Just saw this flash by while browsing around elsewhere so decided to check it out. Looks like a good deal on its own especially with Free Shipping but when combined with the 8% Cashrewards it actually sounds too good to be true… that's $42.24 Cashback! I don't need more SONOS stuff but please leave a comment if anyone goes through with a sale just so we all know it's genuine. Cheers :)
Nice! Shame VideoPro doesn't have 8% CashRewards :(
The new Apple Home speaker coming in December is said to be at least as good a speaker as the Sonos Play:1
That's the general consensus from the Apple techs who got put in a room to hear the device in action, there was a crap speaker, Apple Home, and a Sonos Play:1 and no one could tell the difference between music on the Home vs the Sonos Play:1
https://daringfireball.net/linked/2017/06/01/hamilton-siri-s…
I'm going to wait a while before purchasing a Play1 (I've an OzB search alert for them) and I'll take a stab and suggest there will be some great deals to be had on Sonos Play1's for the rest of the year and not just Sonos, the Samsung, Bose systems will also lower their prices on the equivalent speakers.
Yeah nice. SONOS will still be King for those who are after proper multi-zoned and/or 'higher' quality hassle-free audio but yes, it has taken a while but there are now more & more alternatives creeping onto the market for those just wanting to play music here & there. Competition = lower prices so yeah either way it's all good for us :)
Actually the comparison was with a Play: 3 (and Amazon Echo). I've read a few accounts, some couldn't tell. Some could tell tonal differences, like the HomePod seemed more bassy and spacious.
It looks intriguing, but the main negative with the Homepod is that you will be locked into Apple Music for the near term. And also Siri seems to be way behind the other assistants.
Sonos on the other hand supports so many other services. I'm sure Apple will open it up in the coming years though.
Might be worth waiting for Sonos gear with integrated microphones. Apparently adding Alexa integration and maybe Google Assistant is on the roadmap.
I've been running SONOS for 10 years (yes, an early adopter) and accumulated quite a system over that period however it's all mostly 'Connects' and 'Amps' as I use vintage Hifi gear to do the actual work of producing the sound. I've been out of the loop on what future direction SONOS are heading so snippets of info like this are appreciated, thanks. I'm pretty old-skool so I probably wont really care for a voice command system in my home so a 'Home Speaker' type feature really isn't important to me however I can definitely see why they'd want to include one. Looks like it's the next 'big thing'!
They've actually changed CEOs recently apparently as an admission they've been caught on the back foot with the advent of Echo and Google Home. They are trying to integrate these things now but also trying to being 'agnostic' about who they support. It may not be possible though, as I suspect Amazon and Google wouldn't allow manufacturers to have their microphones work with both services. And there is little chance of Siri going into a Sonos product.
But on the otherhand I don't think it will be long before you can ask any of those assistants to play something on Sonos - that's a different task - but you may just need another device in your house to do it. Or your phone.
I'm currently planning a smart home as part of a reno so I'm keen to see how this pans out. I'd like to get Sonos speakers with Mics so that I don't have to get all these other devices sitting around the house!
Oh yes, the good ol 'Smart Home' desire. Be careful there, that can be a slippery slope and an endless money pit as tech changes far too often to keep 'on top' of everything. I know I sound like a 90 year old (& sometimes I feel like one) but I've been there a couple of times over the last 20 years when building or renovating and sure enough no matter how much 'future proofing' you think you've covered you'll end up having to make major upgrades within 5 years anyway as the tech gets better & better. Not saying it's impossible but just tread carefully and whatever you do make sure you can easily strip the entire system out without too much hassle whenever the time comes to replace it with the next new thing. Decent wireless comms have obviously made this less of an issue however there's always an integrated portion that needs consideration. Good luck!
Haha! My wife is always reminding me of this! I'm trying to make things as agnostic as possible.
available at this price @ JB Hifi
VideoPro also passing on the $70 off their pricing, comes out at $515 with free shipping. Sometimes they drop them down to $475 for a twin pack of Play 1's.
https://www.videopro.com.au/cf-245--sonos.aspx