Play:7

[Johnish]

Originally Posted by robokitty

I'm getting ready to put together my "top 5" requests for Sonos features, which will mostly be usability improvements in the Android controller. My Play:5 is so awesome that's about the only thing I can think of to gripe about.

But I do have one wish that most people will probably think is crazy. I would like an "all on one" box like the play5, but that sounds better.

I think the Play5 sounds really good for a $400 all in one system. But my first thought when I turned it on was "I wish this sounded better". Turning off the loudness helped.

Anyway, I would like an all in one player that costs under $1000 but has better mid-range clarity than the Play 5. I wouldn't mind if it had "better" bass or treble, but I would really pay more for better vocal reproduction.

My previous system cost perhaps 10 times what the play5 costs, so it's not surprising that the sound is not quite as good.

I'm guessing that very few people would want a "play:7" because most sane people either like the play5 as it is, or they use something with external speakers and/or amp.

Thoughts?

Bill Bush is working for Sonos now and he's one of the best American speaker designers alive, responsible for the ground breaking NHT 3.3. One can only imagine what happens with that.

[robokitty]

Nice! Always liked the NHT...

[robokitty]

So the forums told me that no one except me wast interested an an integrated player that sounds better than a play 5. That I should man up and get separates.

And look what Sonos just released - a sub aimed at making the integrated players sound better.

Now I just need to save my pennies ;-)

[NoBoB]

That's quite a stretch, extrapolating your Play:7 into the Sub.

You don't work for a political campaign, do you?

[robokitty]

NoBob - you sure don't want me to have any fun, do you?

For me, the sub is more in the spirit of what I was looking for that the 2.1 system you were proposing I should want (but perversely didn't want).

You, and many others, said I would be much better off with a 2.1 system or other discrete system using Play-AMP products.

You also said it was "telling" that Sonos had gone towards the lower price point (play 5 to 3).

Yet here we have the sub. A higher price point. One at which you could easily get a discrete system that would probably sound better.

So why did Sonos make it? I think it's because someone besides me wants something better than a Play5, but that is more compact and convenient that a conventional separates system.

Of course it's not my imagined "play:7" exactly, but it's more in the spirit of that that the separates that everyone said I should want.

I'm not being a "politician" (i.e. dishonest). Why accuse me of that?

Why are there so many haters here?

[NoBoB]

Originally Posted by robokitty

NoBob - you sure don't want me to have any fun, do you?

That's not true. I encourage you (and everyone, for that matter) to have as much fun as you can without being arrested.

For me, the sub is more in the spirit of what I was looking for that the 2.1 system you were proposing I should want (but perversely didn't want).

My mistake. In the original post, when you said

Originally Posted by robokitty

I would like an "all on one" box like the play5, but that sounds better.

I thought you meant 'not 2.1'.

Of course it's not my imagined "play:7" exactly, but it's more in the spirit of that that the separates that everyone said I should want.

Just so I'm clear here, you're saying that a Sonos 2.1 system is closer to an improved all-in-one than a traditional 2.1 system? I thought your contention was that the Play:5 has too much bass. Adding a subwoofer (that none of us have heard yet) is supposed to improve that? It might, but nobody knows that yet.

I'm not being a "politician" (i.e. dishonest). Why accuse me of that?

I actually made no such accusation. Also, note the grinning smiley face after the question.

Why are there so many haters here?

That seems like pretty strong terminology. A disagreement doesn't have to degenerate into hate, I'd hope. I shouldn't speak for the rest of the forum, but I'm pretty sure nobody hates you or your ideas here.

Bending back to the topic, since you brought up the Sub, I'm going to rehash my earlier comment. A Sub and two Play:3's is at least $1200. Don't you think you could find a $700 2.1 system and a Connect:Amp (together, also $1200) that would outperform it? Again, we can only guess since we don't know much about the Sub, but the Sub has the 'Sonos overhead' that doesn't encumber a traditional Sub. Remember, a common point in the earlier responses was not that the Play:7 was a bad idea, or that none of us wanted one, but that the value proposition made it unlikely to be a good seller, which makes it unlikely that Sonos would build it, at least in the near term.

The Sonos Sub has a role, to be sure. In fact, I can think of a perfect place for one in my home (but for now I have other priorities for the few hundred differential).

But hey, if you think the Sub answers your request for a better sounding Play:5, who am I to complain. They'll begin shipping in a couple of weeks, so your prayers have been answered.

[robokitty]

;-)

Sure I think I could put together a separate system that would outperform it. Never disagreed with that.

I think you are saying that in your personal opinion, there is very little reason for anyone to buy the SUB - it makes no economic sense.

that is a perfectly reasonable opinion for you to have.

I'm really just saying that I feel slightly less alone in having a different opinion, since it seems that Sonos themselves share my vision.

In case you are curious, here is how I would use the SUB:

1) I would leave it hidden somewhere in my "main" listening room (which happens to be my dining room).

2) I would still use just a single play:5, because I don't care about stereo separation, and even if I did I don't have the room layout for reasonable placement.

3) I would continue to drag my play5 from room to room, or outside, when I want to listen in other rooms. I wouldn't care that I don't have the sub in those use cases.

The advantages: much less floorspace used than stand mounted speakers. Still in a way cover the whole house for not that much money.

I think it could work for me - probably not for you.

I guess I would turn the question around. Why do you believe Sonos made the SUB? Do you think it's a mistake on their part (it may well be)?

btw: you are right - "hater" was a bit strong. But you really seem determined to belittle what I still maintain is a perfectly reasonable product wish on my part. And the difference between "politician" and what you actually said is very small - you are splitting very fine hairs ;-)

[NoBoB]

I think I'm going to let this thread sail on without me.

Enjoy your Sonos.