Amazon Echo / Dot and Sonos Integration

I disagree with this. Sonos' key feature was the multi-room aspect, which previously led people to buy their higher end products because they already had the Play1. Now, if customers get an Echo rather than a Play1, they're not tied in to having to get the higher end Sonos product.


How many of those echo customers are buying it for multiroom? I'd bet few, since Amazon barely even mentions it as a feature. How many echo customers then discover that they like multiroom, but really wish they had better sound quality, or that they can't get sound from the tv, or what have you?

Personally, I don't think there are a lot of customers that really care about multiroom, but aren't interested in sound quality beyond what an echo can provide. They may use the mutiroom because it's there, but it wasn't a selling point for them.

But it's opinion, so, whatever.




I'm speaking directly from my experience in this regard. I was originally intrigued by Echo. But the fact that Sonos was able to do multi-room while Echo could not, was absolutely what caused me to go with Sonos.

And other customers are going to come from different angles. I was interested in sonos originally because of their ability to play mp3 wirelessly. I wasn't interested in multiroom at all. I did eventually get a couple more for multiroom, but still wasn't interested in sonos speakers. I ended up inheriting sonos speakers and bought a few more after that point.

I know another person who was only interested in an easy to control home theatre, so when with that setup. No interest in multiroom whatsoever. Then there are other s who chose echo for voice control. I would not be surprise if they upgrade to sonos with voice control after a point, for the better sound quality. The seal is broken for them and a sonos systems doesn't seem to far out of reach.

But again, it's opinion.

How many of those echo customers are buying it for multiroom? I'd bet few, since Amazon barely even mentions it as a feature. How many echo customers then discover that they like multiroom, but really wish they had better sound quality, or that they can't get sound from the tv, or what have you?

Personally, I don't think there are a lot of customers that really care about multiroom, but aren't interested in sound quality beyond what an echo can provide. They may use the mutiroom because it's there, but it wasn't a selling point for them.

But it's opinion, so, whatever.


Of course people buy products for various different reasons. But I don't think there's any denying that voice controlled speakers are one of the hottest tech products right now, if not the hottest.

It may seem like I'm coming across as bashing Sonos. That's not my intent. I love my Sonos speakers. I just don't want them to become extinct.

Anyway, the Sonos "voice control" event is Wednesday, this week, let's see what happens before making any losers or winners decisions. We might get the date for the firmware update allowing Alexa control of all existing Sonos hardware.
For the multi room experience I think we can probably pick a winner. Yes, there is a sound quality difference. But you can get a Play1 for $199 and an Echo Dot for $50. Or, you can get an Echo for $100 (or a Dot for $50). If you expand that to 5 rooms, that's $1,250 for Play1/Dot, or $500 for Echo.

History has shown that the cheapest product is not always the market winner, even when features are similar. Apple products are a good example. The Beats headphones may be a better example. Perhaps bluetooth speakers may be the best. There is wide range of quality and price, and plenty of room for all needs.

And absolutely, that doesn't mean that the cheapest isn't the best or market winner. I think Amazon does have a decent reputation for quality and will very well satisfy a lot of people. Then again, I'd argue that the person who is satisfied with an Amazon multiroom system likely was never going to by a Sonos system to begin with.

Lastly, Sonos doesn't have to win. They don't have to have to most sales or largest % of the market. They only need to be profitable.

For the multi room experience I think we can probably pick a winner. Yes, there is a sound quality difference. But you can get a Play1 for $199 and an Echo Dot for $50. Or, you can get an Echo for $100 (or a Dot for $50). If you expand that to 5 rooms, that's $1,250 for Play1/Dot, or $500 for Echo.

Comparing a Dot to a Play:1 is like comparing the single earphone that I used to listen to my transister back in the 70's to a pair of Sennheiser headphones. The Dot by very definition is low fidelity meant for voice responses only. Comparing that to the Play:1 is disingenuous at best. Will there be people happy with the Dot for music playback? Sure, but those types iof "cheaper is best, the hell with sound quality" are not Sonos' market in the first place.

I agree jgatie....to state the obvious.

To be fair though, the comparison wasn't really dot to P:1, but the new Echo ($100) to P:1 which is a lot better sound, but still not a P:1 if reviews are to be believed. Probably much more exceptable to a lot of potential customers. Sonos would then need to focus on home theatre integration, stereo pairs, the higher end speaker options, and more music sources as the differentiaton.

You don't need a speaker with built-in microphones to voice control it. Almost any single Alexa device, like the free Amazon app for Android & iPhones will let you control all your existing Sonos players.

Separate the voice/audio user interface from the things being controlled.

I agree jgatie....to state the obvious.

To be fair though, the comparison wasn't really dot to P:1, but the new Echo ($100) to P:1 which is a lot better sound, but still not a P:1 if reviews are to be believed. Probably much more exceptable to a lot of potential customers. Sonos would then need to focus on home theatre integration, stereo pairs, the higher end speaker options, and more music sources as the differentiaton.
Thanks. I even stated in my post that there is a clear sound quality difference. The point of me mentioning the Dot in the comparison is that it's at least an option. I mentioned earlier in the thread that I liked the idea of maybe putting a Dot in a closet. But I would never consider using it as music source in a larger space.

Lastly, Sonos doesn't have to win. They don't have to have to most sales or largest % of the market. They only need to be profitable.
That I agree with. I guess time will tell.

You don't need a speaker with built-in microphones to voice control it. Almost any single Alexa device, like the free Amazon app for Android & iPhones will let you control all your existing Sonos players.

Separate the voice/audio user interface from the things being controlled.
I don't think it's just the voice control of the music that people are buying the built-in microphone speakers for.

Plus, if I understand your recommendation correctly, I'm not sure it's any different than just using the Sonos app to control the music. It does offer the voice control. But you still have to use an app to get to it.