If you’ve been looking to expand your Sonos speaker collection or are just getting ready to ease into the addiction of top flight, whole-home audio, Sonos has got a deal for you. The smallest of the Sonos speakers, the Play:1, normally runs $199 a pop. However, as part of a limited time offer, Sonos is offering a “2-Room Starter Set” of two black or two white Play:1 wireless speakers for $349, shipped free. The Play:1 may be the least powerful entry in the Sonos lineup, but it’s the most aesthetically pleasing and subtly fits into more locales – including “high humidity” environments, like your steamy bathroom. In fact, once I finish unloading my sonically-challenged Amazon Echo novelty speakers, I intend to add a few Play:1s for streaming more online music to more locations around the home.
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Well, if you need another, my second will be up for grabs in a few days. The audio doesn't compare at all to Sonos, in my opinion and in my home - and is especially sensitive to placement. For example, I tried to stick one in the corner of our kitchen and the sound was severly distorted (and one of the reasons it was first to go). I do like some aspects of the voice control, but not others (like when it thinks we're talking to it, but aren't). My remaining Echo in upstairs in the bedroom and I have the remote down in the family room where I've been voice controlling my Hue lighting (to a certain degree) - that's cool. Lauching a service/channel/playlist is also occasionally handy- hoping something similar comes to a Sonos app (and a Sonos iOS widget would be nice, in general, as well). It wouldn't have the same ambient/environmental convenience, obviously, but I'd take it.
I have never heard/used Sonos but; For $99 the Echo is a good deal for what it does. I am not so sure if it is worth $199 for non Prime members. Because part of its usefulness is access to Prime music. I am sure Sonos is a better lasting user experience but the Echo novelty has not worn on me just yet. As long as we get updates from the cloud it may eventually turn out to be more useful in home automation. The Echo smart home killer will ultimately be Window's home assist when it comes or Homekit depending on what hardware they end up using.
Yeah, for $99 it was a good deal. Certainly equivalent in audio performance to a lot of Bluetooth speakers in that range, but with a whole lot more going on. At $200, it will be a harder sell for some. The new IFFT linkages add a whole lot of power and potential - maybe that changes the math, although IF is still somewhat niche. For me, I'm not really using it all that much so would rather clear the clutter and invest in things more meaningful. Tho Amazon is iterating so fast, maybe my remaining Echo worth hanging on to... hm. :)