122 MACWORLD DECEMBER 2019
PLAY LIST REVIEW: SONOS AMPthat’s built into an adjacent wall. In addition
to providing independent volume control
for each pair of speakers, this device
prevents the impedance presented to the
amplifier from dropping too low, a scenario
that could damage the amplifier. The Amp
never broke a sweat driving the speakers
individually (selected one at a time on the
Niles Audio SS-4) or all three pairs at the
same time (with all the speakers selected
on the box).
Sonos’ take on this arrangement,
however, is that it doesn’t deliver the best
listener experience. The company
recommends instead that consumers
deploy one Amp for each room, and that
they use the Sonos software as the
speaker selector. They have a point—to a
degree: My setup can’t play
different music in each room,
and without the in-wall volume
controls, all the speakers would
play at the same level.
But apart my home theater,
my home’s open floor plan
would make it difficult to isolate
the great room, the kitchen, and
the enclosed patio from each
other anyway—music from one
will bleed into the others at
almost any volume level. In any
event, the setup I’ve come up
with works for me in the same
way my unconventional Sonos
mmmm
Sonos Amp
PROS- Powerful performance from
a compact, supremely
flexible audio amplifier. - Impeccably designed and
engineered.
CONS - Building a 4.1 surround
system for movies and TV
will add at least $997 to
your tab. - You will never get a true
center channel (i.e., it’s not
possible to build a 5.1
surround system).
PRICE
$599
COMPANY
Sonos
Connect/Sonos One/Sonos Sub
configuration does. More importantly for
anyone thinking of following my example,
it doesn’t void the warranty on the Amp.BOTTOM LINE
The Sonos Amp isn’t the right solution for
everyone, a point that Sonos need not be
embarrassed about. In fact, I suspect most
Sonos Amp sales will go to custom
installers, just because so few people want
to deal with speaker wire these days. But if
you’re a true audio enthusiast who wants
all the power and flexibility of a Sonos
multi-room audio system, and you want
higher-end loudspeakers than what Sonos
has to offer (in terms of wireless speakers,
that is, as I haven’t listened to anything in
the Sonos by Sonance lineup),
the Sonos Amp is a fabulous
choice that will drive any passive
loudspeakers you own.
Another alternative would be
to go with a Sonos:Connect and
a pair of self-powered speakers
(or a Connect, an outboard
amplifier, and passive speakers),
but the Amp is simpler and more
elegant—especially if you’re
connecting it to a TV. It’s
incredibly well engineered,
supremely easy to set up and
use, and it sounds positively
divine. ■