Sonos or other Wireless Speaker

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Sonos or other Wireless Speaker

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

137 posts

Master Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2582740 11-Oct-2020 21:02

Have you looked at Acrylic? These can wifi, bluetooth Tidal Spotify Airplay etc your old speakers? Can easily get off Amazon,

Watch Toids DIY Audio videos Sonos Killer? DIY Multiroom Audio Module

networkn

Networkn
32354 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2582745 11-Oct-2020 21:16

daunjan:

Have you looked at Acrylic? These can wifi, bluetooth Tidal Spotify Airplay etc your old speakers? Can easily get off Amazon,

Watch Toids DIY Audio videos Sonos Killer? DIY Multiroom Audio Module

Thanks. I don't have a suitable speaker I could convert and would prefer something with support and a warranty.

daunjan

137 posts

Master Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2582747 11-Oct-2020 21:21

Don't need to mod speakers heres the pre built systems?

Audio in every room for under $500?

networkn

Networkn
32354 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2583122 12-Oct-2020 14:35

daunjan:

Don't need to mod speakers heres the pre built systems?

Audio in every room for under $500?

That does look compelling but probably won't solve my OP issue. Having said that, I am fairly impressed and may buy one just to play with.. :)

It seems like Wireless, Bluetooth, Portable Battery and Mains Powered speakers with good sound quality and a 3.5mm jack point, don't really exist, or not really in my pricepoint LOL. The Sonos Move probably ticks the majority of the boxes, is well supported and relatively affordable, though portability is definitely debatable without a back brace :)

networkn

Networkn
32354 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2583514 13-Oct-2020 11:13

So yesterday I went and had a short audition with the Sonos Move and Sonos One SL. Both left me quite underwhelmed. They seemed to distort at surprisingly low volumes, though obviously, the Move was able to handle better.

I think I get better sound out of my UE MegaBoom, which cost a fraction of the money. Does that surprise people familiar with Sonos gear?

I think I may drop the battery requirement from my list, as this would open up the options a lot. Most of what I want is transportability, etc and I have other units which are Bluetooth and Battery powered like my Megaboom which would meet that ultra portable requirement.

dafman

3928 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2583520 13-Oct-2020 11:30

networkn:

So yesterday I went and had a short audition with the Sonos Move and Sonos One SL. Both left me quite underwhelmed. They seemed to distort at surprisingly low volumes, though obviously, the Move was able to handle better.

I think I get better sound out of my UE MegaBoom, which cost a fraction of the money. Does that surprise people familiar with Sonos gear?

I think I may drop the battery requirement from my list, as this would open up the options a lot. Most of what I want is transportability, etc and I have other units which are Bluetooth and Battery powered like my Megaboom which would meet that ultra portable requirement.

I have Sonos Ones, plus the older Play 3 and Play 5 speakers. IMHO, the sound from a set of paired Ones is excellent, as it is from the older speakers. Sound quality has always been a strong point for Sonos.

I don't like the Move, though - it looks like a 44-gallon drum and is expensive to boot. And you are constantly charging the battery which can't be too good for longevity.

It's a pity they don't bring BT support to the Five which is only $100 more than the Move, but much more speaker for the money.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#2583530 13-Oct-2020 11:47

networkn:

So yesterday I went and had a short audition with the Sonos Move and Sonos One SL. Both left me quite underwhelmed. They seemed to distort at surprisingly low volumes, though obviously, the Move was able to handle better.

I think I get better sound out of my UE MegaBoom, which cost a fraction of the money. Does that surprise people familiar with Sonos gear?

It doesn't overly surprise me that out the box they will sound a little 'meh'.

Remember that Sonos push their iOS users to use TruPlay in order to apply a 'smiley face EQ' to their speakers... it's certainly not a room correction feature to my ears! Well, not compared to what I would expect from something like Dirac Live in the cinema space.

The Move doesn't sit on Sonos's mesh... so it's a pricey WiFi / bluetooth speaker (one that can't be used as wireless rears). I also would speculate that the battery could become an issue AND that all the retailers are stocked up with charging cradles - so maybe Sonos doesn't expect them to last the distance either? Or it may just be the only thing Sonos has good stock of in their group?

I too wouldn't be buying a battery powered speaker for that sort of money...

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

networkn

Networkn
32354 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2585987 15-Oct-2020 17:06

So I went and had a second listen at a different store to the Move. The bass completely overwhelms the sound. It's pretty poor sounding for $750 I think. For it's size I didn't think it was that loud either.

I did however, end up having a listen to the Amazon Studio at the suggestion of @freitasm and was blown away by a couple of things about it. The sound stage/3D sound of this speaker, honestly, left my jaw on the ground. The manager of the store had never listened to it either and both of us were looking around for a second speaker that was playing. The only issue is that you only get that effect if that speaker is front and center in front of you. The other thing, was it's not that loud, and there was some music that sounded a bit harsh. (I'd be interested to see what @freitasm thinks of a specific song by Rascall Flats called "these days" remastered version. At around 70% volume, the main singer was hard to listen to. Hard to complain for $359 considering what else is included.

I think the issue for me with that unit, is that if it could produce that 3D effect all the time, then It would be hard to look past, but other than that, it's a good, perhaps even very good, but not great sound producer.

I wish there wasn't always a compromise to be made, why can't someone just make a perfect device at a reasonable price LOL

alasta

6706 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#2585988 15-Oct-2020 17:08

I am really disappointed to hear that about the Move. I was seriously considering buying one, but now you've got me wondering.

networkn

Networkn
32354 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2585989 15-Oct-2020 17:10

alasta:

I am really disappointed to hear that about the Move. I was seriously considering buying one, but now you've got me wondering.

I'd go and have a listen to it, every persons hearing and expectations are different. I think if I didn't need Bluetooth, I would buy the Sonos 5 without question. It's super frustrating that a unit in that price range doesn't have that feature. I don't really get Sonos limiting their products in such a silly way, bluetooth chips are dollars to buy. If I had to have a battery powered unit with WiFi and Bluetooth, I would buy a Audio Pro C3, which sounds exceptional for that kind of money, better than most things I've heard $200 more expensive.

Handle9

11394 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2585992 15-Oct-2020 17:28

Have you trialed the Yamaha Musiccast speakers?

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79295 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#2586052 15-Oct-2020 21:06

networkn:

So I went and had a second listen at a different store to the Move. The bass completely overwhelms the sound. It's pretty poor sounding for $750 I think. For it's size I didn't think it was that loud either.

I did however, end up having a listen to the Amazon Studio at the suggestion of @freitasm and was blown away by a couple of things about it. The sound stage/3D sound of this speaker, honestly, left my jaw on the ground. The manager of the store had never listened to it either and both of us were looking around for a second speaker that was playing. The only issue is that you only get that effect if that speaker is front and center in front of you. The other thing, was it's not that loud, and there was some music that sounded a bit harsh. (I'd be interested to see what @freitasm thinks of a specific song by Rascall Flats called "these days" remastered version. At around 70% volume, the main singer was hard to listen to. Hard to complain for $359 considering what else is included.

I think the issue for me with that unit, is that if it could produce that 3D effect all the time, then It would be hard to look past, but other than that, it's a good, perhaps even very good, but not great sound producer.

I can't listen tonight as I am in Auckland - going back home tomorrow (Friday) evening. The Echo Studio automatically adjust the sound to the environment, so if you have it on a store floor it may sound a bit empty. Put on your lounge and it will sound completely different. Or can use the Alexa app to adjust its equaliser or turn off the stereo spatial enhancement. I use mine with the Fire TV and it's a worthy replacement for the TV audio - and smarter than most soundbars too start with...

networkn

Networkn
32354 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2586082 15-Oct-2020 22:52

Handle9:

Have you trialed the Yamaha Musiccast speakers?

I had a listen to the 20 and 50 yesterday (or was it the day before) as well. I thought the sound quality was good, but they don't seem to produce enough sound to fill a medium sized room. I am certainly not someone who listens at huge volumes either. I was a little surprised.

I also had a listen to the Bose 500 with built in Alexa and screen. I was very surprised how average that sounded. Not terrible, but certainly not as good as I had been hoping. There seems to be a real focus on bass in a lot of these speakers, almost to the detriment of everything else.

I saw one of these in a couple of places:

https://www.avworld.co.nz/shop/product/naim-mu-so-qb-2nd-generation/overview

The review I read was fairly glowing, as you might expect from something in this price range, but I wouldn't let them demo it for me, lest it ended up just me and it sleeping outside, in a cardboard box under a bridge :)

lxsw20

3553 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#2586096 16-Oct-2020 00:53

A lot of these smaller speakers will sound horrid in a big space, so it doesn't surprise me if you're finding they all sound bad in a showroom. I've got the Apple Homepod. It sounds rubbish at work, but in my home office it sounds great, very impressive sound output / SQ for its size.

gehenna

8512 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2586134 16-Oct-2020 08:07

I just got my first two Sonos devices which will be the surrounds of a Sonos Arc lounge setup. Very impressive devices. I got the SL 2-pack and stands. Simple to set up, easy to use, integrations are great and the sound is fantastic. Can't wait for the Arc and Sub to arrive now!

1 | 2 | 3 | 4