Chromatic Producer I

Question

Amp versus the new Port?

14 replies
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I’ve been adding Sonos products slowly the last 2 years. Yes, a little bit each time as it’s pretty pricey. But worth it, IMO. So this year I am looking to either add a Playbase or a Amp. But I just noticed they have a new product, Port. Is the new Port a replacement for the retired Amp Connect?
I have an old school stereo system with turntable that I still use. I like to spin vinyls on Sunday’s. I also have a 5disc cd player and dual cassette tape player which I still use. I also have a dvd and BluRay player I have hooked up that will play through my home speakers when I watch movies on my big screen. 90% of the time I listen to streaming (via Spotify, Bandcamp, etc) or iTunes using my iPhone or iPad on my 3 pairs of Sonos (Play1 and One) throughout the house.
so depending which product is available for a Black Friday price I will most likely purchase that for my next Sonos device. The Playbase I know is pretty much a no brainer for my big screen. But between the Amp and Port, what’s the deference between the 2? And what is best for the home stereo I have?
Thank you.

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dcgunmanAuthor

Chromatic Producer I

Hi dcgunman

You can connect the Playbase to your TV as instructed via optical. You will no longer be able to use your legacy system in conjunction with the Playbase to create a DD5.1 system.

However, there are options for the Playbase

Option 1

Purchase Sonos One’s or Sonos One SL’s by two (or mix and match) to use as surrounds.
Use a Sonos sub to complete the 5.1 setup.
Using Sonos One’s will also give you Alexa or Google voice control.
You can mix a Sonos One and a Sonos SL to save a few bucks and still have Alexa or Google voice control

Option 2

Purchase a Sonos Amp and connect your 3rd party speakers to it and use them as surrounds.
You can use a Sonos sub with the Playbase to complete the 5.1 setup.

DVD or BluRay Player

If they have HDMI you would connect them directly to your TV.
Leaving them connected to your legacy stereo system will not get you DD5.1 even with a Port.

Leaving Legacy Stereo intact:

Use a Port to bring Turntable or CD music to other Sonos speakers and reversely send Sonos to the 3rd party speakers connected to your stereo.

I hope this helps. Cheers!

Hi dcgunman

You can connect the Playbase to your TV as instructed via optical. You will no longer be able to use your legacy system in conjunction with the Playbase to create a DD5.1 system.

However, there are options for the Playbase

Option 1

Purchase Sonos One’s or Sonos One SL’s by two (or mix and match) to use as surrounds.
Use a Sonos sub to complete the 5.1 setup.
Using Sonos One’s will also give you Alexa or Google voice control.
You can mix a Sonos One and a Sonos SL to save a few bucks and still have Alexa or Google voice control

Option 2

Purchase a Sonos Amp and connect your 3rd party speakers to it and use them as surrounds.
You can use a Sonos sub with the Playbase to complete the 5.1 setup.

DVD or BluRay Player

If they have HDMI you would connect them directly to your TV.
Leaving them connected to your legacy stereo system will not get you DD5.1 even with a Port.

Leaving Legacy Stereo intact:

Use a Port to bring Turntable or CD music to other Sonos speakers and reversely send Sonos to the 3rd party speakers connected to your stereo.

I hope this helps. Cheers!

Option 1 already taken care of. I’m running 3 pairs of speakers. 1 pair of Sonos One and 2 pairs of Sonos Play 1 along with Sub. I added the Playbase for the big screen. Would it be worth Adding another pair of Sonos One or Play SL to the big screen (Sony Bravia), Playbase/pair Sonos One (7.1 surround sound)? Or it wouldn’t make much difference?

AjTrek1

Just to be clear….Sonos does not support 7.1 audio. The best you can achieve is 5.1 audio with a Sonos Playbar, Playbase or Beam Bonded to a sub and two surrounds.

The Playbase (as you have) is the controller for all. The sub and surrounds are Bonded to it and thus take all commands from it. They function as a unit meaning if you remove one component the 5.1 audio is destroyed.

You can Group as many speakers as you like to the main setup as described but all you will get is additional audio (TV dialogue or music) to those speakers but they will not create discrete 7.1 audio.

If you Group other Sonos speakers to a Sonos 5.1 setup and they are in the same room as it the resulting audio will most likely be unpleasant. In short a stadium effect will be the end result.

Buy as many Sonos speakers as you like :slight_smile: but I recommend against placing them in the same room as your Sonos 5.1 setup with the sole intent of Grouping them to it.

Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.

S

sonos321

Lyricist I

Hi,

What is still a bit unclear reading this thread is - If I choose to play music from a digital streaming source (Tidal, Spotify etc) on a Sonos Port,

Is it possible to make it play that music on a third party amplifier (using the Ports digital out)

And at the same time, without any delay, play the exact same music on other sonos speakers in my home (eg One SL) connected to the Port via Wifi?

jgatie

Hi,

What is still a bit unclear reading this thread is - If I choose to play music from a digital streaming source (Tidal, Spotify etc) on a Sonos Port,

Is it possible to make it play that music on a third party amplifier (using the Ports digital out)

And at the same time, without any delay, play the exact same music on other sonos speakers in my home (eg One SL) connected to the Port via Wifi?

The output on the Port will be in perfect sync with all other Sonos devices. The problem arises when the downstream amplification applies a delay, due to DSP’s or other such processing.

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