Today, we’re taking a look at Sonos alternatives. The wireless Hi-Fi systems from the company are certainly well-designed and also sound great, not to mention the wide catalog of services they support like Spotify, Pandora and TuneIn amongst others. If you’re not ready for an expensive set of speakers or you’re keeping your options open by looking at possible substitutes, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got options that fall in different price categories, from premium systems to devices with basic streaming needs.
1. Samsung Shape M7:
The Shape M7 is quite an attractive looking speaker from Samsung. Designed for flexibility, it can be implemented in a single or multi-room setup. The company has crafted it with a triangular form fact which allows it to be comfortably placed in a corner. Additionally, you can also place the speaker in an upright position. Each unit comprises of 5 components, namely 2 tweeters, 2 mid-range drivers and 1 woofer.
Samsung has included volume and mute buttons on the side as well as notification lights. This system streams music over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and it works with most Android and iOS devices. You can also use NFC to pair it with devices. The accompanying application features various services such as Pandora, Rhapsody, iTunes, TuneIn and Amazon Cloud Player, and you can manually select a track to play on a specific speaker.
Price: $349.99
2. Korus V400/600:
Next up on the devices like Sonos roster are two speaker systems from Korus, the V400 and V600. The former is a compact option designed for small rooms and areas, while the latter system is designed to go places thanks to its battery bay which can deliver up to 90 hours of usage with 6 D-size cells. Both speakers are easy to set up, but they need the external Baton transmitted to work. This attachment connects to your iOS device via 30-pit and lightning ports or PC through USB to stream audio to the system.
There are various benefits of this proprietary technology (called SKAA) over Bluetooth. The company asserts that you get a wider wireless range and better audio quality, to name a few. Also, the transmitter will work will almost any music and video application and game. The Korus can be used in a four-speaker setup.
Price: $299.90 (V400), $399.99 (V600), $49.99 (Baton transmitter)
3. Pure Jongo:
The Pure Jongo multi-room system is a fine option for an indoor and outdoor setup. The company is offering multiple speakers, namely the 20W T2, the 50W T4 and the 100W T6. There’s also the S3 portable system that offers 10 hours of battery life. These speakers come in several customization options and they’re each designed for specific purposes. With the Pure mobile app for iOS and Android, you can get access to a wide catalog of radio stations and podcasts.
And if you subscribe to the company’s on-demand music service, you’ll be presented with unlimited streaming and access to many more tracks and artists. The tool also lets you control each individual speaker. Additionally, Pure is offering a Hi-Fi adapter which connects to your existing system and allows you to wirelessly stream audio from your smartphone or tablet without the need to spend for new speakers.
Price: £129.99 and above
4. Bose SoundTouch:
Just like the Korus V400 and V600, the Bose SoundTouch comes in multiple configurations for different environments. The SoundTouch 20 is designed for average-size rooms, while the SoundTouch 30 delivers powerful audio output to cover large areas. A portable option is also available with a build-in battery. Its premium design and features have earned it a spot on this Sonos alternatives compilation.
These systems connect to your smartphone or tablet over Wi-Fi and there’s AirPlay support as well. Each system comes with six presets which can be configured to launch your favorite service, playlist and others with a single touch. The SoundTouch from Bose is also designed for multi-room use where you can add more speakers whenever you desire. Audio can be streamed via the free application.
Price: Starts at $399.95, up to $699.99
5. Beep:
There aren’t many viable devices like Sonos out there and most systems available or listed here are pretty expensive. If you’re on a budget, then this option will let you wirelessly stream audio around the house on the cheap. Beep isn’t a speaker. It’s basically a receiver which connects to your existing audio system and allows you to stream music wirelessly from your iOS or Android device.
Additionally, you can connect multiple receivers to different speakers all over the house and stream to each room simultaneously. Beep comes with Pandora integration and the company asserts that many more services are on the way. The system is currently available for pre-order and if you book one now, you’ll get a discount of $50.
Price: $149 (without discount)
6. Rocki:
Like Beep, Rocki is an upcoming audio receiver that converts normal speakers into a wireless audio system. Being successfully funded on Kickstarter, this device has a stylish jewel-like form factor and it costs much lesser than the former. One of the main highlights of this gadget is that it allows multiple users to connect at the same time. It lets you and others to create a playlist from different devices and with its built-in battery, you can also carry it around on outings. The Rocki comes in multiple shades and it’s available for pre-order.
Price: $49 and above
7. Chromecast:
Google’s Chromecast is one of the most affordable dongles available that allows you to stream TV shows, music and other content on an HDTV via HDMI. Well, here’s a small tweak that will allow you to use this device as an audio receiver only, sans the need of plugging it into your TV. By connecting it to an HDMI to VGA with audio adapter which can be picked up for cheap on eBay or Amazon, you can hook it up to any existing speaker system to play your favorite tunes.
Price: $35 (excluding VGA adapter)
Conclusion:
Apart from these Sonos alternatives, you could also try out various DIY solutions for cheaper options like the Chromecast tweak listed above.