What sound system for kitchen?

[Puggit]

Right, new kitchen means new sound system.

We already have a Bose Sounddock, but it's old and only fits the early iPods/iPhones. It irks me to bin it though!

The needs are:

1. iPhone/iPad/iPod compatible - we have iPhone 5s and iPad 2s. Ideally we would like to dock the phones to keep them charged.
2. Spotify compatible
3. Able to connect wirelessly to our NAS drive (UPnP/DLNA)

Mrs Puggit would like to consider extending the system around the house.

Sonos seems an obvious choice - but is there a dock?

Thanks

[Rick Cutler]

There is no dock for any devices in the sonos but as you can stream music why not just use an apple dock or generic charging station in a usefull place ie not next to the speaker!

[HRL]

Isn't there an adaptor for your Bose that will fit the new type iPhones?

I've got a Sonos Play 5 at home, can't fault it but it's probably a little larger than needed for a kitchen. A couple of Play 1's or a Play 3 would do the trick.

[Rick Cutler]

Play 1's are really good. The play 3 ain't bad but lacks the punch of the play5 and doesn't have the useful line input socket.

Comparing play5 and play1 they are very different in terms of deep sound.

[rhinochopig]

Zep airs can be had as a refurb for 299 from the usual suspects (Richer / Superfi) and they are superb bits of kit at that money. I bought one before christmas and was astounded by how good it sounds. I wouldn't have been able to tell it wasn't new either such was the condition.

But as said, why not simply buy an adapter for the Bose if you like it?

[sparkyhx]

Copied from another thread

I heard the Bose Soundtouch 30 and 20 last week and was very impressed, but again Sonos wipes the floor on connectivity. Bose doesn't even connect to a NAS and only has a few streaming services. The salesman mentioned NAS was coming (upgradable firmware) and one of the streaming services.

Sonos have been around for a while, and everyone has suddenly 'got the message' due to streaming and access to cheap storage for lossless recordings. Now the other manufacturers are playing catch up. Sonos have an excellent track record and their systems are the most flexible and backwards compatible (apple are you listening?). I'm not sure how future proof they are, but the signs are good.

There are certainly other devices which offer better sound quality and are cheaper, but none of them offer the same flexibility as Sonos.

My worry would be that the current crop of Sonos wannabies/alternatives are rushed halfway house products that get superceded very quickly in the pursuit of Sonos.

[BenM77]

Do you have an old iPod that you could leave docked on your Bose?

If so then there is an app that allows you to stream to the iPod, effectively making the dock AirPlay.



I have a B&W Zep Air which I love so I would recommend checking their kit out. They have some smaller AirPlay speakers now as well.


http://www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk/Wireless-Music-Sys...

[Puggit]

We have an old iPod, yes - but it's pre apps

However, a 2nd hand iPod might be the best solution!

[alfa aficionado]

You can pick up a refurbed Ipod Touch 2nd or 4th gen for between £75-100 from Morgan Computers.

Edited by alfa aficionado on Tuesday 7th January 21:03

[alfa aficionado]

BenM77 said:

Do you have an old iPod that you could leave docked on your Bose?

If so then there is an app that allows you to stream to the iPod, effectively making the dock AirPlay.

Which app is that?

[BenM77]

When I was looking into it for myself I'm pretty sure the Airfoil app was looking to be the best.

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/airfoil-speakers-t...




If the Bose Dock has a jack input then it would be easier to get an Airport Express.

Using the app is only cheap if you have a spare ipod/iPhone. Otherwise you can buy an Airplay dock if it is only for the kitchen. They start at just under £100.


Money no object vote still goes to the B & W speakers

[anonymous-user]

They definitely used to sell iPod docks for sonos - but they seem to have stopped.

there are some on ebay, but as you can stream wirelessly from the iPod/pad/phone, i suppose any dock will do.

[Garett]

Have a look at the Marantz MCR 610. Maybe a bit over kill for a kitchen but its a very versatile little combination.

[jinkster]

Not sure your budget but Beoplay A8 is very good or the Beolit 12. The 12 will not charge iPhones/ iPads.