Skip to main content
alecf
Contributor I
April 28, 2012

Why is Connect more expensive than Play?

  • April 28, 2012
  • 179 replies
  • 75917 views
I just got my first pair of Sonos units - two Play:3's for the kitchen and bedroom and I absolutely love them. I'm not a huge audiophile, but the convenience and total plug 'n play nature of Sonos is what attracted me to it.

Of course the next thing that occured to me was how to get this connected up to my stereo.

What I don't understand is why the basic Connect is $349 while the Play:3 units are $299 each. I mean if anything it seems like a Connect is just a Play:3 without the speakers and amp? Why does it cost so much more for fewer features? Seems like the guts of the connect should be a $99 unit - I meant he appleTV is $99, and it does way more (At least in terms of technological capability - video/etc) than the connect.

To be honest I've been drooling over Sonos for years - and I know the quality is very high, but the expense of the units has always put me off. It wasn't until the Play:3 that I felt like there was enough bang-for-the-buck to justify diving in... I'm probably going to get at least 2 or 3 more Play:3's for elsewhere in the house, but it's going to be hard to justify the Connect until the price comes down further. It's still cheaper to just put a Play:3 in the same room as my stereo - it's small and powerful enough to just sit near my existing speakers.
      This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.

      179 replies

      Show previous replies
      ratty
      ratty
      September 9, 2015
      Because, to reiterate a point made a number of times in this evergreen thread, there's a difference between cost and price.

      Sonos will charge what they can for CONNECT (and ZP80 before it) because of the tangible benefit it offers the consumer, and his/her willingness to pay for that. The purchasing decision of someone Sonos-enabling "thousands of dollars" worth of audio kit is hardly likely to be affected by $100 either way.

      But, hey, if you're happy with AppleTV then stick with it. IMO you get what you pay for,
      clickner
      Lyricist III
      September 9, 2015
      Ratty what do I get from sonos that I can't get from appletv?
      ratty
      ratty
      September 9, 2015
      I suggest you do a bit of basic research. How about starting with multi-room sync. And 60+ music services. Not to mention the other Sonos Player models apart from CONNECT.

      Okay, if all you care about is a single un-amplified streaming device and Apple services then maybe ATV is for you.
      clickner
      Lyricist III
      September 9, 2015
      I stream anything you can with sonos to multi room with my appletvs. And are all in sync. I am looking for specifics ratty.
      ratty
      ratty
      September 9, 2015
      So ... you already have ATVs, and you're quite happy with their service support and the "sync" they offer. And you just joined this board to throw rocks.

      Okay, I'm done. I've been here long enough to recognise the pattern...
      clickner
      Lyricist III
      September 9, 2015
      No I am always looking to try something new but trying to wrap my head around why it's so much more. Not going to adopt something new if it's 3.5 times my current setup
      clickner
      Lyricist III
      September 9, 2015
      No spacifics Ratty? Anyone else? Is there a reason for me to try something new. Really want to know.
      jgatie
      jgatie
      September 9, 2015
      No spacifics Ratty? Anyone else? Is there a reason for me to try something new. Really want to know.

      He already gave specifics, you can't be this obtuse. But I will add more:

      Mesh architecture that is 10x more reliable than standard WiFi,
      A choice of components ranging from the small Play:1 to the Play:5, Sub, Playbar, Connects, etc.
      The most music services of any multi-room streamer.
      Line-in input on the Connects and Play:5.

      Those are just some of the differences. There are many more, but if you want to keep insisting that Apple TV gives the same experience as Sonos, then there will be no convincing you, and you are indeed only here to throw rocks.
      clickner
      Lyricist III
      September 9, 2015
      Jgatle no I didn't see any spacifics that I can't do with an appletv. You say it streams more but what are those services? I have any streaming service out there and to all my devices at the same time with no down time. I really was looking for a reason to try something else before purchasing the new appletv announced today but no one seams to give me spacifics.
      jgatie
      jgatie
      September 9, 2015
      Jgatle no I didn't see any spacifics that I can't do with an appletv. You say it streams more but what are those services? I have any streaming service out there and to all my devices at the same time with no down time. I really was looking for a reason to try something else before purchasing the new appletv announced today but no one seams to give me spacifics.

      I give up! Putting aside the fact that you could look up on this very site what music services are supported, what is not "specific" about a mesh architecture, having many more speaker/component options as opposed to a single unamplified box, and having a line-in option so you can connect other sources? You may not be looking for those features/options, but they are most certainly "specific" differences between Sonos and Apple TV. Big, honking differences at that!
      Show more replies
      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement