Better than a SONOS AMP?! VSSL A1 Streamer!

Today we are looking at some Multiroom Audio from VSSL and talking about how Sonos made a lot of happy customers angry overnight with a bad business decision. For 10% off Squarespace go to squarespace.com/techflow​ or use code: TechFlow
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Chapters:
0:00​ - Intro
0:34​ - Sonos Scandal
2:16​ - VSSL Unboxing
3:32​ - VSSL I/O
5:48​ - Garden Zones
7:46​ - Office Zones
9:06 - VSSL App/Streaming
11:22 - Final Thoughts

[@techflow]

Hello, we thought this was obvious but to clarify again, we are specifically talking about SONOS S1 products in this video not S2. S1 Products do not work with AirPlay 2 and ARC audio.

[@TheRelicDelic]

Yes you can absolutely play to Sonos speakers directly from Spotify etc. without having to go through the Sonos app, exactly as you gush over with the Vssl app as if it's the first time you've experienced it. Disturbingly misleading review.

[@robmaastricht7840]

Hi Alex. That is a zoneplayer 120. Introduced in 2008 and not in 2015. Sonos supported it a reasonable time. Get your facts straight.

[@2005Bener]

Also, they still work perfectly they just get no more updates, so people can carry on using them as they always have, unlike how he described it as sonos bricked their speakers and forced you to buy new ones 🙄

[@JBR.1974]

@@2005Bener if he’d given the actual facts it would be better. Sonos did initially basically suggest they would brick the devices. But the backlash than ensued made them change their minds on that pretty quick and come up with the S1 system

[@piperman98]

Considering I bought a zoneplayer 100 a month ago (even older!) to run my garden speakers and it works great, I would say Sonos hasn’t killed these products off, just moved them to a legacy status

[@thomasmandsberg9408]

The Play 3 does work with the s2 app, and sonos hasn't killed the amp or play 5 they are just not updating them anymore, i don't see the problem in that. They've never said that it would be new forever, just be happe that they've added features until now, and they still work perfectly fine with the s1 app

[@MOBAutoBoutique]

I'm confused. This is more expensive than sonos and has less power than sonos. Sonos isn't updating their old devices anymore, but you can still use them with the app. Sonos can be connected through google or apple and still use your apps like spotify or apple music to connect to it.

[@brewbq5747]

There are a lot of inaccuracies in this video. The play 3 is still supported by sonos, you showed a picture of a gen 1 play 5, not the new one. You compare an old amp with a new one. A lot of the new inputs have become a lot more affordable recently and Sonos would have priced themselves out of the market to include all those inputs 10 years ago. You also say you can't control sonos from the Spotify app with is, again, completely untrue. I don't think you've ever used Sonos products. Clearly just been asked to bash them for a couple of free amps.

[@analopez-pb7pq]

Maybe but explain why my 6 sonos speakers cannot be controlled without continually having to shut down run a complete reconnect configuration. Sonos is a bad company.

[@brewbq5747]

@@analopez-pb7pq sounds you have internet issues, not Sonos issues 🤷

[@martinbowersuk]

How much you betting hes already switched back to sonos? The sound quality on sonos is impeccable.

[@ow201]

Sorry but this is full of inaccuracies. You can stream to Sonos direct from Spotify and pair with google home/Alexa for voice control. Both units feel very similar in terms of features. I’m still running Sonos components that I bought 12years ago and they are still going strong. I think that’s pretty good. With hardware of this nature as tech/features moves on the hardware will become unable to support it. Much like trying to play a modern video game on a 386 CPU. Agreed, Sonos could have handled this announcement much better but it was expected for older components.

[@KoldSteel1990]

The major component that is missing from Sonos is Chromecast built in. In my opinion native Android or iOS apps have much better UI and offer better functionality when it comes to finding and discovering music.

[@ow201]

@@KoldSteel1990 yeh. I’d agree with this. When thinking about it more I think what the distributed audio space is missing is an open set of standards and APIs (that are widely used) and then manufacturers can encapsulate functionality into smaller components that work nicely together. Then as components become obsolete you only replace a very small part of the system. Obviously the downside is that it’s not as user friendly to setup as an intergrated system such as Sonos.

[@11ammm]

You’ve massively let yourself down with this video bud.

[@techflow]

How so Liam? Care to explain?

[@Szergej33]

It looks like a very nice replacement for hte Sonos S1, but it ignores the elephant in the room - That Sonos S2 is wireless. You can set up the new speakers anywhere with only a power cable running to it, and you do not need to run speaker wires from a central hub anymore. I also disagree with the way sonos doesn't support the S1 range anymore, but the S2 lineup is a completely different product, with it being wireless plug and play. And if you already have the inclination to run speaker wires all around your home, ath that point you are better off getting a proper AV reciever and neat speakers.

[@JBR.1974]

Er Spotify connect? it’s been working perfectly well for years

[@terenoth]

This. I was actually going to mention this, but saw you already had. 😀 I have two original Play:1 devices that don’t have the Airplay 2 functionality but work perfectly fine with Spotify Connect. Since he is playing to the VSSL from Spotify, it would have been good to mention that the same can be done with older Sonos devices, including the ones Sonos no longer supports.

[@JBR.1974]

@@terenoth exactly this. He also took the time to mention that a media streaming can be created on a raspberry pi but you can use the same kit to give Airplay functionality to ANY sonos unit with sone free software off of GitHub.

[@sulylunat]

What an absolute shit take on the sonos situation. I wonder if he has the same outcry with his apple devices only getting 5 years of updates and android devices only getting 3 years at best. Sonos supported their legacy devices for way longer than that. They haven't stopped any of the old stuff from working, it just lives in a legacy app on its own network seperate from the newer stuff. The upgrade to newer equipment for 30% off is itself a goodwill gesture and not forced on you. I dont see apple offering any discount on a new product once my iphone hits 5 years old and is no longer supported.

[@theboss2117]

I can see your point I think it is just because it is Audio equipment that doesn’t advance at the same pace a something like a phone but idk

[@sulylunat]

@@theboss2117 The thing is, it has advanced a lot. The main things is support for stuff like Alexa/Google Home and new protocols like Airplay 2. Its pretty daft to expect your old devices to suddenly support loads of new things that didn't even exist when the product was launched. Sonos has by far the best device support I've personally experienced and considering they aren't bricking older devices, I don't see what there is to complain about. In that sense it is similar to phones. To give a more even comparison, iphone 4s as of a few years ago were not capable of downloading many apps from the app store due to the apps requiring a higher minimum software version than the iphone ws capable of updating to as it had reached the end of its cycle. That's pretty much the sonos situation in a nutshell. It still works fine, just dont expect to have access to the latest features since the devices hardware is incapable of adding it. That seems reasonable for me.

[@sparkplug._]

@@theboss2117 That's what I'm confused about. This thing isn't a phone, it's a wireless speaker system. Why does it get updates in the first place? My parents have a speaker system from the 1970s that's working great to this day.

[@2005Bener]

@@sparkplug._ that's not even slightly comparable

[@sparkplug._]

@@2005Bener It's not the same situation, definitely, I was trying to make a point. However, it's more comparable than you may think. My parents' system and the Sonos system are both "outdated" and have features that are useless in the modern day (Well the Sonos still has all it's features working right now, but they'll stop at some point). The 70s system has a CD player, FM tuner, and dual cassette tape deck. No modern system comes with any of these. However, the 70s system has an optical connection to a 4K TV and is bluetooth paired to multiple phones. All it took to implement that extra functionality was a small fraction of the cost of the system, to buy a bluetooth receiver and an optical-to-rca converter, and now it's just as good as a decent modern stereo system. No software update required. Only some basic speaker system knowledge and a few dollars.

[@JBR.1974]

The Play 3 hasn’t had an EOL announcement

[@hansh2682]

Sonos‘ move to quit supporting older products is a rude, customer unfriendly way of getting rid of old stuff. But they are still developing great speakers and amazing sounding TV-Products. To be so prejudiced like you were in this review was not objective and too one-sided. There was no neutral comparison, just your biased opinion to hate Sonos.

[@sparkplug._]

It's not even consumer unfriendly. The devices they cut support for are nearing 13 years old (the 5 year figurr claimed in the video is based off of a small hardware improvement in 2015). That's a really long time to keep a product up to date and coming out with new festures! To me it sounds like they're only stopping updates because the older hardware is starting to struggle to handle newer standards. Worst case scenario, in the event that a feature you use breaks in the next 2-3 years, you can buy a $30 Logitech Bluetooth receiver to pair it to a phone or other device and connect it to the RCA inputs. You'd be able to keep using the same sound system. Sounds pretty consumer friendly to me.

[@alexrosenblatt8602]

You can literally do all of this on sonos and sonos is truly wireless. Also after 5 years of support you’d think all of the bugs have been fixed so I don’t see the problem

[@bigphillystyle]

Wasn't the connect and connect:amp from 2015 just a rebrand of the 2008 zone player?Essentially the same unit that lasted 12 years. That's longer than the 5-10 year lifespan you gave to audio equipment in the video.

[@skracia08]

This really isn't the same thing as sonos. VSSL is just a amplifier that supports streaming from other sources such as a google home or airplay. It doesn't have the ability to provide its own stream like the sonos does. Sonos can stand on its own while the vssl can't.

[@otenc-p9539]

Compares old Sonos to this ... smh Sonos outclasses these speakers easily , truly wireless

[@NeilLavitt]

BluOS is the way to go - way better than Sonos.

[@bencummins8052]

I can only assume you went into this review with your mind already made up. To clarify, you can use sonos from Spotify directly, old devices still work with the s1 app just not the new s2 app so the 30% discount whilst stupidly cheap was not really required unless you want to. If you want to play as an honest broker, then at least tell the truth, point out poor behaviour by sonos, but you either don't understand sonos tech (so don't include them as a comparison) or your lying, neither of which is a good thing for a reviewer.

[@mattt9640]

Nice to have more choices in the marketplace and of course there are improvements that Sonos could do and Sonos is expensive but these units really don’t compare as Sonos is fully wireless - you can’t get anywhere near that benefit with this system.

[@go3asy]

Dude this is more expensive than Sonos… which by the way also has airplay 2 Google cast and Spotify connect so I have no idea what your on about.

[@KoldSteel1990]

Sonos does not have Chromecast built in. Some of their products have Google Assistant and some Google Home integration which is not the same as Chromecast that allows you to cast directly from your preferred music app.

[@peterdobbs5689]

This review is so inaccurate it brings into question every other review this person has done!! He cannot have used SONOS products at all. The level of ignorance is breathtaking

[@KannonRomano]

Pretty cool. Nice and small and a lot of settings to customize

[@jk330ci]

At over £500 and no Alexa support it’s not cheap enough to move away from sonos which is £599 for their amp. I do however agree some of the stuff is overpriced especially the ceiling and outdoor speakers.

[@EnglishHaze]

And how do you know that this stuff won't be obsolete in five years time? No one thought that their Sonos kit would be when they bought it 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@joeindia1647]

I am not following, instead of 30% discount, this is suggesting us to just throw the old ones away? And buy the more expensive vssl counterparts? Why?

[@tjellis1479]

Simply keep S1 products with S1 app and keep going. works just fine...as is. S2 2nd gen and newer adds 5Ghz and BT audio tweeks. plus S2 version app. I have S1 gear working like the day I bought it.

[@trev2251]

Unfortunately it’s the cables that put me off, that’s why I stick to Sonos

[@Multilive1000]

This is awesome. Only thing they need to do is change the letterspacing in the app to 0px because it doesn't read that well now.

[@anthonyhayward3776]

Hi Alex great review thanks, I've been playing around with these types of systems for a few years now. After using the logitech duo for a while I finally settled on a suite of Google chromecast audio's teamed up with some software called Plex. It's worth a look and I would like to hear your thoughts. Best wishes Anthony

[@Ejtrend]

These look awsome! Might have to get a couple

[@sgqs656]

They cost the same price as the Sonos what will be the difference????

[@octoberbleak8184]

That they give him free stuff and SONOS do not.

[@ItsJoshio]

Hey Alex, you should try and do a review on some of the Yamaha amps. I just bought a Yamaha RN303D, which uses Yamaha’s MusicCast app, which supports airplay, Spotify and other music streaming services such as DAB radio. At £299 it’s really good! For anyone looking for a budget amp with sonos connectivity you should definitely have a look

[@bruffyb3796]

Want a multi room system... get yourself multiple wiim mini streamers. Only £89.99 each with spotify and tidal connect/hi res audio...oh and airplay 2.

[@Glovepup]

There are inaccuracies this in video towards Sonos, showing a lack of understanding and misleading the viewers. For one no mention that devices such like the beam support Airplay, sorry but had to call this out and the comparison does not exactly seem fair.

[@2005Bener]

What about how he said the play 3 is now a legacy product, it isnt. Also he implied that the older sonos speakers cannot be used anymore and they completely bricked them, in fact they still work completely fine and the only difference is that they no longer get updates, but people can carry on using them as they always have so I dont see the problem

[@JonathanFenton1980]

You forgot to mention, sonos support dolby digital and atmos, do these just do stereo or have multi channel??

[@thetroothhurtz]

We love Sonos though bro. And your Ikea Sonos video needs to be updated my man, it's not very fair.

[@randomweirdyoutubechannel8955]

What happened to the days of mini systems or proper hifi?

[@CescoCDN]

So in 5 years VSSL too decides to make obsolete their 2021 products. Then what?

[@sparkplug._]

If it were me I would just hook a $30 Bluetooth receiver into the RCA jacks that both the VSSL and Sonos boxes have. Also, fun fact, the "5 years" figure is based off of the small hardware change that was made to the Sonos box in 2015. The product was actually made in 2008, giving it just over 12 years of updates.

[@CescoCDN]

@@sparkplug._ 12 years? That’s a pretty good time frame before rendering a product ineligible for updates! Thanks for the clarification, Brantley.

[@G-Man94]

I still use Chromecast audio devices around my house.

[@KoldSteel1990]

I also have Chromecast Audios around my house. I also have a couple regular Chromecasts with Audio Extractors. This allows me to cast video to a couple of my zones as well as music.

[@daedgoco]

The only thing that would make me consider this over Sonos is the google cast feature, if Sonos had that it'd be killer

[@mrsamuelwatson12]

Nice vid, Sonos works fine with me. Better the Play 1’s have Alexa in now

[@Arvutimaailm]

Why is the VSSL A.1 better than 1. A 500€ amp that supports airplay, chromecast etc but is capable of amping 200+W 2. A 100€ DIY amp and airplay, chromecast receiver?

[@zjweele13]

Because it is a sponsor

[@Arvutimaailm]

@@zjweele13 I'm pretty sure there are other reasons.

[@jayuk686]

Because he was sent it for free.

[@JasonTroxclair]

Does he really think Sonos has been the only player in wireless multi room??? Is he for real? Has he ever heard of Bluesound, Yamaha MusicCast, Russound, or Denon Heos??? Haha this kid trying to sound like a expert but he obviously needs to work in the industry. How old is this kid? Sonos I agree should open more capabilities to wireless protocols but other than that they revolutionized multi room audio and now everyone is trying to be them. And who really cares if you have to use Sonos app when sending audio out, all your streaming subscriptions are synced to the Sonos app hahaha this kid is kinda full of himself and needs more experience

[@pokastore1760]

Sonos have airplay 2 so you don’t need to use the app to cast to Sonos if you have an iphone

[@johnvoloudakis5761]

Sonos has Airplay 2 only on its new products. Legacy Sonos products have original Airplay. I do have a gripe with Sonos as my system is a mixture of Legacy and a Sonos Beam, the Beam has to remain with the Sonos Legacy App because I don't want to lose my surround sound. The only two reasons to want to upgrade is support for Airplay 2 (I am not an Apple user) and more importantly support for HD uncompressed sound. Both Amazon Music Unlimited and Apple Music now give HD at no extra subscription cost. Legacy Sonos and Chromecast streaming is restricted to CD quality (I am happy enough with CD Quality and use a different product for HD streaming) No mention in the video about the restrictions of Chromecast Audio. So many omissions in the video, would be nice if Legacy Sonos would play HD at HD quality but not a deal breaker as CD Quality sounds pretty good. Bluesound and Sonos have the most comprehensive streaming services support and I have not found anything better flexibility.

[@rayng4336]

Pretty dope!

[@will300c]

Oh Dang, just get homepod mini they stream services now, and in stereo pair sounds really good and only 200 per 2.

[@klammelone]

Anyone else using Chromecast Audios?

[@haukurorsson833]

Sure am ... shame they're no longer being produced.

[@klammelone]

@@haukurorsson833 i still find them for super cheap on the used market. Last week i bought one for around 20€

[@garybowers5724]

I think the sentiment around Sonos is true - they showed people they 'could' brick their entire investments - because of this I'm definitely choosing wisely by going for products that are not centrally controlled by a cloud service / remotely bricked or have anyway to get other inputs into the system (e.g. Line In / Digital In). Do you know if the A1 requires an account with VSSL to operate or can you truly set it up outside of their service? HIFI equipment should last 10's of years not 4-5.

[@TGoff-fz7yh]

I have invested a ton in to sonos. But now I live on a boat, and have no wifi except from my phone hotspot. Sonos wont work with that set up. Will VSSL?

[@andrewkuhne2586]

Get a wireless 4g modem. I travel around in an RV and Sonos works fine. When there's not 4g signal I just plug into the aux input.

[@TGoff-fz7yh]

@@andrewkuhne2586 so the modem runs off of your hotspot, or you pay for a separate data service for it?

[@andrewkuhne2586]

@@TGoff-fz7yh the modem is a 4G wireless model that I use for home internet and when travelling (assuming there is 4g signal at that location, not always the case here in Australia as there is only patchy network in rural areas and sometimes not at all. I pay around $60AUD per month for 500g of data which is ample for my needs. If there is no signal I use downloaded music files on my phone or computer and connect through the router to Sonos so can still listen to my music collection (just can't search for anything new). Sometimes I'll plug into a Play5 through aux input as well. The router will work and connect to Sonos even if there is no internet connection. Hope this all makes sense. :-)

[@andrewkuhne2586]

One more point I missed above. The wireless router must have a LAN socket so you can set up your Sonos speakers by connecting them directly to the back of the router before using them wirelessly. I usually carry a small LAN cable just in case the wireless signal is lost and has to be reset on the speakers. This has happened only once.

[@Vantarmy]

Well at least the KZbinr is happy with his new gadget.

[@DualityV2_]

any WISA systems avail in the UK?

[@padden999]

Well, comparing VSSL with the outdated SONOS unit? hmm

[@wax333]

you forgot to mention the power output for driving speakers.

[@will300c]

35 watts

[@ctb1690]

the better way I’d say is two echo studio speakers and echo sub for money saving quality .. no need for all this equipment you’ve tested … but I should talk I’ve got a theatre system that would put all to shame lol …

[@tonyramirezriderelli7876]

That box looks like it was made of pure plastic and quality seems bad. Sonos seems more superior and even the older box looks better that that plastic box.

[@micware2]

Missing information or not, in my opinion it is a bit like comparing apples with oranges. A product that came on the market 5 years ago and probably designed a year earlier or more compared to a product from 2021. And then you can discuss it on all kinds of levels (technical, functional, dezign) in the comments and having two different conversations because everyone has their own preference and goal in general i like your videos. But I do advise people to consult several sources before making a purchase. And in the end, the manufacturer and the youtubers win. They get the attention they want. And dsit is okay, as long as people know how it works Have a nice day

[@TW-iu9zy]

… 🤷🏼‍♂️ great video, but no thx… updated instantly to the amp 2. generation after launch. it’s the best option for stereo speakers so far and you could use the new amp to connect the stereo speakers with TV for surround sound. 😏

[@sethbishop6007]

I always end up back with Sonos.

[@blueepenguin5322]

Misleading review 2x35W output power price almost the same as Sonos😜

[@andrewkuhne2586]

Who wants to wire in speakers these days? Not mentioned at all

[@SteveL-RSR]

Great vid. Love my VSSL :)

[@jammyb2008]

Oh dear Alex. I’d bin this video off and start again. So many inaccuracies in this video regarding Sonos and I’m not a Sonos fanboy. I would if I could afford/justify it. 😋 But your downright talking like you’ve just read Sonos S2 was released. Its nowhere near as bad as you make out to be.

[@techflow]

What do you mean? I literally have it and it's awful... :/

[@bigyeet9308]

still 500 pound ill have to pass mate but good video

[@nettyvoyager6336]

when you have a 1000 watt system in the house you can here it from the shops down the road why do you need to connect it to everything ?

[@andrewuk]

Bluesound ?

[@techflow]

Bluesound are TOP!

[@WM22]

i had a look at the price of the vssl and its more overpriced than the sonos 1 amp its not really worth £100 more just for arc and coaxial in and a few features i would just use your cheap rasberry pi method

[@kukumalu255]

Ok so Sonos made updates for 5 years, and you can probably use them for 5 or 10more years. Are those updates really a problem?

[@sparkplug._]

No, it's not a problem at all. This guy doesn't know much at all about audio equipment.

[@adelamb7747]

Did I miss the price ???

[@davidlancashire9703]

£565 I believe, slightly cheaper than the Sonos Amp but it has 35 watts per channel whereas the Sonos has 125 watts!

[@tjellis1479]

VSSL 700.00 usd ouch

[@icr8stf]

WOW! I just did some of my own research and found this guy is wrong on a bunch of what he says. Really sad when folks spout a bunch of stuff to make a few bucks. Do your homework then make your own choice.

[@techflow]

Care to explain whats wrong in the video Andrew?

[@djscottfrenzy]

No chance

[@manuellopez1204]

Don't judge the book that you used to use bro. and you are comparing old SONOS products. that's my opinion only.

[@nettyvoyager6336]

and reading audio on paper is called music young man so yes i am afraid you do read music off paper :P

[@johnvoloudakis5761]

No mention about support for HD streaming? Are these devices able to stream lossless codecs? Bluesound and the New Sonos products support HD. Legacy Sonos and Chromecast are restricted to downsampling HD streaming services eg Apple Music, Amazon Music Unlimited HD, Tidal and Qobuz .I am happy enough with CD Quality streaming for my mixture of Legacy Sonos and Beam. My Beam could of course be updated to Sonos 2 but would no longer work with my Legacy Sonos. Bluesound is connected to my highend music Amplifier and handles HD. Lots of omissions in your video and the system does not appear to be as flexible and as Comprehensive as Sonos or Bluesound.

[@ManuelPadillaEstevez]

sonos play 3 keeps updating and working great on my s2 system. WTF?

[@dougle03]

Sonos just left the chat...

[@coffeecakecharlie]

Sonos has really lost the edge at the same time as pissing a lot of loyal customers off. Definition of Greedy and poor value now. I got in in the early days and I am nothing but disappointed with their latest offerings.

[@joshuasagraves9594]

thanks for showing off a new competitor to sonos. Maybe a follow up comparison video?

[@leonsiefermann3095]

First dislike I ever had to give one of your videos in 5 years, You portrayed sonos completely wrong or left out important details: 1. s1 devices can still be used 2. spotify connect works without the sonos app and perfectly fine at that 3. Airplay 2 is way worse than all the other streaming methods concerning quality, latency, no playback directly from the servers instead it needs a constant connection to the phone 4. Multiroom playback without airplay, also with other sources 5. wide array of different devices for different use cases and/or upgrades 6. only a power cable needed 7. the sonos amp is technically superior to the device shown at almost the same price This is just a worse product for the same kind of money

[@mrniceguy6050]

Same here, there are plenty of reasons to dislike Sonos but it doesn't seem fair to just make up things to bash them. It is crazy that you mock Sonos for it's ridiculous pricing to promote a product that is more expensive. Also the products shown are more recent then the old Sonos products, who says they will keep on receiving support 5 years down the line?

[@CapitalDream]

Actually thats a lie. You can not still use it because it won’t update to match the updates on the app and speakers

[@superstonerjb587]

@@CapitalDream yes you can still use them keep the s1 app

[@SteveS29]

A 5 year service life isn’t too bad… they’re not as big a company as Apple or Microsoft, where service terms can be decades rather than years. I use Yamaha MusicCast - I’m very happy with this ecosystem - its really really good - but I know its not going to be supported forever, and chances are in another 5-10 years it will become deprecated. Its a shame but it is what it is.

[@sparkplug._]

I don't really see how that's a shame. What do you get out of updating an audio device over 5 years after it was created? My family has sound systems that are older than I am that still run great, and we can connect our phones to them with a little $20 Logitech Bluetooth box. Also if we really wanted to use AirPlay a box for that is only $50. There may be a reason for software updates, but I don't see it.

[@SteveS29]

@@sparkplug._ It’s a shame because it would be nice to have constant updates, but it’s impractical for the business plan of the company. They’re IoT devices mate, so the main benefits I look for out of updates are security and breach patches. But also I guess new streaming services, audio standards and internet radio services as they come along… nothing worthy of buying new models, and I keep my IoT on an isolated VLAN so security breaches isn’t such a big problem.

[@sparkplug._]

@@SteveS29 I don't see the need for security or feature updates. It's not really an IoT device since (from what I can tell) it doesn't have any reason to be connected to the Internet other than to receive updates. It should just be a LAN device, and the security of it should mostly be left up to a router and/or firewall. And I don't see the need for functionality updates either, since it's just a speaker amp and a bluetooth/AirPlay receiver. A new wireless standard would need new hardware to implement, not just a software update, and it would be pretty hard to use a streaming service natively on the device since it doesn't have a screen. I may have misunderstood the purpose of the device, so please correct me if I've missed something. (Edited for spelling and clarity)

[@SteveS29]

@@sparkplug._ it sounds like your use case is specific to your equipment. I’m talking about streaming devices generically, from Sonos to Bose to Yamaha. Any device that has Spotify connect, internet radio, tidal streaming, etc. will have a direct connection to the broader internet. This is because those protocols use direct connection with the stream services’ servers. I believe I said audio standard rather than wireless standard, which may not require hardware changes, but it is true that some new standards would require this. My MusicCast does have a screen on all of the amplifiers, and all of them are directly connected to the broader internet for use with Spotify, Internet Radio, etc. Whilst it is true that a good firewall should reduce breaches, it is still the responsibility of the manufacturer to ensure that their services and devices are resilient of cyberattacks wherever possible for the life of the device. In your specific use case, where you just have an amp with Bluetooth and airplay, yeah it’s not a big deal to lose updates (apart from if Apple decide to upgrade their Airplay again), but in many other use cases, updates can be far more useful and important.

[@sparkplug._]

@@SteveS29 Ah, ok. I didn't realize devices like these come with that kind of functionality. I was under the impression that all the Sonos box did was run some wireless speakers and connect with Bluetooth/AirPlay (since he never actually explained what it does). I did some more of my own research on this device, and I see why it needs updates now for both security and features. It's actually pretty amazing that this device first released in 2008 and has Spotify support, which didn't even make it to the US until 2011 or become popular until later than that. I see now why stopping updates for these devices kinda sucks, but thankfully Sonos supported them for about as long as they could. Also, thanks for the conversation, and sorry for my misunderstanding about the device. It's extremely rare that a KZbin comment conversation about a disagreement ends happily and peacefully. Gives me some more hope in the world

[@archieharrison1938]

Sonos is better for people who live in the “Real World” that want a quick easy sound system without running lots of cables.

[@thomastevis8655]

Awesome videos sorry I’m sooo late

[@Stevelane3581]

You really should get your facts right on the Sonos products before posting such a video!

[@stlDMS]

The originl Amp was released in 2008 not 2015. The last refresh of that product was 2013. Why lie to your viewers? Also, do you expect a product to last more than 10 years with updates? Name me a consumer electronics that still recvies features after 5 years! They are promising bug fixes and security updates for unforeseeable future. They offer a 30 percent trade up yet you can keep using the products on the older controller version. Lost my subscription!

[@Essex2024]

Agree, this is such a poor review, how is the average person supposed to fit all that together, sonos simplicity is its all wireless and just works and the speakers sound great

[@sparkplug._]

Lost my sub, too. This channel has been going downhill for some time now.

[@stlDMS]

@@sparkplug._ Agreed! One less person to watch on YT. It's getting bad...

[@stlDMS]

@@Essex2024 It is very misleading to those who are not in the know.

[@TheMobGodFather]

Also the reason why these speakers are so expensive is that how much they actually cost. Sonos doesn't have the money like Google and Amazon to undercut the price to be number one in the speaker industry. Google and Amazon where being attacked by Congress for their business strategy. Congress saying it wasn't a fair competition and sounded like monopolization.

[@iblake12]

Is being first still a thing?

[@Oscar_Wm]

570$ for an amp u obviously did not pay for it i love ur vids but for this there is no way i agree

[@NeilLavitt]

BluOS is the only quality multizone outside of Sonos. The only iO that BluOS does not have is Chromecast which is not optimum for audio anyway (no gapless playback). BluOS also has AirPlay2, Tidal Connect, Spotify connect and Roon ready as well. A decent HoFi grade app also indexes local music. You also have access to a ecosystem with NAD gear, Focal speakers etc.

[@dav07]

edifier wins

[@pinnocksmarthomeinstallati2543]

After this video SONOS is saying the 30% is not a good idea LOL

[@andybaker5787]

Nice one Alex keep up the good work.

[@TheMobGodFather]

Optical and analog are dead now. It's all about HDMI e/arc.

[@TheMobGodFather]

Also the wall and ceiling speakers are technically from Sonance Speakers. It a partnership so those speakers can use Sonos Tureplay. Other speakers plugged in the amp wont be able to use Trueplay. More wrong information man.

[@wilvitela9097]

Although I love TruAudio products and have installed them for many many years on my projects I do have to point out that this video has misinformation by the reviewer. Ouch would help maybe getting an experienced and knowledgeable installer to give a more accurate review. Reviewer states that Sonos cannot work with anything other than the Sonos app for control That is false. Sonos can be controlled from Spotify app, Apple Airplay2, Alexa voice, and Google voice all without using Sonos app. Reviewer states that Sonos is not supporting legacy products anymore. The reviewer notes that he has a Sonos Amplifier from 2015 That is false Sonos will continue to update older legacy products for security patches so they continue to work as they have which by the way when the reviewer originally bought the Sonos amplifier back in 2015 It did not originally have many of the control capabilities that it does today and so his product works much better versus when he originally bought it. Also the reviewer is giving a recommendation if someone is making a purchase today therefore the correct comparison is the current Sonos Amplifier with HDMI ARC, faster processor, 5Ghz Wi Fi, and 250 watts versus VSSL at 30 watts

[@techflow]

Hi Wil, no 'misinformation' in this video, thanks. Good try though! I am experienced on the topic having used all the equipment first hand for many years. You are completely wrong here. I am specifically talking about SONOS S1 products in this video: S1 Products do not work with AirPlay 2 at ALL... and are really shakey, to say the least using an assistant to control or directly from Spotify connect which more often than not doesn't work altogether. People online have speculated that this is due to insufficient CPU power. The item I was showing: Sonos Connect:Amp (Gen 2) was released in March 2015 according to the Wiki, so again, no misinformation here. I am completely aware that Sonos will continue to update the legacy products, but what happens when the likes of Spotify and other music services in the coming years completely change their API for streaming - Do you think Sonos will still bother with S1 then? You've clearly got a bit of a soft spot for Sonos, and I understand that this video has riled your chimp, and you've failed to stop and think rationally with your human - but just because you like one thing and I don't, that doesn't make me inexperienced or unknowledgeable and you've made yourself look a little silly defending your camp with bogus remarks like Sonos S1 supporting Airplay 2. Get out of here!

[@lukecooke5633]

@@techflow you're literally butt hurt because he doesn't agree with you and you hate Sonos 🤣

[@mamba109]

@@techflow What happens in the future, blahblahblah, maybe Sonos this, maybe Spotify that, but in the review regarding VSSL you literally said 11:54 "in it's infancy, this is new stuff." So it's all positive speculation and praise for VSSL, yet doom and gloom speculation for Sonos? And you know this how...? Careful you bias is showing 😂 I can totally start understand the downvotes now. The video itself was great, but the way you're representing yourself and how you're representing VSSL in the comment section is horrible.

[@thespecialist786]

The VSSL A6 stream Amp £3300, and the A1 is £569 so this is not cheap. Don’t even know if they will make another model? Just like VIFA they were best at making speakers then got close down. Each VIFA speaker was around £600. At least SONOS exists and the support is great. You have not mentioned about the support of VSSL. No Sonos is NOT dead and everyone using a ZP120 can still stream music and also use it as a ZONE player and on top of all the prices on Ebay are dirt cheap well worth the Money. These new companies are tasting the water. I agree with many comments below and sad to say I can see a strong influence of free product marketing in your video. Try to be un-baised if you don’t know all the products that well.

[@sparkybabes]

I think you mean the A6 in your first line. 3 current models with new updated versions due this year.

[@thespecialist786]

@@sparkybabes corrected Thanks

[@thespecialist786]

@@benmallah5257 Whats the going rate on Crypto?

[@techflow]

I am sure VSSL will be releasing some new editions to the lineup soon, like you say they are just testing the water. VSSL mainly focuses on high-end multiroom audio installations where as Sonos is aimed at home users. You are correct; I have not mentioned VSSL's support - but we did mention in the video that the review was based on 3-4 hours with the unit and not once did I need any support. If you think a free audio streamer is going to sway my review then all I can tell you is you are far from the truth. I couldn't care less about free products, I get plenty through the door on a daily basis and choose to make videos on the products I find interesting and are confident in talking about - I genuinely like the product, and am still using them now - they work well... but if you want to feel VSSL has bought that opinion, then that's on you - I can't do much more. (You also talk about used S1 products... yes they are great for a used price of around £100, but what about all the people that paid full price kitting their houses out... again as mentioned in the video)... :/

[@thespecialist786]

@@techflow Sonos is still going Strong, the CEO of Sonoo wrote to me explaining the reasons and hardware limitations for the ZP120 but he had retracted the end of life and said the servers may not update yet will fully work as usual. The VSSL is a wrong contendor as they are not priced for a home user. You should have lined up the new Sonos Amp which can sit side buy side. Sorry to say but your review does not satisfy many audiophile users.

[@pokastore1760]

This video needs more dislikes

[@TheMobGodFather]

All the down votes know that your wrong...

[@micklord]

Good video, but, not 100% accurate. You can use the Spotify app directly to control Sonos. You can also use Google Home to control Sonos. You seem to be telling half of a story. And it is not unreasonable that computer-based hardware not be forward compatible forever. It can't. Under the circumstances, I think but Sonos did was pretty fair in general.

[@techflow]

Hi Mick, you can use the Spotify app directly to control Sonos S1 - but it's super flakey and the music just cuts out when it pleases. People online have speculated it's due to insufficient CPU power. You can also use voice assistants with S1, but have you tried? Lol. Good luck if you want any sort of decent response. I am talking purely about S1 in this video - S1 is a complete disappointment for the original amount people had to fork out for the equipment, I do understand some Sonos fanboys will take offense to this and think I am having a dig at them - that's just how humans are programmed - all im doing is speaking from experience in this video.

[@jessegrenier9509]

Aint following just for that

[@andrewburridge5958]

Not seen this guy for a while but he still makes me furious with his idiotic points

[@benbaines4852]

He always click baits an miss leads..... He's a pro at it... Also all he products an items... Are low quality ... He only shows poor standard products . Must not be able to get hold of expensive items ....

[@georgemckee2044]

Sonos amp buddy