitchen X 2, Garage X 2)
- 5 X Play 1 (Various round the house)
It used to be so beautifully simple and just worked, since then many software and app updates have rendered it far less elegant and with the requirement now of accounts, Sonos ads popping up in the app, no dedicated controller etc. etc. and the fact Sonos have made the vast majority of my existing kit obsolete I want to bin it all and buy something else.
So aside from Denon what are the other options? Requirement is to stream from phones/devices as well as online sub services like Deezer and the like. I'd like something that will still power my floor standing speakers but these don't take a lot of umph and currently run quite happily from a Connect amp.
All ideas and contributions gratefully recieved!
Current system is:
- 3 X Connect Amps (Sitting Room / Outside)
- 4 X Play 5 (Kitchen X 2, Garage X 2)
- 5 X Play 1 (Various round the house)
It used to be so beautifully simple and just worked, since then many software and app updates have rendered it far less elegant and with the requirement now of accounts, Sonos ads popping up in the app, no dedicated controller etc. etc. and the fact Sonos have made the vast majority of my existing kit obsolete I want to bin it all and buy something else.
So aside from Denon what are the other options? Requirement is to stream from phones/devices as well as online sub services like Deezer and the like. I'd like something that will still power my floor standing speakers but these don't take a lot of umph and currently run quite happily from a Connect amp.
All ideas and contributions gratefully recieved!
I’m wondering what I’ll do when my Sonos finally gets bricked by Sonos
I don’t want to buy into another expensive ‘ecosystem’ so will look into just getting decent stereos and a load of £25 Google home pucks and figure out how to get them working together, or Alexa minis or something that can just be replaced inexpensivly when they are no longer current.
I don’t want to buy into another expensive ‘ecosystem’ so will look into just getting decent stereos and a load of £25 Google home pucks and figure out how to get them working together, or Alexa minis or something that can just be replaced inexpensivly when they are no longer current.
manracer said:
pidsy said:
In because I have a similar issue.
Got pissed off when they removed the ability to stream music straight from my phone and now have no support for YouTube music.
Unless I'm misunderstanding, I'm pretty sure I can stream straight from my phone to my Sonos stuff.Got pissed off when they removed the ability to stream music straight from my phone and now have no support for YouTube music.
You can now only play from streaming apps or digital radio.
HEOS is pretty strong particularly if you want a proper AV amp to be in there.
Bear in mind that anything connected like this will reach a point where the manufacturer doesn’t want to support it any more, or some external service will change something and break. Sonos are better than most at keeping support going.
If it bothers you that much then the approach of cheap streamers (on standard amp/speakers) is probably best although it’s a bunch of compromises too. I used to run a zp100 on an amp and it was a faff to sort out volume and the right input when you just want some music.
Bear in mind that anything connected like this will reach a point where the manufacturer doesn’t want to support it any more, or some external service will change something and break. Sonos are better than most at keeping support going.
If it bothers you that much then the approach of cheap streamers (on standard amp/speakers) is probably best although it’s a bunch of compromises too. I used to run a zp100 on an amp and it was a faff to sort out volume and the right input when you just want some music.
Of course you can add a Bluetooth to line out adapter to the play connects / amps & play:5’s to allow you to Bluetooth to them.
You can also cast one of the audio in inputs from the play connects / amps & play:5’s to the rest of the system as needed
Also the removal of the ability to stream from iOS devices to gen1 Sonos products was due to a change in the iOS platform and apples push to airplay rather than Sonos removing functionality just to alienate and push customers away.
As for alternatives
Yamaha MusicCast
Denon Heos
nad/bluesound bluos platform
All of which will offer a Sonos like experience with the same if not greater costs
You can also cast one of the audio in inputs from the play connects / amps & play:5’s to the rest of the system as needed
Also the removal of the ability to stream from iOS devices to gen1 Sonos products was due to a change in the iOS platform and apples push to airplay rather than Sonos removing functionality just to alienate and push customers away.
As for alternatives
Yamaha MusicCast
Denon Heos
nad/bluesound bluos platform
All of which will offer a Sonos like experience with the same if not greater costs
I feel much the same as the OP.
I have a holiday home, I have my 1990 B&O system in there. The CD and tape player never get used now but I bought a £14 Logitech Bluetooth adapter and connected it to AUX. There was never much wrong with the amp and speakers, so it makes a pretty good system for streaming from my iPad.
It just works, no problems. Unlike my original Play 1 in the bedroom, which alarms at the right time and then switches itself off after 10-mins, when I am about ready to snooze off again.
I have a holiday home, I have my 1990 B&O system in there. The CD and tape player never get used now but I bought a £14 Logitech Bluetooth adapter and connected it to AUX. There was never much wrong with the amp and speakers, so it makes a pretty good system for streaming from my iPad.
It just works, no problems. Unlike my original Play 1 in the bedroom, which alarms at the right time and then switches itself off after 10-mins, when I am about ready to snooze off again.
I'm a bit confused. I don't think any of the problems you've mentioned are actual problems...
I'm looking at my (Android) Sonos app and I can see an option for "On this Mobile Device", which allows me to select and stream any audio files from my phone to the Sonos speakers dotted around the house.
I also have the option to add "YouTube Music" as a service. Deezer is there too.
However, given that Spotify has almost 10x as many subscribers as YT Music, it wouldn't surprise me if Sonos did decide to stop supporting it.
Also, if you want to use your existing kit with Sonos, just buy a Connect.
I'm looking at my (Android) Sonos app and I can see an option for "On this Mobile Device", which allows me to select and stream any audio files from my phone to the Sonos speakers dotted around the house.
I also have the option to add "YouTube Music" as a service. Deezer is there too.
However, given that Spotify has almost 10x as many subscribers as YT Music, it wouldn't surprise me if Sonos did decide to stop supporting it.
Also, if you want to use your existing kit with Sonos, just buy a Connect.
Edited by C70R on Sunday 10th April 09:52
C70R said:
I'm a bit confused. I don't think any of the problems you've mentioned are actual problems...
I'm looking at my (Android) Sonos app and I can see an option for "On this Mobile Device", which allows me to select and stream any audio files from my phone to the Sonos speakers dotted around the house.
I also have the option to add "YouTube Music" as a service. Deezer is there too.
However, given that Spotify has almost 10x as many subscribers as YT Music, it wouldn't surprise me if Sonos did decide to stop supporting it.
Also, if you want to use your existing kit with Sonos, just buy a Connect.
My app was out of date - now added YouTube music. Thanks for that. I'm looking at my (Android) Sonos app and I can see an option for "On this Mobile Device", which allows me to select and stream any audio files from my phone to the Sonos speakers dotted around the house.
I also have the option to add "YouTube Music" as a service. Deezer is there too.
However, given that Spotify has almost 10x as many subscribers as YT Music, it wouldn't surprise me if Sonos did decide to stop supporting it.
Also, if you want to use your existing kit with Sonos, just buy a Connect.
Edited by C70R on Sunday 10th April 09:52
As above, the streaming issue is an IOS thing rather than a sonos thing.
pidsy said:
My app was out of date - now added YouTube music. Thanks for that.
As above, the streaming issue is an IOS thing rather than a sonos thing.
Ohh. So you can't stream from device on IOS thanks to Apple removing it? That's deeply annoying.As above, the streaming issue is an IOS thing rather than a sonos thing.
This is why, in spite of being a Mac guy (iMac/MBP), I'll always have an Android phone. Apple closing off the ecosystem like this ruins the experience of owning the product.
Edited by C70R on Sunday 10th April 10:14
C70R said:
Ohh. So you can't stream from device on IOS thanks to Apple removing it? That's deeply annoying.
This is why, in spite of being a Mac guy (iMac/MBP), I'll always have an Android phone. Apple closing off the ecosystem like this ruins the experience of owning the product.
You can stream to gen2 products from iOS via airplay, the issue is with the earlier productsThis is why, in spite of being a Mac guy (iMac/MBP), I'll always have an Android phone. Apple closing off the ecosystem like this ruins the experience of owning the product.
Edited by C70R on Sunday 10th April 10:14
It’s so boring!
Every Sonos thread is filled with the sadly confused and misinformed.
Those items and the system design were released to the public from 2005 and it all still works on the S1 app today! That’s extraordinary and the items are cheap for what they do.
The rest of the market has proved this, as NOBODY has ever come close to catching up.
The biggest manufacturers in the world, just can’t compete.
The OP’s items are still even worth decent money on eBay.
Some cars that cost £15,000 are worth less, but most have met their ends already.
Some are starting to be reffered to as modern classics
In fact, computers, lap-tops of all types from that age are doorstops at best.
A 2005 42/50” Plasma cost a good few grand too, but they mostly got recycled years ago.
How many smart phones have we all owned in that time, and at what cost?
Even normal basic Hi-Fi kit isn’t manufacturer supported for spares and repairs after a decade of so.
Sonos not only keep the pre iOS/ Android system working, but will offer a huge trade in % for owners of old kit.
Their marketing dpt did mess up the whole S2 roll out, but I’ve never met anyone that didn’t understand, once it’s properly explained.
The actual answer to the OP, unless the brief changes, is to buy more Sonos and have another 10-15 years of enjoyment
Every Sonos thread is filled with the sadly confused and misinformed.
Those items and the system design were released to the public from 2005 and it all still works on the S1 app today! That’s extraordinary and the items are cheap for what they do.
The rest of the market has proved this, as NOBODY has ever come close to catching up.
The biggest manufacturers in the world, just can’t compete.
The OP’s items are still even worth decent money on eBay.
Some cars that cost £15,000 are worth less, but most have met their ends already.
Some are starting to be reffered to as modern classics
In fact, computers, lap-tops of all types from that age are doorstops at best.
A 2005 42/50” Plasma cost a good few grand too, but they mostly got recycled years ago.
How many smart phones have we all owned in that time, and at what cost?
Even normal basic Hi-Fi kit isn’t manufacturer supported for spares and repairs after a decade of so.
Sonos not only keep the pre iOS/ Android system working, but will offer a huge trade in % for owners of old kit.
Their marketing dpt did mess up the whole S2 roll out, but I’ve never met anyone that didn’t understand, once it’s properly explained.
The actual answer to the OP, unless the brief changes, is to buy more Sonos and have another 10-15 years of enjoyment
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