It’s a common problem:
INTRODUCTION
you’ve got all of your favorite tunes on your primary
computer, but what good is that if you can’t
listen to them in your bedroom or garage? You can
bring your audio player along, but there’s nothing
quite like turning up Stairway to Heaven and
rocking out to the guitar solo as speakers beam sound
waves in all directions. Sonos saw an opportunity
with this problem, and developed the Sonos music
system. With a high price tag and an intriguing design,
even the mildest of audiophiles will wonder if this
product deserves their investment. We take a deep
look at the Sonos music system, so listen up!
Here’s what’s hot with the Sonos system:
WHAT’S HOT
:
Controller
The controller has a clear and crisp 3.5" QVGA
screen and weighs 12.5 oz. (360 g).. It’s got a
motion sensor that turns on the device when you
pick it up (very cool!), a light sensor that turns
on the button backlighting when it gets dark, and
splashproofing for those outings at the pool. The
touch-scroll wheel with a center select buttons
is straight from an iPod. The face is a silver
metallic while the buttons and sides are white.
There are three soft buttons on the bottom of the
screen. The controller feels very sturdy and comfortable
in hand. In other words – it feels like a $399.00
controller ought to. You can add as many controller’s
to the system as you’d like.
The controller turns
itself off (or goes into sleep mode as Sonos calls
it, which will awaken instantly when picked
up) after a certain period of time. If you don’t
use it for a few hours, the controller
will move into deep sleep mode that requires a
3-5 second of startup time.
:
ZonePlayer
The other part of this system is the ZonePlayer,
weighing in at 10 lbs (4.5 kg). You can have a
infiite amount of them controlled by the main controller
or desktop software. There needs to be a primary
ZonePlayer hooked up to your source of audio files
(computer, network hard drive, etc).
The ZonePlayer has
an internal 50 watt amplifier, so you are able
to connect the ZonePlayer directly to speakers,
which will amply fill a room with sound. It is
designed such that it acts as a standalone unit
(not to be stacked with other components), because
the top must be unobstructed to allow for airflow
to the internal components. If you want to bypass
the internal amp, you can use the RCA audio outputs
to connect to your existing amplifier. You can
also connect another audio source to the system
using RCA audio inputs, such as an MP3 or cd player
(you’ll need a miniplug to RCA converter cable)
which allows you to playback the auxiliary audio
in any or all zone. Great feature!
Wireless
:
Network
The entire system runs off of its OWN wireless
network, meaning that you need not have any physical
connection between the ZonePlayers. Computer in
the basement, speakers in the bedroom? No
problem! The wireless network has great range,
and can change channels if you find it to interfere
with an existing wireless network.
Setup is incredibly easy. You simply
SETUP
install the desktop software, index all of your music files (MP3, AAC,
WMA, WAV, OGG-Vorbis, FLAC, and AIFF, but NOT any DRM-encrypted files).
Following that, you can either
"add a zone" via the desktop software or controller which
requires you to hold two of the buttons on each ZonePlayer.
You can then rename the new zone with an appropriate icon or tag.
PRODUCT FEATURES
(all images link to higher resolution)
The
casing of a ZonePlayer is made of high quality
materials. The device is about the size of a stack
of 2 encyclopedia books, at around 10 inches wide.
The button on the top mutes the zone, while volume
can be controlled with the buttons below the mute
button.
The ZonePlayer is about 7 inches
in depth.
At
all times, the ZonePlayer emanates a cool white
light.
When
the mute button is pressed, the surrounding area
illuminates green. I’d like to see this in a blue.
The
rear of the device has four ethernet ports (for
use as a router or with devices that store music,
such as network hard drives or a second computer),
Right/Left channel speaker outputs, subwoofer and
RCA analog outputs, power receptor, and voltage
selector. There are no digital outputs.
Also
included in the kit: quick setup instructions,
user guide, network patch cable and power cable
for each ZonePlayer, and a charging adapter for
the controller.
The
remote is a thing of beauty with a handsome silver
metallic and white finish. The scroll wheel is
straight from an iPod. Other buttons allow you
to easily adjust volume, move forward or backwards
in your playlist, select music, or access each
zone. There are three soft buttons below the screen.
The
controller has a bit of a taper that makes it easy
to hold. I wasn’t sure what the two metal tabs
were on the bottom – perhaps for an future cradle
accessory.
In
the dark, the buttons become illuminated in white.
I think Sonos could have done better with the button
illumination, it looks sloppy.
This
is your zone screen that monitors what is playing
across each zone. Notice the battery indicator
in the corner, and the signal bars below them.
You
can also link any number of zones into groups,
so that you may play the same audio over those
channels (great for a party).
Setting up a new zone is easily accessed
through the settings panel in the main menu. The
screen asks you to hold down the two top buttons
so that the ZonePlayer can identify itself over
the Sonos network. This process is flawless and takes
less than a minute.
As with any other digital audio player,
you can browse by artist, album, genre, etc. To play
multiple files in a row, you’ll want to add them
to the queue…
…through which you can add or drop
songs individually or all at once.
When listening to a song with album
art, the now playing screen looks great.
Another
awesome feature is the system’s ability to stream
internet radio to any zone. There is a versatile
selection preloaded, but you can add more via the
Sonos desktop software (see below).
The
controller settings menu lets you toggle the click
sound, determine the time until the controller
goes to "sleep", and toggle the motion
sensor.
You
can adjust certain sound parameters for each zone,
which can be helpful when boosting the bass if
you use no subwoofer in a certain zone setup.
The
desktop software, which helps to manage the
whole system, is clean and intuitive, and is similar
to the user interface of the controller. From here,
you can individually control each zone, or join
them together.
You can also add internet radio streams.
And finally, it’s easy to index multiple
folders/devices that hold music.
Honestly, I didn’t take
HELP SUPPORT
a peep at the user guide intill AFTER I had the entire
system working because it was so easy to install. Everything
was incredibly straight forward, and the manual explains
everything in a detailed, comprehensive way.
You can add an infinite
OPTIONS
amount of ZonePlayers to the system, if you’ve got
the cash.
BUGS AND WISHES
product is thoroughly thought out; however,
I’ve come across some issues some flaws that I hope
are remedied for the next generation.
The
scroll wheel, although cool and reminiscent of
our beloved iPods, is imprecise and cumbersome
to use. Often times, it’s necessary to move up
or down just one space; it took me several times
to land on the correct item. Scrolling through
music was also a bit too slow. If
you accelerate the rate at which you spin your
thumb around the scroll wheel, like an iPod, it
will accelerate, but then you’ll have to massage
out the cramp you’ve just caused in your thumb.
I’d like to see a vertical scroll wheel like the
Dell
DJ that has "notches"
for precise movement but being quick enough to
move through a few hundred tracks with a quick
movement.
While
using the controller, I estimated the battery life
to be around 2 hours, which is
a good amount considering that you use the device
for about a minute at a time, several times a day.
Sonos estimates that the battery will need to be
charged after 1-2 weeks under normal usage. The
battery is not user replaceable, which adds another
expense when the battery needs to be swapped.
I’d
like to see some more versatility with the ZonePlayer. You can only purchase the unit with a 50
watt amplifier, but what if you want to use your
existing amp? You don’t want to pay extra for something
you do not use. Sonos should have a ZonePlayer
without an amp. Also, there isn’t any sort of digital
outputs on the ZonePlayer.
For
those who use a music outlet
such as iTunes or Napster, you are unable to playback
tracks protected with DRM. This could keep some
prospective buyers away.
As
a wish, I wish that Sonos would make Pocket
PC software for the system that would allow you
to use a mobile device to control the entire system.
I’m lazy, and if my WiFi capable Pocket PC is in
my pocket, I’d rather use that to control a certain
zone, rather than run upstairs for the system controller.
The manual didn’t specify what wireless protocol
the Sonos system uses, so this may not be possible.
Another
wish would be to have skins for the controller.
Why not take advantage of the beautiful screen
with some custom colors and shapes?
And
as one last wish (two isn’t bad, right?), I’d like
to see a waterproof ZonePlayer so that folks can
put a Sonos out by the pool, connected to some
weather-proof speakers.
PURCHASING
system that I tested, which included the controller and two zone players,
costs $1299.00. Or, if you want
to purchase everything individually, the controller costs $399
while each ZonePlayer runs $499. Everything can be purchased direct
from Sonos. You can also order
the Sonos
speakers for about $180.
PROS
"The" solution
for even the most demanding audiophile
Simple
installation- Intelligent
and intuitive controller
Flawless
wireless streaming with great range
Excellent
quality material- Very attractive
design (ZonePlayer and Controller)
CONS
Must buy
ZonePlayer with amplifier even if you don’t
need one
No digital
output
Pocket
PC software would be a good addition- Scroll
wheel on controller is imprecise - Battery
is not user replaceable - Pricey,
but you are getting what you pay for
| Value |  |
| Ease of Use |
 |
| Features | |
Overall |
|
Although my list of Cons is extensive,
OVERALL IMPRESSION
I am extremely excited by this product. Sonos took a simple concept
and executed it marvelously. The product is in its first generation,
and although extremely refined and well thought out, some features
could be changed or added for the next generation that would make everyone
on the block want to skip a payment on the credit card bill to pick
up one of these systems. If you have the resources (a healthy music
collection) and can handle the price tag, you are about to be envied
by your friends.
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