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shenftw
Contributor I
October 27, 2020

Port or Amp for Surround Sound setup

  • October 27, 2020
  • 15 replies
  • 1995 views

Please excuse the incredibly nooby question, I’ve just started to make enough money to try and build a decent hi-fi system (edit: sorry I meant home theater).

So I recently bought 2 One’s to work as a surround sound set up (as the rear channels). I’ve currently got 2 powered bookshelf and I want to sync it up to the pair of one’s that I just bought. 

Now I’ve been doing some research but I’m still not a 100% clear if I need the Amp or the Port. From what I understand the Amp is necessary for passive speakers and provides surround sound capabilities, whereas Port works with powered speakers but doesn’t(?) support surround sound with the One’s. Rather all it does is add multi-room streaming capabilities. So I just want to clarify whether or not the Port can enable surround and if it can’t, will there be a problem using the amp with my powered speakers?

Bonus question: Currently my 2 powered speakers are connected to my turntable via phono preamp. Assuming I connect amp/port, will I be able to play my records out of all 4 channels? And is there advantageous one way or the other?

Thanks so much. Really appreciate it. 

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15 replies

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Kumar
October 28, 2020

 

 

I’m also on a SACD/DVD-A kick currently having picked up a couple of really cheap players for less than £5. 

There is a reason for that - no one wants them any more.

SACD cases with all the extensive liner notes from folks like JVC are nice to have for a lot of reasons, but better sound quality than CDs isn't one of them. 

Jaolchhu4
Jaolchhu4
Collaborator II
October 28, 2020

 

 

I’m also on a SACD/DVD-A kick currently having picked up a couple of really cheap players for less than £5. 

There is a reason for that - no one wants them any more.

SACD cases with all the extensive liner notes from folks like JVC are nice to have for a lot of reasons, but better sound quality than CDs isn't one of them. 

I get that @Kumar but to my ears the SACDs that I’ve heard sound better than the comparable CD and the 5.1 sound option is also attractive as I like being immersed in the music.

SACD’s themselves are often ridiculously expensive but DVD-A are better value. That said, all physical media is becoming obsolete and in time they will remain just as niche products (like vinyl and particularly cassettes are now). 

As a hobbyist and as someone who could not really afford these items the first time around, I am simply enjoying these items whilst I can. If I can do this on the cheap then so much the better. :-)

 

shenftwAuthor
Contributor I
November 2, 2020

I use an Amp to power two Paradigm floor standing speakers together with a Sub and two Play 1’s for my surround sound and it works and sounds good to my ears. 
 

I’d be very interested to know if a Port could be incorporated with a HT AV Receiver to similar effect but I suspect it would not work with the Play 1’s and probably not the Sub either. 

I reckoned this would work best but then John B said it won’t work cause they are powered? So it’s all rather confusing

John B
November 2, 2020

Hi @shenftw .  The set up that @Jaolchhu4 is using is completely standard, because his speakers are passive.  You just cannot use powered speakers with an Amp.  You wouldn’t use powered speakers with ANY amplifier, because powered = amplified.

Your powered speakers could be used with a Port (which has no amplification) to create a stereo HiFi system, but Sonos does not have a way of incorporating that with other Sonos speakers into a HT setup.

You can have a system like that used by @Jaolchhu4 if you wish, but you would need to buy passive speakers to use instead of your existing powered ones.

doneenandscott
Contributor I
November 28, 2020

To clear up the question about the Port, can you power a HT setup thru Port from the TV audio line out and then group rooms. I have a port and play5’s so wondering if this is an option for me. and a better option than running a line in to the Play 5 the TV.

I realize you wont get a surround but wondering if this a workable option

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