Sonos questions
Discussion
Have I got this right...
Let's say I have the following equipment
iMac (storing all music)
iPhone (to use as a remote for iTunes on the iMac)
Sky HD
Wireless Router
If I then acquire the following...
2 x Sonos PLAY:3
Sonos CONNECT
Do I do this?
I plug the Sonos Connect into my router and the Sky HD box, I can then stream the audio from the Sky box to the two PLAY:3 speakers, making it a kind of mobile stereo for what i'm watching on TV.
(Currently I have a Bose Sounddock that's connected to the Sky box for 'better' sound)
Will that set up also allow me to stream music from my iMac to the two speakers, still using my iPhone as the remote?
Seems too simple.
Also, presumably, if the Connect is near the Sounddock, I could still utilise that as another output?
Let's say I have the following equipment
iMac (storing all music)
iPhone (to use as a remote for iTunes on the iMac)
Sky HD
Wireless Router
If I then acquire the following...
2 x Sonos PLAY:3
Sonos CONNECT
Do I do this?
I plug the Sonos Connect into my router and the Sky HD box, I can then stream the audio from the Sky box to the two PLAY:3 speakers, making it a kind of mobile stereo for what i'm watching on TV.
(Currently I have a Bose Sounddock that's connected to the Sky box for 'better' sound)
Will that set up also allow me to stream music from my iMac to the two speakers, still using my iPhone as the remote?
Seems too simple.
Also, presumably, if the Connect is near the Sounddock, I could still utilise that as another output?
Oh, and has anyone got one and can compare to the Bose Sounddock, are they similar sounding in any way?
The reason i'm thinking two Play 3s is because I see together they support stereo sound, but still gives me the ability to take one down the garden for when we BBQ etc.
All sounds a bit too perfect.
The reason i'm thinking two Play 3s is because I see together they support stereo sound, but still gives me the ability to take one down the garden for when we BBQ etc.
All sounds a bit too perfect.
Not sure about your sky question but the other is YES.
I'm about to get a bridge to form the Sonos wireless network and then a play 5 for the kitchen and to take in the garden for BBQs which will play all my iTunes music.
They are very good!
I'm about to get a bridge to form the Sonos wireless network and then a play 5 for the kitchen and to take in the garden for BBQs which will play all my iTunes music.
They are very good!
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 22 November 11:54
I have an Apple Airport Extreme Base Station connected to several Apple Airport Express' around the house and an Apple TV 2 in the lounge. It's a fairly cheap way of doing it and it all runs at N band 5gHz 300mbps so it’s pretty quick. I can either play FROM my iPhone or Airplay, or control the iMac with my iPhone remote app. I can also select which Express is playing the music around the house. You simply rename the Express units to the room of the house and connect each of them to a stereo system.
It all works so well together, I’m surprised Apple don’t advertise it more. It’s a much cheaper solution than Sonos. About £80 for each Express. However, it will only stream from an iTunes library or Airplay from an iOS device, not from another device. As an advantage it will stream from Spotify or other apps on the iPhone though.
It all works so well together, I’m surprised Apple don’t advertise it more. It’s a much cheaper solution than Sonos. About £80 for each Express. However, it will only stream from an iTunes library or Airplay from an iOS device, not from another device. As an advantage it will stream from Spotify or other apps on the iPhone though.
Only get the Sonos Connect (aka ZP90) if you definitely plan to use the output. It is £280 and the Sonos Bridge for £40 will attach to your router and 'run' the Sonos system just as well.
The sound quality of the Play 3 is up there with the Sounddock, but the ability to run as a stereo pair takes it to a completely different level.
The sound quality of the Play 3 is up there with the Sounddock, but the ability to run as a stereo pair takes it to a completely different level.
danyeates said:
I have an Apple Airport Extreme Base Station connected to several Apple Airport Express' around the house and an Apple TV 2 in the lounge. It's a fairly cheap way of doing it and it all runs at N band 5gHz 300mbps so it’s pretty quick. I can either play FROM my iPhone or Airplay, or control the iMac with my iPhone remote app. I can also select which Express is playing the music around the house. You simply rename the Express units to the room of the house and connect each of them to a stereo system.
It all works so well together, I’m surprised Apple don’t advertise it more. It’s a much cheaper solution than Sonos. About £80 for each Express. However, it will only stream from an iTunes library or Airplay from an iOS device, not from another device. As an advantage it will stream from Spotify or other apps on the iPhone though.
This is a good point, and is definitely worth trying as it is much cheaper and has a better interface the Sonos.It all works so well together, I’m surprised Apple don’t advertise it more. It’s a much cheaper solution than Sonos. About £80 for each Express. However, it will only stream from an iTunes library or Airplay from an iOS device, not from another device. As an advantage it will stream from Spotify or other apps on the iPhone though.
For me, it was the only Apple product that I have never been able to get working reliably, hence the Sonos investment, but that might be more to do with my network than anything else.
kingston12 said:
This is a good point, and is definitely worth trying as it is much cheaper and has a better interface the Sonos.
For me, it was the only Apple product that I have never been able to get working reliably, hence the Sonos investment, but that might be more to do with my network than anything else.
I know I found it difficult to get working reliably at my girlfriend’s parents house. They were connecting Express’ with a BT router and were getting IP address conflicts. I opted for an Apple Airport Extreme router, connected to my Sky router in bridge mode, so the complete network is all Apple and all works perfectly together. I have so many wifi devices in the house I wanted to have simultaneous N (2.4gHz and 5gHz) and G 2.4gHZ networks all working together. I have 3x iPhones, 1x iMac 27, 1x Macbook Pro, Sky wifi for Anytime +, Panasonic TV wifi, Panasonic bluray wifi, PS3, Xbox 360, and the Express’ so quite a few devices! The Express’, iMac and Moacbook all work on 5gHz N band wifi so it keeps that network relatively uncluttered and quick. I find Apple stuff loves working with other Apple stuff, but can be tricky to sometimes integrate with other equipment. For me, it was the only Apple product that I have never been able to get working reliably, hence the Sonos investment, but that might be more to do with my network than anything else.
danyeates said:
I find Apple stuff loves working with other Apple stuff, but can be tricky to sometimes integrate with other equipment.
I generally find that too, but the music streaming on my Express was bad, even though I have an Airport Extreme Router. The Express works well as a Wifi extender now.It is also worth mentioning the Apple TV units. These are a credible Sonos alternatives in their own right, but are often overlooked because people think that they will have to turn on their TV just to listen to music. This isn't the case as they can be directly controlled from iPhone/iPad and the video streaming is a bonus!
The main thing that Sonos does that the Apple stuff can't is synchronised multi-room play. I reckon Apple could add this in the future, though.
kingston12 said:
I generally find that too, but the music streaming on my Express was bad, even though I have an Airport Extreme Router. The Express works well as a Wifi extender now.
It is also worth mentioning the Apple TV units. These are a credible Sonos alternatives in their own right, but are often overlooked because people think that they will have to turn on their TV just to listen to music. This isn't the case as they can be directly controlled from iPhone/iPad and the video streaming is a bonus!
The main thing that Sonos does that the Apple stuff can't is synchronised multi-room play. I reckon Apple could add this in the future, though.
Yep, Apple TV 2 is great. Especially with my iPhone 4S. Airplay mirroring is brilliant, especially in games that fully support it. It is also worth mentioning the Apple TV units. These are a credible Sonos alternatives in their own right, but are often overlooked because people think that they will have to turn on their TV just to listen to music. This isn't the case as they can be directly controlled from iPhone/iPad and the video streaming is a bonus!
The main thing that Sonos does that the Apple stuff can't is synchronised multi-room play. I reckon Apple could add this in the future, though.
+1 for the appletv2
It is alot more versatile than an airport express, it acts like a device and loads the film/music onto it for smoother playback.
Because of this I can have music or films on three different appletv's all at the same time from one computer, it works very well.
With an airport express, the computer is tied up streaming to it. You can do multi room from iTunes aswell.
One piece of Sonos kit has to be hardwired to a router.
Then you would need to use their iPod dock to get audio off the iPod/phone.
Alternatively you could point the Sonos at your iTunes directory on a pc to see all your music.
There is an alternative solution due next year. That can stepream from a blue tooth device, but it is not launched yet.
V.
Then you would need to use their iPod dock to get audio off the iPod/phone.
Alternatively you could point the Sonos at your iTunes directory on a pc to see all your music.
There is an alternative solution due next year. That can stepream from a blue tooth device, but it is not launched yet.
V.
VEX said:
One piece of Sonos kit has to be hardwired to a router.
Then you would need to use their iPod dock to get audio off the iPod/phone.
Alternatively you could point the Sonos at your iTunes directory on a pc to see all your music.
There is an alternative solution due next year. That can stepream from a blue tooth device, but it is not launched yet.
V.
Thanks for that. £5/month Napster account methinks.Then you would need to use their iPod dock to get audio off the iPod/phone.
Alternatively you could point the Sonos at your iTunes directory on a pc to see all your music.
There is an alternative solution due next year. That can stepream from a blue tooth device, but it is not launched yet.
V.
Another vote for the apple-based system here.
I've got a mac mini hidden away upstairs, an appletv2 in a bedroom, an old airport express in the kitchen and a lovely bit of software on the *windows* pc (airfoil) which emulates the airplay protocol and it all works.
All controlled direct from the mini using screen sharing, from an ipod touch that I use as a pda (remember those?) or, another (older) ipod nestled in a bluelounge minidock which sits in a wall socket in the kitchen.
It's lovely. All patched together from bits and bobs lying around.
I've got a mac mini hidden away upstairs, an appletv2 in a bedroom, an old airport express in the kitchen and a lovely bit of software on the *windows* pc (airfoil) which emulates the airplay protocol and it all works.
All controlled direct from the mini using screen sharing, from an ipod touch that I use as a pda (remember those?) or, another (older) ipod nestled in a bluelounge minidock which sits in a wall socket in the kitchen.
It's lovely. All patched together from bits and bobs lying around.
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