Ikea Symfonisk wireless bookshelf speaker review. Sonos on a budget?

[@BBushell]

This is one of the best speaker reviews I have ever seen online. Quite accurate and comprehensive.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Wow - thanks so much Burt Bushell!

[@paulguilhem300]

I can agree

[@jamestripp5647]

If only every review on KZbin were as clear as this... thank you very much!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Many thanks James tripp!

[@bjrn-catoknutsen8909]

Thank you for a great review! Even the guy working at IKEA recommended me to watch your review before i bougt one. Keep up the good work 👍

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Think this has to be one of my favourite comments! Thank you!

[@maxflight777]

Imagine my surprise…. Of course he fucking would ! 🤔

[@erickquinonez9329]

Wow blown away, I’ve never seen a video so complete and comprehensive thank you so much!!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you so much Erick Quinonez!

[@张朝波-y3c]

like the features, setup was difficult for some of my devices (August Door lock, kzbin.infoUgkxhB5YOMNj04GuoAosExygP4cH-dKeb4aB Bose speaker)... but all switches and outlets (5), thermostat, tankless water heater. Unfortunately all I can do is turn on/off Bose. It doesn't support volume or changing channels, but I believe that is due to the particular speaker I have.... Worth getting if you already have other devices to use it with... I don't sit around and ask Alexa questions much so that doesn't really matter to me....

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Great!

[@lightsourcex]

This is such a good review because you do the entire Sonos setup. Something that is not always touched on. This is especially useful for people who don't already have Sonos.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Many thanks lightsourcex! Really glad you found it useful.

[@curtiscampi7613]

Its helpful for people who have been using Sonos as well, but havent explored many of it's features! I am one.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

@@curtiscampi7613 Oh good - thanks!

[@Chedachz]

This is the best Symfonisk review out there, very thoroughly explained. Thank you.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you Chedachz!

[@AGoodBuzz]

Great review. Love the way you shared the sound on all the units. I think the Symfonisk is a good buy. I will be buying 3 of them now thanks to your re view. The sound demo really set your review apart from all the other reviews I watched. Rather than having to rely on your stated opinion, you gave me the chance to hear for myself and make a decision. THANK YOU.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you AGoodBuzz - really appreciate the feedback

[@tedd6861]

Bought 4 yesterday, 3 bookshelf and one lamp. :)

[@Ozymandi_as]

Admirably clear and informative: the side-by-side comparison was really helpful. Your review is a model of its kind. As someone already sold on Sonos, my answer to your closing questios are definitely yes, and yes! Good luck with your channel.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you Nigel Wrightson! Really appreciate the feedback - and thanks for the support 👍!

[@AlexWhittemore]

Super useful review! I love being able to hear side by side that the Play:3 actually DOES sound a bit better out of the box compared to the One and Symfonisk. Great demonstration of the difference.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thanks Alex Whittemore - yes I really like my Play:3 ...

[@peterroycroft]

Wow, what an outstanding review. So comprehensive and so much info packed into the amount of time. Off to watch your review of the Ikea Symfonisk lamp now.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thanks again Peter Roycroft!

[@PetriAho]

I recently wanted to test Sonos system and bought the Move, which I've liked quite a bit. It actually makes it possible to lug it around to whichever room I happen to occupy. On Black friday I jumped on Beam as well for kids room TV and considering the Symfonisk to complement it as surround speakers. They really seem like perfect fit for that. Thanks for great review!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you Petri Aho! 🤣 It's such a slippery slope! These Ikea speakers are a great option for expanding an existing system without spending too much! I am hoping to get a Move in to review at some point - how do you find it?

[@jaynenxo8019]

First time viewer, the detail and professionalism in this video is next-level... not that you "have to" be professional on KZbin, but it's nice that you choose to dedicate this level of effort to your videos.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Wow, thank you - really appreciate the feedback!

[@johnlin2800]

Subscribed! By far the best review about the Symfonisk. Thank goodness! Clear and succinct. All others reviews on KZbin about this product have been useless or a waste of time...

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thanks Jon Lin! That's a super helpful comment - that's what I aim for in these videos so really glad you found it useful! And thanks for the support!

[@Beefers26]

Excellent, thorough review. I like the look (and sound) of the lamp version, especially the dark one.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thanks Beefers26! Yes spent 20 mins in Ikea deciding between black and white! Should have the review of the lamp out next week ...

[@Beefers26]

The Technology Man Excellent. I’ll look forward to seeing that one.

[@camilaf365]

The best review, full of details!!! Thanks for showing us the speakers working.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you - glad you liked it!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

I’d love to know your thoughts - please leave a comment down below. Would you pay the extra for a Sonos Play:1 or even Sonos One with its built in voice support? Or is the lamp worth the extra money? If you already have Sonos - would you add this speaker to your system? Timestamps below: 0:00 Intro* 0:35 Overview*, unboxing 0:51 Build, dimensions, controls 1:32 Ports (Ethernet and power) 1:40 Portrait bookend mode, landscape bookshelf mode 1:55 Wall bracket accessory 2:11 Initial setup*, new Sonos system 3:11 Adding to an existing system 3:35 Trueplay tuning for iOS 4:00 Adding music services 4:05 Adding local music from computer or NAS 4:38 Adding voice support with Amazon Alexa (Google Home also supported) 5:20 Adding Siri support via Apple Home 5:47 WiFi versus Bluetooth* pros and cons 6:03 Sound from KZbin video with Android (third party solution) 6:16 With Apple devices can use AirPlay 7:14 Sonos app*, as music player and controller. Searching across music services 7:35 Playing radio stations 7:46 Playing podcasts 8:10 Speaker controls 8:24 Music queue 8:40 Alarm feature 9:00 Room settings, EQ settings, stereo pair, rear speakers for home theatre 9:30 Grouping speakers for a multi-room system 9:56 Grouping with older non-AirPlay Sonos speakers 10:21 Sound quality & performance* 10:34 Removing speaker grill revealing driver, tweeter, bass port 10:44 Sound quality vs Symfonisk lamp, Sonos One, Play:3 & Soundcore Motion+ 11:32 Directional sound 11:42 Adjusting EQ settings 11:54 Wireless range 12:15 Sound test recorded with binaural microphones. Trueplay off, default EQ with Loundness on. Compared against: Symfonisk lamp, Sonos One, Play:3 & Soundcore Motion+ 14:19 Conclusions* *Sections

[@GabrielAubry514]

I already own a Sonos Beam so I'm heavily inclined to adding a pair of bookshelf Symfonisk speakers to have 5.0 surround sound at an affordable price. Your review helped me confirm that I don't need Ones or Play:1 speakers to do the job.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Sorry I missed this - do you go for that? Tempted myself with my Sonos Playbar ... Get two shelves too 😃.

[@themorganator]

incredibly useful review (it must have taken you ages!) Many thanks!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you MR-MB! My reviews do take far too long - but really glad you found it helpful!

[@OliPutland]

Very concise thorough and quick. Wish other people reviewed things like this.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thanks so much Oli!

[@Direhorn]

Very comprehensive review. Thank you. I was about to buy the Sonos lamp speaker from Ikea but then I realized that it has no bluetooth.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you Direhorn! Unfortunately the only Sonos speaker that has Bluetooth is the rather expensive Sonos Move.

[@krimdasimda6540]

One of the best reviews on Symfonisk and compare to others I have ever seen :)

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thanks so much Krimda Simda!

[@mattsinvegas]

Fantastic video review. Thanks! We’ve bought the SYMFONISK lamp and book speakers. They are amazing and well worth the money

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Many thanks kangarooar15! Very nice setup!

[@awdphotography8846]

the sound between the one and the ikea products show a minimal difference. But the play 3 does leave both for dust as a singular unit.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Yes absolutely - the fact you can hear it even in my recording is telling!

[@tomdrums4607]

This was a very good review. Well done!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Great I'm very glad it helped!

[@myHomeKithome]

Airplay 2 and HomeKit support is amazing!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Very nifty - if you happen to be using Apple stuff!

[@Yiannis021174]

Sonos One sounds a bit sibilant actually... 13:03 ('s..' sounds a bit sharp) and in general the high hats sound quite piercing in comparison to the IKEA bookshelf.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

👍

[@john240474]

Brilliant review. Very informative with good quality sound test comparison. Thank you 😊 👍🏻

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you John Gravett! And thanks for the feedback!

[@Driver2616]

I found that the volume level drops unprompted, in this speaker when you use AirPlay as opposed to playing music through the Sonos App. It’s not a major drop in volume but I did have to turn increase the volume when using AirPlay, so to eliminate that I just use the Sonos App now. Has anyone else experienced that? BTW Gidon, all your speaker review videos are top notch, really clear and easy to understand. 👍🏼

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you Driver2616 - appreciate it! I haven't really noticed that - but will have to investigate!

[@LeiChat]

Really great review/comparison, thank you. Well produced video and it was easy to hear/understand you. Was considering adding one of these in a kitchen/diner where we already have an old Play 3 but you mentioned the stereo pair feature only works with the same model of speaker so may have to relocate the Play 3 elsewhere and install a pair of these bookshelf speakers. 👍

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thanks! Yes you only get stereo with two identical speakers.

[@holysht2462]

This is brilliant and covers basically anything I was wondering. Thanks so much 👍

[@TheTechnologyMan]

That's great many thanks!

[@q3b26]

I was in IKEA last year and came across a Symfonisk Bookshelf in the Bargain Corner for £60. It was brand new with accessories just the box had been opened, a speaker wasn't even on my radar but I love it so much it was well worth the price and I'm glad I bought it. I want to get another Sonos, don't know whether to go for another Symfonisk or a Sonos:One.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Well if you buy another Bookshelf - you have the ability to set them up as a stereo pair. But the Sonos One has built in voice support ...

[@gambitgambitgambit]

What a review man! 👏

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Appreciate the comment - thanks Gambit!

[@Cryyysha1]

Wow this must take a lot of work. Thank you so much for the comparison! Kudos to you 😊

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you CRH1 and for the support - much appreciated! And I'm very glad it helped.

[@TheEcorristine]

Very well detailed, just saved me €200. Many thanks

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Great to hear thanks!

[@crybo]

Best review yet, subbed and just off to IKEA to get one.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thanks crybo and thanks for the support! Let us know how you find it ...

[@Joseph_JoJo440]

Thanks for that. Such a difficult choice but very informative!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you paulrandall1! Glad it helped a bit!

[@stevelovescars]

Very nice thorough review. I do get a kick out of the fact that you can buy mounting brackets to use the bookshelf speaker as a bookshelf. We've been using a single Sonos Play:1 for a couple of years and have been impressed by the sound quality and simplicity of their app. I could just about buy two of these for the price of an additional Sonos.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you Steve Haas! A stereo pair sounds great!

[@MrMalmquist]

Great review with showing the differens between the speakers in the app direct!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you Patrik Malmquist - glad you liked that!

[@mikecheca2155]

New idol. The best review I've ever seen. Fast and precise👌 I like this rafher than longer reviews and lack of other specs. Suprisingly this review is superb👌

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you again MikMikMoto Vlogs!

[@lightinthedark_]

Did you see the new Sonos speaker announced? It has a battery/charging dock and is BT or Wifi! Also, if you use Google Play Music, Sonos are Chromecast targets. But that doesn't work with any other music services on Android.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

I think that would be one popular speaker - look forward to taking a look at that!

[@unclnis]

Excellent video & editing, thanks a lot

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Many thanks for the comment unclnis - really appreciate it!

[@musicvideos510]

A very comprehensive review. Thank you so much.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you EvilFox99!

[@jared6493]

very informative video! may i know how much it vibrates and if i use it as a bedside table will the things i put on top vibrate?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you jared! It doesn't vibrate too much with most of the music I listen to at typical volumes. Perhaps with very bass heavy music at max volume you might start getting some vibrations.

[@djvincon]

Woow! Very well rounded review thanks alot.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you djvincon - really appreciate the comment!

[@Schweigardt]

just bought a pair of used Play3’s that appear to be slightly different. currently using a Symfonisk Bookshelf mostly as an external speaker for the Amazon Echo Show gen1. For a proper setup, would you recommend running the two Play3’s through a Sonos Bridge in the Echo Show room and reconnecting the Symfonisk to the Bridge for another room? I have only set up the Symfonisk with the Sonos app, so I’m not currently using the Bridge. But I want to make sure all three speakers have the best integration with Amazon Alexa commands and streaming services without having to use the Sonos app very much. Also have the Play3’s been crippled by new Sonos firmware updates or are they reaching end of life status?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Sorry no longer have my Play:3s :(.

[@tobywillats8993]

Great review mate!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you Toby Willats!

[@martinbrown6259]

Added two of these to my soundbar and sub for 5.1 surround, definitely not disappointed.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Good to hear - how are they mounted?

[@martinbrown6259]

@@TheTechnologyMan horizontal at rear corners of sidewalls and facing each other

[@JT-re5ec]

Great video thank you! What button do you push on the speaker to add it as an accessory for the HomeKit? I can't seem to add it.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thanks! Hopefully this article will help: support.sonos.com/s/article/4702?language=en_US

[@Marlow925]

I don't agree with your comment, that the bookshelf speaker could be the replacement for the now discontinued Play:3. Also the sound comparison at the end really shows how much richer the sound out of the Play:3 over the others is, which is not odd .. because somebody actually took a bookshelf speaker apart and found out .. it is a Play 1 in hardware. As your review is 11 months old, a lot has happened since. The portable and bluetooth capable speaker you crawed for has arrived: the Sonos Move. Some say it is the replacement for the Play:3. And while it can be paired as a stereo pair, it leaves a gap in the market: in a room that is a bit larger .. where you would choose Play:3s as surrounds to be teamed up with a Soundbar and a Sub you now either have to go with Play:5s, which is a pricey option. Having said all that: i have 4 of the lamps and 4 of the bookshelf speakers and I find them excellent. 2 of the lamps and 2 of the bookshelf speakers as surrounds teamed up with soundbars and then other 2 of each paired up in stereo pairs. The wifi range seems to be a bit limited, so either make sure a router is nearby or make sure that one of the speakers in the same room is cabled. Otherwise, they are the cheapest entry level into the Sonos addiction there is.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Yes the portable Move was announced literally 2 days after I released this video! The Play:3 does sound a lot better I agree.

[@EgonSpengler1977]

Why I haven’t found your channel before really good dude thanks 👍

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thanks Egon Spengler!

[@GustavoDantas]

Very nice video! But I have the following question: Can you redirect the audio from a windows 10 computer to the Symfonisk speaker without using the Sonos app? Not just music library, but use as a windows computer speaker. Thank you.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Unfortunately not. There's no line in. You'd have to jump to a Play:5 for line-in (and then you could group the Play:5 with the Ikea speaker).

[@MotoMazza]

Great comparison, buddy. Tks for that!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

No problem thanks Bruno Mazza!

[@Christopher02066]

Really great video and very informative! Thank you!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thanks Christopher McKnight - really glad you found it useful! Accompanying lamp review coming out tomorrow hopefully!

[@iu1191]

What a fab video. Really thorough and informative as well as entertaining. Liked it a lot. I am a Sonos user and have been toying with the idea of a playbar with two play 1's as rear speakers. These bookshelf speakers could sub in for the play 1s and save me a considerable amount while being just as effective. Also, I have been thinking of putting a play 1 in the bedroom or kitchen and this could sub in for either place. These are not the rooms where I am going to do critical listening so do not need the very best sound but would benefit from something better than a portable Bluetooth speaker. For 99pounds this is a real steal. Thanks for the incredibly informative video and demonstrations which I valued a great deal. You have won yourself a like and a subscriber with a clicked notification bell. Love what you do and am eager for more - probably going to trawl your channel for more of your past work. Keep doing it, as you make informative videos - more humour will generally keep your audience engaged for longer but your style does that work now anyway - at least it did for me. Thanks again and I look forward to more!.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thanks Iyare Umweni - really appreciate the support, and the feedback!

[@iu1191]

@@TheTechnologyMan You're welcome. Just watched the video again. Really helpful the second time. In the meantime, I bought one and it is perfect as a kitchen speaker. I don't need audiophile levels of audio quality but do want to have good quality audio for music and podcasts etc. For that it is excellent. I have added the Sonos skill to Alexa so I can just say to my phone - play music in the kitchen and out the music come s. Also, I can say Play Radio 5 live in the kitchen and I am connected to the BBC. The Sonos app for Android allows me to play music which resides on my phone. So I can play that music on any Sonos speaker in the house, including this one. I suppose that gets me to Air-Play levels of convenience on Android (through an app at least haha) 😁. Android casting to WIFI speakers has never worked for me so far. For what I need - this speaker is perfect. I even rate it more than the lamp - not because of the sound as the sound of the lamp is superior but not so much as to change the use case of either. I would not want a lamp of this type in my kitchen as it would stand out too much and not match the rest of the kitchen. The bookshelf just fades into the background. I have it on top of the fridge. It is basically invisible which, in the kitchen, is what I wanted. Thanks again for the thorough review and the help it provides (especially as it continues to do so 😊). Also, it tickled me that you responded at all so well done - you did say you would!! Keep doing the good work!

[@angzander8536]

I really like this review! I never own any of Sonos before. Is better to get the lamp or the Sonos one speaker? Which have better at your end?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you Ang zander! I like having Alexa on the Sonos One - really depends if you need the lamp or not.

[@_preech_]

Super good video, good sound comparison using the stereo mic. Have my sub my good man

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you neeko - and for the support!

[@TheEezyNet]

Great review, all in one clip

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you TheEezyNet!

[@TeflonBeast]

Really good review. I’ve just bought a pair of the shelves to be surrounds with a Beam in bedroom. Music will be set to “ambient” my I have ONEs as surrounds elsewhere so double use of shelf/looks was the deciding factor. Great to know they will do good for sound too.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you TeflonBeast - sounds a great setup!

[@jsundb02]

I really like the shelfspeaker and am about to by a new TV and sonos beam. I'm thing of using the shelfspeaker with the beam. I don't have an iPhone( I use android), but i do have an iPad. Can I use sonos trueplay on the iPad and then only use android to play/"listen"?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

You can Airplay directly from your iPad - this streams music directly from your iPad. And you can use your iPad or Android device with the Sonos app to control any Sonos speaker - this is the preferred method - it's just sometimes convenient to quickly send something playing on your phone to the speaker.

[@jsundb02]

@@TheTechnologyMan thank you very much. So the settings sett by airplay on iPad remain set when I play music through the android phone?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

If you start music via AirPlay you can still pause and play that music via the Sonos app on an Android phone. It will just have AirPlay underneath the song title to show where the music originates.

[@naveenpuskur]

Great review and learned few things about Sonos App as well. Already have Sonos one, between Sonos play1 and Ikea Bookshelf which is best to pair ?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thanks Naveen Puskur! It'll have to be another Sonos One - you can only pair with identical Sonos speakers. But you could buy two Ikea speakers for a stereo pair in another room for around the same price!

[@putrataulan2960]

I love your review.. Thanks.. im inclined to buy the bookshelf as im about to try the sonos system... and its within my budget.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you Surya Putra Taulan! Not sure you can go far wrong with the Bookshelf speaker - great starting point for Sonos. And if you don't like it, Ikea have a pretty decent returns policy.

[@alfonsosurf]

Great review. How is the bass compared bookshelf vs sonos one? cheers!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thanks Fonsy Molina! The Bookshelf actually sounds a little more boomy depending on where you position it.

[@maxwroblewski]

Thanks for a great review. With the Symfonisk, will I be able to play lets say KZbin audio from my laptop? I just sold my Onyx Studio 5 which had amazing sound but wouldn't cooperate with the bluetooth protocol on my Macbook Pro. Have you heard the Onyx? How does the sound compare to the Symfonisk? Thanks for your time and effort with these reviews!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thanks Max Wroblewski! Only over AirPlay - otherwise you can use the app SonosTube that I use on my Sonos speakers that don't have AirPlay. I've not listened to the Onyx - but it's had a few mentions so may have to get one in!

[@sajmal860]

I have the sonos move bluetooth speaker, will this speaker work if my tv is connected to my sonos play via bluetooth - my LG tv works with my sonos move

[@TheTechnologyMan]

I don't have the Move but if it's in Bluetooth mode I believe you can't group with other Sonos WiFi speakers.

[@iamdrhunk]

Great review, loved it. I wanna know how much difference in sound (bass & clarity) does the Sonos One 2nd gen and the Lamp Speaker has? I don't own any Sonos device yet. This would be my first Sonos purchase.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thanks iamdrhunk! They sound pretty similar - I just find the Sonos One has a little more clarity.

[@elbuttano]

Hi. Could I buy 2 of these and pair them with my Sonos amp and sub to create a 2.1 system? I keep hearing they can only be set up as rear home cinema speakers but I'd want them mounted to the wall each side of the TV. Thanks!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Off the top of my head not sure that's possible but give Sonos a ring - they are usually very helpful - the Bookshelf are no different to the Play:1s / One etc so whatever works for them will work the same. Personally I'd get a Beam and use the two Bookshelf speakers as rears for a full 5.1 together with the Sub. And keep your Amp for another room for some nice passive speakers 😊.

[@Chuubie]

Hi! How would you rate the sound of 2 symfonisk bookshelf speakers in stereo vs 2 Sonos one speakers? I’ve only been able to hear symfonisk in an IKEA open warehouse space which was not a good audio testing ground. The bookshelf sounded muted/lacking clarity and warbly Bass. And I heard Sonos one as a stereo pair in the Sonos store inside a dedicated listening room (a single Sonos One didn’t sound that great and lacked depth I felt, but used as a stereo pair I feel it has very nicely balanced sound). I’d love to see a stereo comparison of these speakers - what are your thoughts? 2 symfonisk bookshelf = $200 vs 2 Sonos one = $400 My goals are for the richest sound, however if sound in stereo comes close and I can save $200 then I’d opt for that! Thank you!!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Two Sonos Ones would be more comparable to two Sonos lamps - the lamp sounds very similar to the Sonos One. If you don't play your music too loud I'd imagine you'd probably be happy with the Ikea Bookshelf speakers as a stereo pair - but two One's will be better! Ikea have a good return policy - so I would try two and return if need be. I will try and get another Bookshelf speaker at some stage ...

[@marcoliver7914]

Can you play music that has been downloaded directly from a laptop?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

If it's a MacBook you can use AirPlay. But otherwise you'd need to add your local music to a a Sonos Music Library: support.sonos.com/s/article/257?language=en_US. This works fine - as long as the laptop is on. And the added advantage is you can control this music from the Sonos app on a smartphone or tablet.

[@marcoliver7914]

@@TheTechnologyMan thanks

[@anneosullivan1383]

Hi, Do you know if you can connect it to a computer. I have an Ethernet port in the back of pc and the pc is connected to a network. i am happy for this to be a stand alone set up in one room.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Not directly to a computer no - the Ethernet is for connecting to your home network. But you can use the Sonos app on your PC to control it.

[@Lyndel66]

@@TheTechnologyMan So if I'm watching a movie off my laptop, will the speaker work?

[@ERUtheWINDRIDER]

Nice review, but you didn't mention anything about nas streaming on any of the speakers. Are they compatible with Synology?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thanks ERUtheWINDRIDER - take a look at 4:05 into the video. Should work perfectly with your Synology. Just setup a share with all your music on your NAS and then go to the Sonos app on a computer and configure in "Manage | Music Library Setting".

[@Mark-bl3wg]

Hello, I have a beam and 2 play ones, was thinking of a bookshelf speaker to sit by the sofa as the room is long and the play ones are at the rear of the room would this work

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Hi Mark Toogood. Good question - you could group the Playbar with the Ikea speaker - that would work fine if you just wanted to hear sound from the TV when you're at the other end of the room. You wouldn't have any of the channel information to that speaker so if you're playing 5.1 content for the best experience I'd probably mute the Ikea speaker. But for general use will work fine..

[@jakemarch-jones2789]

Great review. Quick question in your honest opinion... I already own a Symfonisk Book Shelf Speaker, I am considering buying a second one but wonder whether I should spend a little more and get a sonos play one (Ebay around £120 or so?) What do you think? I LOVE the look and style of the symfonisk but the second speaker will be going in a different room so not too concerned about them matching... Cheers

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thanks Jacon March-Jones! Only if you need the voice assistant - they're very similar otherwise. It's worth considering whether you might ever want to use them a stereo pair though - or a rear speakers for a sound bar ...

[@exclusivelynyc]

Excellent, excellent review!!! Thank you for sharing!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you exclusivelynyc!

[@Joeyhall25]

Would you say that the Sonos one has better bass than the bookshelf? Also I have an Android and use Spotify, does that mean when I am in the Spotify app I can't select a sonos speakers to cast to? I would have to use the Sonos app only to cast my Spotify?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Not so much better bass but a slightly fuller sound. Check out this article regarding controlling Sonos via Spotify: support.sonos.com/s/article/1153?language=en_US

[@Joeyhall25]

@@TheTechnologyMan great, thank you!

[@plainlake]

Well made review, to the point and informative.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you very much plainlake!

[@mauriciomesa6455]

Excellent walkthrough! I prefer using AirPlay to maintain the original app’s user experience. A trick to connect to AirPlay using iOS home app, the required PIN number is hidden behind the speaker (why?)

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you Mauricio Mesa - and for the tip!

[@jasonspencer9246]

So many people are putting down the symfonisk. But I've just purchased mine and it's every bit as good as the sonos and the styling is better . There's another YT video that shows you the internal parts are exactly the same . It's a shame they down let you try your own music in store . But the risk was worth it and I am going to buy a second unit

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Yes I like mine too - and I have other Sonos speakers.

[@mcgriddlesftw]

hello! is this usable with macbooks?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Yes the Sonos app works on Macs.

[@ashjcoronado]

What’s the name the song you used for testing the speakers?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Faster Car by Loving Caliber ...

[@lozblake8114]

Nice video! Bit old now, but hoping you'll read this and could give some input. I'd been considering having a home theatre set up of a Sonos Bean and two One SLs at the back, but my friend mentioned these speakers as a good way to save 2× £80 whilst not losing any audio quality. You mention in your video briefly about them being part of that setup as rear satellite speakers, thats encouraging, I just wondered if you had any thoughts about their sound quality compared to the One SL in that setup? Also, part of the appeal of the setup mentioned above is having the Sonos Beam able to take Alexa commands and play music through the speakers group together in that setup, I'm assuming this is completely possible with these speakers just as it would be with the One SL, as long as they are grouped to the aforementioned Sonos Beam which Alexa built in? Thank you!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thanks Loz Blake! Yes that would work fine. These are perfect as rear speakers - I think you'd struggle to hear the difference. Especially considering they're only receiving the rear channels anyway. And their extra functionality as small shelves is quite neat. Save the money for a Sub would be my advice! Yes you can use Alexa via the Beam and hear responses through any grouped speakers.

[@lozblake8114]

@@TheTechnologyMan thank you so much for the reply, really appreciate your opinion. If I may follow up your sub comment, do you think the lack of sub would be noticeable in this set up, or would the beam kick up enough bass for it to sound good? Obviously nothing can replace a dedicated sub, and I'd absolutely love to get the Sonos sub, but unfortunately I'll be in an apartment, and am afraid the bass might make my neighbours hate me!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

It will still sound great without the Sub!

[@taphazoj4]

Amazing review, very informative

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you so much taphazoj4!

[@cryptoanjuna8343]

I do not have any apple products nor apply music, can I use Spotify, Castbox, Mixcloud, and Soundcloud as my streaming services? Thanks

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Looks like yes to all those services except Castbox: support.sonos.com/s/article/3459?language=en

[@cryptoanjuna8343]

@@TheTechnologyMan thank you very much for your help! I really enjoyed the video and found it useful on deciding on these speakers vs the Sonos.

[@JohnnyMotel99]

Can a pair be configured to play stereo?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Yes - very easy to configure in the Sonos app and sounds very good!

[@tvbinder]

hi, is there a way to turn off the ikea speaker? Or it consumes electricity all the time? The only way to turn off them is to unplug it?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

No there's no way to turn it off - it remains in standby mode. I just tested it - it's using around 2W in standby mode.

[@ondrejmancal]

Very good rewiev, thanks a lot! I have a question, is it possible to connect symfonisk to tv or you have to buy some playbase, sonos beam? Thanks you

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you Ondra Mancal! No you cannot connect these directly to a TV. If you get a Sonos Beam, Playbase or Playbar - you can then add Ikea Bookshelf or Lamps as rear surround speakers ...

[@ondrejmancal]

@@TheTechnologyMan yes, im going to buy sonos beam .. And i Hope that i enjoy sound from ps4, KZbin from TV.. Sorry for Basic english..

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Your English is good! The Beam sounds like a good option!

[@josiahgurnsey]

Great review! Very helpful. Thank you! Subscribed

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Awesome, thank you!

[@gabrigarcia2914]

Can the phone hotspot be used to stream music out of home WiFi?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Yes this does work - just tried it with an iPhone. It didn't find the iPhone's hotspot automatically - I had to enter the name manually but apart from that worked perfectly.

[@_BRNYB_]

can you use this a speaker for pc?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

There's no line in so unfortunately not.

[@Lisa-io5vd]

Great review! Thank you so much!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

No problem thank you Lisa!

[@jk6640]

Really good review. Thanks a lot for that

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Great thanks Juergen Kulmer!

[@SurfingAD]

Great review, learnt alot!! Think it is probably the most informative video I have seen on Sonos products. ps your pace is perfect. Just purchased a playbar and now considering my options for rear surround sound. Out of the book shelf, lamp and ones(with or without mic) which would you rate as best for sound quality? (Ignoring price) Also while I have only had the playbar 2 weeks I found I can change volume settings with my android phone using the "hey Google" option. Works well so no need to spend on an echo etc.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thanks SurfingAD! I do slightly prefer the sound of the One's but for rear speakers I'd probably go for two of the bookshelf's for their value! Especially if it's only playing the rear section of a 5.1 setup. Use the saved money for a Sub - that really makes a difference but very expensive. Nice tip on the Android phone 👍.

[@liquid79]

What's a rooter?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Router_(computing)

[@liquid79]

@@TheTechnologyMan OH! you meant a router kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHTIiaKppsmlfsk

[@serasane]

Are these high-end speakers?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

No really - but they are still not cheap! They do sound good for the price though!

[@YogiTheBearMan]

Sonos Move has bluetooth FYI 5:46 it is also portable 12:11

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Yes the timing was perfect! The Move was leaked the day after my video came out!

[@JohannesDalen]

I just bought my symfonisk lamp, and the connection is terrible. It skips songs, stops playing all the time..

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Try contacting Sonos support - they can remotely log your system and see what's causing interference. You may need to change your WiFi channel but they will advise ...

[@JohannesDalen]

The Technology Man Thank you so much for your thorough respone! I rebood my router, and so far, so good! :)

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Great!

[@MrDja007]

Sonos have since released a mobile speaker, the Sonos Move which comes with a charging base. It has received positive reviews on Sonos forums.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Yes they announced this just after I published the video! I was meant to get a sample to review but never did. I will still try and review it at some stage.

[@TitusRex]

Can I use this with a TV and a Chromecast?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Don't think so but don't have Chromecast to check - sorry ...

[@mariodabek5596]

no

[@trevormnongwa8060]

Excellent review!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thanks so much M T Nongwa!

[@13innovation]

When will you work on a Sonos Move review? You requested a Portable Sonos option that supports blue tooth and there it is!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Sonos were going to send me a demo unit but never did. So will have to save up to buy one myself! It's not cheap! But thanks for the suggestion and reminder!

[@sveinkthomassen]

Great video and review. Thanks!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you S Thomassen! Appreciate you taking the time to comment.