Introducing Amp Multi: 8 channels, 125W/ch and efficient GaN technology

I have recently built a new home with cabling installed for ceiling speakers in each room.  Seven rooms (zones) will only have one speaker.

When I saw the new Amp Multi advertised I was very excited and thought this was the product I was waiting for, with eight independently configurable mono or stereo outputs.

However I was very disapppointed to see that Amp Multi only supports four zones.

So my question is: without going into detail of the Multi’s other features compared to the original Amp product, in my situation what is the benefit of one Amp Multi over four Amps?

Why not allow each of Amp Multi’s eight outputs to be configured as eight separate zones?

Thanks for any advice.

As the Amp Multi is only sold through Pro-Installers I would suggest contacting one in your area to get a full explanation. There is obviously a reason for the perceived limitation.

It’s disappointing that Sonos has made this a professional installer option only. Many of us have had Sonos products from 2005 onward. The main reason I selected Sonos was I could control my installation without having to hire someone who doesn’t know my homes as well as I do. Somehow I think I could manage a multi channel amp in my installation(s) without having to pay an inflated price and installation charges. I guess this marks a new era for Sonos, which is not what I would have chosen back in 2005.

I can imagine a future update that will allow creating eight mono Zones if enough pro’s ask for this. 

​@jprafter I totally agree.  I don’t need an installer to connect some cables for me.  Also I have searched for installers in my area and there aren’t any (West Highlands of Scotland).

​@buzz Fingers crossed.  I don’t know what the main focus is for installers these days. Is it whole home sound systems with ceiling speakers etc. or is it home cinema?

There is another group of installers that never go home, they do offices, restaurants, hotels, etc.

Edit: Corrected mild spelling error.

​@Paul Pearce You could contact an installer and ask if they would sell you an Amp Multi?

​@buzz As a (sometimes) visual thinker I hope you meant restaurants, not restraints.

Stupid self ‘correcting’ keyboards assume they know what i meant to type before I finish the word.

​@buzz I hadn’t thought of that.  I would have thought business installers are more likely to want Amp Multi to be able to handle 8 mono zones. Offices and restaurants are more likely to want evenly distributed mono sound than good stereo separation.  Having said that wouldn’t Sonos have thought about all this when doing the R&D for a new product?

​@106rallye Once the product is actually on sale I might try and find an installer that would be willing to do that.

The amp multi can be put in mono mode  so that all 8 channels are playing mono, but still 4 zones. If we’re talking about a restaurants and offices, I don’t think to many customers are really going to need 8 zones to play 8 different sources. They are mostly going to play the same source across all 8 channels.  Perhaps you lose something in volume control, but you still can set left/right balance, and are most likely going to have a set volume the majority of the time (or all raise/lower in scale).

And honestly, if you really do need 8 zones, it’s not like you can’t buy a second multi-amp.

I would bet most installers would be willing to do that.  If installing for you isn’t an option it’s easy money.

And I think it’s makes sense for Sonos to sell exclusively to installers.  If I’m an installer, I’d want to make a profit off product sale, not just my labor. I’ll be recommending the solution and effectively making the sale of the product, so what’s the issue with me making money from that?  If a customer can just go buy the product themself, then I’m not making as much for my efforts. I probably would steer customers toward other products where I do make more money.  Most of these are going to be sold to people who are looking for a professional solution, not DIYers, anyway.  

Keep in mind that Sonos is also avoiding the expense of selling them themselves, dealing with retailers, and perhaps not even warehousing the product?

You’re probably correct re restaurants and offices. However I have 13 zones (every room in my house), seven of which will have only one speaker.  I would like them to be separate zones, not necessarily to play different sources but more to be able to select them and control the volume separately. As it stands, not withstanding the pro features and the technology used in Amp Multi, it appears to me that Multi is no more than four Amps combined into one. Amps would be fine for my purposes, I have room to install 13. My original post was to express my disappointment that despite having eight individually configurable outputs Multi only supported four zones, and to ask if anyone had any insight into this decision. I have already spoken to a reseller who is disappointed they are not allowed to sell Multi. 

That’s a shame because multiple AMP-MULTI’s will occupy less space, require less wiring, and dissipate less power.

I totally agree.