The new important information about the Sonos Set-Top Transmission Box has been leaked through the edge, and as a user of Sonos for a long time, it was salivating with the promised characteristics here: it sounds like the device with which it would dream when when I would dream when I would dream when I would dream what I would like to be a Sonos transmission box. In fact, he began to sound too good to be true, and then you reach prices and a reminder about the software behind him, and begins to crumble.
Let’s start with great things. Apparently, the box will connect to its TV, and will act as a wireless transmission center for the best sound speakers, which means that its lovely sound bar Sonos Arc Ultra would not have to connect to its television through a cable.
We are moving towards the era of wireless sound bars, and I have said before that if Sonos cannot find a way of making their sound bars wireless with large brand televisions, it is convicted. But the wireless connectivity of the sound bar is the least Interesting part of that.
Apparently, Sonos will allow users to do what they have dreamed for years, and have multiple wireless speakers sound in a separate enveloping configuration, sound bar is not required. The report says that Sonos is ending which speakers will be compatible, but basically the idea is that it could have a 300 of Sonos to the left and the right of its television providing left and right channels, as well as the channels suddenly Dolby Atmos, and could power. Have the same behind you for a 4.0.4 configuration, as an example.
Add a Sonos submarine and will have fleshy lubina; Hopefully I can also add something like a Sonos Ray channel as a central channel, because I am not especially in these ‘virtual’ central configurations, such as Sony Bravia Home Theater Quad offers when used with a non -Sony TV.
The ability to use sound speakers as left and right channels is something that hardcore users in the SubnetDit R/Sonos basically request daily, and Sonos have always resisted gently in response. But it seems that we are moving in that direction, and I would love that this is as flexible as possible.
It is also said that the transmission box, apparently with Pinewood code, offers multiple HDMI ports, which will pass videos to television, so it acts as an HDMI switch. Yo love This idea, like someone whose TV has only two HDMI 2.1 ports, and one of them is the HDMI EARC port, which means that a sound bar is eating my beautiful 4K 120Hz space.
It is such an intelligent way for this to stand out in the Apple TV 4K (2022) or the Google TV transmitter, and is a really useful and unique feature. You will get further HDMI ports using this product, not losing one; It is a great value proposal and solves real problems.
The final supply of sleep is one of which I am much more skeptical as a claim. Supposedly, the transmission interface will offer a truly unified search, recommendations and control interface extracted from all the best transmission services, including Netflix.
Netflix is a really thorny customer to work in this regard. It does not allow something like the Apple TV application to perform programs that you have been watching and allow you to pick them up again, because you do not want you to use another application such as your ‘base of operations’. He does not like his programs in universal search tools. What you want is that you go to Netflix for everything, where you can recommend 100% of Netflix programs and movies.
Could they be the company that finally persuades Netflix to play well and not be the only center of its transmission universe? It does not feel likely, but it is possible … for reasons that lead us to the first of the great defects above all this matter.
Prima with ads
According to Verge article, the transmission box has a “beautiful” interface design, but everything has been developed with an advertising technology company. Then, perhaps Sonos has put Netflix on board for his elegant interface because he is prepared to give the streamer better data about their habits, and Netflix will commit in exchange for earning more money by showing the best advertisements.
That is just speculation on my part, but something would have to change things for Netflix, and the entire advertising element really weighs a lot throughout the project.
If the Sonos interface is full of ads, or people feel that all their data is increasing, we have said before the entire transmission effort feels convicted, and although that was before we knew about the real wireless surround sound and the change HDMI, it was also when we thought the price would be $ 150- $ 200.
Now we go to the real problem: the rumored price of $ 200- $ 400. This is a category where Apple – Apple! – It maintains its offer below $ 150. And if the software is designed around ads, a super premium price will not be accepted.
The tastes of Google TV and Amazon Fire TV are also designed around the ads, but the devices in which they are generally are very economical, so it really feels that the ads are subsidizing it to obtain something for great value.
If the Sonos transmission box approaches the $ 400 mark, it will be only for a very niche audience, when it could be something much more popular.
To be fair, add a load of HDMI ports obviously add expenses and complexity, and apparently Sonos will include Wi-Fi 7 avant-garde for the best performance.
And I also have to keep in mind that the price of four Sonos speakers was 300 of $ 449 with a $ 400 transmission box would be $ 2,200, which is exactly the same price as the Sony Bravia Theater Quad, which would be an equivalent straight. Therefore, it is not out of line compared to a similar product.
But it means that only the richest hardcore will be interested, when otherwise, this could be so good for so many people.
We hope Sonos bring the side of the dream of the things I want, and find a way to maintain the realistic price, because if it can make things work, the best sound bars could be notice of a streamer combo and enveloping Sonos.
