Sonos Amp Review: Better Sound, Elegant Design, More Power!
Having devoted the last couple of years to developing and rolling out several wireless speakers, Sonos gets back to what it’s known for with the release of the Sonos Amp.
With effectiveness similar to ZonePlayer 100 and Connect: Amp (formerly known as ZP120), the devices predecessors, the all-new Sonos Amp comes with intelligent streaming features for every hi-fi speaker.
Besides being a regular amp, the Sonos Amp comes with several other features that sets it apart. One of these features is the Sonos Beam, which provides a great effect while watching movies or playing music.
Although the Sonos Amp stands out in design, provides great sound, and is packed with amazing features, there are still a few additional specs to expect, as the predecessor provided a handful of comparable tools. Let’s get right into the details in our Sonos Amp review.
Discussion:
According to Patrick ‘PG’ Gall, a worker at Sonos, the new Sonos Amp can be referred to as “the Connect: Amp on steroids.” This description is based on the internal features of the new Amp, because in terms of the exterior look, the Sonos Amp boasts an elegant and slender design as compared to its predecessors.
With regards to dimensions, the new Sonos Amp is a lot different, as it is a little shorter, deeper, and wider. These adjustments in dimensions were inspired by custom installers who were ardent users of the Connect: Amp in customer setups, even if that wasn’t their main purpose. As a result, the Sonos Amp would do an even better job at serving custom installers.
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With the new dimensions, the Sonos Amp can fit better in a hi-fi rack, which makes it way easier to keep it a subtle device in your home. Also, the design makes it stackable, which means one can comfortably stack other devices on top, while running speaker cables to other parts of your home. This would make sense to you if you’re a custom installer.
The new Sonos Amp is available in black only. Also, it features three buttons in front which are touch sensitive. One button functions as the play/pause control, while the other two allow users to increase and decrease volume, or change visual context.
Unlike previous versions, the Sonos Amp is compact on the inside, and doesn’t have a lot of empty space. While this leads to a problem with air circulation and cooling, the amp’s design allows it to intake air from underneath and release it from the top without the help of a fan.
With regards to the features, the Sonos Amp has similar connection ports as the Connect: Amp. This includes two pairs of speaker terminals, two ethernet sockets, a subwoofer output, and a stereo analogue input. However, the Sonos Amp features an HDMI socket which is a great addition to the device.
With the HDMI socket, users connect their TV and enjoy the Sonos Beam, which includes auto switching to TV audio when needed. This makes the TV remote controller to function as the primary controller. The same way the Beam’s make-up is targeted at simple systems with a couple of video sources (TV), and to produce sound through ARC to the sound system.
If you’re serious about home cinema, this may limit your usage, but for the target market, this would make the entire setup process seamless. Every component started working in just a matter of minutes.
One can use the Beam, Playbar, and Playbase to create more surround sound; you can connect two Sonos speakers like Ones to get more sound from the Amp. Also, you can also bring in an additional Amp linked to any two speakers you like, to create a 4.0 system. If you want a 4.1 system, you can include a subwoofer or the wireless Sonos Sub.
Although there isn’t a way to create a 5.1 system, because of the lack of an output for a center channel. According to Sonos, this is not much of an issue, as it creates a phantom center channel through careful and precise processing.
The Sonos Amp can also be set to output in dual-mono, which means both speakers receive the same sound. This would make sense if you’re trying to use outdoor speakers or ceiling output to create a stereo image.
Sonos, in collaboration with Sonance, has created the Sonos Architectural by Sonos range of speakers, consisting of an in-wall speaker, in-ceiling speaker, as well as an outdoor speaker. These speakers are just there to complement Sonos’ products in terms of finish and sonic character.
The Trueplay feature also comes alive when the Amp is connected to two separate speakers. This is impossible with other speakers.
The Sonos Amp also stands out in terms of power, as it enjoys a whopping 125W compared to its predecessor’s 55W. Because of this, it can power way larger speakers.
The flexibility of the Amp is second to none in the Sonos range, as it allows access to every single service that is available, while allowing you to link up with pre-installed tunes using the on-the-go queues.
Although Sonos still maintains its stance on hi-res music, which makes CD-quality the best you can get for now, the Sonos app separates itself from its competitors, as it provides users with control over a wide range of products, including the Amp. Moreover, they are taking steps to intensify the devices’ hands-free nature. The Amp does not feature a built-in mic, but it works with Amazon Alexa as well as Siri-powered voice commands.
Another major addition is the option to switch off Wi-Fi throughout all Sonos devices, the Amp included. This may be unnecessary for some people, but this would be useful to people that prefer wired connections and would like to avoid the risks of WI-FI interference.
According to Sonos, the Amp has the ability to power a wide range of speakers. This is true because, as we switched from the Elac B5.2 standmounters to the Monitor Audio Silver 200 floor standers, or even connecting the Amp with an SVS Ultras, the sound was still great.
Therefore, for the best sound, you should use the Amp with premium quality speakers. The Elac B5.2s would do a great job if you have a small budget. Also, the Dynaudio Emit M10s or SVS Prime Tower floorstanders are also a great combination if they are within your budget.
After the connection, you can get into the EQ menu and try things out with the loudness feature which is usually switched on by default.
With the loudness feature off, the sounds as well as the vocals become more specific. However, this loudness feature usually produces an overall better delivery in rooms, which makes it a great choice for home cinemas. Because of the phantom center channel, dialogue is a lot clearer and direct as compared to the usual stereo system.
It would be great to include surround speakers with the Amp; however, these surround speakers may not blend in as much with your front speakers, resulting in a rather poor sound delivery.
Your best bet would be to add another Amp and another pair of front speakers, but this may be too much sound for a home cinema setting.
While the amp produces a great and bold sound delivery, it’s still bereft of that ultra-fine tune that even low-budget hi-fi devices come with.
Amidst the minor flaws of the Sonos Amp, it is a good buy. If you’ve been considering a Playbar or Playbase, you should absolutely give thought to the combination of an Amp with a good pair of speakers, preferably the Dynaudio Emit M10.
