Sonos Amp vs Sonos Connect:Amp

Over ten years ago, a new company by the name of Sonos won the “Best of Audio” award at CES with their Connect:Amp prototype. Fast forward to today - Sonos has a raving fan base still swearing by the award winning 10 year old Connect:Amp. After interviewing current customers and dealers who install them every day, Sonos developed the new and much improved Amp and we were fortunate enough to get our hands on an exclusive Sonos:Amp currently set to release in 2019.

Since our Amp is a pre-release demo, it came packaged in a discreet box with covert branding. After taking the Sonos:Amp out of the box, we immediately noticed the slimmer design and size compared to the current Sonos:Connect. The new size allows the amp to perfectly fit side-by-side in a rack and is much easier to stack.

A concern when stacking amps is heat output, which is why Sonos greatly improved the ventilation design of the new amp, allowing heat to seamlessly pass through each unit when stacked.

Another key design feature that we immediately noticed is the use of banana plugs, which differ largely from the spring loaded speaker connections of the Connect:Amp, making it a more user friendly experience when connecting speakers to the new amp.

In terms of power, the new Sonos amp produces 125-Watts per channel. Two speakers is the ideal setup for the amp, but with its increased wattage, the amp can power up to four passive speakers, depending on the speakers. This is a big step up from the current Connect:Amp at only 55-Watts per channel.

We can confirm the rumors of increased connectivity options on the new amp. The Sonos:Amp features an Analog RCA Input to connect a turntable with a phono stage, CD player, or any audio device with an RCA output. An HDMI ARC to connect TV audio, which opens up the ability to run a 4.1 Home Theater setup. There is also a Mono Sub-Out – for an external subwoofer and two banana plug ports for a set of passive speakers. Included with the amp is a set of binding post terminal banana plug adapters.

In addition to the wired inputs, the new Sonos amp features Wi-Fi streaming of all the major music streaming services.
Setup and amp control is done through the Sonos App. It was a breeze to set up the amp as we were ready to play sound within a few minutes.

With the new Sonos:Amp you can certainly get creative with your setup. You can run a two channel stereo setup, or to create an almost completely wireless 4.1 Home Theater setup, you can use 2 passive front channel speakers, 2 Sonos Play:1’s as rears and a Sonos SUB. The amp can also power up to 4 of your in-ceiling or outdoor speakers.

One feature of the Sonos:Amp that has us really excited is the improved API. Sonos has announced the Sonos Sound Platform, which includes new APIs, developer tools and documentation to make it easier for Sonos products to operate with third-party hardware and software. The most popular announced integration being “If-This-Then-That” which opens up the Sonos:Amp to a vast amount of home customization options.

When tested, the new Sonos:Amp greatly outperformed the current Connect:Amp. The new amp easily powered our large B &W floor speakers. Even when we cranked the volume, we still got a nice and clean sound. The Connect:Amp on the other hand could not push the same speakers like the Sonos:Amp could. Even when we tested two smaller bookshelf speakers, the Connect:Amp couldn’t match the overall sound quality and fullness of the new amp.

We then tested a 4.1 home theater setup using two front passive speakers, two Sonos Play 1’s as our rear channel and the Sonos SUB. The amp sounded great. It put out enough sound to be immersive and the simulated center channel produced clear dialogue.

We feel the Sonos Amp is a great addition to the Sonos product line. Sonos asked for and listened to feedback in order to develop what we believe is an impressive step up from the current Connect:Amp.

While it’s certainly designed with custom installers in mind, it’s still a great option for consumers looking for a versatile power amp capable of running a simple two channel setup to a fully integrated Sonos home system.
#Sonos #SonosAmp #SonosConnect

[DoroteoVilla]

Late to the party on Sonos amps.

Purchased a used Connect amp 2. I hooked up two bookshelf speakers to it as well as a third-party subwoofer. In addition, I have a line into the amp from an old Hi-Fi stereo to play vynil on other Sonos Play 1s I have paired as well as the bookshelf speakers . So far, it’s a pretty decent setup…except for one thing.

Apparently, there used to be a Sub Audio control on the S2 app that would control your third party subwoofer, independent of your 2 way speaker volume when using the Connect Amp 2. This is important if you are running speakers on the amp because you want to adjust the base of your speakers and subwoofer independently. This function mysteriously disappeared from the app and can only be used with the newer Sonos amp.

You don’t have to be a tin foil conspiracy nut to surmise that Sonos just wants you to either force you to upgrade your amp or to buy a Sonos subwoofer.

I’m calling shenanigans on Sonos.

P.S. they’ve also removed the “what’s on your device” option too as a music source because again, “buy more product!”

…and I used to think Apple was brazenly greedy!

[adammachin]

I like the albums on the wall behind you.

[MattMediaAU]

Audio Advice - how does the audio compare between the Connect and Port? is the "new DAC" better the the "old"? What chipset is used? Are the OP Amps etc improved? How does the sound compare side by side guven the new Port has an external PS?

[robertriggio]

I'm using a connect amp to power rear wired surrounds but the RCA jacks for turntable connection are disabled in this configuration. Is this true?

[nme]

What’s the difference besides maybe the sound and all. Can you hook up more stuff from the connect amp or this one?

[troelsgudiksen]

I’ve run Sonos for 8 years. The new amp compared with the old does not match the sound quality. It’s louder more flat, less detail that really is a problem as most of my listening is dialog, radio, podcast etc. but after blind testing with my family members they all agreed that the sound was “boring” on the new Amp.
I can’t find setting to adjust for that flatness and lacking details. (I use Dynaudio speakers).

[szabb]

First of all, great review and am enjoying consuming this type of content!!!
Am looking into building a nice sounding home system (mostly focused on music), but couldn't stop wondering how does something like the Sonos AMP compare to the likes of the Marantz 1510, Yamaha RX-V4A, Onkyo TX-SR393 - from a sound quality perspective alone?

[glockmanc]

I want to use the same set of in ceiling speakers for my two rears with my Sonos Beam as well as for music for whole house audio. Would I be able to do that with this amp? Thanks!

[cs]

Can you use the output of the Amp as a line in to the Connect Amp?

[brntorangeblood]

Good review. Quick question. Does the new amp allow you to change the balance between left and right channels in the Sonos app? I was thinking I could use one Amp to control 4 in ceiling speakers (2 in a bedroom and 2 in an adjacent room). If I can change the balance from the app, then I could have the two in one room wired on one channel and the other room on the other channel and either listen on all 4 (balanced) or isolate the music to one of the rooms when needed by moving the balance to only the left or right channel.

[LouBrt]

perfect, so my takeaway: use the cheaper older Sonos connect amp for my inwall speakers because it is cheaper to set up separate rooms and use the new Sonos amp for my surround sound speakers.

[gracieoliveira]

I have two Sonos outdoor speakers that are wired. If I buy the née amp and two Sonos wireless outdoor speakers, can I connect all four to the amp? or do all speakers have to be all wired or all wireless?

[UBAYBE]

What do you guys recommend amp wise to control two outdoor speakers with Alexa?

[tcreed]

Nice I got the sonos 5.1 and I love it, looking forward getting this amp for my floor standing klipsch speakers...👍

[walterbkeen]

Have the sonos in almost every room in our house. However, they are seriously lacking with innovation. This is a great start, but they need flexibility and expandability. Still no hdmi support on a flagship $600 playbar? No 5.2 support, No 7.1.
While an argument could be made that their products are targeted to a particular customer base, i feel that their price says otherwise. Denon now has a competing technology that surpasses sonos in sound quality while remaining similar in cost. Sonos software integration may be better, but for how long?
Sonos needs to step up their game if they intend to stay relevant in such a highly competitive market.

[williamrodriguez]

Does/will the Sonos Amp individually support control through Amazon Alexa?

[CalmLikeABomb]

I dont get it. You said in the vid, that it is released in 2019, but you have it in stock on your website?

[Monkeyseemonkey]

It would be great if you could show an A/B sound demo comparison of the two different amps running the same make & model of speakers.

[juandoe]

Seriously why didn't they just make a 5.2 amp man! Right now that I'm trying to give them my money I find out I can't use my awesome center channel with this...bummer!

[duesy]

I have a number of old school components including turntable, cassette, FM tuner. How do I connect these to Sonos Amp and is there a switch to toggle among the various components?