Why is Connect more expensive than Play?

We usually try not to get involved in these sorts of discussions on why to buy Sonos versus a competitor, obviously I'll have my preferences. Just like the pricing of products, there's a lot you get for the price on the CONNECT. We think it's the right price, but we recognize some people may disagree, and that's ok.

One major feature Sonos has included in our multi-room support is the way we handle control. In most cases, you aren't sending a song to your players from your controller. The Sonos software is more like a remote control, it sends a signal and the players take it from there.

Using any controller, iOS, Android, or desktop, you can tell any of your rooms, in any combination to play any of your audio sources. For example, you can stream 3 different songs from Spotify to 3 different rooms, all using your iPhone. You can group some rooms, and not others, have 3 players playing one song, 2 players another, and a third a radio station.

Every Sonos controller you're using can change what's on in any room, at any time.

Just a more general comment here, I know this sort of discussion can get heated, but please remember our terms of use on the community here, let's try to respect everyone here. Personal attacks are not allowed, disagreeing with statements and comments is perfectly fine. Thanks.

Thank you Ryan!!! Those are specifics, I cannot play multiply things to different rooms from one source, have to another source into the mix at that point. Is that enough of a reason to switch that is something I would have to look at. Ryan can you answer the original question about if the play:1 is $199 why can't you pull out the amp and speaker and put in a digital output and sell for around $100 to$150? it just seams the "audiophile" gets taxed because they spent so much on their system already.

jgatie: I know there are differences I was asking for specific things the sonos could do that I could not do with an Apple TV.

Thank you Ryan!!! Those are specifics, I cannot play multiply things to different rooms from one source, have to another source into the mix at that point. Is that enough of a reason to switch that is something I would have to look at. Ryan can you answer the original question about if the play:1 is $199 why can't you pull out the amp and speaker and put in a digital output and sell for around $100 to$150? it just seams the "audiophile" gets taxed because they spent so much on their system already.

As I said above, we tend not to go into specifics for pricing of products. In the case of the CONNECT, it's a very different product from the PLAY:1. In some cases they can do similar things, but the hardware is almost completely different. The CONNECT has a lot to offer, including an analog line-in, three different audio outputs all active at the same time, an extra Ethernet connection, and more. We don't have any plans now to change the pricing of components but we'll be sure to let everyone know if that changes at some time in the future.

jgatie: I know there are differences I was asking for specific things the sonos could do that I could not do with an Apple TV.

Different music in different rooms at the same time is one such. And you can have a dedicated to audio wifi set up only with Sonos.

I agree the Connect is too much. I decided to get the Google Chromecast Audio for my main stereo. $35 (USD), $45 (CAD). No brainer.

Yes and no, it still isn't a no brainer if you need the hardware buttons on the unit for quick/easy volume change and stop/start. Or if you need the slicker Sonos user interface. Over the years, the extra price for the Connect delivers value.

Yes, because the CC does now ask valid questions of the Connect price.

Hi All, I thought I give some insight from a potential Sonos customer as a courtesy. I'm a music lover with an investment in Airplay. I have multiple B&W airplay speakers around the house as well as a few Lirbatone products. I'm also a budget audiophile with several more traditional music systems around the house. It's not crazy pricey stuff but gear that I purchased intending to keep it forever. I'm very attracted to the Sonos system. The quality of the $199 Play:1 is perfect for the price and I could see putting 5 or 6 around the house. (Scrapping the airplay stuff) The mesh network is also a big selling point. Unfortunately I just cannot get into the system with the Connect unit priced the way it is. I have 3-4 systems around the house that would need one, and I can see adding more in the future. Between a home theater, a living room listening setup, powered monitor speakers in my office that I won't part with and a headphone amp/DAC rig (and plans for a second headphone setup), I'm looking at the better part of 2k to integrate gear I already own into the Sono's environment. This isn't workable. I'm currently driving this gear with Airport Express's at $99 each.

So just an FYI, if you guys can get the cost of a bridge to existing gear into the $100-$150 range, I'd be in for a handful of those and a handful of speakers. As it currently stands the price/performance ratio of the system for someone with a bit of existing gear isn't something I can justify.

So just an FYI, if you guys can get the cost of a bridge to existing gear into the $100-$150 range, I'd be in for a handful of those and a handful of speakers. As it currently stands the price/performance ratio of the system for someone with a bit of existing gear isn't something I can justify.
Whilst it might be feasible to build a CONNECT replacement quite cheaply, the development cost would be substantial and would detract resources from projects with much better investment return. CONNECT is believed to have the lowest sales volume of all the models.

In fact the build cost of the current model might not be that great, since tooling costs must have been amortised long go, but Sonos will price it at what the market will bear. For those with, say, a $5k stereo system the addition of a CONNECT is relatively small change.

If you have budget kit around the house which you wish to Sonos-enable then one can understand that the CONNECT cost could grate. Why not try eBay. The ZP90 is functionally the same as CONNECT. Even the venerable ZP80 could well suffice, since the only major difference compared to the CONNECT is that it uses SonosNet 1.0, with slightly less range than the current SonosNet 2.0.

Thanks, that's helpful. I will check out the parts you mentioned. I hadn't heard of them but they sound like an option... Your point on profitability of the Connect is well taken, and I understand the reality of selling a low volume product (I actually work in audio hardware manufacturing, but in the pro-audio field). It's still true that lack of availability of a Connect like product at a price I can bare is preventing me from purchasing what I assume are speakers with better margins in them. Don't take this as a rant, I'm just trying to provide some feedback from someone who's interested but not yet a customer