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Trending Lyricist I
February 7, 2016
Answered

It's 2016! Make PlayBar Gen 2 for DTS / Fix Aux for Play 5 GEN 2

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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    tiagoAnswer
    Producer I
    February 14, 2016
    Well I guess every passionate SONOS user will agree with your demands! I was very frustrated to find out that the AUX is disabled when PLAY:5 Gen 2 is added as surround, I’ve made a thread here and got some explanation (https://en.community.sonos.com/home-theater-228993/it-possible-to-use-the-line-on-a-home-theater-setup-6735262). What I managed to do is that I had another PLAY:5 Gen 2 on other room I used its AUX port and I can select in what room I want to play the AUX port, it woked for me this way, but you need an extra speaker 😕.

    About DTS is the only thing that keeps me from being 100% happy with my SONOS system. I have a lot of DTS content and my tv passes through DTS, thank god that it also converts to PCM so I don’t get “no sound”, but its stereo 😕.

    I tend to believe that SONOS is working on a new playbar with DTS support, if not they would be left behind by competition. It would be also a good idea to make a new connect, or something, so we could use for example 3xSONOS PLAY:5s as Center, Right, Left and 2xSONOS Play:1s as Surround speakers or any other combination.

    Well, we can just hope that we invested our money on the correct system and that they will handle DTS with time. A statement that SONOS is working on it would be nice, but as I’ve read before they do not comment on future products or features.

    Thanks for your post!

    +1 for your requests!

    56 replies

    tiagoAnswer
    Producer I
    February 14, 2016
    Well I guess every passionate SONOS user will agree with your demands! I was very frustrated to find out that the AUX is disabled when PLAY:5 Gen 2 is added as surround, I’ve made a thread here and got some explanation (https://en.community.sonos.com/home-theater-228993/it-possible-to-use-the-line-on-a-home-theater-setup-6735262). What I managed to do is that I had another PLAY:5 Gen 2 on other room I used its AUX port and I can select in what room I want to play the AUX port, it woked for me this way, but you need an extra speaker 😕.

    About DTS is the only thing that keeps me from being 100% happy with my SONOS system. I have a lot of DTS content and my tv passes through DTS, thank god that it also converts to PCM so I don’t get “no sound”, but its stereo 😕.

    I tend to believe that SONOS is working on a new playbar with DTS support, if not they would be left behind by competition. It would be also a good idea to make a new connect, or something, so we could use for example 3xSONOS PLAY:5s as Center, Right, Left and 2xSONOS Play:1s as Surround speakers or any other combination.

    Well, we can just hope that we invested our money on the correct system and that they will handle DTS with time. A statement that SONOS is working on it would be nice, but as I’ve read before they do not comment on future products or features.

    Thanks for your post!

    +1 for your requests!
    Contributor I
    February 15, 2016
    you are the Apple of Speakers when it comes to terms of quality and sound.
    But isn't trying to lock everything down part of Apple's business model too? : )

    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'm guessing this is mostly about licen$ing fees or the cost for Sonos to put this into the software. Whatever Sonos uses to assemble its sound also might not mesh very well with DTS. There could also be reluctance by DTS to engage in the wireless audio biz since it would be a different way of delivering content for them. They might also be concerned about content security. Just speculating on all of these things, of course.

    I personally would love to see Sonos deliver DTS content, but gave up on it a while ago when the cheaper options just became to darn easy. I still hold out hope though. I've got lots of speaker cables I'd love to get rid of.
    chicks
    February 15, 2016
    The Apple of speakers? I hope not! The iPod HiFi speaker was a disaster for Apple.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPod_Hi-Fi
    user76542Author
    Trending Lyricist I
    February 15, 2016
    All, you are correct. What I meant by "the apple of speakers" is the level of quality and detail. Ironically, Apple's HiFi and Airplay is not great (I tried it all before going to Sonos)

    I can agree with the DTS portion about the licensing fees. If they could allow HDMI to pass through the speaker or have something that makes 5.1 easier to work with, that would be great. I would love to see some announcement in regards to the soundbar. They were smart by saying something about the new play 5's and I waited the entire time for them to come out and got them. I think it would prevent driving crazy if they made some kind of dabble announcement in regards to a new playbar. Ironically, I would still buy it even though I have one. the other soundbar would be mounted in my bedroom with some other extra speakers that I have.

    In regards to Tiago, yes I was very annoyed when it did not state that anywhere. I thought I was losing my mind when I tried the AUX. When I disconnected them from the 5.1 setup, the AUX showed up. I was like WTF lol. I know this could be a simple fix and hopefully they care about the feedback. To tell me to buy a 3rd speaker would drive me insane. I'm glad I got 2 of them each for 449 tax free.
    Lyricist I
    March 16, 2016
    Hope Sonos reads this: I'm not buying a playbar until it has DTS. Why would I buy an obsolete playbar for my OLED TV? Release the playbar 2, and I'm stocking my house with your products with the playbar as the first item.

    I also registered a forum account just to communicate this.
    user76542Author
    Trending Lyricist I
    March 17, 2016
    Sadly, they would make a ton more money. I would buy 2 right now if I could. @Bysshe
    Lyricist I
    March 17, 2016
    As said in another thread: I'm really disappointed that my playbar plays crappy sound for my dts media. I can't believe that a premium brand where things just work does not have DTS support 😞
    user76542Author
    Trending Lyricist I
    March 17, 2016
    It's really the only thing I know that holds other Sonos users back. I have a few friends willing to invest into the entire echo system and they love the music. The lack of DTS is what's not winning them over @cson. If by Jan 2017 nothing is released, i'll dump my entire system on eBay. Other automated products are slowly working their way into the market. I was looking at a DTS thread that was over 3 years old earlier and has over 1200 responses...
    user76542Author
    Trending Lyricist I
    March 17, 2016
    The Apple of speakers? I hope not! The iPod HiFi speaker was a disaster for Apple.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPod_Hi-Fi


    Yep, that's why they are the Apple.... meaning they are getting it right and Apple is not the one implementing the tech. I remember my speakers would always drop out.
    Avid Contributor I
    April 22, 2016
    Agreed with the OP.

    Sonos needs to start updating their flawed product lineup. They burst through the gates with the current series, despite massive flaws, but now they need to smarten up and get with the user demands if they hope to stay current.

    The SOUNDBAR needs to be revamped entirely. HDMI inputs are a MUST. DTS is a MUST. Pairing with other speakers and connect components is a must. Aux and SUB ports need to work in every config. etc etc.

    There will be a SOUNDBAR, SUB, and a mountain of speakers on ebay soon enough if they don't start getting with it in the coming months.

    Sonos, your system is nice, but you're dropping the ball quickly.