![]() ![]() I did notice that the SR1 system didn’t have as much presence as the SLS system at lower volumes. Fortunately (for my neighbors) the sound drops off quickly behind the speakers, lowering about 10 dB just 10 feet behind them. The SR1 also plays plenty loud I measured over 90 dB at my listening position almost 30 feet from the speakers with more room on the volume dial. The speakers conveyed all the quirky articulation in Fiona Apple’s voice along with the rock and bombast of Led Zeppelin. The lowest bass notes in songs like The Crystal Method’s “High Roller” didn’t hit as deep, hard, or tight as an indoor sub, but pop songs like the Black Eyed Peas’ “Don’t Lie” had solid, well-defined bass lines. The SR1 gave me a good bit of that same feeling. Vocals and instruments hang and float on this huge, open, airy space, and bass emanates from everywhere filling in and supporting the music and making it sound less like typical “outdoor audio” and just more like just great music. Much like the SLS, the SR1 created a rich wall of sound that was reminiscent of seeing outdoor concerts at the Concord Pavilion as a teenager–REM, Sting, Elvis Costello, all of them just playing away to the thousands of us on the lawn during a Northern California summer night. When’s the last time you ever wanted to go outside to listen and enjoy music? Plopping into a chair with a glass of wine or a beer and just… listening. With the SONARRAY, I found myself making excuses to go and sit outside to listen. I drove them with Sonance’s SonAmp 275SE, which was a great pairing. The SONARRAY by Sonance SR1 outdoor speaker package includes eight S4SAT speakers and one S8SUBEven though the SR1 is rated at 50-125 watts, it sounds best when connected to a good, high-current power amplifier. I lived with the system for several weeks, and can attest that they held up to all manner of South Carolina weather conditions–sun, cold, rain, wind, etc. The system includes siliconefilled wiring nuts for a weather-proof connection. The sub looks like a big, brown mushroom and the bottom-half can be buried for a more discreet look. The speakers are landscape-friendly dark brown color and have ground stakes attached for easy placement and wire concealment. I ran a length of 14/4 speaker wire around the curve of my deck, focusing the S4SAT’s sound across my pool and back toward the house. ![]() Sonance recommends placing them six to eight feet apart along the perimeter of the listening area, alternating left/right with the sub placed in the middle. The S4SATs have 60-degree dispersion with an “optimal listening area” six to 20 feet from the satellites. The speakers are 30 ohms, but when four are connected in parallel, they present a stable 7.5- ohm load to the receiver/amp. The SR1 includes eight S4SAT speakers and one S8SUB. Second, where the SLS system is scalable–add more satellites or subs for larger areas–there is no adding (or taking away) from the SONARRAY system.įortunately, the SONARRAY is a pretty awesome package as is that is perfect for entertaining in typical-sized (up to 2,000 square feet) backyards. Besides playing lower and louder, the SLS is a 70-volt system and includes a Crown amplifier with specially tweaked EQ curves, whereas the SONARRAY is 8 ohms driven by a typical receiver/amplifier. While similar, there are some major differences between the SLS and the SONARRAY system. ![]() Let’s be honest, we often have a hard enough time convincing clients to spring for multiple pairs of speakers to cover an area, let alone the $6,715 for the SLS entry-level system.įortunately, Sonance recognized the need for a lower priced solution, and that’s where the SONARRAY SR1 fits in–a just-add-amplification outdoor solution all-in-one box. From my review of the San Clemente, CA, manufacturer’s Landscape Series (SLS) system (RS, August 2012) I wrote, “ It was actually weird to hear music sounding this good outdoors that wasn’t at a concert or something.” But the SLS had one major drawback: the price. Sonance’s SLS system is an impressive alternative for sure. It’s a workable solution, but the sound is never quite right it’s too loud in some places, too quiet in others, with thin and uneven bass. But many integrators continue providing audio same as it ever was–hanging weatherproof speakers off the side of the house or maybe some green “mushrooms” or rocks dispersed amongst the landscaping. Big summer kitchens, outdoor patios, fire pits, swimming pools…these are the modern hangout spaces. The S4SATs have 60-degree dispersion with an “optimal listening area” six to 20 feet from the satellites.Modern entertaining and living frequently extends beyond the boundaries inside the home. ![]()
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