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If you’re used to talking to Alexa through an Echo speaker or Fire TV device, you already know that Alexa is pretty good at deciphering your requests and turning them into actions. Alexa isn’t perfect, though, so if you’re new to this, expect a bit of a learning curve when figuring out what Alexa can and can’t do. Routines are a set of tasks that Google Assistant can perform with a single voice command -- for example "Hey Google I'm Leaving" can turn off all of your lights and the TV.
Apart from the optical cable, the only other connections are Wi-Fi and Ethernet. Unlike most competitors, the Sonos lacks a Bluetooth connection, but due to the number of music services Sonos supports, we don't think you'll miss it. A sound base is a flat box of a speaker designed to sit underneath a TV's stand.
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But is the Beam as “Sonos simple” as the company’s prior products? I must admit, I was quite confused as to what Sonos is trying to accomplish with this new product. Yes, it has more power than the Connect Amp and I know it’s aimed at custom installers , but what else does it offer and is there a wow factor for homeowners? I did an A-B comparison of the new Amp and the old Connect Amp to see if I could hear the differences. Let’s see if the new Amp is worth the $100 premium over the old Connect Amp. It’s time to check out another new Sonos product, this time it’s the all new Sonos Amp.
I could also AirPlay through an AirPort Express if I had to. But it's not convenient, and convenience is the whole reason I went with Sonos.
Setup
If you have bare wire or spades there are optional binding post adapters. I would have preferred however to just have five-way binding posts and not deal with extra parts. Once the Sonos One has been connected to your network and you’ve named it , the app will prompt you to use Trueplay room-tuning software from Sonos. We strongly suggest you take the 2 minutes or so that this requires to get the speaker sounding its best – it really does make a significant difference. The first Blu-ray up was "Deepwater Horizon," about the offshore oil rig mega-disaster in 2010. The explosive deluge of water, mud and oil had more dynamic impact than we usually experience with sound bar or base systems.
Most smaller ones won't fit, however, so the potential audience for the Playbase is smaller than that of the Sonos Playbar, the company's more conventionally designed sound bar. Sonos is big on pointing out that its speakers connect via Wi-Fi, not Bluetooth, and while Wi-Fi has its distinct advantages, there’s no arguing Bluetooth is a convenience most folks want. Sonos added Bluetooth LE to the One for 2019, but it’s important to understand this is not for playing music — it’s simply for slightly faster setup.
HDMI at last, kind of
For now, though, the Fire TV Cube has device control locked down, while the Beam has Alexa compatibility and AirPlay 2 support right out of the box and will add Google Assistant later this year. I would say this is in a step in the right direction for Sonos to meet the growing custom integration market, but I feel it’s a bit too little to late here. It finally hits the points installers have been asking for but doesn’t really break any new ground into what could have been an awesome and exciting product. Had we have seen more power, three channels, Alexa, and perhaps a phono stage, that would have been cool. The ability to add a turntable as a source into any Sonos system without a phono pre-amp would be awesome.
You can also use the Playbar with the new splayed-leg "clawfoot" style of stand too -- if the space between the tabletop and the bottom of the screen can accommodate the Playbar's 2.28-inch height. When we heard Sonos was making a sound base, we knew the company was taking a hell of a risk. That's because many of today's TVs simply won't fit on top of them. Ex-movie theater projectionist Steve Guttenberg has also worked as a high-end audio salesman, and as a record producer.
Upgrade your lifestyleDigital Trends helps readers keep tabs on the fast-paced world of tech with all the latest news, fun product reviews, insightful editorials, and one-of-a-kind sneak peeks. The ability to choose between the two major voice systems further ups the One's appeal, especially to Google households. Shop your favorite products and we’ll find the best deal with a single click. I love Sonos and it works great for TV based Home Cinema but if you are using a projector or a TV that doesn't have an Optical out then you are in trouble.
Love my Sonos System, the Air Play issue bothers me, but given that Sonos can play whatever is on your iPad or iPhone I get around it ok. Apple TV 4G just added the Synology DS Video App so it is great having acess to my Video Collection on the TV and hence Sonos. Also, while I'm being all complaint guy, HomeKit for full-on Siri control would make things even better. I'd be willing to buy a new Playbar or Connect just for that. I've heard there's some issue with multi-room licensing, but whatever the reason, it's beyond frustrating.
There’s also just a tinge of metallic attack in the upper midrange. I created a simple setup for the test using a pair of Bowers and Wilkins AM-1 outdoor speakers. I honestly couldn’t hear much difference in sound or even volume level.
I also was disappointed that the amp can’t really play louder than a connect amp. The sound difference to me is only minor and most listeners would never know the difference between a Connect Amp and an Amp in the average system. Find out more in our in-depth Beam vs Playbar vs Playbase feature. The Beam maintained its clarity and forceful bass response while we listened to music, but this is the first time we walked away feeling a Sonos speaker sounded more cinematic than musical. Compared to a pair of Sonos One speakers in stereo, the Beam had a slightly more boxed-in sound, likely due to a midbass hump that adds to the illusion of deep bass, but tends to trade off openness in the lower midrange. The treble and upper mids still had plenty of air and clarity, but in a way, they seemed somewhat disconnected from the rest of the sound profile, as if floating on top of a thick, meaty music foundation.
Otherwise, setup of the One is pretty streamlined, and adding Alexa to your account is performed automatically. Be aware that it virtually forces you to do a TruePlay setup when you install it, which involves waving your phone around the room for 60 seconds. Also, you may want to check the EQ as by default the Loudness control is set to "On", and I found it sounded better with it off.
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