Multiple offerings, because neither one really shines?

My go to is Bluesound. I also have Heos available since I'm a Marantz dealer as well.

Or because a professional uses the correct tool for the job?

If you're under going surgery and your surgeon turns up with just a saw, albeit a shiny saw with all the latest built-in 'auto-sawing tech', would you have the slightest inkling that you may be dealing with someone who hasn't quite 'kept up'?

Funny he noted a choice of two tools, and indicated there may be others. If there was just one right tool, no need to mention the others, eh? Thus my comment.


Many ways to skin the cat, I’ll bet my surgeon had a few ways to fix my knee, but he chose one. Here I am, walking like a big fella again.

Assume you come into an existing home, and the client already has a Yamaha AVR or two that support MusicCast or a Marantz/Denon AVR that support HEOS, and the request is to add a few additional zones of music, and their music sources are supported on those platforms...why would you not choose one of them?

Good point.

Unfortunate if I'm not a dealer for the existing platform. Probably, I could shake some units out of a distributor, but I'd then need to spend time familiarizing myself with that ecosystem.

And, the existing units might be from an ancient era and I'd be in a legacy vs modern bind.

This is a fair question. If the system is already set up and running, and the client is happy with it, then yes let’s just add onto it.

In one home, there was already a Denon receiver in place, but no music set up around the house. In that case I used Sonos because I felt like it was the best choice.

In another situation the client had two Yamaha receivers and some other music cast devices and just had a terrible time understanding it and making it work. I told them I would try and help them make it work, but I also recommended Sonos. They absolutely love Sonos. Two years later, I was at their house over the weekend doing some other work, and they raved about it yet again.

One size certainly does not fit all. Whatever you feel is the best value and gives the best customer satisfaction is the best choice for you.

I was talking to a colleague yesterday and he hates how Sonos works, saying he just can't 'get on with it'.
He's used to what he is used to - same goes for most installers I suppose.

He can teach customers how to use MusicCast (presets / scenes / widgets - all of that makes most of what punters do an absolute piece of cake). I remember talking to a bloke who didn't like MusicCast because 'everything was grey'.
He didn't know you could change the room images, the input icons or names...
And he'd been installing it for about 2 years (he installed for a Big Box store).

The same goes for HEOS, BluSound and my colleague with Sonos etc, if people don't bother to learn it, they will simply preference their favourite way of using an app.
Look at the 'dramas' on Sonos's forums every time they muck with the GUI of their controller...

My point is - we need to have numerous tools for numerous situations. If you only have one trick in your bag you'll either lose jobs or profit.