I couldn't test all of the possible configurations, but one thing I discovered immediately was that, for two-channel audio, the Sonos Amp is definitely a ballsy powerhouse. While the new Sonos Amp doesn't include wire strippers or a microwave oven (it does come with those cool thumbscrew banana plugs, though), it most certainly is the Swiss Army knife-equivalent in the Sonos product line. Where do you begin? More importantly, when do you end? This is the big one with everything from a pliers to a wire stripper to a chainsaw. Your editor gives you a Swiss Army knife and says, “Review this!” It's not one of those little knives with a corkscrew and a nail file. Imagine you review knives and swords and, maybe, saws once in a while. Here comes the fun part for someone like me who has one of the cushiest, flippin' awesomest jobs (reviewing A/V gear) that any nerdist or Dudeist (yeah, look it up) could ask for. 1 channel, or another company's wired sub can be connected to the Amp's subwoofer output. If you use a pair of Alexa-enabled Sonos Ones for the rear channel, you can use the Alexa Sonos skill to operate some basic controls (pause/play, for instance), although an Echo Dot in the room will provide the same functionality. A variety of options exist for wireless rear speaker setups-including adding a second Sonos Amp to power a pair of passive rear speakers. In the former setup, the Amp powers the front left and right speakers while creating a phantom center channel. The Sonos Amp can also be used for the front amplification in a 4.1-channel or the rear amp in a 5.1-channel (mostly) wireless home theater system. AirPlay 2 is supported, and the Amp can stream AirPlay 2 audio-or audio from a TV or a source like a turntable connected to its analog RCA inputs-to any Sonos speaker(s) in the system. For example, there's an optional optical digital-to-HDMI (female) dongle that allows you to connect a digital audio source device, such as an older TV that lacks an HDMI ARC-enabled port. Sonos threw in a number of other features worth noting. The Amp's volume level can be controlled by the TV's remote, and the system volume level is displayed on the TV's screen whenever a change in level is made, either via the TV remote or through the Sonos app. For instance, when the Sonos Amp is connected to a TV's HDMI-ARC port, the Amp will automatically begin playing audio from the TV when the set is turned on-even if it had previously been playing music as part of a group of Sonos devices. Instead, the jack is there to take advantage of HDMI's Audio Return Channel (ARC) and Consumer Electronics Control (HDMI-CEC) features. With just a single HDMI connection, the Amp obviously doesn't do video switching. These are things of engineering beauty, with the red and white designations printed on the side of the plug visible when you're leaning over the Amp looking for where to insert cable ends. The loudspeaker connections accept standard banana plugs, but Sonos includes two custom-designed, threaded, dual banana plug-style assemblies. Although it keeps the main connection ports from the Connect:Amp (analog audio in, subwoofer out, two Ethernet ports, stereo speaker connections), they're all recessed, making the panel totally flat. The new Sonos Amp's back panel is simple and unadorned.
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