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rob101
Contributor III
January 27, 2018
Answered

Difference between a multi-room alexa and a sonos setup?

  • January 27, 2018
  • 16 replies
  • 3035 views
I currently have 5 rooms in my flat, each with an Alexa dot connected to a powered speaker. I get multi-room audio such as "Alexa play Jazz in the kitchen".

What additional features do I get if I invest in Sonos? I don't see the difference, please help me understand the buzz!

Thanks
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    Best answer by upstatemike
    If I was making the comparison I would consider the following:

    Sonos:
    Wireless stereo pair for good sound stage
    Wireless Sub option
    Can play music from your local library that is not available on streaming services
    Can do gapless playback when playing an album
    Can be used with many automation systems not just for control but also broadcast of announcements etc.
    Can play many rooms in sync but can be VERY finicky about network issues and groups are not persistent
    Can be voice controlled using Beta software but that has a lot of issues at this time
    Can accept wired input from other devices on some models but not the most popular ones
    Has headphone jack on some models but not the most popular ones
    Does not have built-in Bluetooth but can support wired input from adapter on some models
    Good PC user interface... Phone and tablet apps available but not as nice to use
    No option to use as a speaker phone or intercom
    No option to display music lyrics
    Does not work with Audible
    Does not work with YouTube

    Echo:
    Cannot pair wirelessly but most models have line out for wired speaker pairs
    No Sub option unless you do something third party using the line out
    Can play from local library using 3rd party skill but only to one unit to a time.. Not to groups
    (No longer supports upload of personal music to play on Echo from Amazon Music)
    No gapless playback
    No option to be controlled by automation at this time apart from broadcasting announcement from Bluetooth
    Can be configured for PERSISTENT multi-room groups but this does not work with Bluetooth and 3rd party skills
    Is not as sensitive to network issues.. Echo groups often work on networks where Sonos struggles
    Voice control is excellent
    No wired input option to interface with other devices
    Most models have line/headphone jack (the Show does not)
    Has built in Bluetooth but it cannot be used with multi-room groups so not very useful
    Alexa app is similar to Sonos PC app so easier to use than Sonos phone and tablet apps
    Many excellent phone and intercom features
    Ability to display music lyrics on Show and Spot models
    Works with Audible
    Screen models work with YouTube

    16 replies

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    chicks
    chicks
    January 27, 2018

    Sonos:

    Can play many rooms in sync but can be VERY finicky about network issues


    You’re doing something wrong. SonosNet is FAR more stable than anything except the new mesh WiFi setups.


    Can be voice controlled using Beta software but that has a lot of issues at this time


    A lot of issues? Works as well as my Echo after the last update. What issues? A few missing services, but they’re coming. As is Google Assistant, which the Echo will never have.


    Good PC user interface... Phone and tablet apps available but not as nice to use


    In your opinion. Doubt the majority of users agree. The PC app is very outdated, while the phone app is very similar to just about any of the streaming apps.


    Does not work with Audible
    Does not work with YouTube


    Audible is coming. Last I heard, Google removed YouTube from the Echo Show; it’s never been supported on Echo or Dot, for obvious reasons. It’s easily supported on Playbar and Playbase, of course.


    Echo groups often work on networks where Sonos struggles


    Again, you’re doing something wrong. No other wireless music system is remotely as reliable as SonosNet.


    Most models have line/headphone jack (the Show does not)


    My Echo certainly doesn’t.


    Alexa app is similar to Sonos PC app so easier to use than Sonos phone and tablet apps

    Again, opinion, and complete nonsense IMO.
    jgatie
    jgatie
    January 27, 2018
    For a real opinion on the current app, check the pages that were formerly cursing out the 8.0 version. The vast majority of posters are praising the new changes in 8.3 and are calling the new app a great improvement.

    I also agree with chicks assessment on Sonos being "finicky". I have far more problems with Echos than Sonos. For a while I had a problem with a printer flipping off a backup battery supply, which would reboot the router and modem every time someone wanted to use the printer. Sonos came up 100% every time, all my Echos showed a problem at least once, and either had to be rebooted or the setup redone.
    Kumar
    January 28, 2018
    SonosNet is FAR more stable than anything except the new mesh WiFi setups.

    Question about the latter - what are these new mesh setups? Any examples?
    chicks
    chicks
    January 28, 2018

    Question about the latter - what are these new mesh setups? Any examples?

    Lots of them out over the past couple of years, Eero, Google, Linksys Velop, Netgear Orbi, plenty of others. Finally catching up to SonosNet after all these years, lol.
      Kumar
      January 28, 2018
      How is the mesh created? Sonos net uses Sonos units, what do these use - proprietary extenders? And if so, Sonos in WiFi mode with these in place would latch on to the nearest extender/strongest signal?
      chicks
      chicks
      January 28, 2018
      They typically come in 3-packs, which are spaced around the home to best eliminate WiFi dead spots. Not really needed for Sonos, since it forms its own mesh network.
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