question from a noobie

[hybridauth_Google_117938397457741776460]

Sorry for the elementary question, but we all have to start somewhere!

1. Can anyone tell me the difference between streaming Spotify via Sonos and via say a Cambridge Audio CXN V2?

2. What are the advantages and disadvantages?

3. With the Cambridge, do I need to pair it with an amplifier?

4. And the speakers- is there such a thing as wireless hi-fi speakers that can be used with the Cambridge?

5. Finally, how do I know how many speakers I need for the room. My open plan room is about 150m2, but has various columns in the centre which is going to block the sound waves. How do I get around this? I am ideally looking for speakers that can be set up by a noobie and that can work out the best settings in the room they have been placed in.

I know there are a lot of questions, but any help would be gratefully accepted 🙂

 

[Gray]

...I know there are a lot of questions

I've never been interested in Sonos so can't help with comparisons.
But I've had an eye on the CXN since V1 first appeared, 7 years ago. Its main disadvantage to me being a price I can't bring myself to pay 😏
But yes, you would need amplification to hear it on speakers - either an integrated amp or just a power amp (or powered / active speakers) because it can be used in preamp mode - to give a variable output.

Answer to question 4: You could possibly seek out something But if it preserved full quality, it's likely to be expensive and your choice would be limited....I'd stick with wires and a full choice of speakers myself.

Question 5: You need only 2 speakers for stereo in any room.
Any more is up to you, but you'd necessarily be complicating things (and compromising your stereo performance).

 

[shipworm-archaism-recede]

Agree with everything @Gray wrote.

In addition:

1. From a usage point of view, Spotify is pretty much the same on both in that each supports it natively. You just use different apps to control playback.

2. The main difference is that Sonos aims at being a whole-home audio system with everything you need built into the speakers whereas the CXN aims to be a high-quality component of a Hi-Fi separates system. Sonos is just plug in and go, CXN means you have to think about the other components and match them. They are very different products from the perspective of design intent.

IMO, money spent on a CXN would be wasted if you couldn't properly enjoy the full stereo sound stage from an amplifier and speakers appropriate for the space. I don't know the layout, but you might consider dedicating one part of it for focussed listening where the columns wouldn't block sound on its way to where you would sit. The open-plan nature of the space means that you might need to give the room some acoustic treatment to dampen reflections/reverb to get the best out of a stereo in your listening position (it doesn't need to be expensive specialist stuff, but minimalist rooms often suffer from problems with this).

You could easily choose a stereo loud enough to fill your whole space, but if you chose a less powerful system, you could use it in conjunction with additional wireless, multi-room speakers (just placed in the same room) for more relaxed listening. As Gray says, this screws up the stereo effect, but who cares if you just want background music everywhere for a party or wandering around without it being deafening near the main stereo speakers.