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Bill zoneplayer
Avid Contributor I
July 6, 2017

Third party amplifier to pair with SONOS:Connect ?

Hey Guys, I have SONOS:Connects and a bunch of unused in-ceiling speakers. What I really need is SONOS:AMPS. Obviously I can sell one and buy the other but I will take a big loss selling used and buying new. Is there a small third party AMP out there that when paired with a non-amp CONNECT matches or exceeds quality of the standalone SONOS:AMP? Of course price is the big factor... if too expensive I will just buy the powered SONOS box. Not looking for any features but the ability to power the speakers at same quality. I'm hoping you guys have talked about this one before and can shortcut me to a product or tell me this is a dumb question. I'd like to avoid spending the morning reading about cheap amps. 🙂
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    Bill zoneplayerAuthor
    Avid Contributor I
    September 6, 2017
    I think you like playing devils advocate a little bit which is cool. I have decent speakercraft ceiling speakers in each room and have synced volume levels in neighboring bedrooms so i can hear the difference and see where volume maxes out. Ive definitely not lost anything on sound quality and there isnt any distortion up to 100% of what connect amps do. But I agree and as I said in my update post, I have only had these a week so we all need to gauge our own risk, warranty and prices. For anyone in my spot, I hope they see this post, find it helpful or can offer alternatives as mini amps have more time on the market. I also think these little guys are good for us SONOS users and it can drive the form factor smaller. Sonos AMPS dwarf these new devices.
    thomas9krabbe
    Contributor I
    December 26, 2017
    Hi Bill
    I'm also looking for a small amp, suited for the Connect. Only, I'm in Denmark. I'd like to know, does your s.m.s.l. amp go into stand by when there's no signal from the Connect? Also does it come out of stand by by itself, when you start playing from the Connect? And there's no problems in low volume parts of songs? Thanks in advance.
    JuanPablo
    Contributor II
    June 19, 2019
    Update with conclusion: To recap the CONNECT AMP is 150 more than a CONNECT. I own used CONNECTS that sell for 100 less than new. So not counting ebay fees I was a good 250 in the red to upgrade to AMPs. I ended up buying these to power my ceiling speakers connected to the CONNECTS i already own. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N8Q57FS/

    They have Digital inputs. They push 85w per channel, which is quite a bit more and sound very slightly better than the CONNECT AMP imo. They look nice and are tiny and now are the smallest thing in my Sonos closet rack. I have them locked on 70% max volume and that puts them at the same level as SONOS AMPs when using sonos controller to control all zone volumes. The downside is I have only had them one week so who knows what can happen but IMO it is the most efficient alternative of going from CONNECT to a used CONNECT AMP that could break anytime and cost $200 difference.


    Hey Bill
    Do you used this amp (SMSL AD18 80W2) with your Sonos Connect?
    I have an turntable and i want to use with my sonos speakers, i recently bougth an Sonnos connect and i need now an amp, that amp is going to help me??

    Thanks.
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