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Contributor I
October 7, 2016
Question

Recommend a good amp for Sonos Connect

  • October 7, 2016
  • 13 replies
  • 7652 views
I have a Sonos Connect-Amp but seem to need more power and am planning to switch to a Connect with a separate amp. I also use a speaker selector box with built-in volume control. I currently have six zones and am going to expand to eight.

I'd like to get a good amp that won't break the bank but will give me 100 watts/channel or more. Seems that I need to double the power of the Connect-Amp or it's not worth the trouble.

One other requirement is that the amp must be auto-sensing -- it has to turn on/off with the Sonos.

I've done some searching and found some old threads but am curious as to what others are using now.
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    13 replies

    Chris
    Lead Maestro
    October 7, 2016
    Try browsing selection at Parts Express to get idea

    https://www.parts-express.com/cat/home-audio-amplifiers/106
    Respect the Queue (2)Move (3)Beam (1) Era100 (2)ARC (1)SonosOne (1)Playbar (4)Play5 (4)Play1 (3)Play3 (1)Port (2)Connect (1) Roam (2) Ace (1)Connect:Amp (4)Sonos Amp (1)Sub + (9) Echo + Smartthings; (2)Play)
    Chris
    Lead Maestro
    October 7, 2016
    This one showed out of stock there but had reviews there and on amazon recommending to power mulizone switch

    https://www.amazon.com/Pyle-P3001AT-3000W-Hybrid-Amplifier/dp/B0010KCP5M
    Respect the Queue (2)Move (3)Beam (1) Era100 (2)ARC (1)SonosOne (1)Playbar (4)Play5 (4)Play1 (3)Play3 (1)Port (2)Connect (1) Roam (2) Ace (1)Connect:Amp (4)Sonos Amp (1)Sub + (9) Echo + Smartthings; (2)Play)
    Scoob8855Author
    Contributor I
    October 7, 2016
    Thanks for the responses. I've done plenty of browsing and was hoping for some real world experience. For every amp that looks good, like the Pyle above, there are reviews saying "it's junk." So I was hoping someone has already done this.

    I am very familiar with Parts Express because I've bought several Dayton Audio speakers from them, and am a big fan of Dayton Audio. I'm considering a Dayton amp, maybe this one:
    https://www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-APA150-150-Watts-Amplifier/dp/B000VKXLBO/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1475876928&sr=1-3&keywords=dayton+audio+amplifier

    I'm also thinking of something like this:
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0052CHIYC/ref=crt_ewc_img_dp_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
    but my concerns are that I don't think it's enough of a boost in power from the Connect-Amp and also because Amazon has several reviews saying "it's junk."
    Scoob8855Author
    Contributor I
    October 7, 2016
    I should add that my goal is to have something that works just like the Connect-Amp but that has more power. My wife will be the primary user of this setup and if she has to do anything other than touch the Sonos icon on her iphone to get music, I'll never hear the end of it.

    I guess my concerns are that adding the component (amplifier) will somehow mess up the auto on/off aspect, such as if it doesn't always work the way it is supposed to. And also that I will spend the money and time and not notice an appreciable difference from using the Connect-Amp.
    chicks
    October 7, 2016
    Dayton is better quality than Pyle, which is junk. For top quality, without the audiophile BS, made in US, 7 year warranty, try ATI.
    Chris
    Lead Maestro
    October 7, 2016
    Any amp will make it like connect amp as long as you leave amp on.
    Respect the Queue (2)Move (3)Beam (1) Era100 (2)ARC (1)SonosOne (1)Playbar (4)Play5 (4)Play1 (3)Play3 (1)Port (2)Connect (1) Roam (2) Ace (1)Connect:Amp (4)Sonos Amp (1)Sub + (9) Echo + Smartthings; (2)Play)
    October 7, 2016
    Why exactly do you think you need more power than the connect:amp provides? What speakers are you using?
    Scoob8855Author
    Contributor I
    October 7, 2016
    I am in the process of switching out some old in-wall speakers that don't sound good (the sound is muddled). I just bought the house and don't know anything about them. I was having an electrician help me run wire to add some more zones - I'm going to have eight zones, meaning eight pairs of speakers - and was complaining about the sound quality to him. He told me to go ahead and replace the speakers, but he thought that wouldn't be enough and I needed a lot more power to drive that many speakers and it seems like that is right.

    When I'm done, I'll have two pairs of Dayton Audio outdoor speakers, one pair of Dayton Audio rock speakers, and five pairs of Dayton Audio in-wall/ceiling speakers.
    Prodigy III
    October 8, 2016
    Are you attempting to connect ALL of those speakers to a SINGLE amp? If so, a single Connect:Amp or any of the others listed in this thread will be completely insufficient.

    You also indicate you are setting up 8 zones. Are you hoping to have each zone independent? Or do you plan to have the same music playing in every zone simultaneously? Do you plan to have any in-wall volume controls?
    Chris
    Lead Maestro
    October 8, 2016
    He is putting it into a impedance matching switch. From my experience to 100watrs per channel handles it. I think a connect amp with about 6 zones would be lacking. Which original poster is not trying to use. A good amp will work fine.
    Respect the Queue (2)Move (3)Beam (1) Era100 (2)ARC (1)SonosOne (1)Playbar (4)Play5 (4)Play1 (3)Play3 (1)Port (2)Connect (1) Roam (2) Ace (1)Connect:Amp (4)Sonos Amp (1)Sub + (9) Echo + Smartthings; (2)Play)