It’s been a rough year for Sonos. The company spent most of 2024 dealing with the fallout from a disastrous app redesign that left speakers unusable for thousands of customers. But after months of silence on the hardware front, Sonos just announced the Sonos Amp Multi. This is an eight-channel streaming amplifier designed specifically for professional installers.
Meet the Sonos Amp Multi
The Sonos Amp Multi isn’t your typical home audio amplifier . It packs eight amplified outputs, each delivering 125 watts at 8 ohms. Those outputs can be configured into up to four independent zones, and each channel can drive up to three Sonos Architectural speakers. This means that you can connect up to 24 speakers from a single unit. Multiple units can be installed for even larger projects.
What’s interesting is the GaN power architecture Sonos went with. According to Sonos, it uses Class-D post-filter feedback. This means the amplifier delivers clean sound without needing fans to keep things cool. That’s a big deal for installers who hate having to deal with noisy equipment racks. The 1.5U chassis design also fits modern racks nicely. Plus, it works with a dedicated 2U rack mount that offers more ventilation space. Also, thanks to its flat-back design with recessed connectors, it lets the unit stand upright during installation.
Sonos has also made setting up the amp easier too. Each Amp Multi emits a unique audible chirp when you trigger it from the Sonos app, so you don’t have to mess around with manual PIN entries when you’re trying to identify which unit is which in a rack. Then there’s ProTune, a new manual tuning tool that gives you a 10-band parametric EQ, gain control, and delay offset for each output.
Professional focus, professional price
The Sonos Amp Multi will be available globally through Sonos installation partners in the coming months. Sonos hasn’t shared pricing yet, but given that this is aimed squarely at professionals working on high-end residential projects, it’s going to cost more than the company’s typical consumer-facing audio products.
As for who this amp is targeting, well, this isn’t for someone looking to upgrade their living room setup. It’s more for spaces where the owners want audio that adapts as their space evolves. But if you’re just trying to get better sound in one room, the regular Sonos Amp (or any other brand) is more than capable of getting the job done.
