So..it's been almost a year since the announcement. Alexa integration guys?

But don't underestimate Amazon's drive for market shares.
I do not, however, Amazon's Echo devices seem to aim especially for owners of home automation systems, whereas Sonos' core competencies excel in Music, Music, Music.

Amazon's aim is to maintain market share in digital assistants. If Apple forces them to change focus from automation to music in order to accomplish that you will be amazed at just how fast they can execute the shift. Sonos would not be a factor in their decision to do this.

Remember that Amazon would be adding multi-room features and releasing the new higher fidelity speaker to combat the challenge presented by Homepod, not as an effort to compete with Sonos. Any impact on Sonos would be purely collateral.

I don't see Amazon adding stereo pairing or wireless subs any time soon unless they need to because of something Apple or Google does in that space. Sonos will still have differentiators that matter.

This. Amazon's technologies are aimed at making the shopping experience ever cheaper, faster, easier, more efficient. They want to be the one place where you make all of your purchases. Virtually all of their house brand products are value oriented. Inexpensive but functional tripods, speaker wire, etc. Nobody is going to exchange their Manfrotto or Gitzo tripod for an Amazon Basics.

The idea that Apple's upcoming speaker will approach HiFi is laughable. Seven tweeters in a circular array? Really? That ought to image well, lol. It's designed so that a single speaker can spray sound indiscriminately around the room, not for great stereo imaging, which a pair of Play:1s do brilliantly, with great accuracy to boot. Amazon will have a low bar to equal Apple's SQ. They won't need to compete in Sonos' arena.

But don't underestimate Amazon's drive for market shares.
I do not, however, Amazon's Echo devices seem to aim especially for owners of home automation systems, whereas Sonos' core competencies excel in Music, Music, Music.

Amazon's aim is to maintain market share in digital assistants.[...]
Home automation systems and digital assistants are two sides of the same coin; for me, at least.

Apart from the debacle which Sonos created with its' cumbersome surround sound implementation, what would the Echo multiroom concept be lacking other than stereo pairing setup capability and eventual integration of further 3rd party audio sources like TuneIn, AppleMusic et al?
Grouping dedicated players with each other sounds exactly as what made Sonos famous in the first place.


Besides pairing and bonding, there is also alarm features and integration with smart hubs and such, for me at least. For many people, there won't be any difference in features they really care about.. Those same people may be just as happy with 5 dots as they would be with 5 PLAY:5s. But those people were never really Sonos customers to begin with, I imagine, so what difference does it make?

Looking at it differently, part of the reason why the echo has taken off, while Google Home not so much, is because echo dots are cheap. Now, I expect the Homepod to do well despite it's price point, but because people love Apple, not because it's the best product. I honestly don't think Amazon would do as well at the same price point because people don't buy everything with an Amazon label on it.

So, I'd agree with others that say Amazon will do what it takes to control the market, but I don't think they are planning to replace Sonos unless they have to.

Somewhat of an aside, but I don't really care for the idea of having all my speakers having voice assistant mics on them. One mic per room is the way to go, while I want multiple speakers. The tech may even prove, but it's already a little frustrating when I talk to the kitchen echo and my bedroom echo responds. I don't want have echo's/alexa's (one for each speaker) listening to me.

Could a mod please verify that the poster passop is a former Sonos employee? Otherwise, I find his claim questionable at best, unless he sold Kindles and Sonos at Best Buy.

Which claim are you referring to exactly, jgatie?

Somewhat of an aside, but I don't really care for the idea of having all my speakers having voice assistant mics on them. One mic per room is the way to go, while I want multiple speakers.

With virtually everyone walking around with a smartphone (or smartwatches, alternatively) in their pocket these days I am actually hoping for a concept where your phone's mic is being used as the main voice recognition interface. Just speculating, it would come handy though.

Somewhat of an aside, but I don't really care for the idea of having all my speakers having voice assistant mics on them. One mic per room is the way to go, while I want multiple speakers.

With virtually everyone walking around with a smartphone (or smartwatches, alternatively) in their pocket these days I am actually hoping for a concept where your phone's mic is being used as the main voice recognition interface. Just speculating, it would come handy though.

A big part of the appeal of Echo's and the like, for me anyway, is that I don't have to pick anything up or push any buttons before I give my voice command. I don't want my phone to be always on me. As well, I want my kids and guests to be able to utilize voice commands without me handing over a phone or tablet to them.

Which claim are you referring to exactly, jgatie?

I thought I spelled it out quite clearly; the claim you are a former employee of Sonos and Amazon. I find those claims a crock, and demand proof.

with the news/rumors that amazon will soon release a skill for echo multi room function, I thinking / hoping Sonos will also release the much awaited Amazon/Sonos integration.....