It is hard to determine from the SONOS website if the connecting amp will take optical inputs or inputs from a turn table. Also, does it have analog outputs for recording purposes and driving a Harmon Kardon power amp? We already put everything from our computers onto our wide screen TV. The thing is I have some Bose 501 speakers that would love to get their signal straight from the TV’s optical output.
Hi there, I actually work for SONOS (engineering team, down in Santa Barbara). The Connect:AMP has analog inputs, but not optical input and no outputs. So if you’re looking at the unit with the built-in amplifier, it will take an analog in and power your speakers - but you won’t get analog outputs from it.
The Connect has analog inputs and analog and optical outputs - but no optical input. So you can record from the analog outputs without a problem. It can stream its analog input to the Connect:AMP or any other SONOS product (just like the Connect:AMP).
So, in your case, since you already have an HK amp and speakers, you might want to consider the Connect - use the analog inputs from a source, or put the Connect inputs and outputs in a tape loop of your HK amp so that you can play OR record through your SONOS product.
Our customer service team is great, they’re available pretty much 24/7 as well if you have any system questions - I do technical things (acoustics), and like you I have my own audio amp and speaker system I prefer to use for my main listening system, so the Connect works great for me. I do have a Play 3 in the kitchen, and a Play 5 I use on the deck however!