Just bought a Sonos Play 1 today.
I'm not happy with it to say the least.
I was expecting by it's description and it's reviews to produce really high quality sound.
I have to say I like the tone of the audio on some songs, others are to be desired, but whats rubbing me the worst is the actual quality of the audio. There seems to be a blotchy-ness with it that makes it sound almost low-res. There seems to be a lack of harmonic detail, any brass on the drums tends to sound like bad static more then a physical ringing instruments that they are. Something that really shocked me was when I was listing to "The Best You Never Had" by Leona Lewis. There's a synth tune that plays about 0:32 in the song, I like the tune, I tend to hum it when the song comes up, however whats strange is that my Sonos Play One the synth melody is almost inaudible! Then it got me thinking; "If I can't hear that, then what else can't I hear!?" There really is a shocking lack of detail in this speaker. I described it at one point as a sounding almost as a "supermarket speaker".
The sound quality isn't my only issue. It's also support. I understand you only support iOS and Android. The thing is I'm a hobbiest Windows 10 UWP App developer and my smartphone of choice is a Lumia 640 for it's affordability and decent spec and construction. Microsoft Lumia smartphones are officially unsupported by Sonos. Sonos does however support UPNP playback and so I can use that right? Well for about 8 hours of trying my Lumia 640 wasn't connecting to my Sonos. Totally frustrating! It somewhat works now, although I can't adjust the volume. I surprised to see that the Play 1 doesn't have bluetooth connectivity. It's something so common that I just thought it was given and that it a real bummer for me.
One of the only reasons I bought the Sonos over other brands of speakers was the True Audio technology. It made the speaker sound almost atomically customizable. Although I don't have a supported phone, my dad has a Galaxy S4 which he said he would let me borrow to set up this feature, which Is when I found out after I bought my Play One that it only works on Apple smartphone's and tablets, something which highly annoyed me as I don't own one (I'm not THAT rich or technically competent).
I bought my, what I think is a considerably expensive Sonos Play One speaker on the grounds of it having a really great audio quality, being vastly customizable, being able to tailor tune it to my room, being somewhat compatible with my phone, supporting bluetooth connection (Which is my fault really, although their is literally no information on the box and the website is just as cryptic).
What I believe I got is a well made, powerful, low-res wireless speaker that fails to accurately produce the entire frequency range of audio, that contains a shallow app (Using my Windows Laptop) with lack luster configurable options, that is sold under false pretenses to I'd imagine ~70% of customers whom don't own an Apple products, including myself.
Start to finish for me buying, unpacking, using and configuring this product I've had nothing but annoyances (Which I'm probably passing on my irritation to you, for which I apologize.)
I like the Sonos brand. I think the product line needs an update and I'm getting my money back be it via a refund or private sale on a popular auction website.
Thanks for you time and patience.
Nathan.
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I will take the "almost as good" alternative even without any kind of listening test and let my brain fill in the gap! I can't see myself wiring 6 - or is it 8? - amplifiers to these speakers and back to mains power, whose designer has this to say about the speaker design:-):
" I envisioned the LX521 as a piece of machinery, an electro-acoustic transducer, a sculpture with acoustic integrity. I cannot help you if the looks prevent you from building them. Sorry."
Lol. Yep.
On the bucket list though, are these:
http://www.quad-hifi.co.uk/product-detail.php?pid=11
Probably need a larger house as well:-). But even a Connect Amp may be all they need. But they do look as good as they probably sound too.
http://www.quad-hifi.co.uk/product-detail.php?pid=11
Probably need a larger house as well:-). But even a Connect Amp may be all they need. But they do look as good as they probably sound too.
He said "I would say a pair of Play:5s can't be beat for less than $40,000". I'm not commenting on what he didn't say...
The results would be interesting, certainly...
So not as good, then.... And they're only $5k per pair....
If so, and you still think Sonos is only a "good-enough compromise", then fair enough. Our views are different but I respect your opinion. If it doesn't, then you are not in possession of the necessary information to judge.
Have you double blind tested then against (say) a pair of Quad Electrostatics with decent amps?
http://www.quad-hifi.co.uk/product-detail.php?pid=11
Probably need a larger house as well:-). But even a Connect Amp may be all they need. But they do look as good as they probably sound too.
That's not logical - if they're no better than a Sonos set-up, why would you want them at all?
I definitely want them for their sound, but they're not room and wife friendly...
If so, and you still think Sonos is only a "good-enough compromise", then fair enough. Our views are different but I respect your opinion. If it doesn't, then you are not in possession of the necessary information to judge.
Have you double blind tested then against (say) a pair of Quad Electrostatics with decent amps?
No of course not I'm not claiming they are the best speakers in the world, just a lot better than you are giving them credit for.
However, I have totally subjectively tested them against a £7000 Cyrus / PMC system and had to admit, rather reluctantly, that I didn't think it sounded significantly better than my Sonos P:5s plus Sub.
I've already said that they are probably the best at their price point.
I'm not the one saying "I would say a pair of Play:5s can't be beat for less than $40,000, and they're $500 each."
The Quad speakers, including a decent amp, are much, much less than $40k....
Being used to a €150 Logitech 2.1 system, i'm confronted with a similar experience as the original poster. Compared to the cheap Logitech the music i play on this Play:1 mono-setup sounds dull, as if all mastering/production was stripped from it. I'm also bothered with the disappointing EQ, the Loudness is barely audible since on/off don't make much difference.
I've picked up this may be due to the use of Spotify but i'm not sure what service could offer me a better experience.
I've picked up this may be due to the use of Spotify but i'm not sure what service could offer me a better experience.
A single mono source will always be a lot less enjoyable than a decent stereo image. However "dull" is often a reaction to a sound which is more accurate: a smoother frequency response and lower distortion.
The song in question is 'Upward with the 45 degress' by Julian Cope, the song has a quiet intro, semi-acoustic voice, a guitar and a bass. On all other speakers i've listened the voice is clearly surrounded in the dynamics of a Hall. On the Play:1 it sounds like it is performed inside a wardrobe.
PLAY:1 will make a very decent attempt, especially if Trueplay-tuned, but I'm not sure how you could fully judge the acoustics of the recording environment based on a single mono speaker.
That i considered as well, i don't see how i could get a second speaker, then trade them both in if sound quality remains unsatisfactory. I assumed the playback would 'rework' the audio to sound welll on a mono speaker.
'Rework'? Nothing can alter the fact that a single PLAY:1 is effectively a point source, playing the sum of the L and R channels. Comparing it with a stereo setup of any description is hardly apples-for-apples.
As for buying a second speaker as a trial, Sonos offer a 100-day refund policy.
I'm not an audiofile but failing to hear reverb (or a hall effect) on a voice, that does not require stereo at all.
Whatever. I suggest you return it.
What you mean ? Am i right the Hall effect should be noticeable on a mono speaker ? I intended on buying second speaker but now i'm seriously doubting that decision.
Hall effect? What?
So not as good, then.... And they're only $5k per pair....
You seem still to be under the delusion that a $40K pair of speakers will sound better than a well designed $5K pair. They may well sound different, but "better" is highly subjective when it comes to speakers. In double blind testing, I have little doubt that a pair of Play:5s will best many much more expensive designs, particularly "boutique" designs, which are often highly colored. In objective tests, I'm certain the Play:5s will outperform many far pricier designs. Sonos is employing engineering techniques that are well out of reach for any small speaker company. Sonos has an anechoic chamber, for example, that even the large Canadian speaker companies can't afford, and rely on taxpayers to fund for them.
What else can i say, the guy sounds like he's singing in a church or a large hallway, or a damn cave even. I don't hear it on the Play:1.
Why would I want it to sound like that?
You're obviously not the person to grasp what i've posted.
Do you have actual evidence of this? Not your belief, but links to papers detailing the evidence including testing methodology?
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