Sonos Amp Multi delivers flexible audio across 15,000-square-foot home

In Westford, Massachusetts, a newlybuilt 15,000-square-foot residential property has become the latest home to adopt a Sonos solution for flexible, house-wide audio. Designed for a business executive with a family-first philosophy, the home was intended to host parties, gatherings and everyday family moments, making sound an integral part of the overall design. Spanning three floors and extending into outdoor audio zones, a comprehensive Sonos system featuring two of the brand’s new Amp Multi units was integrated into the house for high-quality, multipurpose listening across a range of living spaces.

Challenge

For a house of this scope and stature, the first step in achieving a high-quality audio distribution solution was understanding how the family wanted to use each space. Smart home specialist and Sonos Platinum Dealer, Level Up Automation, was introduced to the client through its construction partner, Seal Harbor Companies. “The client was a family man above all else, so his vision for the house was to provide a premium entertainment space for gatherings, parties, and day-to-day use,” says Jen Mallett, Founder of Level Up Automation. “He collaborated with our friends at Seal Harbor to assess the most suitable options for the new build, leading to our involvement in the project.”

A total of thirty audio zones were required throughout the house: five bedrooms, bathrooms, dressing rooms, the dining room, the main kitchen and secondary catering kitchen, a prayer room, the bar area, the pool and poker room, and two outside areas. In addition to delivering high-fidelity sound to each of these spaces, the audio system also needed to discreetly blend into the rooms, creating the impression that music flows naturally throughout the house without a discernible source.

Solution

“When designing a system, it helps when a client knows exactly what they want,” says Mallett. “In this case, the client had an excellent understanding of the Sonos brand, and after discussing the available options, he was confident in the capabilities of Sonos.” Level Up Automation then specified a complete Sonos system based on the client’s requirements for flexibility, reliability, and control throughout the house.

Two Amp Multi units were installed, one housed in the main rack in the basement and the other in a smaller rack on the second floor. “The multi-zone streaming capabilities of Amp Multi make it extremely well-suited to design-conscious installations,” Mallett states.

“What would previously have required eight Amps in a single rack can now be achieved with just two Amp Multis, allowing us to maximize available rack space, while distributing audio across eight of the thirty zones.” – Jen Mallet, Founder, Level Up Automation

Supporting the two Amp Multi units, seven individual Sonos Amps were installed to serve a further seven audio zones. “At the time, we only had two Amp Multi units available for the integration, but if we’d had more, we would have absolutely used them,” explains Mallett. The wider system included twenty-six pairs of Sonos and Sonance In-Ceiling Speakers. Engineered to sit flush for clean sightlines, the in-ceiling loudspeakers deliver high-quality audio directly to each room without disrupting the client’s personal interior design. Two Sonos Beam soundbars provide additional audio in two zones within the system.

A touchscreen interface was also installed on the ground floor, giving users the ability to navigate the system, change volume, or select playlists as needed. “This multimodal control proves most useful when entertaining in the bar or the pool and poker room,” says Mallett. “The touchscreen lets multiple people act as the DJ, accessing Spotify or other streaming platforms directly from the interface so the vibe can evolve throughout the evening.” This setup gives guests intuitive control without compromising the simplicity of the system. The system also incorporates Josh.ai voice control, making the system easier for family members and guests to use, reflecting the client’s values directly in the system design.

“Any time a new product is introduced, we expect a learning curve, but with Amp Multi, setup was seamless from start to finish,” Mallett explains. “For a house of this scale, integrating two Amp Multi units ensured great efficiency for our team, reducing the amount of rack space, equipment, and configuration time that would previously have been required with individual Sonos Amps. Before Amp Multi, a project of this size would have taken almost ten times as long.” Not only was the Sonos system efficient to install, but it has also delivered a user-friendly and personalized experience for the client. Audio and control were the top priorities for the project, ensuring the client’s family could use the system daily. “After only a half-hour walkthrough, the client had music streaming throughout the house in whichever zones he wanted.” Once settled in, the client held a housewarming party during which guests had easy access to the touchscreen, allowing them to control the music as they pleased. With Amp Multi as part of the equation, the family can move from everyday listening to entertaining large gatherings without needing to think about the technology behind the scenes.

“Sonos has an excellent brand reputation among dealers, integrators, and end users,” says Mallett.

“When we install Sonos products, we have the utmost confidence in their performance and reliability, and the same is absolutely true for Amp Multi. It was well designed straight out of the gate and perfect for a new home system.” – Jen Mallet, Founder, Level Up Automation

“It’s ideal for scaling,” she continues. “Perhaps a client isn’t ready to invest in an outdoor system immediately, but with Amp Multi they can start with two indoor zones and expand over time by connecting additional speakers. With Amp Multi, we’re truly set for success.”