Number of Speakers

Hi @coreyal80 

It depends on the area you want to cover.  You can add up to 6 Sonance Architectural speakers to a Sonos Amp. Send us a diagram of the area and maybe we can offer suggestions.

Cheers!

Here are two pictures showing progress of what our finished addition will look like. The upstairs is approximately 25 x 13 but an I beam in the ceiling does cut through the middle creating two 13 x 12.5 spaces. The downstairs is a mirror of the above plus another 25 x 11 covered space.  

Hi @coreyal80 

Thanks for the images. Looks like the finished project will be a very nice space. 

The diagrams I’ve attached reflect 3 speakers on each level.  

The 2 inline speakers would be placed to cover what I perceive as the general entailment area (as furthest away from the elements). The other speaker in each pic is the furthest speaker to the outside of both areas. 

I recommend not placing the speakers 3 in row on the same line as all audio would be concentrated in one area.

You also have the option to reverse the tri-angle(s) if you like thus concentrating more audio to the outside. 

Sonance Outdoor speakers on hangers may be a better option as you can position the direction of the speaker/audio.

Cheers!

Thank you for your help! A few questions from what you have shown here. 
 

• There is a wood I beam in the ceiling that separates the top deck down the middle. (About 14 inches) So, if I did a third speaker in the middle it would have to go on one side or the other of that I-beam would you still recommend that?
• On the bottom portion, you think that one speaker in the middle of the 11 x 25 section is sufficient?

Hi @coreyal80 

First I forgot to mention

• You’ll want to set the Sonos Amp to send a mono signal to all speakers so that audio will be the same no matter the position of the listener.
• You’ll also want to include a volume control for each level (not each speaker).

Question #1

If you want more audio to the furthest point I’d place it (3rd speaker) to the outside of the beam.  Same goes for lower level.

Question #2

In any event you’ll want at least 4 speakers. Maybe 3 on upper and a single on the lower or vice-versa. Placing just a single speaker in any area may cause the sound to dissipate faster in open spaces.

Advice

1. Highly recommend you take a second look at the outdoor speakers as they are more directional. If not all….at least for the outward (3rd) speaker I indicated in my diagram.
2. The indoor speakers are not rated for outside use. Even if employed under a covering they are not recommended for outside exposure. Your warranty may be voided.
3. You might check with Sonos to be sure that In-ceiling speakers can be mixed with Outdoor speakers. I’ve seen no information that says they can’t 

Thank you. The speakers I plan to use in the ceiling are the architectural ones that I have been told are good for outdoors.

Interesting. I don’t see anything on the Sonance website that indicates their Architectural series are rated for external use. They do have outdoor speakers, but they aren’t in the Architectural line.  

I actually planned on getting these. Any idea if 6 of these can play off one Sonos amp?

https://www.sonance.com/outdoor/rocks-mariners-extreme/vp-extreme/products

I don’t know from whence you got your information...but Sonos in-ceiing and in-wall speakers are not rated for outdoor use. Being “good” probably refers to “sound” but certainly not intended use.  Below is taken from Sonos FAQ’s

Can Sonos Architectural speakers be installed outdoors?

Only the Sonos Outdoor by Sonance model is rated for outdoor use. The In-Wall and In-Celling models are not rated for outdoor use and should only be installed indoors.