Product test
Sonos - Multiroom sound for the stress-free tested
by Dominik Bärlocher
Multiroom system test: Which system is the test winner?
27.12.2016
Translation: machine translated
Multiroom systems are cool, but expensive. So, like me, you might not want to make a big investment before you're sure what you want and need. That's why I tested three fundamentally different multiroom systems. Which of the systems is the test winner and what you need to look out for before and when buying.
As long as people have hearing, they will want to listen to music. Therefore, good speakers and speaker solutions will not disappear from everyday life any time soon. However, the source of music is constantly changing. The gramophone became a record player, the record player became a cassette recorder, the cassette recorder became a CD player and the CD player became... this is where it gets difficult. The music comes from a smart device somewhere, then goes somewhere and should finally come out of loudspeakers in the usual quality. Practically every manufacturer of audio devices has docking solutions on sale to which you can connect your mobile or tablet and then the music is forwarded to your stereo system. Connecting PCs and laptops to stereo systems has always been difficult but not impossible.
That's why we need a new solution. And because the title already says Multiroom System in such capital letters, this is the current trend in room sound reinforcement. The systems are seen as the successor to stereo systems. Big shoes to fill for the new technology.
Like any other new technology, the price tag for multi-room systems is high. Despite all the technical advantages, the question "Can I afford this?" is given quite a lot of weight. If you answer "yes" to this question, then the question "Which one now?" and "Can I even set this up myself or do I need a technician?"
That's why, after testing three multiroom systems, I thought I'd write a guide for you so that you know what's important and what you're getting yourself into.
If you want detailed information about the sound and features of each system, read the reviews. In this article, I will compare the three devices and determine a test winner at the end.
The basic requirements
No matter which system you decide on in the end, you will need certain things that are not included with the multiroom system and that you will have to find elsewhere in your household.
WLAN
All three systems tested are primarily designed to stream music via your home Wi-Fi. The greater the Wi-Fi bandwidth, the better. It may be time to replace your old router. Your goal should be to have a 5Ghz Wi-Fi in your home. This way you can be sure that you can maintain normal home operation with all your smart devices and still listen to music without interference. In our category Router you can search for the WLAN standard 802.11ac.
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Smartphone or tablet
Furthermore, you need a portable and smart device. In other words, a tablet or smartphone. This is the first time a hardware factor comes into play that directly affects your choice of multiroom system. The Denon system requires a 3.5 mm jack connection for setup, which means that the new iPhone is no longer a setup device. If you still want iPhone and Denon, why not buy a super-cheap Android mobile and use that as a setup device? You can then easily control the system itself via any smartphone, including the new iPhone.
However, if you decide against a Denon system, your iPhone or bleeding edge Android phone will do just as well.
The setup and security
There's very little you need to worry about when setting up any multiroom system. With the exception of the Sony system, the systems are designed so that you have to set up the speakers once and then never have to worry about it again. Denon and Sonos are both systems that aim to be unseen but heard.
Each multiroom system also has a built-in security mechanism to prevent you from adding your neighbour's speakers to your system.
- Sony - contact to the device via NFC, among others
- Denon - connection of the device with speaker via 3.5mm jack adapter
- Sonos - Press buttons according to instructions in the app
If you want to be on the safe side and still be able to set up your setup properly in a decade's time, Sonos is clearly ahead of the game. Because unless something really bad happens, you'll still have fingers in ten years' time. Although NFC is also experiencing an upward trend thanks to contactless payment options, it is still possible that the technology will be outdated and replaced in ten years' time. Relying on third-party technologies can be risky, as the Denon case shows, because new mobiles will sooner or later do away with the 3.5 mm jack connection.
Apropos Denon: Although the current version of their multiroom system requires the 3.5mm jack, this does not mean that the brand will be written off forever. A lot can be done on the software side, so it is conceivable that the 3.5 mm jack connection will simply remain installed as a relic. Doesn't hurt anyone either.
The sound: small speakers
The small speakers, referred to as the 1 series by Denon and Sonos, do not deliver the sound performance that you would expect from a soundbar with a subwoofer or even a slightly larger speaker. But for sound reinforcement in small rooms or as an unobtrusive speaker in a room where people are working - the kitchen, for example - the 1 Series speakers are a good investment.
The best small speakers come from Denon, because they are the only ones that produce sound that audiophiles will like. Sony and Sonos deliver solid sound, but long-term enjoyment sounds different.
The sound: mid-range speakers
Mid-range speakers at Sonos and Denon are labelled with the number 5 or 7. Sony continues to rely on extremely complex model names that probably only make sense internally. In this case, it is the SRS-X88.
It's difficult to pick a winner here. All the speakers are solidly made and deliver excellent sound for their size. Therefore, it is not the sound that is decisive for the speakers, but the hardware. Denon's Heos speakers have a gigantic LED that can be switched off via an app. The smaller LED on the Sonos speakers can also be switched off, but not on the Sony speakers. This means that Sony loses out because the speakers are suddenly not suitable for the bedroom or other rooms where darkness is appreciated.
Therefore: point Sonos
The sound: soundbars and subwoofers
The supreme discipline of loudspeakers in the modern home is the comparison of soundbars and subwoofers. Because these deliver by far the best sound in the house and not only play the sound from your mobile but also the sound from your TV
Sony has designed its soundbar primarily as a TV accessory, but allows it to be integrated into the multiroom setup in just a few simple steps. However, the initial setup must be carried out with the TV set. A soundbar cannot be used as a speaker replacement. It is also clear that Sony really likes its glowing things, as there is a small display on the top of the soundbar that you cannot switch off. It lights up all the time and tells you which sound is coming from where. Thanks, Sony, but I can do that myself. From the ear.
With Denon and Sonos, on the other hand, the soundbars are not the central element in a decentralised setup, but they are still important. Because if you want really good sound, just put a soundbar and a subwoofer in every room you want to fill with sound. You're welcome.
If, like me, you enjoy watching films in complete darkness with the exception of the TV, then Sony is a no-go. Although the other systems also have illuminated elements, these can be switched off via the app.
The sound is clearly the best with the Sonos system, especially in terms of bass. Not only are the fine adjustments easy to make via the app, but the sound is simply convincing. Warm bass, ringing high tones, that's how it should be. However, Denon is not far behind, especially because the speakers support High Definition Audio. Although the standard has not yet established itself, it is likely to do so in the coming years.
The app as a virtual control centre
Multiroom systems no longer have a physical core element from which everything can be controlled on the hardware side. The systems are controlled by smart devices that take over the settings that were once reserved for a stereo system. This is done via an app.
The apps do not necessarily focus on freedom of adjustment, but rather on intuitive design and peace of mind. The latter is particularly important during the setup of the system, as the app is - with the exception of the Sony soundbar - the only configuration option for interacting with the speakers.
The setup process
When it comes to the app, Sonos clearly has the advantage, as the company neither has over 100 years of history nor wants to create a solution for everything that emits sound. Sonos simply wants to address speakers and then network them. That's all the app wants to do during setup. It does this in simple steps. Then quickly press buttons and you're done.
Denon, on the other hand, is a little more complicated when it comes to wiring the smartphone and speaker. The networking sometimes fails and the error message on the mobile only says "Can't connect because don't know".
The setup is complicated with Sony. You are given several options for how you can set up the network, be it via Bluetooth, contacting the Wi-Fi router or NFC. This can quickly become overwhelming and daunting. It's not that the process is impossible to complete in the end, but the "straight forwardness" aspect you're used to from apps is completely absent.
In operation
On the software side, all the multiroom systems that I tested have the following in common:
- The speakers can be controlled directly from other apps
- Speakers can only be grouped with the app
- Playback is possible with third-party apps such as Spotify as well as from the Multiroom app
While enjoying music, Sony shows its great strengths, but remains consistently complex. Peace of mind is a different matter. But for those who want to fine-tune their own settings, adjust bass and treble and everything else precisely, the SongPal app is a powerful tool that other multiroom systems can't compete with.
With Denon's Heos app, it is noticeable that the settings are well hidden. They are hidden on the Music screen and then accessible at the top left via a cogwheel. Basic settings are possible there, according to a few strict presets. Streaming services do not need to be integrated at all, because if the app offers playback, the speakers can be controlled directly via third-party apps. During the test phase, I rarely used the app once the setup was complete.
Sonos is a latecomer when it comes to apps, but they have made solid and clean improvements. The app is easy and intuitive to use and third-party services can be integrated quickly and easily. Until recently, however, it was only possible to play music from streaming services via the app interface. It has only been possible to control Sonos speakers directly from the Spotify app since an update in December 2016. I haven't looked at the app since then, as the grouping for the TV is automatically cancelled when the soundbar receives an audio signal from the TV. The grouping is restored when the TV is switched off.
The test winner: Sonos
Over all, Sonos wins the test. The setup is simple and intuitive and the app follows suit. The integration of streaming services is cleanly implemented and, since an update, also offers the option of playing music without using the app. You can store several accounts for the same service in the app itself, which you can then access freely. On the hardware side, Sonos not only installs good speakers that deliver solid sound, but has also kept in mind that technology is evolving and designed its hardware to be as future-proof as possible.
The only downside I can find to the Sonos system is the price. Sonos speakers cost a little more than the competition, but the ease of use, sound quality and future-proofing make up for the extra cost. <p
Journalist. Author. Hacker. A storyteller searching for boundaries, secrets and taboos – putting the world to paper. Not because I can but because I can’t not.
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