Homepod vs Sonos
Picked up a Homepod over the weekend. No comparison to my Sono's system...in fact it has made me fall in love with my Sonos all over again. Whoever said that the Homepod is a Play5 killer is on crack 🙂
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Thirdly I really can't say I have seen reliable or consistent data on how Sonos sales or market share are doing. And that all depends on how the market is defined or sliced. If it is "multi-room" audio speakers where Apple doesn't yet play - I am sure Sonos is the runaway winner.
With the advent of streaming services, the need for multi-room has substantially come down: after all, if one has a family plan, every dweller with a smart phone can play the music they want in their rooms without multi room capability of the kind Sonos offers. All it takes is an Echo, or where better sound is needed, a Dot wired to a better speaker, or if that capability is there in the speaker, via bluetooth. In the past, where all music was held in one NAS, the Sonos capability of all units playing different songs from it was a requirement. Sonos may be still be a runaway winner, but it may well be so in a shrinking market that needs multi room.
I suspect that with better routers/WiFi protocols, the Sonos net USP for stable streaming also may not be as strong as before.
With the One and Alexa capability, Sonos have been able to retain a presence in probably the highest growing segment of speakers, but as you point out Amazon and Google are big movers there.
I don't think that the existential crisis that Amazon created for Sonos a couple of years ago has subsided to a significant degree. Many more smart moves are needed to get past that.
Well let me ask this. As a Sonos user do so feel the existential crisis? From what you are saying - Sonos is becoming less "needed" based own the recent offerings of competitors and the evolution of the market.
As a Sonos user, I see no need to replace my 5 zone system because it hasn't stopped being as useful as it has been at any time in the past seven years even while the use of my NAS has significantly reduced and because I believe that voice control even at its best, at this time is still a gimmick. But this stance from the installed base does not help Sonos at all.
But if I were buying just now instead of in 2011, Sonos would no longer be the automatic choice. That however is a problem for Sonos - if many new buyers think like this.
But if I were buying just now instead of in 2011, Sonos would no longer be the automatic choice. That however is a problem for Sonos - if many new buyers think like this.
Further to the above, I will toss out just one of the many alternatives to Sonos that are now viable with streaming services, Alexa, stable broadband, and cheap Android devices all easily available.
A Dot, wired to a pro audio studio monitor pair from someone like JBL. Voice controlled music via the Dot and where one wants to play any other service even with broadband down, music from that service stored offline in the dedicated to audio Android, streamed to the Dot via Bluetooth and thence to the active speaker pair.
All for less than USD 500, with sound quality not too far behind a 5 pair that costs double that.
That is one example of the competition that Sonos faces.
A Dot, wired to a pro audio studio monitor pair from someone like JBL. Voice controlled music via the Dot and where one wants to play any other service even with broadband down, music from that service stored offline in the dedicated to audio Android, streamed to the Dot via Bluetooth and thence to the active speaker pair.
All for less than USD 500, with sound quality not too far behind a 5 pair that costs double that.
That is one example of the competition that Sonos faces.
Agreed. But that is par for the course in developing and growing markets. Sonos should not have expected to experience the level of competition it experienced in 2011 in 2018. It is an entirely different scenario now. As you allude to what really were your choices in 2011? So you are in the market and must respond to its evolution. That's just how it is. I think though that they are doing a reasonable job given the behemoths they are up against.
I like you have my doubts that voice control is the game changer it is touted to be - but that may be due to that technology still being in its relative infancy. In any event I have experimented with it through integrating two echo dots into my Sonos experience. So far my experience is just ok. Good for churning out some quick genre or mood music/playlists. But I am a deep music explorer and the app will always be my mainstay.
I like you have my doubts that voice control is the game changer it is touted to be - but that may be due to that technology still being in its relative infancy. In any event I have experimented with it through integrating two echo dots into my Sonos experience. So far my experience is just ok. Good for churning out some quick genre or mood music/playlists. But I am a deep music explorer and the app will always be my mainstay.
A Dot, wired to a pro audio studio monitor pair from someone like JBL. Voice controlled music via the Dot and where one wants to play any other service even with broadband down, music from that service stored offline in the dedicated to audio Android, streamed to the Dot via Bluetooth and thence to the active speaker pair.
All for less than USD 500, with sound quality not too far behind a 5 pair that costs double that.
That is one example of the competition that Sonos faces.
To be honest a person who will do this is not really the crowd that Sonos is after. I think if we were able to see the profile of the typical Sonos user you may realize this. That's the other thing - Sonos is not a mass product. It's a bit niched to more sophisticated music lovers hence there has been a strong correlation between Sonos and Apple users - HomePod debates aside.
There is just no way to know either way; they don't publish quarterly financials since they are not a quoted company.
And Apple HomePod is an arrow fired across their bows as well - even if it today only makes sense to those that want voice controlled Apple Music. Till now, those people that wanted it had no way to get it and may well have chosen Sonos. And it is not just voice, Sonos still has not been able to offer its customers the use of the Apple Music native app, that will work flawlessly on HomePod now.
The Sonos problem is that their strongholds are being chipped away from many directions in many places. It is going to take something extraordinarily good from them to come through this unscathed.
To be honest a person who will do this is not really the crowd that Sonos is after. I think if we were able to see the profile of the typical Sonos user you may realize this.
The JBLs are used by music listeners just as sophisticated as Sonos users.
But I gave you just one example. Another example at another end is the guy who gets a Dot, and uses it with a USD 150 price point Bluetooth speaker. Maybe this isn't the crowd as well? But the problem is that if you - as in Sonos - keeps talking that way for every non Sonos alternative, the crowd that is left for them keeps shrinking.
Userlevel 7
+20
You are ignoring the fact that the emergence of smart speakers has greatly increased the total addressable market (TAM) for Sonos. Many more people are buying speakers.
Consider two scenarios: a TAM of $100M of which Sonos’s share is a stable 50%, and a TAM of $1B of which Sonos has a stable 25%. Which is better for Sonos?
Consider two scenarios: a TAM of $100M of which Sonos’s share is a stable 50%, and a TAM of $1B of which Sonos has a stable 25%. Which is better for Sonos?
That is a good point.
The only thing we know for sure on that subject is that soon after smart speakers were launched, Sonos ran into trouble, laid off people and changed CEOs.
How they are now doing is something we can only speculate about. Or wait, for time to tell us.
I do see that their USPs have been under attack as the tech and markets changed around these, and in a crowded smart speaker market that will have large players in it, a new compelling USP isn't clearly to be seen till now.
The only thing we know for sure on that subject is that soon after smart speakers were launched, Sonos ran into trouble, laid off people and changed CEOs.
How they are now doing is something we can only speculate about. Or wait, for time to tell us.
I do see that their USPs have been under attack as the tech and markets changed around these, and in a crowded smart speaker market that will have large players in it, a new compelling USP isn't clearly to be seen till now.
And that's what I am getting from you - you seem to be expecting some sort of doomsday for Sonos out of this competitive space. That's where we differ - I have no such expectation. Yes affected by competition but they will survive just fine based on what I see of their competitive moves to date. You think Sonos will stand still while Apple and others add features and new products???
Just my view.
Another point Kumar. Its all well and good to predict trouble. It is better to suggest ways to combat the threat. What should Sonos do that they are not doing??? One mistake I thought they may have made is introducing seemingly unnecessary changes to the controller app that ended up distracting from some of the smart speaker moves.
I am not expecting doomsday - by all accounts, something of that kind happened to Sonos a couple of years ago, by their own admission. What I am asking is will they ever regain the position of being the gold standard in markets of their choice without going on reducing the scope of their market of interest. I am also not sure if, for the narrow focussed product company that they are, just survival will be sustainable.
I neither expect them to survive nor to fail. All I am saying is that the jury is still out on that and that is a new situation for them to be in - except in the early years of course.
Lol. I did that as well. IMO, they blundered in not adding a line in jack to the play 1. For more on this see: https://en.community.sonos.com/wireless-speakers-228992/the-case-for-making-line-in-a-standard-feature-6800582
I need to be paid to offer more ways:-)).
Lol. I did that as well. IMO, they blundered in not adding a line in jack to the play 1. For more on this see: https://en.community.sonos.com/wireless-speakers-228992/the-case-for-making-line-in-a-standard-feature-6800582
I need to be paid to offer more ways:-)).
Funny I also identified on this forum that no line in or other connectivity option was a blunder. I felt that way back when the Play1 was introduced it should have come with line in and bluetooth/airplay. It gives more flexibility. I felt strongly about that. Conversations that you participated in. At this point though not sure that this make a massive difference one way or the other. I was hoping you had more than that but it seems you want to be paid for it. 😃
Over the years I have found that advice that is paid for is always heard/respected much more than that offered free. The latter is usually also unwanted so why waste time and energy?
The reason it still would have made sense to add it when the Dot was launched two years ago is in the thread I started. As one example, with a device like a Dot wired to it, the speaker also automatically becomes bluetooth enabled via the Dot. As well as Alexa enabled much faster than Sonos was able to make it.
The reason it still would have made sense to add it when the Dot was launched two years ago is in the thread I started. As one example, with a device like a Dot wired to it, the speaker also automatically becomes bluetooth enabled via the Dot. As well as Alexa enabled much faster than Sonos was able to make it.
The reason it still would have made sense to add it when the Dot was launched two years ago is in the thread I started. As one example, with a device like a Dot wired to it, the speaker also automatically becomes bluetooth enabled via the Dot. As well as Alexa enabled much faster than Sonos was able to make it.
We are in complete agreement here!
Circling back to topic: what is still missing in reviews is an assessment of music stability on HomePod compared to Sonos/Sonos Net. Given the poor track record of Airplay in this connection, in comparison to Sonos, this is relevant.
Sonos will be okay in the near term, yes they are under attack by the 3 big boys on the block, Apple, Google and Amazon. But none have launch a home theater system. Right now apple offers it with HomePod and AppleTV. But if you watch regular TV you loose that ability. Forget google, they have a sync problem when using the aux plug on the Home MAX just using it as an external speaker for the tv. It was like watching a bad dubbed kung fu movie. Mouth moves then the sound comes from the speaker. Amazon has nothing for home theater.
So right now if you want the complete home sound system with home theater and high end multi room audio. Sonos is the only game in town. But sonos needs to up their offerings. Keep coming up with things to improve their system with the new technologies.
It is good they are not throwing all their eggs in one basket, with plans for google assistance and airplay2. I personally hate Alexa, it is to shopping driven. And while the dot is a good option. I really think that adding 50 buck to each speaker sets in the house to get higher end audio is a bit excessive. 200 buck if you need to add 4 rooms with high end audio speakers before the price of the speakers themselves. But cheap if you have high end audio already there and just want to add streaming to them. I wish the sonos connect was that cheap. But I have to admit, I am happy with the sons connect with my yahama dolby receiver and high end speakers. But everyone is different how they want to setup their home entertainment system.
So right now if you want the complete home sound system with home theater and high end multi room audio. Sonos is the only game in town. But sonos needs to up their offerings. Keep coming up with things to improve their system with the new technologies.
It is good they are not throwing all their eggs in one basket, with plans for google assistance and airplay2. I personally hate Alexa, it is to shopping driven. And while the dot is a good option. I really think that adding 50 buck to each speaker sets in the house to get higher end audio is a bit excessive. 200 buck if you need to add 4 rooms with high end audio speakers before the price of the speakers themselves. But cheap if you have high end audio already there and just want to add streaming to them. I wish the sonos connect was that cheap. But I have to admit, I am happy with the sons connect with my yahama dolby receiver and high end speakers. But everyone is different how they want to setup their home entertainment system.
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-43346810
Sonos One
(TruePlay) helps the speaker adapt to its environment and, to be fair, it performed admirably in our cluttered bedroom, with a weighty, dynamic delivery that belied its tiny size.
Superstition, which confounded Apple's HomePod, sounded bright and lively, with a deep, funky bass and plenty of breathing room for Stevie Wonder's vocals.
Best of all, Sonos welcomes all music streaming services - with 49 currently available in the UK, including Apple Music (not all of them can be controlled by Alexa, though).
Here's the thing: With the possible exception of Sonos: One, you're not getting true hi-fi sound with any of these devices.
Sonos One
(TruePlay) helps the speaker adapt to its environment and, to be fair, it performed admirably in our cluttered bedroom, with a weighty, dynamic delivery that belied its tiny size.
Superstition, which confounded Apple's HomePod, sounded bright and lively, with a deep, funky bass and plenty of breathing room for Stevie Wonder's vocals.
Best of all, Sonos welcomes all music streaming services - with 49 currently available in the UK, including Apple Music (not all of them can be controlled by Alexa, though).
Here's the thing: With the possible exception of Sonos: One, you're not getting true hi-fi sound with any of these devices.
Homepod
Six Months with the Apple HomePod ALMOST convinced me it was good. :D
https://gizmodo.com/six-months-with-the-apple-homepod-almost-convinced-me-i-1828222019
https://gizmodo.com/six-months-with-the-apple-homepod-almost-convinced-me-i-1828222019
Which becomes less appealing when AirPlay starts to skip and cut out, as it has done a few time in the last few months. So why should I go all in on AirPlay and the HomePod instead of using the Sonos One I already own? The Sonos One has Alexa built in, and Google Assistant is promised to come shortly. It nicely handles music over wifi vida the Sonos app. Plus, as of July 2018, the Sonos One supports AirPlay 2. It can’t handle phone calls, but the Sonos One can do nearly everything else the HomePod can do for $150 less. It even has a richer and more detailed sound quality!
So yeah, the HomePod is gorgeous, and AirPlay is often times fantastic, and Siri seems like... a thing that might become a useful thing one day. But the HomePod is still not worth its price—especially, when the Sonos One is so good and so cheap.
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