Wireless Speakers

[Bonz]

I'm looking to buy a new wireless speaker and would like to know of any advice. I currently have 2 Sonos Play 3's in the living room streaming CD's ripped to ALAC from PC and I also have Deezer Elite. I am looking at either the new Play 5 (when released) or Naim MuSo or B&W Zeppelin Wireless. Feel like I want to move up a notch in sound quality but not sure about the whole hi-res hype.

 

[davedotco]

One of the ways to really 'move up a notch in sound quality' is to buy two 'proper' speakers and set them up correctly.

Two obvious examples would be the Kef X300 or the new Yamaha NX-N500.

The basic X300 will give you superb sound in a wired setup, the more expensive wireless model adds Airplay, admitedly at a ridiculous premium.

The new NX-N500 is based on the HS5 active moinitor and has masses of functionality built in, Bluetooth and Airplay, plenty of inputs and integration with a number of streaming services, though Deezer may not be one of them according to the blurb.

Properly setup, on stands, either will give you the performance of a separates system in the £1000 class, from just two bookshelf sized speakers. Both the basic Kef and the Yamaha cost £599, though you will need to budget for stands.

 

[The_Lhc]

Wait until the new play:5 is released and then demo a stereo pair against Dave's suggestions, you're already invested in Sonos, so presumably you're happy with the controller app, which is a big part of the user experience. Of course if you do prefer the "proper" active speakers over the Sonos ones you could always feed them with a Sonos connect and still keep to the same familiar app.

 

[chebby]

Wait until the new play:5 is released and then demo a stereo pair against Dave's suggestions ...

Indeed. Although the Play 5s will set you back £858 (Richer Sounds), so that's quite a premium. I would really want to hear my extra £260 working hard. Nothing 'subtle' or 'nuanced'.

I don't think the mu-so (although very good) is a relevant option here. I've heard it a few times now (even considered getting one for a while) but it's definitely for the small room/study/bedroom and for spaces where listening on axis would be impossible.

Those Yamaha NX-N500s are insanely well specified! They look pretty good too ...

Yamaha do quote bass down as much as -10dB @54Hz but that's probably true of all speakers this small with 5" bass/mids.

Yamaha are also reluctant to call them 'active' and seem to insist on 'powered' on their own webpages. The schematic suggests true 'active' (and each cabinet contains two dedicated amps), you decide ...

 

[gowiththeflow]

Bonz, do you intend to stay with Sonos serving up your music? What is your budget?

If you intend to replace the Sonos, you will need to find a new means of serving up music to be transmitted to the new wireless speakers..

A Sonos Connect can be used to deliver music wirelessly to active/powered speakers, or to feed a separate amp and speakers. There will need to be wires from the Connect to the speakers or amp though.

Alternatively, a Sonos Connect Amp can power most small/medium sized passive speakers. Still will need wires to the speakers.

The Kef X300a or X300a Wireless will provide a big step up from the Play 3's and old Play 5's. The new Play 5's are an unknown at this point in time, but I'm doubtful they'll match the X300a in sound quality. The Kef X300a will still need something to feed them with music though, if thinking wireless. The Wireless version uses Bluetooth and Airplay.

If your budget will stretch to it and if you require a total lack of wires to the speakers (apart from the power chords), then look at the Dynaudio XEO 4. These are much bigger in size, but will take sound quality into a completely different league. With the required XEO Hub, they will set you back around £1550 'ish (best price shopping around), plus you'll need to budget for proper stands. I think the dedicated XEO stands cost round about £210? XEO 4 + Hub + stands + Sonos Connect = approx. £2000.

Personally, I'd forget the Zeppelin, although B&W do have some other, better sounding wireless speakers in their range. Sound quality will still be in a lower league though.

z

 

[CnoEvil]

Another vote for the Kef X300s.

 

[davedotco]

If you want to maintain the Sonos 'infrastructure', a connect driving (say) a pair of Yamaha HS5s would be a sensible choice at around similar price.

If you want to add Bluetooth or Airplay, you can use an add on receiver into the local input on the Connect.

 

[ID.]

Wait until the new play:5 is released and then demo a stereo pair against Dave's suggestions ...

Yamaha are also reluctant to call them 'active' and seem to insist on 'powered' on their own webpages. The schematic suggests true 'active' (and each cabinet contains two dedicated amps), you decide ...

Not sure where it originates, but it seems to be a quirk of what has become the accepted term in Japanese. Fostex do it a lot too. Another one that bugs me, if I recall correctly, is referring to upsampling as oversampling.

Either way, this is never "corrected" when translated into English. Professional habits. Even though my areas of expertise don't really cover hi-fi, or even that much techical translation, I can see the English translations for a lot of things and immediately know what the terms/phrases the Japanese used for it to result English that just feels slightly (or in some cases, completely) off.

 

[Bonz]

Davedotco

thanks for your post. Looked at the NX500 a while back after Yamaha announced the refresh of music cast but was advised that the platform was no where near as good as Sonos. Ideally I'm looking at wireless set up in the living room (medium sized) from a good quality speaker (better than existing play 3's) served by a synology NAS and then utilise the play 3's in the kitchen and the den (both fairly small rooms). Budget wise I'm looking to spend £800-£1000.

Hope you have some ideas for me!!

 

[Al ears]

Yet another vote for the X300A's

 

[Bonz]

Thanks for the advice unfortunately my budget is only around £1000. Looking for a good speaker dedicated to the living room to free up the Sonos for the kitchen and den. Like the idea of standmounts to sit either side of the TV if that gives any more options. Will serve the music via NAS (synology) or AirPlay.

Hope you have other options for my budget.

 

[davedotco]

As in post #7.

A Sonos connect is £260, any decent active speaker in the £250-600 price range will give you what you want. The Yamaha HS5 is well under £300, the Kef X300 base model is £599, plenty of other choices.

A really spectacular solution, still within budget, just, would be the Connect into a pair of Adam Artist 6, spectacular, slim floorstanders available from Thomann in germany for less than £600, delivered.

 

[gowiththeflow]

The Adam Artist 6 is a good choice, but will still need wires to connect it to the Sonos Connect, just like the Kef X300a.

 

[tino]

Looked at the NX500 a while back after Yamaha announced the refresh of music cast but was advised that the platform was no where near as good as Sonos.

How so? The What Hifi review is very positive ... http://www.whathifi.com/yamaha/musiccast-system/review as are other reviews.

Then there's higher bit rate support, USB and optical inputs to the internal DAC, DSD support, analog input, easy to use app, a real remote control, multi-room capability, and the icing on the cake - a Bluetooth transmitter to play across to other not so smart Bluetooth speakers or headphones.

Downsides - Deezer support not currently available, and I suppose the cabling round the back could get a bit crazy.

 

[davedotco]

The Adam Artist 6 is a good choice, but will still need wires to connect it to the Sonos Connect, just like the Kef X300a.

As indeed will most speakers at this level. Just a mains lead and a phono lead in this case, as the Artists are floorstanders there is every chance for a tidy setup.

There are hundreds of options within budget, more if you consider the Connect Amp and passive speakers, everyone will have their own favourites and views on this.

Personally I much prefer the active approach at these sort of prices but others do not, c'est la vie.

 

[Dave_]

Downsides - Deezer support not currently available, and I suppose the cabling round the back could get a bit crazy.

You could always use Bluetooth.

 

[Bonz]

Yamaha NX N500 supports AirPlay so I believe I could use Deezer that way from my phone or iPad. Article said Deezer would come shortly so that's promising. No review on sound quality as yet but specs appear good to me and someone else posted the same earlier. These may just suit my needs with a nice pair of stands and will probably have some cash left over. Need to get to a dealer and try them out I guess.

Thanks for your feedback. Much appreciated

 

[davedotco]

Yamaha NX N500 supports AirPlay so I believe I could use Deezer that way from my phone or iPad. Article said Deezer would come shortly so that's promising. No review on sound quality as yet but specs appear good to me and someone else posted the same earlier. These may just suit my needs with a nice pair of stands and will probably have some cash left over. Need to get to a dealer and try them out I guess.

Thanks for your feedback. Much appreciated

If you want to maintain the whole Sonos ecosystem, a Connect and a pair of the very highly regarded HS5s will cost about the same, maybe a little less.

For a stand alone setup the NX-N500 look pretty appealing, but for a Sonos user?

I would take the Sonos setup for the sake of consistency.

 

[gowiththeflow]

The Adam Artist 6 is a good choice, but will still need wires to connect it to the Sonos Connect, just like the Kef X300a.

As indeed will most speakers at this level. Just a mains lead and a phono lead in this case.....

Indeed. I am trying to establish how much of the required set-up the OP wishes to be wireless. His current Sonos arrangement is totally wireless in the listening room, apart from the power chords. Is he happy to accept wires from say, a Sonos Connect to a speaker(s), or link cables between speakers (e.g. as in master and slave)?

.....Personally I much prefer the active approach at these sort of prices but others do not, c'est la vie.

I'm with you there 😉

z

 

[Bonz]

Additional wiring is not an issue as I will be placing the speakers either side of the tv which is central on the chimney breast wall with me sat directly opposite. That said I've just looked at connect amp with MA Bronze 2 which has gotten really good reviews or Dali Zensor 3's which also got great reviews. I'm now convinced that Sonos should play a part especially as my kids get older as they can have Play 3's in their bedrooms. Anyone have experience of either the MA or Dali speakers?