Anyone own a Sonos Playbar?.

[Buck]

I've been using Sonos for about five years - we've got a mixture of their products around the house, but not a Playbar. I love using the product (for Spotify, line-in (TV), and Radio streaming)

If I am totally honest, I would advise people to hold off on buying Sonos products right now. As a business they are have significant challenges. They recruited a new CEO in January and the founder left the business. Software development has been practically nill in the last 12 months, and they are laying off staff.

They did a great job of anticipating and riding the music streaming wave, but they're lagging behind in mobility and "smart homes". They have failed to see where the market was heading and now have to play catch up. They don't have any portable/mobile products, and they don't have any smart home integration - they keep promising Alexa integration but it's still not available. Should have been there at launch in my opinion.

I believe they are vulnerable to the "big boys" in the industry. They haven't integrated with other eco-systems which may be their downfall. Google, Amazon, and Apple are all working in this space now. Amazon and Google have both released home speakers, and while they're not yet a direct competitor to Sonos, they are heading in that direction.

Apple are about to release their HomePod product, and they are going to be the first to take direct aim at Sonos with this product. The problem that Sonos have is that to survive they need to integrate, but why will Amazon/Google/Apple want them to integrate? Those companies will probably continue to develop their own speaker technology and lock Sonos out in order to try and corner the market.

I am a happy Sonos customer, but I am worried about their future - they should have been more willing to integrate with third parties a few years ago. Now they have their new CEO it seems that they are willing, but I fear that the market may have left them behind.

Time will tell, I suppose, but I'm holding off with any further purchases for now and may sell in a year or two depending on how things unfold.

Interesting thoughts.

I too am a big Sonos fan - been using their system now for over 10 years and love it but as you say, it is a system that works in isolation rather than being truly integrated.

I've just ordered two new connect:amp for our extension so here's hoping it doesn't go belly up! (Mind you I did get a 20%+ discount!!)

 

[keithmac]

Had it in for a nearly a week now and it's an excellent bit of kit.

Shame not many terestrial channels broadcast Dolby 5.1.

Been using it for music more than anything though!.

No regrets and money well spent.

 

[BurningLegs]

Had it in for a nearly a week now and it's an excellent bit of kit.

Shame not many terestrial channels broadcast Dolby 5.1.

Been using it for music more than anything though!.

No regrets and money well spent.

I think music playback is one of the areas where the Sonos playbar outperforms a lot of rivals.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

In true internet tradition, I don't have any experience whatsoever of the item you are asking about, but I'm going to reply anyway, because otherwise I'd have to do some work.

I have a Yamaha sound bar which I bought about 10 years ago to replace a surround sound system - I couldn't be bothered with all the speakers and wires, and besides which it got a pint spilled into it at a party and stopped working. If it stopped working for whatever reason, I'd replace it with something similar - it's great for TV and film once it's callibrated itself (but it's fine in stereo if you don't calibrate it) but not a patch on traditional speakers for music (although I do listen to the radio on it)

I was going to buy the subwoofer too. After 10 years it seems unlikely I'll ever bother

Do this. Get the cheap Yamaha one, it plugs straight in, and makes a very big difference. Yamaha soundbars are great, but bass-light.

This one: https://www.richersounds.com/yamaha-ystfsw050-blk.html

 

[keithmac]

Netflix has saved the day, watching Mechanic Resurection in HD with full 5.1 surround.

May just give up with normal TV!.

 

[keithmac]

Managed to bag a years worth of Deezer for £25 a few weeks back!.

Bought another Play1 and fitted it in the landing upstairs, amazing how much just 1 speaker fills the whole space and bedrooms.

Wife's a convert now which is great.

Only downside is the 8.0 App, hopefully they'll pull some fingers out and get it sorted..

 

[Buck]

Managed to bag a years worth of Deezer for £25 a few weeks back!.

Bought another Play1 and fitted it in the landing upstairs, amazing how much just 1 speaker fills the whole space and bedrooms.

Wife's a convert now which is great.

Only downside is the 8.0 App, hopefully they'll pull some fingers out and get it sorted..

How did you bag Deezer for that price? That’s a great price!

 

[keithmac]

How did you bag Deezer for that price? That’s a great price!

Someone on ebay had promotional subscription tickets from Samsung speakers selling them at £25 a pop.

Not complaining!.