SONOS CONNECT Smart Wireless Stereo Adaptor, White

Summary:The Sonos units and their supporting software, manual and internet facilities are a first-class example of modern consumer technology. Simple to install, with excellent control interfaces and producing high quality sound.IntroductionWe have two Sonos ZonePlayer 90's driving amplifier and speaker systems, one ZonePlayer S5 and one ZoneBridge. The S5 and one ZP90 are linked via the ZoneBridge to the incoming internet router, the other ZP90 is linked directly to a separate network repeater hub in an annex. These were all installed in February/March 2012. Our music is stored on an 1TB Iomega Home Media Drive directly attached to the network. Control is effected via PCs and an Android mobile 'phone. This system replaces an earlier network/wifi system which was about half the price: the differential in cost is much improved by using the control software on PCs and 'phone thereby eliminating the Sonos controller.InstallationIt is difficult to see how the installation could be made simpler or faster: just follow the step-by-step diagrams. It takes longer to get the kit out of the box and plug it in than it does to get it working!Indexing of our music library (about 8500 tracks) is fast and accurate. Note that if you have a storage device attached to the network it is not necessary to have a computer running for the system to work, unless this is your only way of running the control software.ManualThe online manual (via Help on the PC control interface) is very clear, very well organized and appears to cover all normal queries. We have had only minimal need to refer to this, when switching a ZP90 from a wired to a wireless connection via the ZoneBridge.In UseAt present we use Sonos control software on two PCs and an Android mobile 'phone. As a part-time software developer I have to say that this system has a top-class, dare I say beautiful interface. It is very intuitive, we found nearly all functions quickly without reference to the manual; the exception being the little trick to open the "Group Volume" slider window (double click on the volume slider on the PC, tap the volume slider on the Android).We use a variety of audio sources: principally the music library (music stored mainly in Apple lossless format), also the television as a line input on one ZP90, Napster (now Napster by Rhapsody in the UK) and the radio stations. The grouping facility is used a lot; again this is very easy to manage.Music sounds great via the hifi systems (a notable improvement on an earlier non-Sonos system!). The output from the S5 is also great for a device of this type, easily as good as any standalone radio or MP3 dock device I have heard.The Napster library has proved a great way of exploring the music of artists we'd never normally hear much of (amazing how much our listening habits are influenced by the output of the main radio stations), but having said that it is not totally comprehensive and the indexing is imperfect. Sometimes a track can be found only by sifting through the artist's output and not directly by track name, for example. We looked at Spotify but this now requires you to have a presence on Facebook link which we prefer not to have!There are a vast number of radio stations available through Sonos: this works brilliantly and switching from other sources is seamless (the previous system we had was a nightmare in this respect).Using the TV as a line input pipes the sound via the hi-fi so is a big improvement on the TV's own speakers. We have a PVR and DVD connected to the TV so the sound from these is likewise improved. By grouping the Sonos units can be shared to another room (e.g. the kitchen) so at least if you have to nip out to put the kettle on you can keep up with the dialogue!Other pointsWe have had only one Sonos software update since installation nearly two months ago. This was quick and applied to all units simultaneously. Again, a contrast and relief after our earlier system which had frequent updates, slowly applied to each unit in turn.The control software on the PCs has crashed a couple of times but this is almost certainly due to the PCs being 5+ years old and gummed up with all sorts of background processes courtesy of Mxxxxxxxt and others.The units do not have to be left on continuously: playlists and favourite radio stations are preserved when they are turned off. It's necessary only to re-select the "music" source when they are turned on again.ConclusionWholeheartedly recommended, wonderful stuff, a joy to use, not a single complaint. Expensive relative to some alternatives but well worth the money.PS Third Connect added March 2013, also now use a Nexus 7 with the controller software, now even better.

I bought this hoping to stream my music from an external HD to my existing HiFi with the potential of adding additional units in the future for different rooms.The box was very neat and compact and the unit was quickly plugged in. I powered the unit and tried to connect it to Android App but it just wouldn't work. After some time testing I found that the supplied Ethernet cable for some reason didn't work so I swapped it with one that I already had and got a good sync. I was now able to play music stored on my mobile phone, BUT, the music I had downloaded from Google Play was not recognised.The next issue came when trying to play from the music on my networked external HD. The short story is I needed to purchase a new NAS (I ended up with the WD MyBook Live) as the USB attached one I had would not be stored if I switched the Sonos off.Once the new NAS arrived I got it all hooked up, changed the router settings so that the NAS was permanently linked to the same IP address and was away. I had a good 24hours of quality music streaming from both my laptop and mobile.Then it all went wrong...The next day I had trouble connecting to the Sonos component via both mobile and laptop. When it did work it was then struggling to read my music library. All the settings were the same so I couldn't figure it out. The Sonos helpdesk wasn't much help either.After a few days of installing, reinstalling and trying everything over and over again I have lost my patience. I would have rather paid an extra £90 for the Pioneer N-50.In theory it sounds like an amazing setup but for me the reality just did not materialise.

Personally I feel this is the superior wireless music system to other available on the market right now. It isn't the cheapest option, however it is the best and I'll explain why I think this is the case.I purchased a Sonos BR100UK1 ZoneBridge 100 Wireless Music Controller and a SONOS ZonePlayer 90 Wireless Music Player as a basic setup having demo'd a friends setup of two Sonos Systems ZonePlayer - S5 and a ZP90. Amazon delivered very quickly and the packaging was good. I setup it up and was playing music within 10 minutes from a NAS (D-Link ShareCenter Pulse 2-bay Network Storage Enclosure) via a shared folder (rather than uPnP) and am controlling it via 2 laptops and 2 iphones. The units themselves are small, very well made and well packaged and supported in terms of manuals and cables. All impressions good so far. Sounds quality is very good for an on-board DAC and the control via PC is instantaneous, intuitive and responsive. iPhone control has a very slight lag, but the app is free so no complaints there.As a comparison I believe this system is superior to say a Logitech Squeezebox Receiver setup because:The sound quality from the Sonos system is generally regarded as better - the S5 and the Logitech Squeezebox Boom are leagues apart, and I understand the DAC output is better from the Sonos system. Some people go so far as to output to a dedicated DAC from the digital output of the Sonos to improve quality further however.Instant setup and linking of additional products and I mean, instant, like press one button and you're done instant.For those wanting just receivers (like me), the Squeeze route requires at least one Boom/Radio, Logitech Squeezebox Duet - WiFi Internet Radio receiver with wireless MP3 music streaming with a controller or a Logitech Squeezebox Touch unit to register the units on your network, the Sonos does not.Sonos contains it's own server which the Squeezebox does not - it requires either a server on a PC or a NAS if the NAS can handle it or is able to run third party utilities.The Sonos system has it's own dedicated wireless network and therefore doesn't throttle your own WiFi setup. This also means that there is no lag in the system and perfect player to player syncronisation.The Sonos interface is preferable, to me, than the Squeezecentre.Aesthetically the Sonos system is smarter and less obtrusive.The Sonos is more expensive, but don't be fooled into thinking that the Squeezebox route is ultra cheap, if you want the same flexibility as this system you have to have some additional background kit and be savvy enough to set it up. If you've got the cash though, this is brilliant.