Contributor I

Playbase: Sonos no longer recommandable for home theater

Forum|Forum|9 years ago
March 7, 2017
47 replies
42144 views

Hello,

today I read the specifications of the brand new Playbase. What have I waited for a new gen2 Playbar, supporting DTS, DD+, maybe having HDMI or (now I am getting really crazy) supporting Dolby Atmos. There are even soundbars providing Dolby Atmos sound! Really, you can search for yourself, these things are possible in 2017...

And now the brand new Sonos Playbase is out... The only difference between the Playbar (based on the first test and specifications I read): It's flat and, oh yes, it will support Alexa.

Sonos, did you even listen to your customers? To the complaints about your old product, the Playbar? Did you recognize that the home theater world is moving into a future where you have 4k, HDR movies, losless audio formats, dolby atmos?

We (your beloved customers) should pay $700+ for a piece of hardware that supports only stereo if you use e.g. Netflix (Netflix uses DD+, the same for Maxdome in Germany). Not to mention that you could end up with no sound at all if you use 4k Bluerays (search the Sonos community).

Sorry, Sonos. That is not the way to go in my opinion.

I cannot further recommend you. You want to listen to plain music? You will be happy with the Play 1, 3 or 5 from Sonos, but there are cheaper and equally good products around. You want to integrate your living room in your sound setup, with your TV as a central element? Avoid Sonos at any costs, You will not be happy, there are better products around.

A very disappointed customer.

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Stuart_W

World-Class Superstar

I thought they had said that the bandwidth available on the optical cable is not up to the job for DTS in which case the answer is emphatically NO. The hardware will need to change. Given they have just released Playbase it seems inconceivable a volte face is imminent on HDMI connectivity

Arc + Sub (Gen 1) + 2 x Play 1/ Stereo Play 3s/ Era 100 Stereo in Kitchen, One Stereo in Bedroom, Play 1 stereo pair in Study, Play 1in Bathroom, Sonos Move 2

S

sjw

Local Superstar

Bandwidth of optical is more than capable of DTS.
In fact Sonos 'debated' for a while on adding it retrospectively to the Playbar, and decided not to, despite being aware of the very strong feeling regarding its omission.
Leaving it out of the Playbase was really shocking though.

T

tom12

Enthusiast II

Bandwidth of optical is more than capable of DTS.
In fact Sonos 'debated' for a while on adding it retrospectively to the Playbar, and decided not to, despite being aware of the very strong feeling regarding its omission.
Leaving it out of the Playbase was really shocking though.

Sorry, but I believe you're wrong about optical supporting DTS. Below is a link to an article from C/Net comparing optical vs HDMI. Under the paragraph titled "Better, a little.." they state "Regardless of the gear you use, as mentioned there's also no way to get Dolby TrueHD or DTS HD Master Audio with an optical connection."

https://www.cnet.com/news/hdmi-vs-optical-which-digital-audio-connection-to-use/

Here's another article stating the same - "It supports stereo audio and Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 multichannel audio for people with surround sound systems.

It does not support SACD, DVD-A or high-definition audio such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. "

http://www.the-home-cinema-guide.com/optical-digital-audio.html

S

sjw

Local Superstar

Sorry, but I believe you're wrong about optical supporting DTS. Below is a link to an article from C/Net comparing optical vs HDMI. Under the paragraph titled "Better, a little.." they state "Regardless of the gear you use, as mentioned there's also no way to get Dolby TrueHD or DTS HD Master Audio with an optical connection."

https://www.cnet.com/news/hdmi-vs-optical-which-digital-audio-connection-to-use/

Here's another article stating the same - "It supports stereo audio and Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 multichannel audio for people with surround sound systems.

It does not support SACD, DVD-A or high-definition audio such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. "

http://www.the-home-cinema-guide.com/optical-digital-audio.html

I'm not really sure of the point of your post to be honest, unless you're just very confused. Of course optical supports DTS - I've used it for years. You're quoting things like it doesn't support 'Dolby True HD or DTS HD' (that I haven't said it does support) and also that 'It supports stereo audio and Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 multichannel audio for people with surround sound systems.' which is what I am saying it does support.
Note: DTS HD is not the same as DTS - but a DTS HD stream will also contain a DTS stream and should be decoded and played just fine by devices capable of decoding DTS.

T

tom12

Enthusiast II

Sorry, I was a bit confused as I assumed you were referring to DTS-HD (which seems to be the most prevalent these days).

S

sjw

Local Superstar

Sorry, I was a bit confused as I assumed you were referring to DTS-HD (which seems to be the most prevalent these days).... in which case an optical cable should just transmit the DTS core signal and still be fine and not silent. :)
I think a lot of people forget this and to be honest don't think (m)any would ever notice when watching a movie at a decent enough volume.... :S

D

DarwinOSX

There are much more cost effective options out there, so this is a definite no, no.

Can you name any?

That's easy.
Start with Bluesound who also do MQA, Roon, and high res.
Yamaha Musiccast
Denon Heos
Bose
Many others...

S

shap

Avid Contributor I

I sadly have to agree with this thread. Alexa was boiling hot in 2016. Today, I'm ready to unplug it for good. This playbase product makes no sense to me, I've seen the stats of non wall mounted tvs and it still doesn't add up to me. How many with a non wall mounted TV want to spend $700 on audio when a 55" curved 4K Tv now days can be had for $600?

Everything this poster stated is really spot on with their primary core buyer. Should have made upgrades and improved version of sound bar.

Other quick grip is limited function of play 5. It should have had capability to run as the center channel in a 3:1 or 5:1 system. Additionally
The mid and highs in play:1 out shine the play 5s, which is mind boggling given the price difference.

Starting to lose some faith.

M

MauiMisfit

Contributor I

The problem here is the sales numbers. They are a lot like Apple in that they have their ecosystem - and people love it. Thus, new products come out and we are willing to forgo a few omissions to stay in this ecosystem.

But these new products are like the AppleTV to me. They are making decisions, primarily around the assumption that the TV market is the same as the audio market, and ignoring the demands of the customers. The AppleTV was ultimately a failure.

The Playbar and Playbase are solid products. Even better for someone too ignorant to know what they are missing (notice that you have to hunt in the Sonos app to find out if you are getting 5.1). But word is getting out and true cinema nerds are disgusted.

I just can't fathom how or why you would ignore your customers.

To say "we support the modern customer that streams movies and TV" ... explain to me how I can stream Dolby Atmos, DD+ and DTS ... but Sonos won't support it? Heck, if you don't have the right TV you are forced to either a single audio input or stereo ... it's just absurd.

Sageguy

Enthusiast I

Very much agreed upon. I need systems that with decode DTS-HD, DolbyDD+ et. al.. Unless they have a great, new playbar2 coming out soon, they are being left WAY behind. I am looking forward to a newer, probably different brand, system. I would stick with Sonos if they pu tin HDMI 4k passthrough, decode ALL sounds for more theater and more. Music is always great, but 90% of the photos for the use of the playbar and playbase, show it with a HDTV. 😠

Sageguy

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