I’ve spent the weekend setting up and using a Sonos music system in my house. Sonos sells hardware that connects to your home network to play digital music and internet radio stations (and also Rhapsody) around your house. Each piece of hardware is a separate zone, so different music can be played in different areas of your house, all controlled by a single wireless hand held device.
It’s a lot of hardware – two ZP80s, a ZP100 (plus speakers) and a controller, but my house is now completely unwired for music, and I’m about as happy as a person can be.
This stuff is expensive, but amazingly simple to set up and use. You plug any one of the main units into a router, install software on your PC or Mac, and then plug other units in around the house where you want to play music. Point it to your music collection on your network, or use Rhapsody or the pre-selected internet radio stations. The ZP80 units are smaller and need to be plugged into some sort of amplified device – stereo system, computer, etc. The ZP100 units have an amplifier built in and can be plugged directly into speakers.
These are all interchangeable, you can use a ZP100 in one room, a ZP80 in another (which is what I have done). They are also modular, so you can add new components over time.
The controller works a lot like an iPod and has two features I’m using heavily. The first is the ability to queue up songs on the fly (add songs to the queue while you are listening to another). The second are the genre-specific radio stations built into the software – I’ve been listening to Los Angeles based KROQ all weekend.
If you are a music junkie, this is for you. Total setup time: 25 minutes.
We’ll be testing out more gadgets at TechCrunch in the near future.
Mike-
Great to see you got a Sonos, from what I have seen their products rock.
Quick question Mike: Did you think about getting a home system that controls everything from your computer, not just your music?
I hear they are becoming quite popular. At least that’s what my subscription to Architectural Digest tells me…
I’ve heard good things about the quality of the products but their biggest downside is that it’s an expensive setup to get.
Michael, Volker wrote a series of eleven articles about his personal Sonos tests and experiences:
http://vowe.net...ves/007125.html
Quite interesting …
Cool you were listening to Jack Johnson
Ben, no I’m currently listening to the Walk the Line soundtrack, before that Black Eyed Peas, and before that about 6 hours of KROQ. Those are shots of the product I took from the site.
Michael – If this is loan kit and they make you send it back you might want to try PlayerPal http://www.playerpal.com . It has the ability to queue up songs on the fly and is only $20!
OK, it’s not a Sonos killer but it does give you web based remote control of your iTunes or Windows Media Player from any device, without the need for custom hardware. It even includes a skin optimised for the Sony PSP.
You can also get the streaming if you get a couple of AirPort Express’ and use the AirTunes feature of iTunes.
As I offered Scoble a special 2 buck discount, I ‘ll do the same for you too
http://scobleiz.../#comment-24038
Looking forward to reviews. Good Sonos review here: http://reviews....39193360,00.htm
It’s the highest-scoring review on their site, scoring a “Spectacular” rating.
(CNET UK site better than the US one in terms of design/execution).
Walk the Line soundtrack and Black Eyed Peas are good sounds too
I don’t know KROQ at all, I’ll have to look up on this one when I’m home.
Anyway, Sonos looks like a really great product but is maybe a bit too expensive for me
Yeah, I’ve been listening to it all night. It is so damn cool.
Ben – KROQ is the station I grew up listening to, very formative in my early years. Alternative rock, etc.
#7 – Ben, Playerpal looks pretty cool. Different product, as you say, but I’ll check it out.
This Sonos is never leaving my house though.
I’ve just ordered mine (http://www.easy...l-music-system/ UK) , can’t wait to get it.
Also good to hear that its easy to set up.
Thanks, I’m glad you like the look of it. I’d love to hear your feedback if you do get round to trying it out. New releases are made every 1-2 months so it evolves pretty quickly.
RE: playerpal.
Wow, why I haven’t heard of this I don’t know. MCE running itunes, two airport expresses, a cingular 8125. Off to download…
Rob – The PlayerPal PR leaves a little to be desired. If anyone wants to blog it/write it up/tell their mum etc please do so!
Mike I read TechCrunch for your review of innovative companies because that what you do really, really well.
I read other sites for gadgets and tech toys.
Its your world but I would tell you “Don’t dilute your focus”, it will just mean I for one will come back less often because someone else owns the gadget place just like you own the innovation place.
I would like to see you do video interviews like Bambi or better yet get Bambi. Disney must have programmed me, I luv Bambi. Seriously, video.
100% agree with DL. I come to techcrunch to read about web 2.0 companies. Don’t go astray from your main focus. I know you probably got this gadget for free hence the need to review it.
Anyways, take our advice and don’t do something foolish.
Thanks
BK/DL…I think seeing a hardware review here is valid. They just did a review of online music solutions and Sonos is just an extention of those…supporting Rhapsody and online radio…but no iTunes.
I think covering gear that links to Web 2.0 is valid.
Mike is someone who has a valid and trusted opinion…I like hearing a few new things every once and a while.
BTW…when I refer to iTunes…I mean the DRM from tracks on the iTMS. I’ve got a Sonos…I just re-rip them.
Mike
You might want to check out SlimDevices – http://www.slimdevices.com (they are in Mt View). I have Squeezebox and the thing rocks. The server has been open-sourced so there are tons of plug-ins, add-ons, etc
Dave
Alan Graham:
I see your point and I am going to change my pov a little bit. I agree with you to some extent that gadget reviews that are extensions to web 2.0 companies are good in a sense.
I retract my previous comment
As an avid TechCrunch fan and Sonos customer (I have 5 zones in my house), I loved seeing the “mashup” of Web 2.0 and cool gadget post.
From a users perspective, one thing that Mike didn’t mention was that you can have different music sources playing in different zones at the same time. That’s a great feature indeed.
I think the next post about Sonos from Mike should be about how Sonos is tapping into the Pandora/LastFM stuff or how they’re angling for an acquisition from Apple (total speculation).
Keep up the great work, Mike.
I’ve been a Sonos user for about a year. Currently, I have 3 ZP100’s and a controller. Sonos just released the ZP80, and it’s exactly what customers like me have been asking for: an amp-less version and digital outputs. I can’t wait to get my own ZP80.
It’s true this system is expensive. But I have tried all the rest (including the devices mentioned above), and if you believe your time is valuable (mine is), then the Sonos system quickly falls in the realm of affordable. I can’t even count the hours I’ve wasted getting other approaches to work (although Roku came very close).
The Rhapsody integration was so easy and useful, I quickly signed up.
By the way, one other can’t-miss app (not Web 2.0 or anything) is Media Monkey. Once you have a Sonos system, you’ll want the album art. And I haven’t found an easier application to get AA than Media Monkey for all my ripped CDs.
Just my $.02 from a very happy user.
BK…thanks man…very cool of you!
I like what goes on here…and I like seeing gadgets that tie into Web 2.0…it helps to see the bigger picture of what is happening in the space and I say go for it…as long as it isn’t all gear all the time.
Alan
One thing I’d mention about Benson’s post is that I ended up going to Sonos because of the simplicity of the design and the excellence of functionality.
People always talk about the expense…but 30 minutes setting one up and 10 minutes using it…and you are sold. The one thing you see from every person who owns one here and other places…is how much we love them…show me another product with that kind of satisfaction…and you know why it is worth every penny. Zero messin around.
I have four zones. Two at home (ZP100) and 2 at the office (ZP80). We’ve got 12 people here linked to the Sonos with their music libraries. Instead of the hand controller…we all add tunes with the desktop software…and everyone has anonymous veto power over bad music (next track).
Alan
just curious, is the Sonos a loaner, did you get it free? Disclosure please…thanks.
Is this the beginning of GadgetCrunch?
Hey Mike,
How expensive is “expensive”? Now that you’re reviewing things that aren’t free, you’re going to have to put the basics into the review!
I listened to and loved KROQ back in the early 70’s.
I’ve always been wondering about these, but the cost is a little prohibitive, anyways I was at Best Buy the other day and there was a sonos system setup in their high end tv section, I played around with it for a bit, but it seemed slow and a little laggy while scrolling through music, or for instance when selecting a song to play (could take a second or two), maybe I am just expecting too much from such a system, but have you guys noticed this or is it just me?
Everyone I’ve ever turned onto the SLiMP3 (now Squeezebox) has loved theres. I’ve never used a SONOS unit, but it’s difficult to imagine anything being easier to set up than a Squeezebox.
I agree, Sonos is pretty good music system with easy and intutive setup and UI. But, it is for rich people. Common people don’t want to pay $1,000+ for the music system. I reviewed their first version but besides easy to setup and sharing files from the windows system nothing great about it.
They could have provided inbuilt HDD for easy caching etc.
My review: http://mediapro...w.blogspot.com/
i’ve been meaning to get something like this for my home multimedia setup and network.
I install multi-zone systems in homes. This system is very cheap for the type of system they provide. Hope sonance is not reading, cause I cant afford. But we install similar, more complicated, systems for around 15,000.
I’ll get one soon
MEANT SONOS not Sonance. lol
I really like my Sonos system. I hope they are working on Pandora support as that would be the final touch to make the system perfect for me. I love Pandora.
really like my Sonos system. I hope they are working on Pandora support as that would be the final touch to make the system perfect for me. I love Pandora.