Sonos S14 thoughts and wishes

I'm not betting on it. I just think there is too much not music/speaker related that Alexa and Google do that Sonos doesn't want to recreate. There all those various skills, smart home control, and so on.

However, there are clearly features Sonos needs that Alexa and Google are not as inclined to implement. Those being grouping, better ducking, and more importantly, access to local libraries and competing music services. I imagine there are customers who are more interested in this and would happily by a dot or a google mini for everything else.

But is there a way to get the best of both worlds? Perhaps if Sonos would allow a secondary wake work so that you talk to Alexa or you could talk directly to Sonos? Or perhaps this voice assistant is some sort of shared project where smart home control is filled in by Samsung, and various information is filled in by other companies participating in the process? If the later is the case, it feels like that would be a long way off. And the project feels like it's more about creating an engine all participating companies can use for their own purposes in separate instance, not so much creating one giant engine they all share to compete with the existing big players.

Thinking about it more, I'd still bet against it coming to pass anytime soon, but not as strongly as originally thought.

Playbase can’t ever do atmos. It can’t be sent via toslink.
Actually, it does have a fast ethernet port with submillisecond latency and enough bandwidth to carry Atmos. The port connectivity is not the problem. The lack of onboard Atmos-capable signal processing is the problem. They'd have to build an external decoding box to plug into that ethernet port, one with so many smarts that it'd basically be the a replacement for the Connect.

Not sure if we can post links here so I'll just tell you guys

As if we need more evidence of a new soundbar - bestbuy is trying to move Playbase stock

If you go into the bestbuy store (not online) - you can buy the Playbase for 60% off - yes the Playbase is $280 at bestbuy, discounted from its normal price of $699

Pretty good deal if Playbar fits well in your system.

Thinking about it more, I'd still bet against it coming to pass anytime soon, but not as strongly as originally thought.

I’ll bet you a nickel they have been looking at Soundify since the get go (I figured as much aloud here back then). Alexa probably won out because it was extremely well documented, Amazon made commitments, it looked easier, etc, etc. But, while it brings a lot of things, like AI and connectivity to devices, it brings a lot of limitations, too, like a very limited set of supported services, no support for local files, etc. Soundify would allow Sonos to voice-enable all services and local files, something the CEO has said is coming, possibly this year. Alexa isn’t going anywhere, Google is next, but Soundify may very well be in Sonos future, too. “Hey Sonos! Group Kitchen and Living Room!” “OK”. 😉

Good stuff chicks!

Oh i forgot, i would really like to be able to use wireless Bluetooth headphones on Sonos

It much way to ever do that except with a Connect (only Sonos device with output)

Oh i forgot, i would really like to be able to use wireless Bluetooth headphones on Sonos

Not being sarcastic, but what for exactly? I’m struggling to think of an use case that is not better addressed by having the same stream play direct (to headphones). Curious what the purpose of powering on a lot of speakers, only to put on headphones would be. I’m probably missing the point though ?

Well all most any modern receiver has an Bluetooth output.
I have a pair of b&w p7 wireless - sure i can use it for Movies on Apple tv (atv has Bluetooth output).
But im not able to have audio from DVB-c or any streaming services on my smart tv.
Sure its not Sonos’s “problem” but its would be a nice fix.
I would be so much easier If i wouldnt have to shift Bluetooth Connectivity from atv 4k to ps4 an still miss out on Netflix because of no options for headphone audio:)