Sonos & Napster - Are there any downsides?

[vixen1700]

Went into my local hi-fi shop the other day and got talking about the Sonos player and shop owner started showing me how it worked and how it was controlled on his iphone, and how he uses Napster for £5 a month.

So I joined that afternoon and since then having been building a library at an incredible rate, adding virtually everything I listen to and a tonne of stuff I've still yet to hear.

So this technology is pretty new to me, I still have a turntable in the front room , so acquiring all this music is incredible. Admittedly I can't burn any of it without buying it, but are there any downsides to just having this in your Napster library and playing it through your laptop/phone & stereo?

It seems almost too good to be true. I'd imagine the sound quality won't be as good as a CD, but it'll be good enough for me through the NAD amp I'd imagine.

So, please tell me more about these Sonos devices.

[Ewan S]

Well you can rip your existing music (on cd's etc) to a digital format, stick them on an external drive and plug that into the sonos and see it all via a free app for either ipods/iphones or android devices.

I bought the zp120 zone player, plus the cr200 remote and an external hard drive for all my music. I plugged that lot into my separates hifi system and voila - 300 cds in lossless format all accessible via the sonos remote. I can create playlists on it, and tbh I haven't listened to any of my cds since I bought it.

It's also great for when you have a decent size house. I'm buying an sonos s5 speaker box soon which will go into the bedroom - this will be controlled via the remote as a separate zone. Rather neatly the existing set up will wirelessly transmit the stuff on the external HD to the S5 meaning I won't need any other music sources. I'll then be able to play different songs at the same time in separate rooms all controlled by one remote.

[vixen1700]

I did that too yesterday. Of all the stuff I was looking for on Napster that I regually listen to, only Third World War didn't have anything, so I burnt their two albums and they're sitting in my vast Napster library too.

All this, plus the internet radio stations.

[ChiChoAndy]

Does Napster still use WMA format?

[ceebmoj]

Have you had a look at www.last.fm integrates well with sonos and has helped me discover loads of new stuff.

[E31Shrew]

Recommend last.fm too. Superb for discovering new artists. Dont forget you get some free downloads with your NAPSTER sub.
If you've still got your hi fi you can attach theZP90 to an AUX in and stream through that.

[oola]

I use LastFM too, also found lots of new artists which I wouldn't have done beforehand. I did receive an email from them around April saying that I wouldn't be able to receive streaming audio without a paid account any more ... but to date I'm sill receiving it?

I use Napster too as a addition to my audio collection which I'd highly recommend for general listening.

The only issue with Sonos/Napster was at Xmas when the service was interrupted but they've sorted that all now.

[vixen1700]

As mentioned, I'm a real technophobe, so this is a big leap for me, so what is the sound quality like from the Napster streaming through your hif-fi?

[Trustmeimadoctor]

personally i like squeezebox stuff i have a squeezebox duet sat in the cupboard feeding the built in stereo all music is stored on a server and its controlled by the wireless remote or mine of the wifes phones works very very well for me at least

[E31Shrew]

vixen1700 said:

As mentioned, I'm a real technophobe, so this is a big leap for me, so what is the sound quality like from the Napster streaming through your hif-fi?

TBH I'm of the age that I couldn't tell the difference between vinyl , CD or streaming. All sounds fine to me!

[vixen1700]

E31Shrew said:

TBH I'm of the age that I couldn't tell the difference between vinyl , CD or streaming. All sounds fine to me!

I was hoping you'd say that. I'd imagine it will sound OK through the amp, as long as it doesn't sound like it's coming through a speaker-less laptop, it'll be fine.

[E31Shrew]

One thing I would seriously recommend however, is to buy the Sonos remote. Although the app works fine on an ipod touch or iphone, it does rely on the wireless signal in the house to operate, plus you need to pick up and access that app. The sonos relies on the mesh network, that has been set up with the system.
Also, not sure how many others you may have in the house, but if you're going out with your iphone, then the only other way to control the system is via the desktop controller, unless others have iphones etc.
Godo luck with it all and if theres anything I can help with feel free to drop me a pm

[Trustmeimadoctor]

sonos stuff was cheap at costco while i was there last

[ceebmoj]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

sonos stuff was cheap at costco while i was there last

Witch one and how much?? As Sonos seams to have recently pushed in to lots of uk stores I have been hopping for some lower pricess so I can grab some more zones.

[ukwill]

Ditch Napster and get Spotify.

[Tiggsy]

Best thing I got last year - have the stand alone sonos speaker/unit in the lounge, kitchen, office and bedroom and about to put a unit into the ensuite.

Have itunes run on the NAS drive and the sonos app on all our iphones and pads.....10/10

[smn159]

ukwill said:

Ditch Napster and get Spotify.

The reason that I went for Napster rather than Spotify was price, with Napster being £5 to Spotify's £10 a month at the time. In the time that I've been using Napster it's been faultless

Assuming that the prices are still different, what will I get from Spotify to justify the extra price?

[VEX]

Sonos is good, it works for so many people on so many levels. Got 4 houses worth of different combinations to go in over the next 2 months or so.

New additions additions to the Sonos range are due in the next month or so.

May see some of them next week at our trade show if so I'll post them here.

V.