What Subwoofer should i buy to the Sonos Connect Amp?

Agreed 😠

The purpose of having this site is to give neutral suggestions based on what sounds better. It seems there are couple of guys giving sonos recommendation on every topic.

The Connect Amp is as good as any other up to 55 watts/channel stereo amp in the market today.

Really ? Statements like that suggests you've had every amp on the market today or at least heard a good variety.

I've had the connect amp myself.....sent it back pronto as a cheap vintage Sony receiver sounded better to my ears. It may be good for bookies in a smallish room, but I'd look elsewhere to drive towers to higher spl's in a medium to large room.

The Connect Amp is as good as any other up to 55 watts/channel stereo amp in the market today. Mine works very well and has replaced Quad amplification because of its convenience.
It will drive the 22L quite well too - as well as any other up to 55 watt per channel amp, if you are using that type today. But if you want it to go very loud in a large room, you may need more power, something like 100-120 watts per channel.


Thank you for the answer.
I dont know if its the wright place to ask, but here it goes: What can you tell me about the quality of the music from google play music on Sonos connect amp. Is it close to cd quality ? is it better than itunes ?
Thank you again !

Hello from Romania.

i Have noticed that you have the quad 11L speakers. I own the bigger Quad 22L speakers.
Do you think the Sonos Connect Amp is able to drive those speakers ?
How do you think the sonos connect amp is wrking on stereo music ? Is this a good amp in your opinion ?

I hope i dont buther you with my questions.
Have a nice day
Thank tou !



I would recommend a Sonos Sub, using one myself with a Connect Amp and pair of Quad 11L speakers.
However, the Quads are a stand mounted small enclosure type compared to the floor standing Zensor 5s - I would question the need for a sub with them.
But if you must have a sub, either get a Sonos Sub that can be crossed over as low as 50hz, not using the sub out on the Connect Amp which has a fixed crossover of 80hz that doesn't quite suit the Zensor 5s. If you prefer a third party sub, see ones like RELs, that allow a high level input, where they are connected to the speaker terminals on the Connect Amp and not its sub out that does the 80hz crossover.

great explanation

That would make the sonos sub a better option, cause the wireless connection to the amp + the software will make it able to tweak the crossover output.
I wont be able to put a sub centered between the speakers, does that make a difference ?
With small sized speakers, the lesser the bass they have to deal with, the better they can do the rest of the music. Hence, higher the crossover the better for such speakers - this, in addition to your correct understanding.
The issue with bass above approximately 80hz is that most people can hear where it comes from - so you don't want it to come from a corner because you will hear it so and it will sound unnatural. Hence the advice to keep the Sub in the centre if you are crossing over much above 80hz.
Simplest way to compare is to crossover the Sonos Sub at 80hz, keep it where convenient, as you would the other Sub, and buy the one that makes the most pleasing addition of bass to your music sound/experience. Note that for both Subs, it is a good idea to move them around within your zone of convenience to see where they seem to do most for the experience.
Note also that with a crossover above 80hz, it isn't essential that the Sub is exactly centred - it just needs to be approximately so, lying in about the same plane as the two speakers it is meant to replace for bass duties.

Thanks fo rthe quick reply, they do sell all sonos products, thats the strange thing..
Check my PS too - and if they do, easy for you to try both at home?

The high end audio shop , where I bougt the setup 'wont' sell me the sonos sub as they say it doest work well with the sonos connect Amp, instead they advise me the sub with goes with this speaker line. ( Elipson Planet Sub) , which is cheaper, so not a commercial issue I think.
If they don't have the Sonos Sub to sell, it is a commercial issue.
I don't know those speakers, but from my use I do know that the Sonos Sub works very well with the Connect Amp + typical stand mount speakers that don't do deep bass well. Expensive, but it is convenient and sounds good - and also allows you to see crossover at 10hz steps from 50hz to 110 hz, based on what works best, unlike third party subs that the Connect Amp will force a 80 hz cross over on.
I also don't know the Elipson Sub you refer to, so I can't offer a side by side comparison with the Sonos Sub.
PS: The best thing to do is try both for some time at home and finally buy the one that sounds best to you in your home. And now that I have taken a look at the Elipson site, I would cross over the Connect Amp at 110 hz, if I could keep the Sonos Sub centred between them and having it face the room as the two speakers do.

How had you wired it - high level from amp speaker terminals or line level from the sub out jack? Did you try both to see what gives better results?

I only used the line level so cant compare. The sub has a variable crossover so could adjust to get the level right with the Dynaudio 42s (for my ears anyway!)

if budget is an issue and you're after a good active sub then check out
http://www.mjacoustics.co.uk/MJ_Acoustics/Product_html/PRO_50_MKIII.html

MJ do great subs at a very good price (< half Sonos)

I had this running through Connect Amp and Dynaudio speakers for a while and it sounded fantastic.

In your place I would first see if the music I like has bass content that goes lower than what the floor standers can deliver, to an extent that dilutes music enjoyment.
If yes, a Sonos Sub can be set to as low as 50hz with the Connect Amp, leaving content above that with the main speakers.
Or look for subs that take inputs wired from the speaker terminals of the Connect Amp to a high level input on the Sub - this leaves the main speakers delivering all the music they would if there was no Sub in place. Crossover is then selected in the Sub in a manner that allows it to add to what the main speakers do with bass content. REL recommends this as the best way to connect their subs, even though they can take a line level input from the Connect Amp sub out as well.
As to what will sound best in your set up - the Dali Sub, Sonos, or a REL kind of Sub, I don't have the experience to say, maybe others here can help.Ok, invaluable advice for a newbie like me. 🙂 Just to be clear, my interest in a subwoofer is mainly for movies. A long time ago I had Wharfedale Floorspeakers and an active Heco Sub, I just bought what I thought sounded good and knew and know nothing about technical stuff. I used to turn off the subwoofer for music and turn it on for movies, it was a bit unpractical but I thought it sounded better. But like you say, I don't think I will buy a subwoofer now after all, you are my soundguru Kumar! 😉

From what I see of the spec it only accepts input from the Connect Amp's sub out jack, that will divert all bass from 80hz down from the main speakers to the Sub - making your floor standers the equivalent of a cheaper Zensor 1 or 3.
I am not saying it won't work not having tried it, but in effect you are losing the value for the extra you paid for the 5 over the 1 or the 3.
No harm in trying it out as long as you are able to return it if it doesn't add to music sound quality.
PS: Cut and paste from the Dali website, fyi: "The DALI SUB E-9 F is recommended as compliment to the KUBIK FREE as well as the compact models of the ZENSOR and FAZON series.".
Hm, you make some really good points, maybe i should rethink the subwoofer it thats the case... Or do you have some other tip on what subwoofer to buy and how to connect it so that wont happen?