Bongo Heracles
Junior Member
Technically illegal to ride on public land
Posts: 4,661
|
Post by Bongo Heracles on Dec 12, 2021 15:28:37 GMT
I have a one on the kitchen and it's enough for the space. The IKEA frame thing seems to be the kitchen speaker du jour and I am quite tempted by one, tbh.
|
|
|
|
Post by Zomoniac on Dec 12, 2021 15:34:48 GMT
Is the Five that much better than a One to justify the huge jump in cost?
I finally sorted out running an extension through some kitchen cupboards the other day to wire up an old Play:1 for the dining area, mounted up by the ceiling next to a cabinet. Our open plan room now has Arc+Sub+2 Symfonisk picture frames for the TV, a Play:1 by the dining table and a One in the kitchen. It’s so good being able to send music through all of them and just being surrounded in every direction when walking around the room.
|
|
ozthegweat
New Member
Releasing indirect freedom
Posts: 873
|
Post by ozthegweat on Dec 12, 2021 16:10:32 GMT
Well the main goal is not really "ambient music from everywhere" but more active listening to music. Here's the floor plan and three locations where I'm considering putting the speaker. Location C is pretty good, but I fear the wood beams might block the side-firing tweeters (see photo).   |
|
|
|
Post by Zomoniac on Dec 12, 2021 17:17:36 GMT
This is what I did. It’s mounted on the wall up against the cabinet on a swivel bracket. Cable goes up and across the top, through a hole I put in the top of the left hand cabinet. All the way down and through to the right of floor level cabinets that has sockets in it.  |
|
Bongo Heracles
Junior Member
Technically illegal to ride on public land
Posts: 4,661
|
Post by Bongo Heracles on Dec 12, 2021 17:50:27 GMT
Is the Five that much better than a One to justify the huge jump in cost? One one, yes. Two ones, I would take over one five. The five gives a better thump but stereo separation is more important. Two fives, now you’re talking. |
|
ozthegweat
New Member
Releasing indirect freedom
Posts: 873
|
Post by ozthegweat on Dec 18, 2021 15:51:46 GMT
I opted for 1 Five, at least for now. That thing sounds amazing.
|
|
|
|
Post by fourwisemen on Jan 16, 2022 17:49:43 GMT
Has anyone used a Beam, 1st or 2nd Gen as a desktop speaker with a PC or Mac?
I’m currently used a set of Creative T15 speakers which do a reasonable job but looking at getting a new Monitor, which has eARC, so could hook up a sound bar.
I’ve looked at cheaper bars, £200 or so, but considerI got I’ve got a bunch of Sonos gear round the house it seems a bit daft not to add to it.
Would beam be major overkill or do a nice day to day job with the option to crank up when justified.
|
|
Bongo Heracles
Junior Member
Technically illegal to ride on public land
Posts: 4,661
|
Post by Bongo Heracles on Jan 16, 2022 19:47:22 GMT
I would 100% recommend spending the money on a decent pair of active speakers rather than a Beam.
|
|
|
|
Post by fourwisemen on Jan 16, 2022 20:29:19 GMT
I would 100% recommend spending the money on a decent pair of active speakers rather than a Beam. Any recommendations? |
|
ozthegweat
New Member
Releasing indirect freedom
Posts: 873
|
Post by ozthegweat on Jan 16, 2022 20:39:08 GMT
Well, you're in the Sonos thread, so either a pair of Ones or Fives, depending on your budget and if you even need the bigger ones (e.g. are you primarily only listening to podcasts anyway).
|
|
Bongo Heracles
Junior Member
Technically illegal to ride on public land
Posts: 4,661
|
Post by Bongo Heracles on Jan 16, 2022 20:59:16 GMT
I would 100% recommend spending the money on a decent pair of active speakers rather than a Beam. Any recommendations? A mate has some klipsch r41 on his PC and they are very nice. When I was looking last year Kanto are supposed to be pretty good in that price bracket. I’ve got a pair of edifier r1850 I got cheap on Amazon a few years ago on my work PC and they are pretty good for something I sit two feet away from. I’ve also got a Beam in the front room and I think they do a better job than that would for what I use the PC for. Good for TV, not as good for the wide array of stuff I use the PC for. Ymmv and all that but I’ve never needed that kind of network functionality on a PC speaker and the beam is a bit laggy. |
|
|
|
Post by fourwisemen on Jan 16, 2022 21:05:01 GMT
Well, you're in the Sonos thread, so either a pair of Ones or Fives, depending on your budget and if you even need the bigger ones (e.g. are you primarily only listening to podcasts anyway). I have considered a couple of 1s and using Airplay, but I do a bunch of online meetings so a wired connection preferable to eliminate any lag. Moving my 5 to the office would of course give a wired connection, but it’d be massive overkill sound wise and it’s too chunky. It’s also a small home office, i.e. the box room, hence the consideration of a beam. |
|
|
|
Post by fourwisemen on Jan 16, 2022 21:10:53 GMT
A mate has some klipsch r41 on his PC and they are very nice. When I was looking last year Kanto are supposed to be pretty good in that price bracket. I’ve got a pair of edifier r1850 I got cheap on Amazon a few years ago on my work PC and they are pretty good for something I sit two feet away from. I’ve also got a Beam in the front room and I think they do a better job than that would for what I use the PC for. Good for TV, not as good for the wide array of stuff I use the PC for. Ymmv and all that but I’ve never needed that kind of network functionality on a PC speaker and the beam is a bit laggy. Thanks for the alternatives. Food for thought. |
|
ozthegweat
New Member
Releasing indirect freedom
Posts: 873
|
Post by ozthegweat on Jan 16, 2022 21:57:04 GMT
If it has to be wired: I have had a pair of Audioengine A5 for ages now, they sound great. I think there are also smaller models. KEF also makes great products, but I don't know if they make smaller, more "casual" speakers.
|
|
Bongo Heracles
Junior Member
Technically illegal to ride on public land
Posts: 4,661
|
Post by Bongo Heracles on Jan 16, 2022 22:15:12 GMT
The KEF LSX are smallish but pricey. When I was updating stuff for a turntable, it was a straight shootout between the LSX and a pair of 5s and I went for the 5s for kind of the opposite reason above. The versatility of them being baked into the ecosystem swung it and I didn’t need them to do anything other than play music.
The LSX do sound great if you can push the budget that high, though, and would do what you want. 5s sound fantastic but you can’t use them with a PC.
|
|
|
|
Post by Triarii on Mar 24, 2022 12:26:10 GMT
Anyone got a Roam or heard one in action? Was thinking of getting one for the garden...
|
|
|
|
Post by Dougs on Mar 24, 2022 16:16:57 GMT
No, always on my list but never reaches the top, sadly.
|
|
Bongo Heracles
Junior Member
Technically illegal to ride on public land
Posts: 4,661
|
Post by Bongo Heracles on Mar 24, 2022 16:28:17 GMT
I’ve heard one in a shop so not the best demo but I would just get a JBL flip unless you really are married to it being a Sonos. It’s a super crowded segment with some good speakers for like half the price of the roam.
|
|
deez
New Member
Posts: 719
|
Post by deez on Mar 24, 2022 16:57:08 GMT
I just got a Roam this week with this deal, down to £127 which I thought was decent given sonos is rarely discounted. No Alexa on the a SL is a benefit in my eyes www.hotukdeals.com/deals/sonos-roam-sl-portable-bluetooth-speaker-lunar-white-3908118I have mine in the lounge to complement the IKEA sonos in the kitchen and take to the patio whenever. Having the same music in and out is a big benefit over just another random speaker I think. It sounds decent IMO but I'm no audiophile. I had a wireless charger puck knocking around and that works perfectly with it. You'll definitely want a dock I would think but the official one is silly money IMO. |
|
|
|
Post by Triarii on Mar 24, 2022 17:10:26 GMT
Thanks for the responses! Yeah, I have heard there are better speakers for the money but I do have quite a bit of Sonos gear already so thought it made sense... deez Why is a dock such a necessity? |
|
deez
New Member
Posts: 719
|
Post by deez on Mar 24, 2022 17:18:03 GMT
|
|
deez
New Member
Posts: 719
|
Post by deez on Mar 24, 2022 17:18:38 GMT
Sorry for the hideous link
|
|
|
|
Post by Triarii on Mar 25, 2022 9:44:24 GMT
As it's always on as per other sonos stuff, it'll lose charge if it's not powered, which would be annoying if you grabbed it and it was low. Clearly, you can just plug in a power cable when it's in its home location, but I find just plonking down on a pad is much more satisfying. I use a cheapo one like this. You just need to make sure it outputs at least 10w Ah right, I hadn't thought of that. Thanks for the info! |
|
askew
Full Member
Posts: 6,831
|
Post by askew on Mar 28, 2022 8:38:35 GMT
Anybody else noticed a deterioration with Spotify playback? Quite often get a generic "Playback error" message and the first track of an album or playlist will be skipped, but subsequent tracks will be alright.
Have removed the service and re-added, but wondering whether the whole system needs a proper reset for the first time in 8 years.
|
|
|
|
Post by Triarii on Mar 28, 2022 9:08:05 GMT
Anybody else noticed a deterioration with Spotify playback? Quite often get a generic "Playback error" message and the first track of an album or playlist will be skipped, but subsequent tracks will be alright. Have removed the service and re-added, but wondering whether the whole system needs a proper reset for the first time in 8 years. I bought the Roam on Saturday and got a something something, song is not encoded correctly error on the second track I tried to play. Seemed to sort itself out when I restarted the playlist. I've never seen that error before though so might be something to do with the Roam... |
|
|
|
Post by Dougs on Mar 28, 2022 9:19:20 GMT
I've had similar from time to time with Deezer. Seemed to sort itself out eventually.
|
|
ozthegweat
New Member
Releasing indirect freedom
Posts: 873
|
Post by ozthegweat on Apr 14, 2022 18:28:34 GMT
|
|
Bongo Heracles
Junior Member
Technically illegal to ride on public land
Posts: 4,661
|
Post by Bongo Heracles on Apr 14, 2022 18:38:59 GMT
‘Introducing the mini-sub!’
YAAAAAAAY
‘It’s £500’
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
|
|
|
|
Post by monkman5000 on Apr 14, 2022 18:48:37 GMT
Fuck's sake. Mind you the daddy sub is over 700 now isn't it.
|
|
|
|
Post by monkman5000 on Apr 14, 2022 18:50:30 GMT
Oh that was conjecture. Still, you're probably about right.
|
|
