
Sonos, the popular American audio manufacturer, has unveiled its first hardware product of this year, with the launch of Amp Multi. This amplifier is being billed as a niche option for the owners of very large or complicated spaces, especially for residential installations. It is the company’s first wireless streamer and streaming amplifier since 2019, and promises to be its most advanced multi-streaming device to date.
Although the Amp Multi isn’t going to be a mainstream consumer product, it marks a return for Sonos in the consumer market space after a couple of turbulent years for the company. The Amp Multi has eight 125W outputs and four configurable zones, and each channel can support up to three Sonos Architectural speakers. In total, the Amp Multi can push audio to 8 different outputs, with the option to choose between stereo and mono for each, allowing for installations of up to 24 speakers per unit.
“Sonos Amp is the most widely used two-channel streaming amplifier in residential installation because it’s powerful, dependable, and intuitive,” said Tom Conrad, CEO of Sonos. “Amp Multi takes that same philosophy and applies it to larger systems. It makes ambitious designs more efficient to build and install, and easier to live with.” The amplifier also offers the option to stream audio via Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Direct Control.
The Sonos Amp Multi has a textured, thermally optimised chassis, which promises to enhance performance and durability. It also has a rack-friendly design and allows users to install multiple units to allow a sophisticated multi-room sound system. Sonos hasn’t revealed exact pricing or availability details for the Amp Multi, with the amplifier set to be available globally through Sonos installation partners in the coming months. However, given the high-end market the company is targeting, the Amp Multi could cost a fair bit more than its predecessor, the Sonos Amp.
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