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Sonos Zoneplayer S5 Available Today

Paul Lilly — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:09:15 -0600

Sonos has released its new ZonePlayer S5 in the U.S., an all-in-one music sysetem with a built-in wireless receiver and amplified 5-driver speaker. The all-in-one can be controlled with an iPhone, iPod touch, or any Sonos Controller.

"This is the best time in history to love music," said John MacFarlane, CEO, Sonos. "The marriage of devices such the iPhone and the Sonos ZonePlayer S5 connects consumers to an entire world of music and gives them an easy way to control it all from the palm of their hand, in any and every room of their home."

Each of the five speakers comes with its own dedicated Class-D digital amplifier. The S5 also includes a 2-port Ethernet switch, auto-detecting headphone jack, analog audio inputs, support for several major music services, such as Last.fm, Napster, Pandora, Rhapsody, and SIRIUS, and the ability to download from any service offering DRM-free tracks, including iTunes and AmazonMP3.

On the social networking side, the Sonos Software v3.1 integrates Twitter into the Controller interface, allowing users to tweet the name and artist of whatever track they're rocking out to.

The ZonePlayer S5 is available now direct from Sonos for $399.

Image Credit: Sonos

All-in-One Wireless Music System for iPhone from Sonos

Bart Salisbury — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:49:40 -0500

Sonos has expanded the breadth of its multi-room music system offerings with the introduction of the ZonePlayer S5. The S5 works in combination with the Sonos ZoneBridge or ZonePlayer to provide streaming music through your house. New to the Sonos system is an iPhone/iPod Touch app that allows control of each S5, individually or in unison.

The Sonos system is based on a SonosNet wireless system, which uses mesh network technology, where each device or player serves as a repeater. Because the system is standalone initial set-up and expansion is relatively effortless. Set-up and control of the system is through a free iPhone/iPod touch app or with the Sonos Controller application (for Mac or PC), included with the S5.

The $399 S5 contains 5 speakers: two tweeters, two 3-inch mid-ranges, and one 3.5-inch woofer. Each speaker is driven by its own Class D digital amplifier.

The Sonos system allows access to your personal music collection, through your home network; more than 25,000 internet radio stations, and online music services; such as Napster, Pandora, Rhapsody and SIRIUS.

Image Credit: Sonos

Sonos Bundle 150

Michael Brown — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:10:41 -0600

You know a product is uncommonly designed when each of its successors looks and functions pretty much like the original. Such is the case with the latest revamp of the Sonos multiroom audio system. All the latest changes are inside the product or the software or are related to third-party services linked to the product. But that doesn’t mean they’re insignificant.

The Sonos mesh network is independent of any other Wi-Fi network you might be operating, so you don’t need to worry about music clogging up the pipes of your data network. The new hardware is backward-compatible with older Sonos products: We merged the new ZP120 (the self-amplified model), the new ZP90 (the passive model), and a second controller into our existing Sonos network without a hitch.

We’ve always considered the amplified ZonePlayer to be the system’s weakest link, but the new ZonePlayer 120 does much to change our mind. It produces only 55 watts per channel (five more watts per channel than the original), but when paired with a set of high-quality speakers (we used TBI Audio Systems’s Diamond IRs), it more than adequately filled a small room with sound. There’s a subwoofer output if you crave more bottom end, and since the amp supports a 4-ohm load, you can connect two pairs of 8-ohm speakers. And we’re pleased to report that the spring-loaded binding posts now accommodate banana plugs.

The system still requires at least one module to be hard-wired to your network, but now that you can plop the ZoneBridge BR100 ($100) next to your router, you won’t feel as though you’re wasting a ZonePlayer just to achieve connectivity. The bridges are also handy in larger homes where the mesh network can’t quite reach every corner.

Support for FLAC and Apple Lossless has been added, but the system still can’t handle WMA Lossless. You can stream playlists from iTunes, WinAmp, Windows Media Player, and Rhapsody, but the system still can’t play DRM-protected iTunes tracks (is anyone still buying those?).

The system already makes it supremely easy to sample the riches of Internet radio, but Sonos is now in the midst of overhauling the software to incorporate elements of the RadioTime service, which helps you find Internet radio stations that suit your musical tastes (those changes weren’t finished in time for this review). And now Sonos owners get to enjoy free subscriptions to the music-discovery services Last.fm and Pandora (we’re not talking about free trials—the services are now free to Sonos customers).

At this point, the only way the Sonos controller could get any better is with a tricked-out multitouch interface reminiscent of Apple’s iPod and iPhone. Well, if you own one of those devices, you can now download a free utility from the App Store that renders it capable of controlling the Sonos system.

We consider the Sonos the gold standard in music streaming. But we do wish the company offered more bundle choices. Buying the ZP90, ZP120, and CR100 controller in this package provides a $250 discount over buying the pieces separately, but if you already have powered speakers and would prefer to have two ZP90s and a controller, you must buy the pieces a la carte—at a $100 premium over this bundle (money that would be better spent on a bridge—or music!).

CES Report: Logitech Shows New Squeezebox… and Plenty More

Michael Brown — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 23:45:08 -0600

I've been a big fan of the Squeezebox, and I figured that their acquisition by Logitech would either destroy the product or enable them to take it to new heights. On the other hand, I've long thought when it comes to multi-room audio, Sonos has had a far superior solution. We deployed a Sonos configuration at Maximum PC Lab North for long-term testing and consider it the technology to beat. We've compared every wireless music system it and none have proven superior. In addition to delivering awesome sound, Sonos has one of the best handheld controllers I've ever seen.

Well, it looks as though Logitech's acquisition has resulted in synergy with another of their big takeovers (I'm speaking of their Harmony remote-control division), because the Squeezebox Duet's remote looks as though it could give Sonos a run for its money. Logitech will be pricing the Squeezebox Duet (the remote and one base station) at just $400: The same price tag that Sonos commands for just its remote control). The Duet's remote features a 2.4-inch color LCD that can display album art, artist names, song titles, navigational menus, and more. Another feature that renders the remote very Sonos like is its ability to control multiple receivers in different rooms of the house.

The receiver, as with past Squeezebox designs, operates on a 802.11g wireless network and is capable of streaming all the usual DRM-free file formats (including MP3, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, Apple Lossless, and WMA Lossless), as well as protected files from Rhapsody. Squeezebox products have always offered excellent Internet radio support, so I don't expect this model will disappoint in that respect, either.

I'm very much looking forward to comparing the Duet's multi-room capabilities to that of the Sonos.

LOGITECH Z CINEMA 2.1 SPEAKER SYSTEM

Logitech is also showing a new 2.1-channel speaker system, the Z Cinema Advanced Surround Sound System ($300). As you've no doubt guessed, after seeing "2.1 channel" and "surround sound" in the same sentence, Logitech is using audio trickery to accomplish surround sound with two speakers. This time, it's in the form of SRS TruSurround HD; and I have to admit, it didn't sound bad when Logitech auditioned it for me. It'll never be a substitute for five speakers, but I'm optimistic.

The satellite speakers consist of one-inch tweeters coupled with three-inch ventilated mid-range drivers; the subwoofer is an 8.00 long-throw model. The system is powered by an amplifier that delivers 35 watts (RMS) to each satellite and 110 watts (RMS) to the sub. The system comes with a wireless remote control, which should render the whole package much more useful in an entertainment center than most previous Logitech speaker systems, which have wired remotes.

Logitech sent me a set right before Holidays, but I had to send it up to our photo studio and it hasn't come back yet. Look for a full hands-on review soon.

LOGITECH DI-NOVO MINI KEYBOARD

There's no shortage of wireless keyboards, and some of them—including Logitech's DiNovo—look pretty chic. But there's just no mistaking them for what they are: a big, bulky PC keyboard. Logitech's new DiNovo Mini is entirely different.

This palm-sized Bluetooth device is not just small; it's unobtrusive. Close it up and leave it sitting on your coffee table and someone might mistake it for a lady's compact. It has a directional touchpad, too, so you don't need a mouse. And the keys are backlit, so you can use it in a darkened room. I'll be testing this product in the media room at Maximum PC Lab North soon and will deliver a full report.

How to Become An Internet Tycoon

Michael Brown — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 10:36:57 -0500

How much do you pay to access the Internet? According to J.D. Powe r and Associates, the average price for high-speed access is $42.13 per month. Although you’re paying for 24/7 availability, you’re actually using only a fraction of that time. Divide that monthly fee by the number of minutes you’re actively online—when you’re not working, commuting, eating, watching TV, playing single-player games, sleeping, exercising, or doing whatever else you do when you’re not on the Internet—and broadband Internet access looks outlandishly expensive.

Now what if you could share that pipe—and split the cost—with your neighbors? Hmm. If the pipe’s fat enough, and you can get enough people to sign up, you could turn a nice profit. If you’re thinking the cost of the necessary infrastructure would present a barrier, you probably haven’t heard of Meraki.

Meraki Networks started out as a Ph.D. research project at MIT, but it has blossomed into a small company headquartered in Mountain View, California. The company’s mission, CEO and Co-Founder Sanjit Biswas told me in a recent interview, is to “bring affordable Internet access to the next billion people.” A noble goal to be sure, but I’m more interested in making money off my excess bandwidth.

Here’s how it works: To share your Cable or DSL connection, simply plug a Meraki Mini into your Cable or DSL modem and install Meraki’s Dashboard software on your PC. The Mini acts as a gateway, allowing anyone within range to share your connection to the Internet. The size of the network is limited only by the number of Meraki Mini’s you deploy, since each one acts as a relay. In this respect, Meraki is similar to two other mesh network systems we’re fond of: Zensys’ Z-Wave and Sonos’ Digital Music System--on much larger scale. But where these two systems are limited to a single household, a Meraki network can cover an entire apartment building, an entire neighborhood, or even an entire city.

Meraki Networks' repeaters not only allow you to share your Internet connection with your neighbors, it also comes with the software infrastructure you'll need to bill them for the privilege.

So, how do you make money off this? As the owner of the network, you grant or deny access to and establish policies for the network via Meraki’s Dashboard software. Dashboard comes complete with security and encryption, network branding and splash pages, detailed usage reporting, and network management. More importantly, the software has an integrated billing module, including fee schedules, support for major credit cards, and automated collections. If anyone abuses the network—by sucking up huge amounts of bandwidth via BitTorrent, for instance—you can turn off their access until they agree to behave.

The Meraki Mini ($50, available now) is an indoor repeater capable of serving wireless adapters within a 100- to 150-feet radius. The Meraki Mini Outdoor ($100, also available now) is a weatherized version of the same device with an outdoor range of 300- to 750-feet. The company will ship an improved version of their outdoor repeater, the Meraki 3, in August. The new device has the same range as the first, but you can by extend its territory by installing third-party antennas.
Both outdoor modules are capable of running on Power over Ethernet (PoE), but Meraki will also ship in August a kit containing a solar panel and a battery pack, so that repeaters can be set up nearly anywhere without the need for electrical power.

Sonos Digital Music System

Will Smith — Tue, 15 Mar 2005 20:41:56 -0600

Premium home audio with a price tag to match

Technolust seldom penetrates the jaded, gadget-proof shells that calcify around all Maximum PC editors, but the Sonos Digital Music System shattered our composure with a massive kung-fu blow. You see, the Sonos system delivers something we’ve long craved: our entire music library at our fingertips, in every room of our house.

Even better, the Sonos pulls off this trick with minimal wiring and few sonic compromises. Two components work together to make the magic happen: a ZonePlayer module (one for each room you wish to music-ize) and at least one wireless, handheld Sonos Controller. Once you’ve set up the system, you use the controller to operate each ZonePlayer, either independently or in sync, from anywhere in the house.

The controller is really the star of the Sonos show. Its 3.5-inch color LCD screen tickles our fancy, and the custom interface is extremely easy to navigate. The iPod-style scroll wheel lets you quickly speed through massive music collections, and the backlit buttons make it easy to perform common tasks—like adjusting the volume or pausing tune—even in dark rooms (a light sensor automatically turns the backlight on and off).

The interface is intuitive and easy enough for even the most technophobic Luddite to use. Our only gripe with the controller is that its scroll wheel feels twitchier than the iPod’s. It can be frustrating to make line-by-line adjustments with the wheel, until you get a feel for it.

Setup is easy: Connect your first ZonePlayer to a router that’s hardwired to your PC, and then install the configuration utility on that PC. Using the config utility, point the ZonePlayer to the shared folder in which your music is stored. You can also use stand-alone NAS (network-attached storage), such as the Buffalo HD-H250LAN, either in addition to or instead of a PC. Connecting subsequent ZonePlayers is as easy as powering them up, stepping through the wizard on the remote, and pressing a button on the front of the box.

And this brings us to Sonos’ secret sauce. In addition to wired connections, the Sonos devices—including the remote control—communicate using a proprietary offshoot of the 802.11g wireless protocol. This closed custom protocol makes it possible to avoid many of the dropped packets and playback hitches associated with streaming media files over Wi-Fi. The upshot is that you only need to connect one ZonePlayer to your wired network or NAS box; the rest can be daisy-chained using the wireless network.

One of the advantages of having a PC connected to the Sonos system is that you can also stream Internet radio to any or all of the ZonePlayers in your home (provided your PC has a high-speed Internet connection, of course). Not only can you use one of the 70 preset stations, you can add your own MP3 streams. Sonos also promises support for Real’s Rhapsody network (which should be available by the time you read this). That promise doesn’t factor into today’s rating, but when Rhapsody support does arrive, subscribers will have access to more than 800,000 legal tracks.

Sonos designed this system for multi-room installations, which explains the integrated amplifier in each ZonePlayer. This is one facet of the system that almost cost them a Kick Ass rating. First, the amp is rated at just 50 watts per channel (RMS) into 8 ohms, with dynamic range of 20Hz to 20kHz and 0.02-percent THD. Paired with a set of Klipsch RF-35 loudspeakers, the amp is just adequate to fill a 450 square-foot living room with sound. Second, the amp is absolutely redundant if you intend to stream audio to your home stereo system (the unit provides stereo RCA variable-audio outputs). Sonos should give serious thought to offering a second and cheaper ZonePlayer model sans amp.

In addition to the variable-audio output, the ZonePlayer provides stereo line-level RCA inputs, which we put to good use streaming the output from a 400-disc CD jukebox to ZonePlayer modules all over the house (the device converts the incoming audio to your choice of WMA or WAV file formats in real time). We’re surprised, and even a little disappointed, that Sonos didn’t outfit the ZonePlayer with SPDIF input and output. The spring-loaded speaker-wire binding posts are also a little too Best Buy for our tastes; we’d much prefer proper knurled-nut binding posts that would accommodate banana plugs.

But enough about specs and design choices. How does this system sound? Color us impressed. Even though the amp is underpowered, it’s very clean—and we’ll always take a good low-powered amp over any crappy high-powered amp. Uncompressed WAV files sounded virtually indistinguishable from CD, and compressed sources sounded as good as or better than other players we’ve tested. We’re bummed, however, that Sonos doesn’t support any of the lossless-compression formats: FLAC would be ideal, but we’d accept AAC Lossless or WMA Lossless, too.

Good audio gear doesn’t come cheap, and neither does the Sonos. Each ZonePlayer costs $500 (we have to believe the amp contributes a good chunk to that price tag), and each controller costs $400. Those prices don’t include speakers or a stand-alone network storage box, which means you’ll spend at least $1,700 for a two-room setup—if you go cheap on speakers. By contrast, Slim Systems’ Squeezebox costs about $200 a room (plus speakers and storage), and delivers many of the same features (minus the amp, four-port Ethernet switch, and that luscious remote).

Month Reviewed: April 2005
Verdict: 9
URL: www.sonos.com

+ Radar: Awesome remote, great interface, streaming radio, excellent sound quality, and terrific wireless music streaming.

- Sonar: Paying for an amp you might not use sucks, especially when said amp is underpowered. Very expensive.