Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Sonos Amps

I tried to search the forum but I had no luck. With SONOS having so much market share, it's hard to ignore them. I was about to purchase two SONOS fives but they don't integrate into the home theatre except as rears, and I really want my system to serve as a stereo too. It got me thinking, has anyone ever pushed the M5s or even the M80s with a SONOS Amp. This would allow me to build a system throughout the house with the sonos infrastructure, but use the speakers I'd really want to use. I was looking at the M5 but I bring up M80 because there is a system with 2 M80V2, 2 QS8V2, a VP150, and an EP350 for sale locally. Could SONOS amps handle this system? Another question, what would V2s be worth on the street right now? Or is the M5HP just a better choice new at this point?

Thanks for any insight into this. If I'm crazy for considering the SONOS architecture, let me know too. I have a Beam Gen 2 and it's "good enough" for casual TV.

The M5 is more emotionally impactful to me than the M80v2. The M80 will play louder with the Sonos than the M5 but the M5 has better fidelity, imaging and soundstage. The Sonos will drive the M5 with its 200W continuous into 4 Ohm rating.

I used the M5 bookshelves in my 4200 cu. ft. theatre and loved them.

Thanks Mojo! I'm trying to balance simplicity with some quality sound. I don't have a huge space but want to be able to enjoy good music. I'm listening only with headphones right now and I'm ready to get some sound going in the house.

I'll vouch for the M5OWs as front stereo speakers as well. I hooked them up as fronts just to shake things up while I'm building out my room and I'm always amazed at the sound they produce. I was running them off my AVR but a dedicated amp will give you the extra head room. The M5s are pretty hungry.

I vouch for the on-walls and bookshelves as fronts. I have both.

I've always wondered about the on or in walls. Do they really sound the same as a speaker in a cabinet?

I've never tried the in-wall speakers other than the m3 in ceiling. They sound really good but they are only used for Atmos sound. The on walls sound really good.

I can vouch the M2 and M5 on-walls are excellent. Ditto for the QS10.

Audio Science Review did a bench test of the Sonos amp. It really does output 200W into 4 Ohm loads with Class D magic:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...view-and-measurements-of-sonos-amp.6957/

I don't find his electronics reviews that useful, most of his complaints are for things beyond audibility. His site is good for avoiding junk and snake oil: interconnects, tube amps, and anything made in the United Kingdom.

Sonos is a HUGE company, over $2 billion in annual revenue and just behind Bose and Harman Group. Well known audio players Paradigm/Anthem, Bryston, KEF North America, and Wilson Audio do less than $10 million. Klipsch has 25% of the traditional loudspeaker market in North America, it only does $50 million. That's not even half the revenue of Monster Cable, which has been in free fall since 2011.

kbferrie, if you ever do get a pair of Axioms, I'd love to see an informal comparison of the Beam vs whatever you get. I still longingly look at wireless sound bar products even though I already assembled my Frankenstein Axiom/Angstrom/Mirage home theater. I love the minimalist look of sound bars, though I suspect that I would long for my current system if I did go all-in on a Sonos Arc + Sub + SL system. lol

How did you establish the annual revenue for Paradigm?

I researched the figures a few months ago, and Paradigm was at $10M. Then I whipped up the same sites, and now I get $25-40M. That would actually put it just behind McIntosh Labs.

https://www.zoominfo.com/c/paradigm-electronics-inc/210174342

https://www.dnb.com/business-direct...nc.15df1b38b2d013b3ec04e67de1a29070.html

https://rocketreach.co/paradigm-electronics-inc-profile_b5c31f74f42e0f1a

https://www.datanyze.com/companies/paradigm-electronics/210174342

I was trying to research whether the traditional audio industry was contracting in a disruptive era of Bluetooth speakers and wireless sound bars. I gave up, because there were wildly different estimates of the North American and global market size. What I did discover was that Klipsch, Onkyo, Pioneer Electronics, and Monster Cable were shrinking or consolidating.

I'd have to find the source again, but there were some industry commentators who said the loudspeaker industry had 25%-50% more brands than what the market could support.

I will. I was looking for a system in my back living room, which has a Beam 2 connected. I have another family room connected to the kitchen with a fireplace (TV mounted over). I'm now almost convinced I'm going to go with a pair of M5 on wall above the fireplace with the Sonos Amp. This will be primarily for music, but when I watch TV I can take advantage of the phantom center channel to have good enough TV audio. Then I'll build out a movie system in the back room, likely with Sonos gear for movies. I really want decent sound in the kitchen, and this will provide that. I love the thought of the Sonos Amp because I can hide it way anywhere and just use my phone. It'll be awhile before I receive and install the gear but I'll let you know how it does.