Great discussion and I appreciate the perspective from the folks that do own them. I'll stick with my original point, which is that they're really cost prohibitive which makes them less than ideal for a large segment of folks. Whether that's because they haven't scaled sales-wise to reach a point of profitability as a company that they can compete from a price point perspective I'm not sure.

Could it be they're interested less in being ubiquitous and indispensable as a home audio option and more focused on building a brand as a luxury item? Again I'm not sure.

But let's talk about my setup versus replicating it in multiple rooms versus a Sonos setup, strictly from a price perspective.

Sony Soundbar + Wireless Sub ( Sony HT-CT770 2.1 Channel 330W Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer) - $228 x's 3 = $684 total

Sonos Playbar + Sonos Wireless Subwoofer ( Sonos Playbar + Sonos Wireless Subwoofer/Wireless Music Streaming Speaker ) - $1,339.95 x's 3 = $4,019.85

+

Sonos Connect Wireless Receiver Component for Wireless Streaming ( Sonos Bridge ) - $349.00

$4,019.85 + $349.00 = $4,368.85 for 3 zones or rooms of wireless streaming.

$684 vs. $4,368.85.

I simply can't justify spending $3,714.85 more than the setup I'm theorizing with the Sony Soundbar and Wireless Sub.

There is no amount of ease of use, simplicity, innovation, or sound quality upgrade that I'll receive from going with the 2nd option in comparison to the first that justifies that expense for me. From my perspective, the staggering difference in price simply can't be reconciled in my mind. I could do so much other stuff with that $3,700+ that it's difficult for me to even entertain another perspective.

ETA: The OP was originally discussing a 5 BR house. I used an example of only 3 BR's. But understand for each additional BR, the price disparity jumps up over $1,000 per BR.

A 5BR Sonos Setup of Playbar + Wireless Sub along with 1 Bridge = $7,048.25

A 5BR Sony Soundbar + Wireless Subwoofer w/no Bridge = $1,140.

The difference in cost is $5,908.25. Even if you're affluent...Is what Sonos provides in this example worth SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS? I just can't see it.

This post was edited on 7/31/15 at 10:28 am

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Posted by Pettifogger

Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone

Member since Feb 2012

79322 posts

Posted on 7/31/15 at 11:31 am to GFunk

I agree it'll outpace your setup in cost, but I don't think what you're pricing is what most people are doing/would need/would want.

The people I know with a Sonos setup, including myself, have PLAY speakers and a soundbar. I don't know anyone who has the sub. I certainly don't know anyone who has multiple playbars and multiple subs.

A more realistic whole home setup for most people, I think, would involve a soundbar, sub and 2 PLAY 1 speakers for home theater and living room audio. Then a series of either Play 3s and 5s for remaining rooms. Such a setup would please anyone but audiophiles, and would be plenty for all but the most massive and cavernous homes.

I'm sure that would still come in more than your setup, but a Play 3 will provide excellent sound for a bedroom at about 260 dollars. A Play 5 can truly fill up a large living area for 400 bucks, as would a playbar. So on that type of setup, which is the prototypical setup, you're going to shave a few grand off of your estimates.

Moreover, depending on where your audio is coming from, you probably won't need a Sonos Connect or bridge at all.

Anyway, for the 5BR setup I would anticipate it'd look more like 2500-3000 for the Sonos setup. So sure, still doubling yours, but not as massive of a difference.

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