We now have advisable Sonos wi-fi audio system and elements for years. We nonetheless suppose the corporate makes a incredible product. However the absolute fiasco attributable to the May 7 Sonos app redesign broke virtually each side of the Sonos expertise — and we’re still waiting for fixes that have been promised weeks in the past.
In the event you’re a Sonos proprietor, we share your frustration. In case your funding within the firm’s ecosystem is critical, your greatest guess is to attend and journey out this storm. Ultimately issues will return to regular and, hopefully, the Sonos expertise might be higher than earlier than.
However in the event you’re new to Sonos or in the event you’re contemplating shopping for your first Sonos product, you might be questioning about options. Dangerous software program rollouts can and do occur; going with one other firm is not any assure that your own home audio system will stay problem-free without end. Nonetheless, in the event you’re now not feeling the Sonos love, these techniques are greater than able to filling your own home with sound.
However what constitutes a Sonos various? To our mind-set, a real various ought to have not less than some (and ideally all) of the next attributes:
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Wi-Fi connectivity for each speaker/element
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An app that allows you to management speaker playback, speaker grouping, and that may entry each your most well-liked streaming music providers in addition to your private assortment of digital music
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A wide range of speaker sizes/sorts, together with a soundbar
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A element that allows you to join your older, non-wireless audio gear to the system
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Some sort of voice-enabled sensible speaker choice for each sensible residence integration in addition to voice management over music
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Expandable over time
Of the 5 choices we current beneath, solely the primary three meet a majority of those necessities. However we’ve included two extra choices that will provide you with a “Sonos lite” expertise, in the event you don’t want all the options Sonos affords.
Bluesound
One of the best for audiophiles
In the case of discovering a wi-fi, multiroom audio system that may compete with Sonos, look no additional than Bluesound. Like Sonos, Bluesound makes a wide range of wireless speakers and elements together with residence theater parts like soundbars and subwoofers, that are all managed through the BluOS-powered Bluesound cellular app.
The place Bluesound goes above and past, nevertheless, is its assist for hi-res audio and a number of wired/wi-fi connection choices. This has helped make Bluesound a favourite amongst audiophiles. All of Bluesound’s {hardware} helps lossless digital sound as much as 24-bit/192kHz, and it’s one of many solely multiroom techniques that’s appropriate with the MQA format (Lenbrook, Bluesound’s dad or mum firm, also owns the rights to MQA).
Its audio system and community music streamers even have auxiliary inputs and headphone outputs, one thing that Sonos has solely only in the near past began so as to add to its merchandise.
These additional options are inclined to make Bluesound merchandise dearer than their Sonos equivalents, however you might discover the added versatility is value the additional funding.
One space the place Bluesound lags Sonos is assist for music providers within the cellular app. Notably absent from the listing is Apple Music and YouTube Music. Nonetheless, given Bluesound’s compatibility with AirPlay, Bluetooth, and Roon, there are different methods to play music from these providers’ personal cellular apps.
Bluesound elements will be managed through Amazon Alexa, however Google Assistant and Apple Siri compatibility stay unavailable.
Denon Dwelling/HEOS
Essentially the most versatile alternative
Denon created the primary actual Sonos various with its Denon HEOS wi-fi audio system and elements. The corporate has since rebranded its wi-fi audio system as Denon Dwelling. However below the hood, it’s nonetheless HEOS operating the present.
You’ll discover HEOS-compatible AV receivers from Denon and sister model Marantz, which vastly broaden your choices for multiroom sound with out the necessity for separate community music streamers.
Denon’s Dwelling portfolio of audio system isn’t as expansive as Sonos’ — there’s presently no transportable speaker within the lineup, and just one measurement of soundbar — however costs are related for what you get.
Like Bluesound, HEOS elements are hi-res audio appropriate as much as 24-bit/192kHz. They don’t work with MQA, however they are going to play DSD 2.8MHz and 5.6MHz tracks, which neither Sonos nor Bluesound can do.
With a 2023 update, the HEOS cellular app performs almost all the similar capabilities because the Sonos app. YouTube Music is among the few music providers that isn’t supported in-app.
Bose
One of the best for simple setup
Bose is one other firm that has been diligently following Sonos’ lead on wi-fi multiroom audio system, and it now has a lineup of “sensible” merchandise that may go (virtually) toe-to-toe.
Soundbars in a number of sizes and costs (together with fashions that assist Dolby Atmos) that can be expanded to suit bigger rooms, subwoofers, portables, and naturally, noise-canceling headphones — there’s a Bose product for each situation.
Every element will be grouped and managed through the Bose Music app, they usually have a wealth of wi-fi connection choices together with Bluetooth, AirPlay, and Google Cast.
One of many issues that makes these merchandise “sensible” is their built-in voice assistant capabilities. On some audio system, you possibly can select from both Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, whereas others are restricted to simply Alexa (however with Google Assistant compatibility if you have already got a Google Assistant speaker).
You gained’t discover assist for superior audio codecs like MQA, DSD, or hi-res FLAC, however that doesn’t cease these audio system from sounding glorious.
The Bose Music app, whereas nice for controlling Bose sensible audio system, is proscribed in comparison with Sonos by way of music service assist, creating and saving playlists, and queue administration.
Wiim
An thrilling new choice
Wiim, a newcomer to the wi-fi audio house, doesn’t make wi-fi audio system (but) so it might probably’t fairly be thought-about a full Sonos various, however the firm’s community music gamers (with and with out built-in amps) are proof which you could have Sonos-like options with out paying Sonos costs.
We’ve tried the Wiim Pro and Wiim Amp, and are mightily impressed by their expertise, design, and sound. The Wiim app is probably the primary of its type to not solely replicate Sonos’ greatest options (like common search) but in addition exceed what Sonos has accomplished.
There’s full assist for grouping and particular person management of elements, hi-res audio compatibility together with MQA, and a number of other of Wiim’s merchandise are Roon-ready for followers of that music administration software program.
Every Wiim element has a plethora of digital and analog inputs and outputs, and wi-fi connectivity contains Bluetooth (often two-way), AirPlay, and Google Forged.
About the one factor you don’t get with Wiim is DSD compatibility, and, very similar to all non-Sonos opponents, you possibly can’t entry Apple Music straight throughout the Wiim app.
Apple/Google/Amazon
The 800-pound gorillas
Lastly, in the event you’re a fan of the large three tech corporations and their respective ecosystems, Apple, Google, and Amazon every affords methods to do wi-fi multiroom audio. They not solely make wi-fi audio system — in addition they have sensible residence apps that may management a wide range of third-party audio system from different corporations.
For instance: If a wi-fi speaker is AirPlay-compatible, it may be added to the Apple Dwelling app. Google Assistant sensible audio system and Google Forged gadgets will be managed from the Google Dwelling app, and there’s an enormous ecosystem of wi-fi audio merchandise that may be added to the Alexa app.
To be clear, these sensible residence apps are primary when in comparison with the performance of a Sonos system, so it’s not fairly a 1:1 alternative.
Furthermore, Apple, Google, and Amazon solely have a number of wi-fi audio system from which to decide on, and none of them makes multiroom-compatible soundbars (although Apple’s HomePods make a great soundbar substitute you probably have an Apple TV 4K).
Nonetheless, in case your wants are easy, maybe a number of Apple HomePods scattered round your own home will do the trick.
