Sonos audio distribution

[parinshah]

Does anyone have any experience with Sonos and home audio distribution?

I was going to do it the Russound way, but I stream most of my music from my mac via an airport express to the receiver and heard this is a great way to stream music from the computer or iphone. I don't have any CD's anymore.

 

[Soundman]

I don't know much about Sonos, but why don't you have any CD's?

 

[parinshah]

Its all on the computer and backed up. When I buy music I do it through itunes.

 

[OttoMatic]

I've used a Sonos at a friend's house and I understand the general concept. What do you want to know about it?

I use a PC connected directly to my preamp that then distributes to two zones. I use PCs to select and control music and a Harmony RF based remote to control the preamp and such. I prefer this to the Sonos for a couple reasons, but I'm not trying to push the PC way necessarily.

What do you want to accomplish (how many zones, how much control) and what type of PC setup do you have now?

 

[parinshah]

I will have 4-5 zones. I like the concept that i can float around the house with my laptop and or iphone (new sono's iphone app) and change songs and volume.
I feel with a computer hardwired to the amp/receiver i have to go the the computer and turn it on in a specific room and change music from that room, right?

I have mac laptops.

 

[OttoMatic]

I'll get back to some of your questions and usages later. First, what's your budget. To have four or five discrete zones, you'll generally need a Sonos box per. That's gonna cost ya.

As far as PC control, I use a laptop to Remote Desktop to my main "HTPC". I don't know much about Macs, but I bet they have some type of Remote Desktop functionality, right?

 

[Soundman]

originally posted by Soundman
I don't know much about Sonos, but why don't you have any CD's?

Its all on the computer and backed up. When I buy music I do it through itunes.

I think having all your music on your computer is nice, and being able to stream it into multiple rooms is a nice touch as well. But I'm slightly concerned about what kind of quality you are getting if you are downloading it all through iTunes. I know you have also mentioned in another post that you are interested in the Axiom M80's. That speaker is a very forward sounding, revealing speaker and therefore will expose lower quality recordings for what they are. So, there is a possibility you may be disappointed with these speakers if your playback material is not high quality. Again, I don't know anything about your music collection or the quality of it, but this is pretty typical of most downloaded music. That's why I prefer to buy CD's of high quality, then back them up on the computer at full quality. Anyway, just something to think about.

 

[roll - gybe]

I run my system off a slimdevices/logitech squeezebox platform and I love it.

You should check to see if DRM itunes songs will play over a Sonos. Apple is a pain about that stuff.

I hear some people say they like the sonos for multizone. I have 4 zones with my squeeze set up. I haven't been impressed by the sonos, but then I am fully committed to squeeze.

avs has an extensive forum for streaming. you may want to look there. people here aren't as into it, despite the fact that you have a better way now to listen to all your (lossless) music than CD by CD...

I will agree with you that hardwiring a PC isn't the best option.

 

[roll - gybe]

Soundman - it is pretty darn hard to hear the difference in 128k aac and FLAC/WAV/CD. You can find a few clues if you know what to listen for.

I wouldn't jump right to the conclusion that it would sound inferior. It isn't like the OP wants to plug an ipod into his stereo.

 

[parinshah]

Sonos Vs. Squeezebox

The AVS forum has a few great threads on sonos vs. squeezebox...thanks!
I wish the guys here had more experience with it. The sound from Itunes is more than adequate for me.

 

[InTheIndustry]

The AVS forum has a few great threads on sonos vs. squeezebox...thanks!
I wish the guys here had more experience with it. The sound from Itunes is more than adequate for me.

The best part about Sonos is the ability to stream Rhapsody & any radio station in the world that's broadcast on line. The Rhapsody is worth the $13 a month (they give you 30day trials free to start). You;ll never bother streaming from your PC after trying the Rhapsody unless there's something they don't have. Which is, in a lot of cases, rare.

If you have specific questions, please ask them. I use Sonos on a daily basis for my whole house system & on a weekly basis for our clients. I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Note: SQ wise, I can tell little to no difference between streaming from CD's I've stored on my PC or streaming from Rhapsody. So, why bother loading crap on the computer?

 

[parinshah]

Thanks!

We are in the process of building a house. I was going to have them lead all wires to a closet in the media/rec room and then put all the sonos for every zone in there. I do that because if I sell my house and the next person wants to install crestron or russound, they can. I will probably need to get a few zone bridges. What i really like is that there is an iphone app to allow me to use my phone as the remote! So I will only need one Sonos remote, for someone in the house that doesn't have an iphone.

If I want 4 zones and a few zone bridges, this does seem pricey to put together though. I don't mind paying it, but i hear crestron adagio may compete in the same price range.

I wish more AV guys sold Sonos. The only place I have found in Houston so far is Best Buy!