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Tejs Dyrvig Ernst
April 19, 2020
Answered

Connect Amp (legacy) for surrounds

Simple question;

 

Will it still be possible to use the old Amp for driving rears together with a new AMP when the legacy-split is effected or will the old amp then “hold back” all of my new speakers?

 

I will have all my amps located in an AVR-cabinet so could save a lot  if I could buy 1 new AMP for fronts and supplement with buying a used Connect Amp for rears which sells at around 1/5 of the cost of the new Amp. 
 

Probably a long-shot but understanding is that the AMP driving the fronts defines the group so I wanted to check. 

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pwt
pwtAnswer
Virtuoso
April 19, 2020

Is there a similar “new” version of the Sonos Connect as well? Will also be needing a Sonos Port but would be fine with a used Connect if there is a “newer” version of that as well. 

Yes.

4 x P:5 | Sub | 4 x P:1 | 3 x Connect | 2 x Boost | Connect:Amp | 2 x One | Amp | Move | Port | Era 300
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19 replies

John B
April 19, 2020

My understanding is that if a system contains a ‘legacy’ Sonos component of any sort, in any role, then it can only run S1 software.

‘Modern’ Connect:Amps could be used, although presumably with not so great a saving.  C:As need a wired connection to be use as surrounds, Amps do not.

    pwt
    pwt
    Virtuoso
    April 19, 2020

    There are two versions of the old Connect:Amp. The newer of the two is not legacy and will work with the upcoming S2 software.

    The two versions are subtly different cosmetically: the newer version has a ‘Play/Pause’ symbol on its upper control button, the older version has a ‘Mute’ symbol.

    The Connect:Amp for the surrounds will need to be run off a wired connection since it lacks the 5GHz radio required for wireless HT bonding.

    4 x P:5 | Sub | 4 x P:1 | 3 x Connect | 2 x Boost | Connect:Amp | 2 x One | Amp | Move | Port | Era 300
      Tejs Dyrvig ErnstAuthor
      April 19, 2020

      Thanks for the replies. Was actually not aware of the two different versions of the Connect:AMP. Will look for a used version of the newer version. 
       

      Am aware of the need for a wired connection but that is not a concern as all of my Amps will be located in the same cabinet. 

      John B
      April 19, 2020

      There are two versions of the old Connect:Amp. The newer of the two is not legacy and will work with the upcoming S2 software.

      The two versions are subtly different cosmetically: the newer version has a ‘Play/Pause’ symbol on its upper control button, the older version has a ‘Mute’ symbol.

      The Connect:Amp for the surrounds will need to be run off a wired connection since it lacks the 5GHz radio required for wireless HT bonding.

      The buttons are a rough guide, but not exact.  The buttons were repurposed in late 2013, the ‘modern’ C:A dates from early 2015.  So ‘mute’ buttons definitely means legacy, but ‘play/pause’ is not an absolute guarantee of ‘modern’.

        Tejs Dyrvig ErnstAuthor
        April 19, 2020

        Just FYI

         

        Did a search and there are several of the newer Connect:Amps at about 230 USD which is a lot less than the 750 USD the new AMP retails for here in Denmark. So sounds like there will be a significant save. 
         

        Is there a similar “new” version of the Sonos Connect as well? Will also be needing a Sonos Port but would be fine with a used Connect if there is a “newer” version of that as well. 

        pwt
        pwtAnswer
        Virtuoso
        April 19, 2020

        Is there a similar “new” version of the Sonos Connect as well? Will also be needing a Sonos Port but would be fine with a used Connect if there is a “newer” version of that as well. 

        Yes.

        4 x P:5 | Sub | 4 x P:1 | 3 x Connect | 2 x Boost | Connect:Amp | 2 x One | Amp | Move | Port | Era 300
          John B
          April 19, 2020

          Same applies for Connect as for Connect:Amp.

          pwt
          pwt
          Virtuoso
          April 19, 2020

          The buttons are a rough guide, but not exact.  The buttons were repurposed in late 2013, the ‘modern’ C:A dates from early 2015.  So ‘mute’ buttons definitely means legacy, but ‘play/pause’ is not an absolute guarantee of ‘modern’.

          Do you have any references for this? I’ve not seen a Connect:Amp or Connect with the ‘Play/Pause’ symbol that isn’t ‘modern’, but that could just be a limitation of the samples I’ve seen.

          If this isn’t a reliable test, do you know what hardware ID(s) and/or serial numbers to look for?

          4 x P:5 | Sub | 4 x P:1 | 3 x Connect | 2 x Boost | Connect:Amp | 2 x One | Amp | Move | Port | Era 300
          John B
          April 19, 2020

          The buttons are a rough guide, but not exact.  The buttons were repurposed in late 2013, the ‘modern’ C:A dates from early 2015.  So ‘mute’ buttons definitely means legacy, but ‘play/pause’ is not an absolute guarantee of ‘modern’.

          Do you have any references for this? I’ve not seen a Connect:Amp or Connect with the ‘Play/Pause’ symbol that isn’t ‘modern’, but that could just be a limitation of the samples I’ve seen.

          If this isn’t a reliable test, do you know what hardware ID(s) and/or serial numbers to look for?

          This thread is from between April 2013 and April 2014 (first post is 6 years old) and came from a Google search item dated Oct 2013.

          https://en.community.sonos.com/components-228996/i-miss-the-real-mute-button-5740728

          Have to go out now, will post back later!

          pwt
          pwt
          Virtuoso
          April 19, 2020

          The buttons are a rough guide, but not exact.  The buttons were repurposed in late 2013, the ‘modern’ C:A dates from early 2015.  So ‘mute’ buttons definitely means legacy, but ‘play/pause’ is not an absolute guarantee of ‘modern’.

          Do you have any references for this? I’ve not seen a Connect:Amp or Connect with the ‘Play/Pause’ symbol that isn’t ‘modern’, but that could just be a limitation of the samples I’ve seen.

          If this isn’t a reliable test, do you know what hardware ID(s) and/or serial numbers to look for?

          This thread is from between April 2013 and April 2014 (first post is 6 years old) and came from a Google search item dated Oct 2013.

          https://en.community.sonos.com/components-228996/i-miss-the-real-mute-button-5740728

          Have to go out now, will post back later!

          Thanks John, but this refers to a software change in the behaviour of the (‘Mute’) button, not to the button being physically updated on the device to a ‘Play/Pause’ logo.

          I’m planning to pick up 2-3 used ‘modern’ Connects, so I want to be sure which variant I’m buying!

          4 x P:5 | Sub | 4 x P:1 | 3 x Connect | 2 x Boost | Connect:Amp | 2 x One | Amp | Move | Port | Era 300
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