Please make a sonos multi zone amp!

  • 6 January 2013
  • 64 replies
  • 6655 views

I really like my sonos equipment. However, my whole house was wired for speakers in every room (ceiling, walls, patio) with the wiring centralized in a wiring closet/built in audio rack. Instead of purchasing a separate zone amp for every room/speaker pair, I would much rather buy one or two multi zone amps from Sonos. Any chance there is a multi zone amp on the horizon? Please, please, please!!!!

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64 replies

I'll add to the chorus.  

I built a home with hardwired speakers in many rooms.  All are 8 ohm speakers, so each amp I have can drive 2 pair.

I understand the issue of not being able to have different music sources on each zone/amp.  But it would be nice to be able to connect 2 pair of speakers to each amp, and only drive one pair if I want to shut off the music in another room.
So, let me get this straight. You want the company that made it possible to do multiroom audio without the wiring to build a product that requires wiring? How does this make any sense at all? What am I missing here?

The retrofit market. Many houses are already wired this way and people want to replace the older equipment with a Sonos system.


The retrofit market. Many houses are already wired this way and people want to replace the older equipment with a Sonos system.


There has always been a small, but vocal clamoring for this from the custom installers, and Sonos has not yet indicated they have any interest in a multi-unit box. I doubt they are going to change their mind now, gives the relatively small amount of postings in this years old thread.
Not saying the Custom Integrator market is all that big. Just answering the question of why the request makes sense to some folks.
I could get away with just buying a CONNECT:AMP for each zone, but then I wouldn't be able to do the same feed to multiple zones (and would cost a fortune!).


Don't know where you got the idea that a Connect:Amp for each zone wouldn't let you do the same feed to multiple zones. That is exactly what you can do using Connect:Amp for each zone. Simply Group all your Zones together and they all play the same source. In addition, you can also have every zone playing a different source, if you wish.

As to it costing a fortune, the same functionality in a multi zone amp wouldn't be much less, if at all. The most expensive components, the amps and wireless, would have to be duplicated for each multi-zone, bringing the cost of production to about equal and, given the small demand; the lack of economics of scale means it just may cost more than the same number of Connect:Amps when all is said and done.
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Others who have done a multi-zone amp tend to be more expensive (do to lesser sales volume) than just using multiple single zone units.

As jgatie said - what functionality to you get by having them all in one box vs. multiple boxes?
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Others who have done a multi-zone amp tend to be more expensive (do to lesser sales volume) than just using multiple single zone units.

As jgatie said - what functionality to you get by having them all in one box vs. multiple boxes?


Being able to have the same feed going to multiple zones. That's really my main goal. The lower cost of having everything in one unit (8 zones per box or whatever it could be) would just be a huge bonus.

If I bought a CONNECT:AMP for each room, it would be fine (they would be tucked in the basement, out of the way), but I wouldn't be able to have the same feed going to multiple zones. Plus, it might be nice to put more than two speakers on an amp. I'm wondering about putting 4 or more in one zone.
It can be done whether you're using sonosnet, direct Wi-Fi access or completely wired. Perfectly synced audio across any and all zones is Sonos' raison d'être, it was their usp for years and arguably still is! Up to 32 zones, all playing exactly in sync, nobody else can do that.
Any Sonos unit can be Grouped with any and all other Sonos units (up to 32 total), with all units playing the same source. This can be done in WiFi mode or Sonosnet mode, though Sonosnet mode is better for larger installations. And yes, you can connect up to 4 speakers (must be 8 Ohm speakers) per Connect:Amp. Each pair will play the same source at the same volume. If you wish separate volume controls, you have to wire in manual wall controls.
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You can play sources within the Sonos app. Not programs outside Sonos app. Only way to play sources outside app right now is via AirPlay, Google chromecast, or Bluetooth. Each of those require a single attached to a Singke Sonos unit (like play:5) to input as source into Sonos.
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If your buying a new Play:5 with input it pretty simple and under $40 to add the dongle for either of these options. We actually are hoping sonos adds chromecast natively. But it's a new standard so too early to tell yet.
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Actually either or will work. Both have an input so you can add a chromecast audio $40 dongle to either and you will have full chromecast ability.
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Once you attach the chromecast dongle to a single Sonos unit all Sonos units will have access to it.
In case it isn't clear, Sonos Play5, Connect, and Connect:AMP all have inputs that you could attach a bluetooth dongle, chrome case, or airport express to.
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The new chromecast audio doesn't use USB. I have one connected currently to my play:5 (which has same 3.5mm input as the connect:amp). https://store.google.com/product/chromecast_audio?utm_source=en-ha-na-us-sem&utm_medium=desktop&utm_content=plas&utm_campaign=Chromecastaudio?gl=us&gclid=Cj0KEQiA4LCyBRCY0N7Oy-mSgNIBEiQAyg39tuoHp10ovS0Qt57jPGWICzDagZuheHKkPA6sIC12NAEaApHx8P8HAQ
The Connect:AMP has Auto-detecting analog (RCA) line-in connections.

The Chromecast video has only an HDMI out.

The Chromecast audio supports RCA, 3.5mm, and optical.
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Why is it that Sonos thinks everyone wants tech clutter in every room?
Yea, people accept it if they have no choice, but any new house these days gets built prewired with cat6 and speakers in the ceiling and nearly every "remodel to the studs" project as well.

So why wouldn't Sonia think that is a big enough market for them? Obviously Verizon thinks it's big enough with its FIOS fiber optic system (which is a way bigger investment than Sonos putting together a multi zone amp. If anything they should at least make the amps stackable.

5 years from now most houses will have a tech closet with a rack of stackable tech equipment. Having the equivalent of a 90's style network for sound equipment seems pretty ridiculous these days. Anyone remember when DIRECTV required an individual satalite dish for every concurrent tv wanting to watch a separate channel? They don't do that any more, lol!

If I want to have music in half a dozen rooms/outside do I really want 6 non stacking pieces of equipment (in an earthquake zone) on top of all my other IoT systems.

Everyone's response is that this is what Sonos has done for years. It's pretty obvious that they've been doing it this way for 5 years too long!
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I don't think people really want tech lying all over the house, especially in places like bathrooms.
The equipment attracts dust, meddling kids, water, etc (I.e just waiting for stuff to happen).

People who buy new places or are willing to remodel their house don't want the equipment cluttering every room in their house.

Sonos might think that their typical "customer" is an audiophile who doesn't mind the tech clutter, but what they don't realize is that most of these customers are married to those who are not down with having tech clutter residing outside the "man cave" lol.
And now all that clutter is scattered All. Around. The. House!
Installers/integrators have been asking for a rack mount multi-channel Connect:Amp for years, with none coming. By this time I think we can say Sonos has firmly targeted the average consumer, rather than the custom installer. What with the huge sales of Play units and the downplay of units like the Connect and Connect:Amp, I doubt we will see a small sales, niche item like this come to market.

Plus, as Chris says, if it is a half dozen Connect:Amps in a wiring closet, who cares what it looks like? On the oft chance wiring closet aesthetics are your thing, Flexon even makes a special rack mount for them.
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Sonos might think that their typical "customer" is an audiophile who doesn't mind the tech clutter...

Don't see that at all.... They won't be 'audiophiles' and Sonos kit is generally used to reduce clutter - not create it...
Sonos might think that their typical "customer" is an audiophile who doesn't mind the tech clutter...

Don't see that at all.... They won't be 'audiophiles' and Sonos kit is generally used to reduce clutter - not create it...


If you have equipment in every room, how is that not clutter?
Having to have either an amp or speakers in the bathroom on the counter in order to listen to music there for example.

Yes I know you can put in ceiling speakers and run a line to a tech closet where the amp lives, but Sonos isn't really built for that otherwise they'd put together a multi amp unit that would work for a centralized tech closet (which is my point).

So the broken window I'm trying to describe is the need for amps in all the rooms where you want to hear music, or duck taping a half dozen individual amps together in the tech closet. Is that not clear?
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It's really more a space issue than aesthetics. In addition to the stack of Sonos amps, there would be space needed for all my network routers, security system equipment, and any future IoT type centralized equipment I'll need.

And it would be good if I could still be able to stick a couple of coats in there as well, lol

Do you have a link for the mount?

Installers/integrators have been asking for a rack mount multi-channel Connect:Amp for years, with none coming. By this time I think we can say Sonos has firmly targeted the average consumer, rather than the custom installer. What with the huge sales of Play units and the downplay of units like the Connect and Connect:Amp, I doubt we will see a small sales, niche item like this come to market.

Plus, as Chris says, if it is a half dozen Connect:Amps in a wiring closet, who cares what it looks like? On the oft chance wiring closet aesthetics are your thing, Flexon even makes a special rack mount for them.
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In a closet what does six stacked vs all in one really matter. I have seen plenty just on racks too. I guess Sonos market research has told them that a more expensive all in one unit would not generate enough sales to support it. They can probably offer larger discounts to integrators on the mass market connect:amp then a small sales rack unit. It becomes all about qty sold driving down cost and the multi amp would just be a costly niche item.

a typical zone2 system would branch to 4 locations (family room, dinning room, master, study/other). There are many products over the years that work for that use case, so why wouldn't Sonos think there is a market for creating a "4 amp" solution for the same idea?
If you have equipment in every room, how is that not clutter?

It is true that most of the more premium builds in the UK now have ceiling speaker based sound system included in the price, but as far as I can see they're just there to add perceived value... I haven't heard one yet that sounds any good, and I don't know of any people who care about music quality finding them acceptable. If you just want background music, they're OK, but stereo imaging/soundstage, realism, dynamics, etc?

Sonos buyers, whilst generally not 'audiophiles', seem to care more about the quality of what they're listening to, so find the use of the small neat Sonos units a quite acceptable compromise. Generally, Sonos kit is considered quite family friendly, compared to the genuine clutter of older style AV/hi-fi kit.

Yes I know you can put in ceiling speakers and run a line to a tech closet where the amp lives, but Sonos isn't really built for that .....

Exactly - Sonos focusses it's efforts on the units with built-in speakers- the Connect and Connect:AMP are purely to support the few who favour legacy approaches. It seems very unlikely that there would be sufficient sales (and profit) for them to go any further than they do at the moment...
...the Connect and Connect:AMP are purely to support the few who favour legacy approaches. It seems very unlikely that there would be sufficient sales (and profit) for them to go any further than they do at the moment...

I think there are more than a few who use Connect/ZP90 and Connect Amp/ZP120 units considering these were the only Zone players Sonos sold for a long time and are essentially what the company was built on. While it is true that Sonos is no longer pursuing the "prosumer" customer and has shifted focus to big box store distribution and entry level installations they have also stated an intention to embrace connected home integration strategies which kind of sends a mixed signal. If they limit themselves to the "Play" product line going forward I think that will define a ceiling that limits how far they can go in the connected home space. I don't think a connected home strategy requires a multi-zone zone player product but I also don't see it going anywhere with a product line consisting only of powered speakers.
If they limit themselves to the "Play" product line going forward..... but I also don't see it going anywhere with a product line consisting only of powered speakers.

I doubt that they'll get rid of the Connect and Connect:AMP variants at the moment, just don't see that providing anything more specialist would be cost-effective.