Another Sonus Thread

[poppopbangbang]

Hi All,

I want some music in the kitchen, bedroom and lounge with wireless control etc. Sonus looks to make this mega easy! What do I actually need to buy thought? Bedroom and Kitchen just need "music" so something simple will be fine. Lounge it'd be good to run the TV through it etc. So I assume it's a sound bar I want?

All help gratefully recieved.

[NDA]

poppopbangbang said:

Hi All,

I want some music in the kitchen, bedroom and lounge with wireless control etc. Sonus looks to make this mega easy! What do I actually need to buy thought? Bedroom and Kitchen just need "music" so something simple will be fine. Lounge it'd be good to run the TV through it etc. So I assume it's a sound bar I want?

All help gratefully recieved.

The first bit you need is the 'bridge'. This is a small device that needs mains power and will plug into the back of your router. It then creates its own wireless network (not on your wifi) and can then communicate with other Sonos devices. You only need one bridge as other Sonos devices (the speakers) also act as bridges - sort of leapfrogging the connection through the house.

Then it's a case of deciding whether you want Play 3's or 5's. I'd stick a 3 in a bedroom and a 5 in the kitchen. If you're going to use the Sound Bar ensure your TV has an optical output. It needs one.

The remote will be on your iPhone or iPad.

Next thing is Spotify premium or Rdio at £9.99 a month.... 20m + tracks to listen to.

[Salesy]

NDA said:

The first bit you need is the 'bridge'. This is a small device that needs mains power and will plug into the back of your router. It then creates its own wireless network (not on your wifi) and can then communicate with other Sonos devices. You only need one bridge as other Sonos devices (the speakers) also act as bridges - sort of leapfrogging the connection through the house.

Then it's a case of deciding whether you want Play 3's or 5's. I'd stick a 3 in a bedroom and a 5 in the kitchen. If you're going to use the Sound Bar ensure your TV has an optical output. It needs one.

The remote will be on your iPhone or iPad.

Next thing is Spotify premium or Rdio at £9.99 a month.... 20m + tracks to listen to.

You don't need a bridge if one of the sons units is hardwired to the network, although if buying a play 1,3 or 5 they come with a free bridge so why not use it.

[Salesy]

NDA said:

The first bit you need is the 'bridge'. This is a small device that needs mains power and will plug into the back of your router. It then creates its own wireless network (not on your wifi) and can then communicate with other Sonos devices. You only need one bridge as other Sonos devices (the speakers) also act as bridges - sort of leapfrogging the connection through the house.

Then it's a case of deciding whether you want Play 3's or 5's. I'd stick a 3 in a bedroom and a 5 in the kitchen. If you're going to use the Sound Bar ensure your TV has an optical output. It needs one.

The remote will be on your iPhone or iPad.

Next thing is Spotify premium or Rdio at £9.99 a month.... 20m + tracks to listen to.

You don't need a bridge if one of the sons units is hardwired to the network, although if buying a play 1,3 or 5 they come with a free bridge so why not use it.

[ASK1974]

Yep, you don't need a bridge if one of the Sonos devices is close enough to your router (or a network switch) to be connected with a wire. Bridges are handy for extending the mesh though so always take advantage of free handouts.

The Play:x range are great for Kitchens and other secondary areas and, IMO, the Play:5 is the only good standalone speaker, the Play:3 and Play:1 are ok but their size limits them and they're better in a stereo setup. Have a try though and decide for yourself.

The Playbar is great for TV but not so great for music when compared to a pair of Play:5 in a stereo setup or a Connect Amp with decent speakers. Remember, if you want the sound of your TV through the system you can always take the audio out and connect it to a Connect Zoneplayer, with speakers either side of the telly it's fine as a solution just not as tidy as the Playbar, sounds better for music though. If your priority in the lounge is music then go one way, TV the other. Both are good at both, but each is better at one (music/TV) over the other if that makes any sense.

The Sub is ace especially as all you need is power, really lifts any Sonos zone.

[kev1387]

I was looking at 2 x play 1's and either the sub or play bar for my lounge, mainly for the TV but also for music. Which is best to go with the play 1's, sub or play bar?

[ASK1974]

Two different products. For music though the answer is definitely the sub.

[NDA]

Hardwiring a Play seems to defeat the 'wireless' object somehow. Didn't realise Bridges were now free - all the more reason to use one.

[JulesV]

I too am interested in getting a Sonos. Would one Sonos 5 give adequate sound quality in a room about 19' x 12?

[NDA]

JulesV said:

I too am interested in getting a Sonos. Would one Sonos 5 give adequate sound quality in a room about 19' x 12?

Yes should do.... It's pretty loud.

There's also the option in settings to turn it into a left or right speaker and you can have a stereo pair.

[JulesV]

NDA said:

JulesV said:

I too am interested in getting a Sonos. Would one Sonos 5 give adequate sound quality in a room about 19' x 12?

Yes should do.... It's pretty loud.

There's also the option in settings to turn it into a left or right speaker and you can have a stereo pair.

Thanks. I will get one, see how it is and then presumably I can add another if I need to.

[OtherBusiness]

Can highly recommend Sonos. Got the soundbar, sub and 2 play 1's in the lounge and it's very impressive. Play 5 for the kitchen next!

[poppopbangbang]

Thanks for the feedback guys. All very much appreciated.

Just for some background noise in the bedroom is it worth going 1 due to the size and ease of hiding it or should 3 be a minimum?

[caiss4]

poppopbangbang said:

Thanks for the feedback guys. All very much appreciated.

Just for some background noise in the bedroom is it worth going 1 due to the size and ease of hiding it or should 3 be a minimum?

I have a Play5 in the bedroom and TBH a second one wouldn't go amiss but it is quite a large bedroom (in terms of cubic volume). I think I'd consider two 1's for a stereo pair or a 3 at minimum.

[NDA]

poppopbangbang said:

Thanks for the feedback guys. All very much appreciated.

Just for some background noise in the bedroom is it worth going 1 due to the size and ease of hiding it or should 3 be a minimum?

I haven't heard the 1, but I would say that it's probably perfect for a bedroom. Imagine it will sound like a decent radio.... Then you won't be disappointed. The 3 is mellow (good for radio) and the 5 is a hefty lump that sounds very good and packs a punch.

Unless you're listening to loud music and expecting hifi quality, the 1 is probably ideal.

[Du1point8]

The 1 is fine, I have one (2 actually in the property) but 1 in lounge and 1 in bedroom is good for some background noise.

When I can sneak them in another play one and a play bar will join the lone play 1 in the lounge.

they go pretty loud and to be honest for the money and quality, I would have them over a play 3 anyday.

[VEX]

I have two 1's in the kitchen / dining space.

A 3 (currently redundant, relegated from Kitchen duty's when the 1's launched)

A 5 in our guest bed / office room

A Connect Amp in the Master Bed

& A Connect in the Living Room.

The only two items I don't have is a Play:Bar and Sub, although I have installed a few.

Having played with everything, I actually find the 3 the most missing. To my mind now the little 1's are out it doesnt have a position in the line up. The 1's sound cracking especially when set up as a stereo pair.

V.

[TimJMS]

VEX said:

...Having played with everything, I actually find the 3 the most missing. To my mind now the little 1's are out it doesnt have a position in the line up. The 1's sound cracking especially when set up as a stereo pair.

V.

On the strength of your advice, Vex I've done just this today. Wow! I'm actually left wondering now why anyone would buy a single PLAY:5 rather than just stereo pairing a brace of PLAY:1's?

[NDA]

TimJMS said:

On the strength of your advice, Vex I've done just this today. Wow! I'm actually left wondering now why anyone would buy a single PLAY:5 rather than just stereo pairing a brace of PLAY:1's?

I think it's to do with where you'd put them. In my kitchen a pair of 1's wouldn't work as they'd have to be too far apart and at different heights....

[sparkyhx]

TimJMS said:

VEX said:

...Having played with everything, I actually find the 3 the most missing. To my mind now the little 1's are out it doesnt have a position in the line up. The 1's sound cracking especially when set up as a stereo pair.

V.

On the strength of your advice, Vex I've done just this today. Wow! I'm actually left wondering now why anyone would buy a single PLAY:5 rather than just stereo pairing a brace of PLAY:1's?

I've only ever seen play 1's in a shop setup never in a room setup and was disappointed by both single and stereo pair, they being totally lacking in oomph and low down detail. Nowhere i've seen them has been able to demo them in a room setup.

The stereo pair were demo'd about 2 feet apart so not a good idea. When I said they were a bit lightweight he then put the sub on (albeit in a separate area of the shop) I can't say i was impressed.

the play 5 on the other hand was immediately noticable the incrwease in quality.

2 x play:1's vs 1 x play:5 - unless anyone wants to show me them in a decent room setup, i'd stick with the excellent sounding play 5.

The free bridge is a promotion at the moment - not sure when (or if) it will end.

I agree that the place of the Play:3 is a little confused. I still find it lightweight compared with the Play:5, but is worth the extra over the Play:1's - not sure?