ATMOS - Request! Would you buy new speaker if SONOS would release new playbar??

  • 15 November 2017
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Just trying to figure out how to engage Community to push sonos for atmos implementation.

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I see a lot of people complaining about other people's preferences with respect to their deployment of Sonos systems.

YES, SONOS is supposed to be SIMPLE! We get it. But it is supposed to be more than that. It always has been.

Do most people care about supporting the latest and greatest features? NO.

But if Sonos is supposed to be the END ALL BE ALL SPEAKER or positioned anywhere near that, then it needs to cater also to those that have (even more) money to throw around (like "basic" Sonos customers) and that want "more advanced" features supported by a number of providers now.

That means ATMOS and/ or DTS.

I know many audio/ video hard core fans and they have all but convinced me that an Atmos experience is not only superior and fun, but something I should seriously consider buying into. I will never spend as much as they suggest on large numbers of speakers, because I don't need that kind of experience. But, as I understand it, even sound bars with Atmos are already a pretty great improvement when the Atmos experience is supported. If I have a Sonos household, why wouldn't I want Sonos to release something that fits into it?

I am fine going elsewhere, I don't live or die by attachments to brands, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't prefer one solution over another.

If Sonos were to release an Atmos/DTS compatible sound bar today, I would hands down buy it today. As it stands, I'm considering alternate brands. This means having to weigh smart speaker systems (now that Alexa enabled is a thing), form factor, performance, and price points ALONG WITH SUPPORT FOR "advanced features" such as Atmos and/or DTS.
Yes if it integrated with my current Sonos system. Please. 7.1 and atmos support would be awesome. And please allow me to turn off the rear channel speakers on a PlayBar.
I would truly love a hometheater hub/Sonos AVR type product with multiple HDMI inputs, support for advanced audio codecs, Amazon Alexa on board, and possibly a connect amp type feature giving users the ability to add height speakers for atmos/dts x. Even without the connect amp feature maybe a nice angled speaker stand for us to position play ones for the height channels allowing for a full 5.1.2 atmos/dts x setup. The new CEO stated somewhere I was reading that releasing the playbase with just an optical port and no Alexa was not what he would have done, so I think there is reason for hope. I know if a product like this was released in the $400-600 range it wouldn’t sell like hotcakes but would sell far better then they think it would. And If they do release a product like this sonos can atleast count me in for the hub and two more play ones haha!
Why not have an advanced PlayBar for those of us, and there are many who want the advanced features and continue supporting the current one for those who like the simplicity. Sonos with its hefty price is a premium product.
^ but what about the very people that buy Sonos because ifs SIMPLE. Surely these outweigh you guys desiring ATMOS and the necessity to have 50 speakers situated around your room. To be honest, it’s ridiculous. It’s neved going to take off beyond 5.1 which is more than enough for people who want better sound sound than a TV. However many years in, I can’t think of that many friends who even having 5.1. Yet here you are talking as if ATMOS warning buyers are keeping Sonos afloat. No, simple design and good sound for better than your TV is. Sure, they can uodste if.. but let’s be reasonable about who it’s aimed at to begin with.
I have an LG 65E7P OLED as well as a Sonos Playbar, Sub and two Play 5s in my living room. Now that I have a TV which supports Dolby Atmos, and content is becoming available I really want a Playbar that supports Atmos (as well as the other formats currently missing). I've been considering the Yamaha YSP-5600, but love the quality of the sound I get through Sonos and the streaming. Sonos, please sort it out... you're seriously falling behind. I've heavily invested in your products, but people like me will start finding better options if you don't innovate.
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All streamers are going to be supporting everything you throw at them, why SONOS doesn't jump ahead is ridiculous. Their argument that their customers only stream is also ridiculous. The day I bought my playbar i also made sure to buy a frickin bluray to have best quality possible. Its ridiculous to drop almost 2k on a living room full of sonos to not have features i'd get in a $200 receiver (at least for DTS anyhow). If you only support DTS or some form of atmos with 5.1 systems that'd be fine. I'll definitely be waiting to upgrade other viewing rooms until full support is available.

But the question is, the sound that it delivers already, is it not sufficient? I mean, thrown all your DTS and God knows what else that is down converted somehow somewhere along the way, but are you so unhappy with what you actually hear? What do you actually want to hear that is so different than you already hear? Will the dialog be crisper, will the surround effects be cleaner or more special. Do Sonos need a playbar that delivers anything other than it already delivers.


I don’t think you understand how audio processing and decoding works in a multi-speaker setup.

Just because sound is coming from all the speakers does not mean anything.

Additionally, listening to an MP3 vs a hi-res audio file is not the same.

That is effectively what is happening here. Scaled-down version of the audio at best and no audio whatsoever at worst. That is not acceptable.
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Is it not the case that regardless of all these old, new and wonderful formats that even though sonos does it things “it’s own simple way” .. are the results not sufficient?.

No. It’s not sufficient for a $1700 home theater system. Not even close.

If your main criteria is “better sound than the tv” there are a host of options at less than half the price that Support modern audio codecs.

Sonos just should not be calming this as a home theater solution. It’s fine for wireless, stereo audio, but is still many times the cost of similar offerings.
DTS licenses Play-Fi, a direct competitor to SonosNet. For Sonos to license DTS would be supporting its competitor. Not something they are likely to do without compelling business reasons. Especially considering Sonos is focused on streaming, and DTS is primarily available on disks.

Personally, I find the sound effects on modern movies to be a huge distraction from the dialogue, and have little use for all these sound processing systems. Give me a movie with a great story, skip all the effects, please.
I was looking at a high quality retailer in the UK (John Lewis) and their most popular selling soundbar is .. Sonos Playbar. Given all the hoo-hah from reading here about how everyone wants Atmos, DTS.. do the numbers really support this?

https://www.johnlewis.com/browse/electricals/dvd-blu-ray-home-cinema-soundbars/soundbars/_/N-7htc?intcmp=cp_ele_dvdbluray_smbl1_top_soundbars_x261017

There are many soundbars listed. Bose is currently out of stock but even when it wasn’t, it was knowhere in its listing to Sonos.

I just wonder if a lot of you are actually aware of the actual marker and what the majority of people want. If people were that bothered about the latest buzzword then it would show in the listings of popularity. It shows Sonos IS exactly what customers want and remains top selling without the need to be the latest to list features the majority care little about.
All streamers are going to be supporting everything you throw at them, why SONOS doesn't jump ahead is ridiculous. Their argument that their customers only stream is also ridiculous. The day I bought my playbar i also made sure to buy a frickin bluray to have best quality possible. Its ridiculous to drop almost 2k on a living room full of sonos to not have features i'd get in a $200 receiver (at least for DTS anyhow). If you only support DTS or some form of atmos with 5.1 systems that'd be fine. I'll definitely be waiting to upgrade other viewing rooms until full support is available.

But the question is, the sound that it delivers already, is it not sufficient? I mean, thrown all your DTS and God knows what else that is down converted somehow somewhere along the way, but are you so unhappy with what you actually hear? What do you actually want to hear that is so different than you already hear? Will the dialog be crisper, will the surround effects be cleaner or more special. Do Sonos need a playbar that delivers anything other than it already delivers.
All streamers are going to be supporting everything you throw at them, why SONOS doesn't jump ahead is ridiculous. Their argument that their customers only stream is also ridiculous. The day I bought my playbar i also made sure to buy a frickin bluray to have best quality possible. Its ridiculous to drop almost 2k on a living room full of sonos to not have features i'd get in a $200 receiver (at least for DTS anyhow). If you only support DTS or some form of atmos with 5.1 systems that'd be fine. I'll definitely be waiting to upgrade other viewing rooms until full support is available.
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All I want for Christmas is a new updated connect (ConnectHD?) that allows you to connect digital sources via HDMI and decodes dolby/atmos/dts/MA-HD/LPCM as well as wirelessly, AptX/airplay/chromecast for playback on existing Sonos speakers, as well as perhaps a new PlaybarHD that can do height channels via DSP and be combined with existing sonos speakers for rears/surrounds.
I expect it will just be socks though.
Is it not the case that regardless of all these old, new and wonderful formats that even though sonos does it things “it’s own simple way” .. are the results not sufficient? I know I am currently still trialing my Playbar, but regardless what is thrown at, regardless of how it’s converted down to the playbar, it sounds bloody good. I have an old Pioneer LX03 with 5.1 that I switch between to compare. You know what, the Playbar sounds cleaner, with more depth - all regardless of having surround sound and all manner of names such as DTS, Dolby Digital, Etc lighting up as it would on my LX03.

The only reason I am thinking of returning it at the moment is because they might update it .. but even if they do, they’ll need to update the Playbase; but that was only recently released. So people who bought that are not going to be too happy.

Also as bad as some of you believe optical is. All new TVs deliver Dolby Digital and DTS through there fine. Sonos can take this and present it in its own way to deliver a great sound. It’s Atmos today, but really.. how many people who buy a playbar are interested in 7.1 or beyond sounds? Maybe just a few percent. Here in the UK houses are small, not like the huge houses in the US. Same all through Europe. Not many need anything beyond a playbar in truth. It delivers better sound than the TV. THAT is the point behind it! I have a Sony A1 UHDTV and it has some pretty decent sound delivery through the screen. But the Playbar is still way better.

I just don’t want to buy it now and they introduce a new one next month. That’s all. But if they do, they need to change the Plsybase .. then perhaps everything else with HDMI and God knows what. It’s going to start to look messy. Sonos was about simplicity.
Please
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I won't purchase another Sonos product until they offer support for modern hd-audio formats. Calling this a "home theater" solution is laughable without the inclusion of Atmos, DTS, Master Audio.
push
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I currently have 4xPLAY1. As soon as Sonos supports DTS and Atmos, I will buy a PLAYBAR, and another PLAY1 for 5.1 surround. I won't make this purchase until there is at least an announcement that it will work on today's hardware. I can't throw out my 5.1 setup unless I know the PLAYBAR will be able to play audio from Netflix without downconverting to stereo.

If there's not an announcement by CES this year, I'll likely stick with my current speaker and upgrade my big clunky receiver to get Atmos support.


I'm not aware of any video streaming service that supports anything higher that a Dolby Digital Plus at present. I have a substantial investment in an AV Receiver and Mordant Short speakers, in additional to my Sonos set-up, and love listening to good film sound tracks in DTS and Atmos but only from physical disks.
netflix has lots in Atmos


Sorry wasn't aware as I don't have an Xbox One or One S.
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I currently have 4xPLAY1. As soon as Sonos supports DTS and Atmos, I will buy a PLAYBAR, and another PLAY1 for 5.1 surround. I won't make this purchase until there is at least an announcement that it will work on today's hardware. I can't throw out my 5.1 setup unless I know the PLAYBAR will be able to play audio from Netflix without downconverting to stereo.

If there's not an announcement by CES this year, I'll likely stick with my current speaker and upgrade my big clunky receiver to get Atmos support.


I'm not aware of any video streaming service that supports anything higher that a Dolby Digital Plus at present. I have a substantial investment in an AV Receiver and Mordant Short speakers, in additional to my Sonos set-up, and love listening to good film sound tracks in DTS and Atmos but only from physical disks.
netflix has lots in Atmos
Just trying to figure out how to engage Community to push sonos for atmos implementation.

I've seen this same request/question elsewhere in the Sonos Community. Sonos aside I don't believe many actually understand what is required for a Atmos setup. Maybe everyone should read-up on it at the link below which may answer questions not only about Sonos integration but any speaker array:

https://www.dolby.com/us/en/technologies/dolby-atmos/dolby-atmos-home-theater-installation-guidelines.pdf


Thanks RJ40, that Dolby guide says:

---
Integrated speakers
You can select integrated Dolby Atmos enabled
speakers that include both traditional front - firing speakers and
upward - firing speakers in a single speaker cabinet or in - wall
configuration .

---

Now, where have I seen an upward firing speaker? Oh yeah, the Play 5 here:

https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2015/10/sonos-makes-a-play-to-reconquer-your-living-rooms-music/

Seems they are so close...Does anyone know if Atmos requires additional silicon, or can it be done in the firmware?
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I currently have 4xPLAY1. As soon as Sonos supports DTS and Atmos, I will buy a PLAYBAR, and another PLAY1 for 5.1 surround. I won't make this purchase until there is at least an announcement that it will work on today's hardware. I can't throw out my 5.1 setup unless I know the PLAYBAR will be able to play audio from Netflix without downconverting to stereo.

If there's not an announcement by CES this year, I'll likely stick with my current speaker and upgrade my big clunky receiver to get Atmos support.


I'm not aware of any video streaming service that supports anything higher that a Dolby Digital Plus at present. I have a substantial investment in an AV Receiver and Mordant Short speakers, in additional to my Sonos set-up, and love listening to good film sound tracks in DTS and Atmos but only from physical disks.
Userlevel 7
Just trying to figure out how to engage Community to push sonos for atmos implementation.

I've seen this same request/question elsewhere in the Sonos Community. Sonos aside I don't believe many actually understand what is required for a Atmos setup. Maybe everyone should read-up on it at the link below which may answer questions not only about Sonos integration but any speaker array:

https://www.dolby.com/us/en/technologies/dolby-atmos/dolby-atmos-home-theater-installation-guidelines.pdf
Userlevel 7
I’m wondering when Sonos will figure out they need to offer in Wall/in ceiling speakers. I’m actually prototyping my own ceiling mount for such a thing now.

As far as prototyping your own ceiling mounts you may want to visit Amazon.com :8 Unless you have a revolutionary design.
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I think a Connect like device that creates an Atmos Sonos network would be a big seller. They would probably need a Play:Atmos speaker though as well.
https://www.reddit.com/r/LinusTechTips/comments/7hkr0g/sonos_wireless_hifi_speaker_system_part_1_and On the verge of selling my playbar myself... Thanks!