![]() When paired in stereo, however, that stereo imaging improves and the Sonos comes out ahead of the Denon.īut the latest version of the Heos 5 shares the Bluetooth flexibility of its big brother, something the Sonos lacks. Although it's a stereo speaker, its treble tended to sound mono, with little ability to make instruments feel like they're placed in different positions around the room. When used in single-speaker mode, the Heos 5 edged out the Sonos Play:3. The trebles reached the highest registers but weren't quite as rich and full as on some speakers. Our testers liked the sound quality, though the bass was a bit boomy, meaning that the lowest notes tended to blend together. The Heos 5 HS2 is best thought of as a scaled-down version of the Heos 7, and includes many of its best qualities, from its good looks to its easy setup. That makes it significantly less expensive than the Sonos Play:5, which is rarely discounted from its $499 price. Its list price is $599, but it can easily be found for $399. In addition to its superior versatility, the Denon also has the edge in street price. That’s a useful option that the Sonos Play:5 doesn’t offer. If a friend comes over and says, “You’ve got to hear this Spotify playlist with all the songs from 'Springsteen on Broadway' ” you can connect his or her phone and be listening to “Growin’ Up” in just a few seconds. It features analog inputs, a headphone jack, a USB charging port, and a USB audio playback.Īnd while Heos was primarily designed to be connected to a dedicated WiFi-enabled multiroom network like the Sonos, it also provides the option of Bluetooth pairing. ![]() Where the latest HS2 version of the Heos 7 truly shines is in versatility. In that configuration, the speakers earned our highest rating for sound quality. ![]() The Sonos has a similar, slightly bass-heavy sound, although it does gain an edge when another Play:5 is added for a stereo pair. They also complimented its deep bass, although they noted that the lows might be a little too prominent. Our testers liked the way the Denon handles treble, reproducing the sound from cymbals and other high-pitched instruments, as well as a midrange that sounded somewhat true to life. Here's how they line up-and how to choose the best multiroom wireless speakers for your needs. The other Heos speakers that we’ve tested have also earned scores that put them close to their Sonos counterparts. "The Heos 7 HS2 shines more for its versatility than its very good sound quality when compared to the Sonos Play:5, whose sound quality edges ahead," says Elias Arias, who leads Consumer Reports’ wireless-speaker testing. In our most recent wireless speaker ratings, the top-of-the-line Denon Heos 7 HS2 was our top-scoring multiroom speaker, edging out the previously top-rated Sonos Play:5 by a single point. ![]() The latest Denon HS2 versions also include several new features that increase their versatility. Like the Sonos speakers, the Denons feature a flexible platform in which speakers in different rooms can play the same track, or different ones, controlled primarily by a dedicated smartphone app. In addition to the brand’s established cachet, the models tested by Consumer Reports have received high sound-quality scores and earned overall recommendations.īut smart shoppers would be wise to also consider Denon’s updated Heos models. Many music lovers, when shopping for a multiroom speaker system, start and stop their search with Sonos. ![]()
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