Sonos Wireless Sound System
Sonos Play Bar
SONOS – A Problem Solver
At ConcordCarpenter we are all about improvising, adapting and overcoming obstacles or problems that plague the home remodeling industry. We recently took a close look at Sonos, a flexible and functional home sound system designed to work with wireless and existing wired speakers. We wanted to see if Sonos could “remove the pain,” with two remodeling conundrums we often face when considering adding music on a remodel:
- Filling a home with music, without having to rip open walls, and install wires everywhere.
- Utilizing an existing wired speaker system; to be more simplistic, versatile, easily controlled and enjoyable.
Before we jump into these two issues, let’s first tell you a little about Sonos.
What is Sonos?
Sonos, a US company founded in 2002, manufactures a smart system of HiFi wireless speakers and audio components and allows the user wireless control of their digital music collection. This system allows individual or synchronized multi-room listening and control, “in every room” of your home.
The Sonos wireless sound system works by connecting one single device to your home network to play music, from either online or in-home sources. It then allows you to add more Sonos devices, up to a maximum of 32, that all connect using a secure wireless mesh network called Sonosnet. Adding the element of portability to your home computer-based music collection is easy, using wireless technology and this is the premise that Sonos works off of.
A free Sonos controller “App” lets the user browse and play music, over your Sonosnet from almost any device over, such as:
- Smartphone
- Tablet
- Ipad
- Computer
Wireless Control of Wired Speakers
How Sonos Solves Problems
As mentioned earlier there are two issues that present itself when faced with adding music into a home. Either you choose a wired speaker system, wireless or a hybrid mix of both. Whatever you choose Sonos has equipment to control them wireless, synchronized and with multi-room listening and control.
Adding Music During a Remodel
When remodeling a home or portion of a home, we often have the luxury of open stud walls or floor joist bays to run speaker wire. These cavities obviously allow for easier installation and of speaker wire and speaker placement and we often take advantage of this when remodeling TV and formal entertaining rooms.
Additionally, clients seem to favor installing low profile ceiling or flush wall speakers, claiming they are more desirable to the decor of the room than shelf or surface mounted models.
During a remodel, we often only need to open up certain walls, leaving others in the house untouched. That brings us to the problem of deciding whether to open the untouched walls to run speaker wires or go wireless.
When trying to fill your house with music you have scenarios to choose from:
All Wired Speakers
Oftentimes people will opt for a hardwired permanent speaker location due to having a solid-wire connection. Many folks already have quality speaker wire installed in these areas, and choose to reuse it, or they’re looking to save money by re-using their current speakers.
Sometimes connecting to an existing wired speaker system, or shelf speakers is less expensive, and can result in less wall or ceiling patching repairs.
Sonos Play-3 Wireless Speaker
All Wireless Speakers
Many times older homes, or homes with certain structural framing or aesthetic trim or wainscoting features prevent or make installing a wires system a poor option. Cutting into these structures is often too much work, cost or trouble to reap the benefit of a wired speaker. In these situations a wireless speaker technology is a perfect solution.
Sonos wireless speakers are powered by an electrical outlet and can be placed in any or all rooms you desire. The simplicity and ease of use is what make this an attractive solution to the “music anywhere concept.”
Wireless speakers are an outstanding solution for people looking to add music to their home without the difficulties and problems that wired systems present.
Being able to fill a home with music without having to open up the walls is a desirable option in our book! The Sonos system removes the pain of having to deal with a wired system and the complications that often result from retrofitting wires into existing finished walls. Wireless definitely saves time, and money from having to patch and paint walls or ceilings.
Mix of Wired and Wireless Speakers
In many higher end home remodels, we often find certain rooms already have quality speaker wire and high-end speakers installed. Sonos is capably of controlling both wireless and wired speakers, and has the ability to mix and match the speakers. This opens more solutions for the user and allows for opportunities to place music in areas that were once not an option .
In these situations we see clients using their existing wired speakers and deploying wireless speakers in more difficult to access or remote areas of the home, workshop, garage and patios.
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