I know, it's another DTS thread. Sonos, I have used your products over many years. I am very impressed and right now, you are the Apple of Speakers when it comes to terms of quality and sound. I own 4 x P1s, 2 x P3, Sub + 2 x Gen 2 Play 5's and the very ... very... sad Playbar.
I have read many forums over the years and I have seen the anguish between many customers. I have never really commented because my patience was long and lasting... assuming one day you would care about this one point... but you are selling a locked eco-system that has the capability to drive customers mad. As I stated, you are the Apple of Speakers... but I feel like at times, there is a Steve Jobs at your company that is saying "no" to the bigger iPhone and watching customers endure the madness. What I am getting at is that it's 2016 and there are two things that are driving me mad (it's been a slow build up).
1. The new play 5's... the GEN 2s... some genius decided that the AUX ports are disabled when paired as a 5x1 theater system. For the first time, I was like... hey... I can use apple airplay (airport express) with my SONOS. Nope, I have two expensive speakers that when I use them as a theater system, the AUX ports do not work. So I sent an email and you thought it was a good idea... just a good idea... something that should have been standard from release. It's actually a main reason why I bought them and pushed over the play 3's. I can have upgraded speakers and use the AUX port when needed. When I disconnect them from the theater system, the AUX port shows back up... how convenient.
2. The DTS issue. I understand that over time, this may have not seemed like a big deal. You have to understand everything is moving to 1080p - 2160p and 4k. Audio is moving towards that direction also. I have implemented solutions where the audio splits so I can get 5.1 with the soundbar... but there needs to be some announcement in regards to a solution (and I respect the current play bar cannot handle it). Maybe the solution is a GEN2 speaker. Me personally, I would pay $999+ if you have a new sound bar that could accept hi-def connections... just as you created the GEN2 Play 5's.
Anyways, I can no longer defend SONOS. I am getting mad. If you know your going to create a locked eco-system and have consumers invest in an expensive theater system... you should listen to this one part. You see endless threads on it. Your right... I can just walk away, but you had me invest into an eco-system and you sold something that was only partially true. I know your response team reads this and there is a complicated process to make products. This is why Samsung and other companies can never match you... but a company that offers consumers a high-def system for twice the price.. I would be willing to toss every speaker on eBay and switch. My friends laugh at the SONOS system that pushes only... STEREO... unless there is a work around.
As of now, there is no worry because no one can match your quality... yet. Please create a GEN2 play bar... I bet people will pay even more... but in the end... your products are always worth it and that's why I would purchase it. Fix the DTS weakness (and please fire the engineers or quality control team who thought the AUX ports being disabled for the new GEN2's when used as a theater system - joking... but it's like selling a TESLA that requires a manual crank to start the car).
I mean well and write this because I care about the organization and I'm not here to randomly complain. Do something... than state what we already know.
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But sure, if you were to offer me the job of CEO at Sonos, I'd be happy to evaluate direction. But, I suspect that the current folks have been doing that for a long time, and based their decisions on what the true marketplace is looking for. My perception is that the folks who tend to post on these boards are the 1%, and not necessarily representative of the entire marketplace, particularly of those that Sonos may be going after.
Just dumped everythign on ebay. Google connect is now the thing. I love it!
It's an insult. This was the last straw and now selling everything. Google home along with true multicasting around the house and talking to a speaker is great. Jamming now!
It's an insult. This was the last straw and now selling everything. Google home along with true multicasting around the house and talking to a speaker is great. Jamming now!
Great! I'm happy for you. Enjoy your interactions on a different support/community forum.
I made peace with this issue (TOSLINK on PlayBar only, can only use Sonos speakers or CONNECT:AMP as surrounds, no 7.1 or Dolby Atmos support, etc...) and what I've come to is that in my main viewing room, I have a PlayBar (connected via TOSLINK) to the flat panel, a Sonos SUB for sub stuff and a CONNECT:AMP to drive a pair of rear speakers and all this controlled via a Logitech Harmony Elite remote control. This is a "good enough/easy to use" audio and remote control system. I also have a 7.1 receiver that is fed the HDMI from an HDMI extender (one output goes to the panel via a CAT6 extender and that extender has an HDMI loop output that provides essentially a duplicate of the HDMI output port that is on the far end by the panel, I use this loop output to feed my 7.1 receiver). All HDMI switching is done with a 5x1 HDMI switcher. Now when my wife or kids want to watch something, the Sonos audio system is a piece of cake, it all just works well enough. When I (or we) want to do serious watching with serious sound, I have my 7.1 receiver drive the speakers, using a relay control to disconnect the rear surrounds form the CONNECT:AMP and connect them to the receiver, and the receiver also drives an 18" Velodyne subwoofer for real bass. So I basically have to have two distinct audio systems in the room to handle the simple/family friendly case (Sonos does that) and to cater to serious watchers/listeners. I've given up trying to coerce Sonos into doing stuff it wasn't designed to do, and for 90% of what I use it for, it's perfectly adequate and a great whole house audio system.
My wife just bought us a Sonos 5.1 system. I really want to like it. We lived in Santa Barbara for years, and know quite a few Sonos employees/execs, so we want to support it. But with the lack of DTS support and HDMI inputs, I just can't do it. Sorry Sonos, but you've lost our business. Sonos' position on DTS and HDMI is completely contradictory to their mission/value statement. The future is being able to integrate high quality home theater with a full home experience. In my opinion, Sonos is missing the boat on a huge market segment. After a ton of research, WiSA seems to be the answer... looking at Axiim, and in my opinion, the extra $800 or so is worth it, and certainly more future-proof vs. Sonos.
Yep my play 5s will be up for sale soon, Moved to a Yamaha receiver and music cast, 5.1 all the formats I need from all the sources I need. :)
Bye Sonos
Bye Sonos
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