Simon Cohen / Digital Trends / Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
We have recommendedSonoswireless speakers and components for class . We still consider the companionship hold a fantastic product . But the absolute fiasco due to theMay 7 Sonos app redesignbroke almost every aspect of the Sonos experience — andwe’re still waiting for fixesthat were promised week ago .
If you ’re a Sonos proprietor , we share your frustration . If your investment in the company ’s ecosystem is significant , your best wager is to wait and ride out this tempest . Eventually things will return to normal and , hopefully , the Sonos experience will be better than before .
But if you ’re fresh to Sonos or if you ’re considering buying your first Sonos product , you may be wondering about alternatives . unsound software rollouts can and do hap ; live with another company is no guarantee that your dwelling house sound recording organisation will remain problem - devoid constantly . Still , if you ’re no longer finger the Sonos making love , these systems are more than capable of fill up your base with sound .
But what constitutes a Sonos option ? To our way of thinking , a true alternative should have at least some ( and sooner all ) of the follow attributes :
Of the five choice we present below , only the first three satisfy a majority of these requirements . But we ’ve included two more options that will give you a “ Sonos lite ” experience , if you do n’t involve all of the features Sonos offer .
Bluesound
The best for audiophiles
When it comes to finding a wireless , multiroom audio system that can compete with Sonos , see no further than Bluesound . Like Sonos , Bluesound makes a smorgasbord ofwireless speakersand components include home dramatics elements likesoundbarsandsubwoofers , which are all controlled via the BluOS - powered Bluesound mobile app .
Where Bluesound live on above and beyond , however , is its documentation forhi - res audioand multiple wire / wireless connection pick . This has helped make Bluesound a favorite among audiophiles . All of Bluesound ’s computer hardware supports lossless digital sound up to 24 - bit/192kHz , and it ’s one of the only multiroom systems that ’s compatible with theMQA format(Lenbrook , Bluesound ’s parent company , also owns the right to MQA ) .
Its verbaliser and electronic web music streamers also have auxiliary inputs and headphone production , something that Sonos has only just recently get down to add to its mathematical product .
These extra features run to make Bluesound mathematical product more expensive than their Sonos equivalents , but you may bump the add together versatility is deserving the supernumerary investment .
One area where Bluesound fall back Sonos is support for music service in the mobile app . Notably absent from the list is Apple Music and YouTube Music . Still , given Bluesound ’s compatibility with AirPlay , Bluetooth , andRoon , there are other ways to toy music from these service ’ own mobile apps .
Bluesound components can be master via Amazon Alexa , but Google Assistant and Apple Siri compatibility remain unavailable .
Denon Home/HEOS
The most versatile choice
Denon created the first real Sonos choice with itsDenon HEOSwireless speakers and components . The caller has since rebranded its wireless speakers as Denon Home . But under the thug , it ’s still HEOS running the show .
You ’ll find oneself HEOS - compatible Ab receivers from Denon and babe brand Marantz , which greatly exposit your options for multiroom sound without the penury for separate web music pennant .
Denon ’s Home portfolio of speakers is n’t as heroic as Sonos ’ — there ’s currently no portable speaker in the lineup , and only one size of it of soundbar — but Price are similar for what you get .
Like Bluesound , HEOS element are hi - res audio compatible up to 24 - bit/192kHz . They do n’t puzzle out with MQA , but they will run DSD 2.8MHz and 5.6MHz cut , which neither Sonos nor Bluesound can do .
Witha 2023 update , the HEOS mobile app performs most all of the same function as the Sonos app . YouTube Music is one of the few music services that is n’t supported in - app .
Bose
The best for easy setup
Bose is another troupe that has been diligently pursue Sonos ’ lead on wireless multiroom verbalizer , and it now has a batting order of “ smart ” products that can go ( almost ) toe - to - toe .
Soundbars in multiple size and prices ( include models that supportDolby Atmos ) that can also be expanded to fit expectant rooms , subwoofer , portable , and of course , interference - canceling headphones — there ’s a Bose product for every scenario .
Each component can be grouped and hold in via the Bose Music app , and they have a wealth of wireless connection options include Bluetooth , AirPlay , andGoogle Cast .
One of the things that makes these products “ smart ” is their built - in voice assistant capabilities . On some speakers , you may opt from either Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa , while others are limited to just Alexa ( but with Google Assistant compatibility if you already have a Google Assistant talker ) .
You wo n’t find support for forward-looking audio format like MQA , DSD , or hi - ray FLAC , but that does n’t stop these speaker from sounding excellent .
The Bose Music app , while nifty for command Bose impudent speaker , is confine compared to Sonos in terminus of euphony service support , creating and save playlists , and queue management .
Wiim
An exciting new option
Wiim , a newcomer to the wireless audio outer space , does n’t make wireless speakers ( yet ) so it ca n’t quite be considered a full Sonos alternative , but the company ’s connection euphony players ( with and without structured amps ) are proof that you could have Sonos - alike features without paying Sonos prices .
We ’ve tried theWiim ProandWiim Amp , and are right impressed by their technology , design , and sound . The Wiim app is possibly the first of its variety to not only copy Sonos ’ best features ( like general lookup ) but also exceed what Sonos has done .
There ’s full support for grouping and item-by-item control condition of component part , hi - atomic number 75 audio compatibility including MQA , and several of Wiim ’s product areRoon - readyfor fans of that medicine direction software system .
Each Wiim component has a plethora of digital and analogue input and yield , and wireless connectivity admit Bluetooth ( usually two - way ) , AirPlay , and Google Cast .
About the only affair you do n’t get with Wiim is DSD compatibility , and , much like all non - Sonos competitors , you ca n’t access Apple Music directly within the Wiim app .
Apple/Google/Amazon
The 800-pound gorillas
lastly , if you ’re a fan of the freehanded three tech companies and their respective ecosystems , Apple , Google , and Amazon each offer ways to do wireless multiroom audio . They not only make wireless speakers — they also have fresh nursing home apps that can hold a variety of third - political party speakers from other companies .
For example : If a wireless speaker is AirPlay - compatible , it can be added to the Apple Home app . Google Assistant impudent speakers and Google Cast gadget can be managed from the Google Home app , and there ’s a giant ecosystem of wireless audio products that can be added to the Alexa app .
To be absolved , these smart home apps are basic when compared to the functionality of a Sonos system , so it ’s not quite a 1:1 alternate .
Moreover , Apple , Google , and Amazon only have a few wireless speakers from which to choose , and none of them makes multiroom - compatible soundbars ( though Apple ’s HomePodsmake a outstanding soundbar substituteif you have anApple TV 4 K ) .
Still , if your pauperization are simple , perhaps a fewApple HomePodsscattered around your home will do the antic .
