The Sonos Amp is designed for multi-room installations where all types of speakers are used: conventional cabinet, built-in and wireless. In other words, Sonos is positioning the amplifier as the central hub of a home music system.
Sonos Amp has a Wi-Fi module on board, easily integrates into a single Sonos wireless eco-system and facilitates the organization of a multiroom installation. To control Sonos AMP, it is convenient to use the proprietary Sonos application, which allows you to customize tones and adjust the volume level individually for each individual amplifier located in a specific room. At the same time, various online services are available, including TuneIn, Spotify, etc. The network player supports the AirPlay 2 protocol and plays streaming audio from Apple devices with a Wi-Fi connection, as well as files from audio libraries of computers and NAS servers on the local network. You can combine up to 32 proprietary components into a single Sonos network and control playback from one point using a tablet or smartphone.
You can simultaneously connect up to two speakers (of any manufacturer) wired to Sonos Amp, as well as wireless Sonos speakers placed in different rooms. The user will be able to broadcast audio signals from streaming services to all these speakers. On board the Sonos Amp there is a line input for a CD player, turntable or any other similar device, from which music can be streamed to the connected speakers.
Like other Sonos products, multiple new amplifiers can be grouped together, playing the same music in different zones. The manufacturer focuses on the power of the new product – 125 W per channel at 8 Ohms. According to Sonos, this power will be enough even for large “adult” floorstanding speakers. At the same time, the company promises loud and very clear sound without noise or distortion.
The advantages of the new Sonos Amp over the previous Sonos Connect:Amp model include the presence of an HDMI ARC connector, which will allow you to transfer sound from the TV to the speakers. For example, an amplifier can be used in a DC: two front speakers, two rear speakers and a Sonos wireless subwoofer can be connected to the device by wire – you get a 2.1-channel system. By the way, you can expand it using Sonos wireless speakers.
The Sonos AMP model impresses with its strict, laconic design, vaguely reminiscent of first-generation CD players or a smaller copy of a vinyl turntable. The front panel has a device status indicator and touch controls for playback, volume and other functions. The convection cooling system is interestingly organized, using the aluminum chassis of the case as a radiator. The model can be placed in a rack or fixed on the wall using special mounting brackets.
The kit includes an optical adapter for HDMI, which is important for a TV with an optical output that does not have an HDMI port with ARC support. There are four dedicated terminals for speakers. Pairing with wireless speakers, for example, such as Sonos One, is supported, and when using two Sonos AMP models, it is possible to build a 4.1-channel audio system with a wired speaker connection. If necessary, Sonos AMP can be switched to mono mode.
Characteristics of Sonos AMP
Class D amplifier
Power 2 x 125 W (8 Ohms), 2 x 200 W (4 Ohms)
Supported file formats MP3, AAC (DRM-free), WMA (DRM-free), AAC (MPEG4), AAC+, Ogg Vorbis , Apple Lossless, FLAC, WAV, AIFF
Supported audio resolution up to 16-bit/48 kHz
Supported album art formats JPEG, PNG, BMP, GIF
Supported music services Rhapsody, Spotify, TuneIn, etc.
Supported playlists iTunes, Rhapsody, WinAmp, Windows Media Player (.m3u, .pls, .wpl)
Wireless connection Sonos network
Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
AirPlay 2 support yes
Inputs 2 Ethernet ports, linear RCA, HDMI with ARC return channel RCA
outputs for subwoofer (adjustable cutoff frequency: 15 – 110 Hz)
Other switching optical adapter for HDMI port (optical input)
Speaker output 2 pairs of terminals
Choice between stereo and mono modes yes
Control via the Sonos application yes
Dimensions (WxHxD) 217x64x217 mm
Weight 2.1 kg
