Customer Reviews

SONOS CONNECT Wireless Music Streaming System for Home Theater or Stereo (ZonePlayer90)

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Seeking to upgrade my home audio setup, I picked up some ZP90s along with a Logitech Squeezebox boom and duet, figuring I'd play around with them and then sell what I didn't like.

Overall, I did feel the Sonos setup offered the best usability. The setup was a breeze, the software very use-friendly and easy to quickly find what you want and play it on the appropriate player(s). Another real treat was the iPhone application, which lets me use my phone as the remote and eliminates the need for the costly and bulky controller. Rhapsody, Pandora, and Last.fm are the 3 major music services offered, and all work very well. There's also the bonus of listening to local radio stations without the static, although I was disappointed to find you could only configure it for one location at a time (listening to KEXP in Seattle would have been great).

However, there were two shortcomings when compared to the Squeezebox. The first is the requirement that at least one of the Sonos players be hard-wired in to the network. This wasn't a problem for me since the Sonos is just 20 feet away from my router, however I'm sure there are users out there that won't be as fortunate. The Squeezebox was completely wireless and could go anywhere in the house, so it has a clear advantage there. The Second was not having support for the Slacker music service. I slightly prefer this service over Pandora, and find myself turing on the Squeezebox more due to that reason.

Summary - If you have the money and want something easy to use, and are OK with having at least one Sonos device hard-wired to the network, then this is for you. But if you love Slacker, need something 100% Wireless, or just don't quite have the budget, go with the Squeezebox.

I'm pretty picky about my electronic and computer gear. For me to like it, it's got to work and work flawlessly. I won't tolerate equipment that sort of works or works some of the time. It's not worth it. Just send it back.

I decided to try a Sonos ZonePlayer90 after getting Sirius at home and realizing that my reception via the indoor/outdoor antenna left something to be desired. I also eventually want to move music around the house. Initially I was put off by the price.

Well, I've had the ZP90 almost two weeks and I can't stop telling people how amazing it is. I had no idea when I bought it that it would open up a huge world of music to me. Not only does it make it a snap to play my iTunes library and Sirius, but I now have access to internet radio stations around the world and the Pandora music service. I feel like I have the world's largest jukebox in my living room. And, it's all at your fingertips via the software controller and iPod Touch.

I think we all get so tired of TV. I watch a lot of sports. A lot of times, I put the game on TV and put music or NPR on the Sonos. I'm using my computers and an iPod Touch to control the Sonos and it's working flawlessly. I plan to get a ZP120 to share music to other parts of the house and outside.

While these products are fully priced, they are worth it and don't let price deter you. They are well built and the customer support is good. The Sonos also lets you get so much more value out of your broadband and the rest of your stereo or home theater equipment. It's a no brainer.

We bought two ZP90s for a couple of zones in a whole-house audio system.

We had been using an Apple AirPort Express for a few years to play our iTunes-managed stuff (which is probably 90+% ripped from CDs), and a connection from our cable box to our stereo to play music stations supplied by our cable company. All of this played in our living room and at the patio.

When we decided to expand to our kitchen and dining room areas, we did quite a bit of research, and decided the ZonePlayer would be a good choice. Because most all of our iTunes songs are not DRM-protected, we can listen to them on the Sonos (though it is a pain not to be able to play most of the Apple-purchased songs with the ZonePlayers). We've been using the Sirius internet trial, and will probably subscribe (not as much money as it might be, as we already have a subscription for the car). Also, it's pretty cool to be able to listen to radio stations in Honolulu or Melbourne, Australia on occasion (we probably wouldn't have found these without the Sonos). We've had very few problems with continuous streaming of Sirius or the radio stations over the Internet to our Sonos boxes; I think I've noticed just one time (over a few weeks) where it cut out, and then only for a few seconds.

We've used both the computer-based controller software as well as the version that works on an iPod touch. Both seem to be pretty stable, and are quite intuitive to use. We've used the alarm clock function (not accessible with the iPod-based software), and it works fine, though it is not terribly sophisticated (our schedule has a regular pattern, but doesn't quite match the Mon-Fri, etc. options that they give you).

We'll probably buy one more ZP90 to complete our system--it's great so far!

I have a huge collection of MP3s that I've been collecting over the years. I also like to stream Pandora and Rhapsody. My problem has always been: How do I get my collection of music from my computer in my bedroom to my high-quality home stereo in my family room? And how do I do it easily--with an easy-to-use interface? And how do I do this while preserving the best sound fidelity?

I've researched this topic for over a year and finally sprung the $350 for the Sonos ZonePlayer ZP90 because (although a bit more expensive) it gets the highest consumer reviews.

Here's what's amazing about this product:

1) Easy Set Up
I always assume the setup is going to be a lot harder than "they" say. Not with the ZonePlayer. Clear instructions, all the required cables, and easy software setup. I was able to point the Sonos software directly to my collection of music--which was a breeze. Then the Sonos software quickly communicated with the ZonePlayer through my home network without a hitch. Full setup took me approximately 15 minutes.

2) Nearly Endless Music Choices
Since the ZonePlayer can access the MP3s on my hard drive, my music accounts on the internet (Rhapsody and Pandora), and a slew of internet radio stations, the music possibilities seem endless. Mind you, Rhapsody is a subscription service that I pay about $15 per month for.

During setup, the software asked my what my postal code is. Why? Because besides all the free national radio stations it can stream, it has a section of my local radio stations. Open up the local radio station section and the full spectrum of local radio stations is there for me to choose from. Pretty cool.

Besides Rhapsody and Pandora, the ZonePlayer can access several other radio "services" including IHeartRadio, Napster, Last.fm, etc.

3) Folder-Tree Hierarchy
While the software shows my MP3 music collection in typical id3 tag categories (genre, album, artist, etc.) like an ipod does, it also shows me my collection in the same folder-tree hierarchy that I have on my computer. In other words, I've arranged and made my own categories for music on my hard drive, i.e., Pop/Rock, Easy Listening, Celtic, Country, Soundtracks, etc. and I don't want the Sonos software to "mix that up." For those with large, well-organized collections, this is a godsend.

4) Turns your iPhone into a full-functioning, easy-to-use remote
My iPhone automatically connects to my home wireless network whenever I'm in proximity to my home. With the free Sonos iPhone app, my iPhone becomes a fully-functioning remote! Funny thing is--you can buy a Sonos remote for $350 that is the same size as an iPhone...OR you can simply download the free app and use your iPhone as a FREE remote. With my iPhone I can access my MP3s, choose songs on Rhapsody, make and play new radio stations on Pandora, and do nearly everything I could do with the Sonos software on my PC.

The genius of all this is that my PC, the ZonePlayer, and my iPhone are all network devices on my LAN that can "talk" to each other seamlessly and instantly. I can kick back on my couch in front of my stereo system, iPhone in hand, and control all my music including volume.

5) Amazing High Fidelity
(Audiophiles will always argue at this point that MP3s are incapable of true high fidelity, but let's just talk about "normal" people, haha.) I used to work in the video production industry and I have a keen ear for sound. Let me just say that with a great pair of speakers and a good receiver/amplifier the Sonos will give you amazing sound. My music has literally never sounded better. I immediately was able to detect nuances in my music that I could never hear before (meaning that it sounded incredibly good).

6) Seamless Integration with LAN Sources and Internet Sources
Using your iPhone or the PC software you can build a queue of songs. Those songs can be a mix of song files from your computer's hard drive and internet streaming sources such as Rhapsody. With that type of scenario, the ZonePlayer won't skip a beat. It can even cross-fade the songs between the two sources. To you, it will all just sound like great music without any detectable difference between the two.

7) Set it up as a Wired or Wireless Solution.
I have not set up my network in a wireless fashion because I prefer a hard-wired solution over wireless so I can't write from personal experience on this topic. But Sonos is designed to work on its own wireless network if you prefer. This means that you can have music anywhere in your home or business where there is an electrical plug to power the device. The only part of my system that is wireless is between my iPhone and my wireless router--yet communication is immediate with no perceptible lag.

8) Multiple Music Zones are Possible with Additional ZonePlayers
I plan on expanding my system to include 2 more ZonePlayers in different rooms of my house. When I do, I'll be able to play different music in each room (and control them all with my iPhone) or sync all the music if I want to.

Summary:

Sonos nailed it with this product. It's so elegant in the sense that it works so flawlessly--with no lag--with ease--and with high fidelity.

FYI, this is my system hardware:

Gateway PC (with MP3 collection)
Netgear Router
3 mbps internet speed
Whole-house CAT5 network
Onkyo Receiver/Amplifier
JBL S38 Speakers
Sonos ZonePlayer
iPhone 4
Rhapsody subscription
Pandora account

Haven't written a review before, but just had to for this. I bought one of these to test it before buying more-- I have a large house with 5 or more rooms nd 3 outdoor areas where I want to distribute music. I also downloaded the iPhone controller software to use with it.

I've been involved with home automation easily for 25-30 years, and I can honestly say this is the best product I've ever used. It worked flawlessly out of the box, set up was amazingly simple, and the breadth of control and variety of music sources is beyond what I had any idea would be available.

The iPhone app is terrific too-- the interface is great and the response is INSTANT, so when you change the volume, balance, etc., it is more responsive than my native remotes! The thought of everyone in the house who has an iPhone being able to choose what they want to listen to in any room, or being able to adjust volume, etc. from anywhere is really mindboggling.

Although this gear is not exactly cheap, it is far less expensive than anything else with this capability, and I highly recommend it. You won't be disappointed.

I purchased this product. It works as advertised, a very simple device to setup and use on your home network. It has a couple of limitations which are a problem for people who have large music collections or multiple computers with shared music files.

1. The software creates an index and saves it to the Sonos device. If a shared music drive is updated with music, that music does not show up right away on the Sonos playlist. It requires items be re-indexed. This process seems slow for large collections.
2. The internal index has a limitation of the number of shared music files it can index.

Overall, I regret my purchase. The device does what it advertises, I assume it would work great with small collections of a couple of thousand songs. However, I want a device that looks at my shared drives, let me choose from those drives without re-indexing and plays my music.

This is a terrific solution for those who want to connect digital music libraries wirelessly to an existing stereo setup. I have thousands of digital music files on an imac in the basement, where the router lives. The stereo is upstairs, with a multi-room speaker setup I didn't want to abandon. I coupled the Zone Player 90 plugged into the amplifier with a Sonos Soundbridge plugged into the router, and downloaded the Sonos Controller app to my iPod Touch. After a few tries, the network found the components and, voila, everything worked. I've been looking for years for this solution! It's fantastic having virtually the whole music library in my hand, with the ability to control everything from anywhere in the house. And the internet radio selection is amazing. Compared to my earlier approach, which was simply an iPod plugged into the amp, this is a great leap forward.

I really love my Sonos system and highly recommend it. I have had the unit only a few weeks and it has met my needs. I have well over 1,000 CDs[of which 700 so far have been "ripped" to my computer storage system] and in the past finding what I wanted to hear on any given day could prove to be a task. Now I sit in my living room and easily find what I desire on my iPod controller. Further, I keep coming across CDs that I had forgotten about which I greatly enjoyed once I had the chance to hear them again.

I give the unit only 4 stars. How you might rate it depends on the quality of your downloaded music and the type of system you play it on. If you are recording only MP3 music and playing it back on, say, a Boise system, then I would give Sonos five stars. But if you are recording using something like "Apple Lossless" encoding and playing it back on a high quality stereo system that you spent too many $K on, then you will find a major shortcoming in the Sonos system.

The digital to analog converter (DAC) on the Sonos ZP90 is really lacking. It became painful to listen to music for an extended period using just the ZP90 into my AMP. But there is a solution. Buy a good separate DAC. It will make a mountain of a difference. Separate DACs start at $300 and can go all the way to the many $Ks. I got a Cambridge Audio DacMagic for $400 -- it gets a high B class rating from Stereophile [most things in their A class grouping require a second mortgage]. Also don't over look the benefits of quality interconnects, which can add at least $100 or more to the cost -- but again it is worth it.]

I got hopelessly confused trying to set up my Sonos system. No problem! The Sonos help-desk is absolutely outstanding!

However, remember that this is not a $350 item. Add in the Sonos bridge, a DAC, and reasonably passable interconnects puts the cost up to around a grand. And then, unless you already have an iPhone, iPod, or iPad you will have to layout $200 to $350 more. If you have a large CD collection a 1T or 2T NAS drive will also be needed -- cost $100 to $200.

All and all, the complete cost of a Sonos system can add up to a lot of money. Is it worth it? Depended on how much you love quality music. For me the answer is YES.

I used to be really happy with my Sonos device until they made a business decision to remove support for DRM files such as those legally purchased through Zune software as well as those downloaded legally through the ZunePass subscription service. It used to work and then it was disabled in the latest firmware update with many users not be advised of the change at all.

Be careful. You may want to buy this device because it supports cool music services like Pandora or Spotify, but be forewarned, they may disable supporting those services just as they did with DRM content.

I have been interested in the Sonos system for quite some time and finally bit-the-bullet. Now I wonder why I waited so long! For the ease and convenience of having both access to your music files on the computer or a NAS system, as well as a wide range of internet broadcasts and services like Pandora and Sirius, the system is hard to beat!

As for the set-up, I did have a bit of a glitch because of the wireless distance between the Bridge (connected by Ethernet) and the ZP90 Connect. While I have no problem using my normal wireless network for data and video at the distance, Sonos wanted more. Fortunately, I had one other Ethernet wire that was far closer than my router in the office, so after the bridge was moved, the ZP90 worked fine. The original distance from my wireless router was about 80 feet and through a number of walls. With the new bridge location, it is about 50 feet and almost line of sight. So be aware of your distances since this is critical not only to the connection, but to the quality of the sound. The better the signal, the better the performance.

The software worked very smoothly. It was relatively easy to 'point' at my NAS and it immediately cataloged the music. Within minutes I was able to play anything that I had either downloaded or copied from my CDs to the NAS. I also downloaded the free Sonos app for my iPhone and while it is a little bit kludgy and not as easy to navigate around, it does its job quite satisfactorily. I now select what I want to hear and control the volume from my iPhone, and since the music is stored on the NAS, it doesn't affect or slow down my computer at all. In fact, the computer doesn't even need to be on! Quite nice!

As for sound quality, I have the Sonos hooked up directly to a pure power amp (not a receiver, nor am I using a DAC or preamp). It is playing through some very high quality speakers. I am also using the line in on the Sonos Connect to plug a CD player into, and I am using the Sonos Connect as a preamp. For technical reasons, this is NOT the optimum way for the best sonic results, but I have to admit, the system sounds a lot better than it should through this miniscule box! Yes, it would be better to not use it as a preamp, but it stands up to the task remarkably well. I wouldn't recommend it for critical listening sessions, but for having on for general listening it sounds remarkably good. Again, nothing like a DAC or Preamp that matched the quality of my amp and speakers, but probably about 80 - 90% of the way there! For a box that costs as little as this does, that is remarkable!

So, if your use will stay within reasonable distance from the wired Bridge, I can recommend this little box as a remarkable feat of engineering. Worthwhile, and I will probably add another Connect and Bridge to the system next year for some other rooms!