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Introducing Sonos Amp

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  • August 29, 2018
  • 364 replies
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364 replies

  • Lyricist II
  • October 14, 2018
Mono? Do we get the mono option with this amp?

sjct
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  • Trending Lyricist I
  • October 14, 2018
Hi Ryan, another question from me, I want the amp to get the digital signal from my tv but not keen on loosing one of my hdmi inputs from my tv for this job for what is only an audio signal. My tv output full dd from the optical port so I know Sonos does a hdmi to optical adapter so I could use that to link to the new amp but here is my question: how does this effect using your tv remote to control the Sonos Amp volume? It appears to me (I could be wrong) that Sonos soundbars have ir receivers in them, does the new Sonos Amp also have an ir receiver? Many thanks,

sjct
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  • Trending Lyricist I
  • October 14, 2018
Should have said I know optical sacrifices cec over hdmi but that’s not a big issue for me personally.

Ryan S
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  • Author
  • Retired Sonos Staff
  • October 14, 2018
Mono? Do we get the mono option with this amp?
Yes, there's an option to have the outputs both send mono audio.

how does this effect using your tv remote to control the Sonos Amp volume? It appears to me (I could be wrong) that Sonos soundbars have ir receivers in them, does the new Sonos Amp also have an ir receiver? Many thanks,
The Amp does have an IR receiver, it'll work just the same as the Playbar would.

I have a play bar and sub and was going to get 2x one or play1 for rears. I am assuming I don need amp in my life for anything different?
Still not capable of atmos is it?

No, the Sonos Amp doesn't support Atmos. It does support Dolby Digital 5.1, which is compatible with Atmos however.

Dave
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  • Headliner II
  • October 18, 2018
OMG, it's been a while since last here and I see this Sticky - so 🆒 Any free samples @Ryan S

Chris
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  • Lead Maestro
  • October 18, 2018
Dave you missed out - he was Sending out free ones to the first 10 posters. 🙂

Dave
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  • Headliner II
  • October 18, 2018
Dave you missed out - he was Sending out free ones to the first 10 posters. :)

Oh Chris, not funny (well it is really) just trying to get back into my IFTTT account and it's a nightmare so not a happy person

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  • Avid Contributor I
  • October 20, 2018
The following questions are in the context of a 2.0 system with the AMP driving a pair of floorstanders in a A/V system.

I'm wondering if the Amp could replace my integrated amplifier and separate DAC in this 2.0 system. This system has no Sonos connectivity, but we have a Connect in another system and a Play5 in the kitchen.

1) What audio codecs/formats, bit depths, and sampling frequencies will the Amp's HDMI input handle without transcoding/resampling/down-sampling?

2) For example, if a 24/48 LPCM 2.0 track from a Blu-ray concert is sent to a TV over HDMI, will the Amp's ARC HDMI input play this 24/48 LPCM 2.0 track at the full/native 24 bit resolution, or will the Amp down-sample to a lower bit depth?

Of course, this assumes that the TV's HDMI ARC passes the native 24/48 LPCM 2.0.

3) Will the controller software show the audio format, bit depth, and sampling frequency of the HDMI input?

This would be nice.

4) What is the bit depth of the Amp's DAC/processor and volume control? 24 bit, 32 bit?

5) As a side question, could the Amp's HDMI input be used for hi-res 24/96 LPCM files on a PC without transcoding/resampling/down-sampling, using the PC's HDMI out and PC playback software?


I don't personally have a use for this, but could it be a hidden capability for folks that have hi-res music files on their PC?

6) I read about "phantom center" with the Amp. Is this a DSP function that can be turned on/off?

I personally would not want a phantom center DSP that is always on, as that would mess up 2 channel music mixes.

Chris
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  • Lead Maestro
  • October 20, 2018
Regarding sample rates I assume everything will be indentical to the Beam.

No way to know regarding the center until release. I would aaaume some control over.

  • October 20, 2018
The phantom centre is stated to operate when a discrete centre channel exists in the source, so presumably no phantom centre when used for stereo music.

Chris
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  • Lead Maestro
  • October 20, 2018
Sound alike good way to do it.

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  • Avid Contributor I
  • October 20, 2018
Regarding sample rates I assume everything will be indentical to the Beam.

No way to know regarding the center until release. I would aaaume some control over.


OK, what formats/bid depths/sampling rates can the Beam natively handle over HDMI without transcoding/resampling/down-sampling?

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  • Avid Contributor I
  • October 21, 2018
The phantom centre is stated to operate when a discrete centre channel exists in the source, so presumably no phantom centre when used for stereo music.

So, I wonder if this is just standard 5.1 to 2.0 down-mixing typical of what any AVR can do. This would make sense and would be the right way to handle 5.1 in a 2.0 system.

The other possibility is that the Amp is applying a separate DSP function outside of the normal 5.1 to 2.0 downmix that is part of the DD spec.

In either case, as long as a 2.0 source is not DSP'd to create a phantom center, all is well.

Chris
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  • Lead Maestro
  • October 21, 2018
It will only take Dolby digital or PCM (no 24 bit).

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  • Avid Contributor I
  • October 21, 2018
It will only take Dolby digital or PCM (no 24 bit).

Do you mean only 16 bit PCM?

PCM can be 16, 20, 24 bit, etc.

Chris
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  • Lead Maestro
  • October 21, 2018
I believe e 16 only. But other May know better.

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  • Avid Contributor I
  • October 21, 2018
Ryan S said 'The Amp does have an IR receiver' but the specs do not report that, they say an optical adapter can be bought but this seems to use HDMI as input on the Sonos device. I have a TV with HDMI ARC but have no experience of it. Using this can I control the TV volume from the TV's speakers independently of the Sonos Amp volume? at present I have a Connect and an integrated amplifier. The TV optical out goes to the amplifier. I can control the amplifier volume with a Logitech remote. I can also control the TV volume with the same remote. This is good as I can switch to using the TV speakers late at night to make less disturbance. Does the HDMI ARC facility permit this or is the volume always tied to the TV? It would be nice if the Sonos amp could replace my integrated amp + connect setup. I suppose there is always the option to turn the Sonos amp off. If you do that does HDMI ARC 'turn off' and volume output automatically go to the TV built in speakers?

Chris
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  • Lead Maestro
  • October 21, 2018
Your tv should have setting to turn arc on or off and therefore switch between Sonos amp and tv speakers.

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  • Renowned Enthusiast I
  • October 22, 2018
Will the amp support dialog enhancement with 3rd party front speakers?

Chris
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  • Lead Maestro
  • October 22, 2018
All assumptions are that when listening to HDMI input you will get the same night mode and dialog enhancement options as you would with Beam or Playbar/base.

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  • Renowned Enthusiast I
  • October 22, 2018
Nice one. I really like dialog enhancement.

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  • Renowned Enthusiast I
  • October 24, 2018
It sounds like anyone can buy the amp online in December? I'm ready to buy now.
I got a Beam then rear Sonos Ones and my sub arrives Thursday. The Beam was the gateway drug for me :-)
I'll replace the Beam with towers speakers and the sub and rear ones.

Chris
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  • Lead Maestro
  • October 24, 2018
Don’t know about Sonos online store. I think they are trying to give exclusive to local dealers for that month (not chains).

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  • Renowned Enthusiast I
  • October 24, 2018
Yeah its not clear to me based on what I have read.
I don't know if installers will just sell you one.

Chris
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  • Lead Maestro
  • October 24, 2018
I think installers just means local shops.