They did it folks; they finally did it. After 10 years, Sonos has delivered the updated Sonos: Amp. An updated version of their award winning Connect: Amp. But that is not all Sonos has added recently. They also introduced the Sonos: Port and Sonos: Move. The Sonos port is also a long awaited update to the original Sonos: Connect. These products offer a substantial technology upgrade over the previous models. Let’s go over the new, improved features.
Sonos: Amp
The reason it took Sonos so long to upgrade this, was that fact that the original Connect: Amp was so good at what it did. There are however, many advantages to taking the leap and replacing or adding this new product into your existing system. The Amp will have all the same features as before as well as the following:
125w per channel. This allows for a much richer and punchier sound. Previously the Connect: Amp offered 55w per channel.
Safely rated for 8ohm and 4ohm. Allowing up to two pairs of 8ohm rated speakers to be powered by one Amp.
Apple Airplay 2 support- This is a big one for apple users.
Mono Support. The new Amp can offer Mono support to each channel, allowing a more spaced out approach.
Cleaner look. These new units can be stacked or mounted in a rack, where the previous model could not.
HDMI port with full ARC support. This allows you to use bookshelf speakers without the use of a receiver. It can be set up as a 2.0 setup, 2.1 setup, or 4.1 setup. The technology in the Amp allows for a phantom center channel for the left and right channels.
Crossover frequency control from 50hz-110hz. This allows for better sound integration with a sub.
Sonos really thought about the key features they wanted with the new Amp. it is a significant upgrade in quality and features. There is also a trade-in program for the Connect: Amp to Sonos: Amp. If you are interested in hearing more , give us a call.
Sonos: Port
Now it’s time to take a look at the new kid on the block, the Sonos: Port. This is the little brother to the new Amp. This unit is a direct replacement for the original Sonos: Connect. It is a streaming device that allows an existing audio system to have Sonos capabilities. It also allows a user to add in an input (such as a turn table) into the Sonos system. Here are some of the new features on the all new Sonos: Port:
Apple Airplay 2 support. Allows control of your music from an Apple product.
Richer sound through higher quality playback.
12v trigger. This allows the Port to send a signal to some AVRs to turn the AVR on without programming commands into remotes.
Cleaner look. These new units can be stacked or mounted in a rack, where the previous model could not.
The AirPlay 2 support alone is worth the cost in upgrading to the Sonos: Port. There is also a trade-in program for the Connect to Sonos: Port. If you are interested in hearing more , give us a call.
Sonos: Move
Sonos has finally come out with a purely wireless speaker. The move has a docking station for recharging an internal battery. Allowing you to “move” around with it as you see fit. It also has bluetooth capabilities for when you take it on the go with no wifi. Here are some of the key features:
WiFi, Apple Airplay2, and Bluetooth support
Built in Amazon Echo with Alexa or Google Assistant
10 hours of battery life between charges
Adaptive audio tuning to its environment
Weather resistant, IP56
Ultra durable with impact resistance
Can be charged with the base station or a USB C type charger
Price $399
Consumers have probably been waiting for the solution from Sonos for a while. It enables users to quickly add music to a patio or an event outside the home. We for one think its a great addition to an already great product line. If you are interested in the Move, give us a call.
Sonos is a fantastic product as many of you may know. If you have not yet jumped into the Sonos eco-system but would like to, reach out to us and we can explore these new Sonos options to ensure a good fit for you and your needs. For those of you that already have Sonos products in your home and would like to upgrade an older connect or amp, please reach out as we have upgrade programs that can help.