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Monday, April 10, 2006 3:24 PM PT Posted by Edward N. Albro
Sonos Music System for Less
A new product from Sonos, the makers of an elegant way of wirelessly distributing digital music around your house, is designed to make the system fit in better with existing stereo systems and bring down the cost of this somewhat pricey equipment.If you've ever seen the Sonos system, it's hard not to want one. But for some people, the original Sonos gear was a little too much, both financially and technically.
The original Sonos ZP100 players combine a wireless receiver and an amplifier. A bundle of two ZP100 players and a controller costs $1200. If you already have good amplifiers in your home, you pay for more capability than you need if you buy the original system.
Sono's new ZP80 players work just like the original equipment, except they leave out the amplifier. You can plug them into your own stereo, plug in powered speakers or even connect them to your PC's sound card and use the speakers you already have on your computer. A bundle of two ZP80s and a controller goes for $999.
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what's wrong with an fm transmitter jacked into your sound card and using all the radios, boomboxes and receivers we already have? This aint rocket science. I'd sure rather spend 20$ on an fm transmitter and winamp and use my existing gear than blow a grand on something that will be obsolete in 3 years.
Errr... if you already have a wifi-enabled computer, then Apple AirTunes does the same thing for $129, and it's been out since 2004!
Why is it that so many reporters nowadays just republish press releases without doing any friggin analysis?
the sonos system is worlds apart from fm transmiters or airport expresses... its a true mutliroom system with an awesome remote that lets you browse your library from your bed.. i've got one and i've never seen anything like it... coolest thing i've got since tivo.
The big thing sonos offers that no one else does well is a remote interface to your music. ie - sit on your couch, on your porch, in your bed, and pick your music versus having to go downstairs to your computer.
the interface is as wonderful as anything tivo or apple have come up with.
It's expensive.. but I'm a fan.
I have an open design in my house and I wanted to control the music everywhere from my kitchen. I looked at the original Sonos system and then went out and bought a Mac mini and an airport express module, along with an old monitor, keyboard and amp. I can now control my music from a central location as well as watch videos, podcasts, and surf the net. Best of all I can add extra locations for the cost of only another airport express. The Sonos is cool but way overpriced. I love the the portable control, but with kids in the house it's just one more thing to lose track of.
Laur3n
Yeah uhh, horrible analogy, Golly. Well of course unless you don't care about your sound quality. FM transmitters sound horrid. All of them.
SONOS is streaming music over a wireless network, and unlike the Airport Express, you can carry it out to the pool and DJ the party.
Really it's only for people who care about sound quality and have disciplined kids.
You cannot compare Sonos to using Airport Express. Sonos is a muiltroom system that lets you play different music in different rooms from your same music files, even Itunes at the same. Also lets you play music services like Rapsody.
The wireless controller is what make this system unique. You control each room from anywhere in the house,even the bathroom. All wireless.
For all of you stuck on using Ipods,Airport Express or FM transmitters for your house, you dont know what you are missing.
Sonos isnt going to be outdated in a few years, it is the future of multiroom system for your house. Using Airport Express & FM transmitters is what is outdated now.