Recommend me a wifi enabled streaming playback soundbar...

[PhilboSE]

Flushed with my recent success with streaming into the living room, I'm charged (by Mrs PhilboSE) with achieving a similar outcome in the kitchen. Requirements are:

- self contained streamer/amp/speakers (single unit)
- not too hideous looking
- wifi enabled
- iPhone remote control app
- streaming radio via iPlayer or similar would be good

You'll notice that ultimate playback fidelity isn't on the list. Something relatively sleek would be best for the location I have in mind.

I am aware of the Sonos, but I don't really want to invest in the whole platform when I just want a single room solution and I already have wifi, NAS etc.

Feels like something should be available in the £200-£300 range but can anyone recommend anything?

[Autopilot]

PhilboSE said:

Flushed with my recent success with streaming into the living room, I'm charged (by Mrs PhilboSE) with achieving a similar outcome in the kitchen. Requirements are:

- self contained streamer/amp/speakers (single unit)
- not too hideous looking
- wifi enabled
- iPhone remote control app
- streaming radio via iPlayer or similar would be good

You'll notice that ultimate playback fidelity isn't on the list. Something relatively sleek would be best for the location I have in mind.

I am aware of the Sonos, but I don't really want to invest in the whole platform when I just want a single room solution and I already have wifi, NAS etc.

Feels like something should be available in the £200-£300 range but can anyone recommend anything?

I'm sure you'll get offered a number of decent solutions by this rabble, but your list of requirements perfectly describe the Sonos The Play 3 and Play 5 devices are standalone units, controlled via a phone app and you have millions of radio stations to choose from also.

The only 'platform' you'd need to invest in is a small white box (Bridge) that plugs in to your wifi router and is typically about £40 or some places give it away with the Play 5. It utilises your existing wifi/Nas/iTunes libraries on PC's etc, there's no 'platform' as such, just a small box so it talks to the rest of your existing network. I used a Play 5 device as a single room solution for a while before expanding it. While the Sonos is at its best when used in multiple rooms, it's a perfectly viable solution for a single room. When Mrs PhilboSE asks you to achieve a similar outcome in the bedroom, dining room etc, you just buy another Play 3 / 5, two minutes installation, job done!

[aberdeeneuan]

Autopilot said:

PhilboSE said:

Flushed with my recent success with streaming into the living room, I'm charged (by Mrs PhilboSE) with achieving a similar outcome in the kitchen. Requirements are:

- self contained streamer/amp/speakers (single unit)
- not too hideous looking
- wifi enabled
- iPhone remote control app
- streaming radio via iPlayer or similar would be good

You'll notice that ultimate playback fidelity isn't on the list. Something relatively sleek would be best for the location I have in mind.

I am aware of the Sonos, but I don't really want to invest in the whole platform when I just want a single room solution and I already have wifi, NAS etc.

Feels like something should be available in the £200-£300 range but can anyone recommend anything?

I'm sure you'll get offered a number of decent solutions by this rabble, but your list of requirements perfectly describe the Sonos The Play 3 and Play 5 devices are standalone units, controlled via a phone app and you have millions of radio stations to choose from also.

The only 'platform' you'd need to invest in is a small white box (Bridge) that plugs in to your wifi router and is typically about £40 or some places give it away with the Play 5. It utilises your existing wifi/Nas/iTunes libraries on PC's etc, there's no 'platform' as such, just a small box so it talks to the rest of your existing network. I used a Play 5 device as a single room solution for a while before expanding it. While the Sonos is at its best when used in multiple rooms, it's a perfectly viable solution for a single room. When Mrs PhilboSE asks you to achieve a similar outcome in the bedroom, dining room etc, you just buy another Play 3 / 5, two minutes installation, job done!

I'd agree with that summary - While Sonos is great at multi-room, it's also a really good single room solution, it's how I used mine for 6 months before I got itchy feet and wanted the multi-room aspects ;-)

[jinkster]

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