Sonos, Bose or other
Author
Discussion

James_N

Original Poster:

3,284 posts

258 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2013
quotequote all
Hi All,

New to all this so please bear with me.

I am looking for something for my bedroom. I want the ability to play music from the laptop, stream internet radio (things like Radio Le Mans, as well as the local radio stations I listen too).

Fairly simple requests I imagine.

I know a lot of these are controlled via smartphone apps. I don't have Apple or Android. I have a Nokia Lumia and a laptop and that's it. I'm not really up on all this technical stuff. Not sure if this will hold me back.

Ive seen the Sonos Play 1 (but you need two for sterio sound right?) and the Bose Soundtouch 20.

Just a decent wireless solution for the bedroom would be ace.

Many Thanks for any help
Jim

Salesy

850 posts

153 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2013
quotequote all
Sonos all the way.

Yes 2x play 1's are needed for stereo but you can run the sonos controller software on your PC or Mac.

the beauty is that its fully expandable as and when budget permits.

Just today i did an install with 2 play 5's in a bedroom, 1in dining room, 1 in kitchen and a connect amp in the lounge rigged to 2 floor standers.

The neighbours weren't happy as we were pumping music from about 10am through to 3 this afternoon in every room.

Salesy

850 posts

153 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2013
quotequote all
Sonos all the way.

Yes 2x play 1's are needed for stereo but you can run the sonos controller software on your PC or Mac.

the beauty is that its fully expandable as and when budget permits.

Just today i did an install with 2 play 5's in a bedroom, 1in dining room, 1 in kitchen and a connect amp in the lounge rigged to 2 floor standers.

The neighbours weren't happy as we were pumping music from about 10am through to 3 this afternoon in every room.

Skier

488 posts

247 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2013
quotequote all
Another vote for Sonos. If it's for your bedroom, how will it be used? Unless you live your life in your bedroom a single Play 1 will provide all the sound you need. If you want to use your laptop then you will need it on all the time to stream music from it. The alternatives are:

1. Stream from Spotify or Napster.
2. Wake up to Internet radio.
3. Use a NAS.

Enjoy!

Edited by Skier on Tuesday 3rd December 23:28

Bigbox

655 posts

235 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2013
quotequote all
Salesy said:
Sonos all the way.

Yes 2x play 1's are needed for stereo but you can run the sonos controller software on your PC or Mac.

the beauty is that its fully expandable as and when budget permits.

Just today i did an install with 2 play 5's in a bedroom, 1in dining room, 1 in kitchen and a connect amp in the lounge rigged to 2 floor standers.

The neighbours weren't happy as we were pumping music from about 10am through to 3 this afternoon in every room.
Two play 5s in the bedroom?! Surely that's slightly overkill?

James_N

Original Poster:

3,284 posts

258 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2013
quotequote all
Skier said:
Another vote for Sonos. If it's for your bedroom, how will it be used? Unless you live your life in your bedroom a single Play 1 will provide all the sound you need. If you want to use your laptop then you will need it on all the time to stream music from it. The alternatives are:

1. Stream from Spotify or Napster.
2. Wake up to Intenet radio.
3. Use a NAS.

Enjoy!
That's what I was hoping to hear. I wasn't sure whether One Sonos 1 would be sufficient but thanks for the confirmation smile

I will mainly be using it for internet radio, and will buy a NAS for my other music.

Cheers all
Jim

badboyburt

2,043 posts

201 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2013
quotequote all
I looked into Sonos a while back, couldnt justify the cost then came across Kitsound, purchased their Hive, great piece of kit, its bluetooth so plays from any bluetooth eneabled device, lasts upto 10 hrs from a full charge, sound quality is really good for its size.

From their website;
we at KS like to embrace. We believe that just because you're listening to your music on a small speaker, it shouldn't mean you have to compromise on sound. With its powerful digital amplifier and active drivers, the Hive delivers controlled midrange and treble, while the passive radiator provides warm, full bass. The result is an outstanding sound quality from such a small speaker.

I got mine from Sainsburys for a steal at £39.99 earlier this year, might be worth looking into.




http://kitsound.co.uk/product/KSHIVE/

Marvindodgers

734 posts

240 months

Wednesday 4th December 2013
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One Sonos Play 1 is perfectly adequate for most normal people's bedroom listening.

sparkyhx

4,200 posts

228 months

Wednesday 4th December 2013
quotequote all
Bigbox said:
Two play 5s in the bedroom?! Surely that's slightly overkill?
my thoughts as well.

....getting back to the OP, why do you want Sonos/Bose? If you are not going multiroom wouldn't a simple Bluetooth speaker(s) be cheaper option. You will be paying a significant premium for the flexibility you are not using otherwise.

If you do want to build - then sonos

Salesy

850 posts

153 months

Wednesday 4th December 2013
quotequote all
Bigbox said:
Two play 5s in the bedroom?! Surely that's slightly overkill?
To be honest its a big room but i agree slight overkill as it is a terraced house. BUT the customer is always right and being a woman i dare not argue with her.

Did sound very good though paired up in stereo.



James_N

Original Poster:

3,284 posts

258 months

Wednesday 4th December 2013
quotequote all
sparkyhx said:
my thoughts as well.

....getting back to the OP, why do you want Sonos/Bose? If you are not going multiroom wouldn't a simple Bluetooth speaker(s) be cheaper option. You will be paying a significant premium for the flexibility you are not using otherwise.

If you do want to build - then sonos
I just want something that I can stream internet radio with and play my songs off the computer with decent sound.

Before looking at Sonos, I was looking at this: http://www.johnlewis.com/roberts-stream-83i-dab-in...

As that has a remote control with it, so might be easier to use than having to fire the laptop up all the time.

sparkyhx

4,200 posts

228 months

Wednesday 4th December 2013
quotequote all
the extra £40 i'd still be tempted by the the Sonos Play:1, although Roberts generally do decent kit.

Free Bridge at the moment to connect to your PC or USB drive, music service, 100,000 radio stations etc