No two homeowners are the same. And, as such, no two home designs will ever be a true carbon copy of one another. Add on top of that preferences around in-home entertainment and audio profiles—your odds of guessing right the first time are about as good as winning the Power Ball.
Integrators understand that complexity, and it’s why, when designing the new Amp Multi, Sonos turned to that community for their input. With this launch, Sonos said it hopes to make multi-channel streaming audio simple, even when applied to the most complex installations. The product is said to be both flexible and scalable, allowing it to adapt evolving homeowners needs—especially with increased demand for mix-use spaces and open floor plans.
Despite some commentary in the homebuilding space that the open concept is becoming tired, a recent Homes.com and YouGov survey found that 61 percent of new construction owners and 59 percent of new construction intenders identified an open concept floor plan as the most important feature for their new abode.
That, combined with growing demand in the CI channel for flexible entertainment solutions, calls for products (like the Amp Multi) that can adapt to whatever the consumer needs.
“Sonos Amp is the most widely used two-channel streaming amplifier in residential installation because it’s powerful, dependable, and intuitive,” Tom Conrad, CEO of Sonos, said in a statement. “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 rack-ready Amp Multi can drive up to 24 Sonos Architectural speakers (three per channel). Flexibility was a major consideration, with the product able to support up to four independent zones, though that can be scaled up in larger projects by adding multiple Amp Multi units to a system without sacrificing performance.
Sonos took into consideration a clean in-rack look for the Amp Multi as well. The flat-back design and recessed connectors allow integrators to hold the unit upright while the rack mount slides into place. And the built-in ventilation space above and below the unit makes adding additional ventilation unnecessary and makes cable management a cinch.
“We created Amp Multi with integrators at the heart of every decision, drawing on their deep understanding of real-world installation challenges to design a product around how they actually work,” said Chris Heintzelman, VP, Product at Sonos. “The goal was to reduce friction at every stage of a project, from installation and setup to system tuning. This is about giving professionals more control while keeping the system approachable for the people who live with it every day.”
The Amp Multi will only be available through Sonos installation partners in the coming months. Materials supporting the launch show Sonos listing the manufacturer’s suggested retail price at around $3,200 for the Amp Multi, a big step up from the $799 Amp. The company will have the product on hand at ISE Europe, February 3-6.
