Comments on: New Sonos Gear is Smaller, Cooler

By: Tim Haney

Tim Haney — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:28:05 +0000

Regarding the argument that Adam makes about saving $1,000 by using a couple of Airport Expresses, each connected to the stereo in that room.

Aside from some of the convenience/functionality differences, your premise conveniently ignores the cost of the two stereo systems you bought to drive your system. To get a true apples-to-apples comparison, you need to add those costs back in. After all, your Airport Expresses without a driver are worthless.

I understand that many people already own one or more expensive stereo systems, so it must be hard to contemplate paying for Sonos. For them, I might agree with the cost argument.

Back B.K. (Before Kids) I, too, once had a nice stereo system. In fact, it was my first purchase once I got a job and started making money. I loved that system!

But in the ensuing years, with a wife and family to support, my spending priorities mysteriously shifted and my once mighty system gradually became almost obsolete (anyone looking for a 30 year old cassette deck and turntable?). Now that I am again able to contemplate putting more of our money towards music again, the cost of buying Sonos instead of a couple stereo systems plus some Airport Expresses suddenly seems much more reasonable.

By: Iain Shaw

Iain Shaw — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:16:42 +0000

“basically” you can. If you’re doing it for yourself and you don’t mind messing around and occasionally rebooting devices and waiting for stuff to wake up and everything else of course you can. Sonos is worth the money because it just works in the way that Soundbridge, Slimdevices don’t.

Sonos is a rare thing. It’s a bit of DIY consumer electronics that works well enough to be considered a piece of Custom Install grade equipment. It’s that good and that reliable. Remote is fine, it’s a bit of fun consumer electronics but it’s limited. The UI however is another thing. A work of art, it’s better than iPod really. Couple that with the level of reliability and availability that is needed in multiroom and you’d have a real killer solution.

By: Multi-room Apple audio system shows why Sonos must release its iPhone remote app | MostReviews.com

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:02:35 +0000

[...] Lifehacker’s Adam Pash walks you through setting up your iTunes for streaming to multiple rooms using the Airport Express, all controlled from an iPhone or iPod touch’s Remote.app. This is the very thing I was talking about when I said that Remote.app “pretty much negates the need for something like the Sonos music system for most households” — about which Sonos was none too happy until I explained to them that I used and liked a Sonos system in my home. Which is when they invited me to check out their latest Sonos receivers. [...]

By: Adam Healey

Adam Healey — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:02:29 +0000

I totally agree – I have two Airport Expresses, one in my living room and one in my bedroom, each hooked up to my stereo in that room, and using Apple’s rockin’ Remote iPhone app, stream music wirelessly throughout my house. Can I play different music in different rooms? No. Is that feature worth $1,000? You decide…

By: AB

AB — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:36:08 +0000

Anyone else think Sonos is ridiculously overpriced?

You can *basically* do the same thing with the Remote app on the iPhone / iPod touch and a couple of Airport Expresses.

By: Jeroen

Jeroen — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:22:35 +0000

Pricing is announced:

The ZP120 will retail for $499 individually. It is also included as part of the Sonos Bundle 150 (see accompanying press release) for $999.

The ZP90 will retail for $349 individually. It is also included as part of the Sonos Bundle 150 (see accompanying press release) for $999.

By: Ben Rose

Ben Rose — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 09:22:59 +0000

Slight nitpick – it’s a ZP90 not a ZP50.

US Pricing below:

ZP90 – $349
ZP120 – $499
BU150 Bundle – $999 (1 x ZP90, 1 x ZP120, 1 x CR100 Controller)

By: mike

mike — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 06:52:40 +0000

Has nobody told Sonos that black is the new black? Personally, I think their stuff looks really ugly.

By: MG

MG — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 05:50:47 +0000

What ad?

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 04:20:27 +0000

Nice, but their controller still doesn’t have a touch screen, which sure would help…

By: CJ

CJ — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 03:05:30 +0000

I know its not related but the amex ad below is a dead link because someone miss typed it, that made me laugh