For decades, the best audio systems in the world consisted of giant, heavy tower speakers, huge components and accessories, and meters of speaker wire wrapped around your room. Wired systems have limits, obviously, and getting them into places like your bedroom or bathroom? Forgeddaboudit. Fortunately times have changed and so has technology, and getting top quality sound exactly where you want it has never been easier, thanks to new advancements by Sonos.
What is Sonos?
Sonos is a smart system of HiFi wireless speakers and audio components. The speakers can be placed anywhere, and are controlled by one app that you run from any device.
How Does Sonos Work?
Sonos speakers run off your home’s Wi-Fi network. You can also add what the company calls its Bridge or Boost, which provides a hardwired connection and makes scaling up your system more reliable by providing its own dedicated network for the system to run on. The modestly priced Bridge is good for larger homes where Wi-Fi doesn’t reach all of your rooms, meaning you can easily extend the range of your network.
Sonos uses its SonosNet wireless mesh network technology, which it says provides whole-house coverage, in perfect sync, and avoids sources of wireless interference. The company says the SonosNet incorporates “sophisticated MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) technology, and SonosNet uses multiple antennas and radios together to boost signal strength and reach remote locations.”
An App that’s Smarter and Faster than Most Humans
The Sonos app is where things really get interesting. It allows you to use your smartphone, tablet or other device to access all the music you have, on any device, and from any internet service. Looking for a specific song? Just search it using the Sonos app, and it’ll figure out where you have it, whether it’s on your computer, your kid’s phone, Spotify or other streaming services. You’re no longer wasting time remembering which music is where.
Sonos’ app also has access to over 100,000 free radio stations, shows, and podcasts. The system allows you to browse for stations using specific call letters or even hunt down the show from a radio host you love.
What Sonos Can do for Your Home
With the Sonos system, you can place single speakers in any (or every) room in your home, and control them from your smart device. You can play the same audio in every room, or split up your speakers, so that there’s different music in each. You can also add or drop rooms to your playback without delays or skips, and still be in perfect sync across the rest of the system. Plus, you can access music files from up to 16 PCs, Macs or NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices on your home network, in audio formats, from iTunes® to MP3, meaning you have nearly infinite options.
Weak Wi-Fi? Worry not!
If you have weak home Wi-Fi, or the signal just doesn’t reach all rooms in the house, there’s still a way to get the best from your Sonos music system. Sonos makes components it dubs “BRIDGE” as well as “BOOST” that act as dedicated Wi-Fi networks for all your music streaming, meaning you’ll never have to fight movie downloads or web surfing for smooth tunes.
Piecing it all together
Sonos system is fully scaleable. You can start with a speaker, or two, and add pieces as you need them, or as you budget for them. Everything works together.
Sonos Speakers lineup
Sonos offers several types of speakers. From the single PLAY:1, to the three-in-one PLAY:3, or the more powerful PLAY:5 with built in dual tweeters, two mid-range drivers and one subwoofer, the options are many.
Plus there’s the PLAYBAR Soundbar, which is perfect for TV viewing if you don’t want to trick out an entire home theatre system.
Other Components
Use the BRIDGE and BOOST to create a stutter-free music experience by creating a dedicated wifi network for your music system. The CONNECT and the higher-powered CONNECT:AMP hook up to your stereo, home theatre system or powered speakers so you can wirelessly stream music to them, and gain control from your smartphone or tablet.
Take your system further with the Sonos SUB subwoofer. It gives heart-pounding sound to your room, whether it’s sitting up, or lying flat. There’s also a new product called PLAYBASE which acts as a soundbar. Red the review here.
Last Word to YOU: People Love their Sonos
Clicking through customer reviews of the Sonos line, it’s easy to see it’s extraordinarily popular.
Users like Michelle H from Toronto say, “Set up was a breeze! The system is easily controlled through either the Android or Apple app.”
Ian from Regina writes, “Wonderful big sound from a small speaker. Relatively easy to set up. Fifteen minutes and I was up and running.” Ron from Mississauga’s review reads, “Amazing line of products. Build quality and performance are top notch. Play 3 is small, portable and has great sound. Highly recommended for any space.”
In fact, almost across the board, all the Sonos products and components get 5-star ratings from owners. To me, that’s saying a lot.
