Do you love music? The way the we enjoy music has changed over the years. Whereas we used to pop in a CD to listen to our favorite tunes, these days wireless sound systems have become all the rage. These devices allow you to control many of your favorite sources such as Pandora Internet radio, Spotify, any music that is on your phone, local AM/FM, etc. with your phone or tablet. However, there are many choices so which one should you choose? We're going to detail 2 two brands that we feel are the best you can buy. Read on for the pros and cons of Definitive Technology vs. Sonos. UPDATE AS OF 07/24/2020. SEE OUR NOTES BELOW RE: APP FUNCTIONALITY.
UPDATE AS OF 1/31/2022: DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY HAS NOW BECOME A PART OF SOUND UNITED. THIS PARTNERSHIP IS ALLOWING THE DEF TECH PLAYERS TO NOW USE HEOS INSTEAD OF PLAY-FI. THIS IS A BIG WIN IN OUR OPINION. SEE OUR VIDEO IN THE LINK BELOW THAT DETAILS SONOS VS HEOS AND THE PROS AND CONS OF THE TWO FORMATS.
Sonos: Sonos is the most popular offering in today's wireless systems and they have been providing these options for longer than any other manufacturer.
Definitive Technology: Definitive Technology is a renowned speaker company that has entered this wireless arena with their own line of audio products.
Pros of Sonos: Sonos has partnered with more companies than anyone else. What this means to you is that you have more music options with Sonos than with any other company. If you want the greatest number of choices for music, Sonos is what we recommend. Sonos also has fantastic after-market support. With wireless devices like Sonos and others, the wireless environment in your home can affect how well these devices work. If you have a house full of technology and many Sonos devices to boot, there can be times where support is required to determine why your system may not work as advertised. Sonos has great technicians that can "see" what is going on in your home to optimize your listening experience.
Pros of Definitive Technology: Sound quality! In our opinion, the Definitive Technology components sound MUCH better than Sonos at the same price point. Tests in our office between the Definitive Technology WAMP and the Sonos CONNECTAMP (these are both wireless music players that have amps built-in to power your speakers) instantly illustrated that the Def Tech WAMP was louder, cleaner and provided better bass. We also were fans of Definitive Technology's portable models (W7 and W9) over the Sonos option (PLAY5). We also liked the fact that when your phone or tablet goes to sleep that you can still control your Definitive Technology device whereas with the Sonos you have to go into your device to wake it up before you can control your Sonos piece. Ex: You are using the device in your Gym. A song comes on that makes you sleepy. With Def Tech, you can instantly skip over that track. With Sonos, you can't until you open your device up.
To sum it up, go with Sonos if you want the most choices for music or if you have more than 5 of these units throughout the house. Choose Definitive Technology if you want the BEST sound quality and if you like being able to control your music without having to wake up your devices constantly.
Want to check these out? We have both brands on display and any of our team can take you through the different options to determine which is best for you. Give us a call, make an appointment to meet and find out why Aire Theater Designs is San Diego's Sonos and Definitive Technology favorite dealer.
UPDATE AS OF 07/24/2020: SOME THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE WE ORIGINALLY WROTE THIS ARTICLE. SONOS NOW HAS WHAT THEY CALL THE SONOS AMP WHICH IS A MORE POWERFUL OFFERING (125 WATTS x 2). THIS UNIT OFFERS BETTER SOUND THAN THEIR OLD UNIT (CONNECTAMP). SONOS HAS A MUCH BETTER FUNCTIONING APP AND THIS ALONE IS THE REASON THAT WE'D RECOMMEND USING SONOS OVER DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY. EX: I AM USING THE DEF TECH APP AT THIS MOMENT TO CONTROL SPOTIFY. AT LEAST HALF OF THE TIME WHEN I TURN THE VOLUME DOWN ONE TOUCH, IT GOES DOWN ALL THE WAY. FRUSTRATING. THE DEF TECH APP ALSO IS INTERMITTENT IN GIVING ME PLAY/PAUSE CONTROLS WHEN MY PHONE TIMES OUT. THIS MEANS THAT I HAVE TO OPEN MY PHONE AGAIN, ENTER THE PASSWORD, ETC. BEFORE I CAN MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE EXISTING MUSIC. DID I MENTION NO BASS/TREBLE CONTROLS OR VOLUME LIMITING IN THE DEF TECH APP? THE LATTER MEANS THAT I CAN'T GET THE DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY APP TO GET TO A MODERATE VOLUME LEVEL. IT IS EITHER TOO LOUD OR TOO SOFT. IN OUR HUMBLE OPINION, GO WITH SONOS AND BUY IT FROM US...SAN DIEGO SONOS EXPERTS. If you aren't in Southern California, please consider purchasing Sonos through the Crutchfield links below. We make a small commission via this medium and this helps support our video channel AND will let us go out to lunch. THANKS!
✅ Sonos AMP 125 watts X 2: https://www.gopjn.com/t/1-9448-301982-9448?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.crutchfield.com%2FI-rppjc15UE%2Fp_616AMP%2FSonos-Amp.html
✅ Sonos ARC soundbar in BLACK: https://www.pntra.com/t/1-9448-301982-9448?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.crutchfield.com%2FI-rppjc1A1R%2Fp_616ARCBK%2FSonos-Arc-Black.html
✅ Sonos ARC soundbar in WHITE: https://www.pjtra.com/t/1-9448-301982-9448?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.crutchfield.com%2FI-rppjc1A1Q%2Fp_616ARCWH%2FSonos-Arc-White.html
✅ Sonos BEAM soundbar in BLACK: https://www.pntrac.com/t/1-9448-301982-9448?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.crutchfield.com%2FI-rppjc1D94%2Fp_616BEAM2BK%2FSonos-Beam-Gen-2-Black.html
✅ Sonos BEAM soundbar in WHITE: https://www.pntrac.com/t/1-9448-301982-9448?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.crutchfield.com%2FI-rppjc1D93%2Fp_616BEAM2WH%2FSonos-Beam-Gen-2-White.html
✅ Sonos PORT streaming pre-amp: https://www.pntrac.com/t/1-9448-301982-9448?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.crutchfield.com%2FI-rppjc18DH%2Fp_616PORT1BK%2FSonos-Port.html
✅ Sonos MOVE portable speaker in BLACK: https://www.pntrs.com/t/1-9448-301982-9448?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.crutchfield.com%2FI-rppjc18DI%2Fp_616MOVEBK%2FSonos-Move-Black.html
✅ Sonos MOVE portable speaker in WHITE: https://www.pntrs.com/t/1-9448-301982-9448?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.crutchfield.com%2FI-rppjc1A8S%2Fp_616MOVEWH%2FSonos-Move-Lunar-White.html
✅ Sonos ROAM portable speaker in BLACK: https://www.pntrac.com/t/1-9448-301982-9448?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.crutchfield.com%2FI-rppjc1BWN%2Fp_616ROAMBK%2FSonos-Roam-Black.html
✅ Sonos FIVE best streaming speaker in BLACK: https://www.gopjn.com/t/1-9448-301982-9448?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.crutchfield.com%2FI-rppjc1A1S%2Fp_616SONOS5B%2FSonos-Five-Black.html
✅ Sonos FIVE best streaming speaker in WHITE: https://www.gopjn.com/t/1-9448-301982-9448?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.crutchfield.com%2FI-rppjc1A1V%2Fp_616SONOS5W%2FSonos-Five-White.html
San Diego Home Theater Installers Aire Theater Designs proudly serves all of San Diego County which includes Del Cerro, Allied Gardens, Talmadge, Kensington, Hillcrest, Mission Valley, Fashion Valley, El Cajon, Blossom Valley, La Mesa, Lake Murray, Friars, North Park, Balboa Park, Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, Mission Bay, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Point Loma and Downtown San Diego. We also gladly serve those in North San Diego County which includes Carlsbad, San Marcos, Vista CA, Elfin Forest, Oceanside, Torrey Pines, Alta Del Mar, Carmel Valley, Carmel Mountain, Coronado, Fairbanks Ranch, Escondido, Encinitas, Cardiff by the Sea, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, 4S Ranch, Santaluz, La Jolla, Poway, and Rancho Bernardo. Need help in Murrieta, Wildomar, Temecula, Fallbrook or Bonsall...we're there too. Home by Lennar, Shea, Pardee or other builders? We can help!