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Contributor II
January 13, 2024

Best system for classical music … and possibly TV.

  • January 13, 2024
  • 24 replies
  • 2289 views

Hello everyone,

 

I would like to upgrade my Sonos components to have a really good sound for classical music. I’m noit accustomed to thinking in terms of the new surround sound type of all-in-one speaker, grew up with the idea of 2 passive speakers to create a stereo image. A connection to TV would also be nice. My first thought is the Arc plus two One’s, or the new 100 or 300 series. This can get rather expensive, is it worth it compared to a $2000 pair of stereo speakers attached to my Sonos Amp.

 

I have a Beam and am not so impressed with the sound quality.

 

Any and all ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

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24 replies

Schlumpf
Virtuoso
January 19, 2024

I recommended the Sonos amp to a friend of mine and he’s very happy. He uses it with a pair of high end Canton speakers (forgot the exact model) mainly to listen to music and as an on top feature for watching tv. 
The center simulation works well for him but imho depends on the connected speakers. 
I definitely would give the Sonos amp a try. 😎

Ralf
Contributor II
January 19, 2024

Thank you everyone for your responses. I should have said that "amp” that I have is the old version, circa idk 2004, no HDMI, just ethernet RCA and subwoofer. 

 

 

Stanley_4
Grand Maestro
January 19, 2024

I’d trade that old ZP in on a new Amp, you should get the 30% discount and still be able to keep and use the old ZP.

 

Contributor II
January 20, 2024

I’d trade that old ZP in on a new Amp, you should get the 30% discount and still be able to keep and use the old ZP.

 

Not A bad idea, TV can connect directly to it, I gather, through HDMI, but of course I'll need to spring for a pair of good speakers … tempting!

January 20, 2024

I would first get speakers that work well with your existing amp for music. And with 55 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 110 into 4, that amp delivers as much current as any other alleged HiFi amp with the same numbers in its spec - if it did not, that spec is false and I do not believe that to be the case. 

So you should find many speakers that can sound good with that much power to drive them, as long as your speakers are not too far away from the listening areas. And any speaker pair that is getting different signals for left/right channels will deliver a stereo image, and a phantom centre channel effect for TV - if the TV is placed centrally between the two speakers, the dialog will appear to come from the TV, if you sit in front of the TV, about the same distance each of the two speakers.

The next thing to do is to wire the TV sound to the amp via RCA wire - the TV will have to have either audio out jacks or a headphone jack to do that. The only possible problem you may face is lip sync - the  sound may come later than the picture. But this often is not intrusive or even noticeable - I have not found that to be the case based on the TVs I have used. If you also are in my boat, you are all set, there is nothing more to be done.

I would look to replace the existing amp only when the old one dies. Or, if the lip sync issue is intrusive in your case. Do not assume that it will be so, without seeing for your self.

PS: when I was exiting my audiophile decade, I replaced a Quad pre and power amp of 140 watts per channel by the same amp you have, driving a pair of large Harbeth speakers. I found no difference in the sound quality of the music after the change. Most of audiophilia is psychological and does not stand up to objective testing.

 

Contributor II
January 20, 2024

@Kumar thanks I'll try that first, would rather invest $ in new speakers than new amp and/or Beam or Arc. I'll have to take the TV off wall to see all of the I/O options, just terrible ergonomics-- the new Frame is great for this, one slim waite carries all signals, and power, to a rather biggish black box, but still, don't have to remove TV from wall.

January 21, 2024

Good luck with that because TVs are a mess of non standard connectivity at the rear; and wall mount can add to the challenges. Plus there is an issue for TVs that do have the necessary I/O, the TV sound is not automatically muted in all cases where the TV speakers need to be taken out of the loop, as they need to be for best results when other speakers are in use.

January 21, 2024

If you can get the system to work per above, with the existing amp and you are getting good results for music and TV, you have another upgrade path - add a powered subwoofer to the amp connected by a wire to it. The wireless Sonos Sub probably is no longer compatible with your amp and also is not cheap. This will address the need for any lack of power in the amp, or lack of bass capability in the new speakers. Caveat here: adding subs can be tricky, especially to get good results for music and the ideal would still be spending on capable new passive speakers - used if possible to get the best value - with high sensitivity and that have a nominal impedance spec of 8 ohms at least - 88dB or above for the sensitivity spec - that are in large enough boxes but that can still be stand or shelf mounted. I don’t think that the tower style of speaker is necessary, their expensive cabinetry costs/prices means you pay more for the same sound quality obtained for an equivalent sounding standmounted speaker.

Contributor II
February 1, 2024

If you can get the system to work per above, with the existing amp and you are getting good results for music and TV, you have another upgrade path - add a powered subwoofer to the amp connected by a wire to it. The wireless Sonos Sub probably is no longer compatible with your amp and also is not cheap. This will address the need for any lack of power in the amp, or lack of bass capability in the new speakers. Caveat here: adding subs can be tricky, especially to get good results for music and the ideal would still be spending on capable new passive speakers - used if possible to get the best value - with high sensitivity and that have a nominal impedance spec of 8 ohms at least - 88dB or above for the sensitivity spec - that are in large enough boxes but that can still be stand or shelf mounted. I don’t think that the tower style of speaker is necessary, their expensive cabinetry costs/prices means you pay more for the same sound quality obtained for an equivalent sounding standmounted speaker.

It worked! Bought a powered D to A converter, HDMI arc in from TV, RCA out to my connect:amp. No obvious time delay issues, dialogue clear.

February 1, 2024

Excellent; what speakers are you using?