Almost certainly getting a Sonos system but have some queries

[byakuya83]

I have a small CD collection, only around 200 at present, and will be trading in my old equipment to purchase a Sonos S5 and Zonebridge.

I already have an ipod so will be using the free Sonos app.

It's my intention to use itunes to rip all my CDs to apple lossless files then stream these from my laptop initially.

Eventually though I would love to do away with the need to have my laptop on to stream my music and I believe what I need is a NAS.

So my questions revolve around that issue:

Are there wireless routers with storage built-in?
Does Sonos have its own NAS or a Zonebridge that includes storage?
Is there a list of recommended NAS to use with Sonos?

Finally, I don't really understand how to ensure my laptop rips my CDs to a NAS. At the moment the files are buried within an itunes folder that is in turn within my music folder.

Do I just copy and paste this folder to the external storage?

Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide!

 

[The_Lhc]

So my questions revolve around that issue: Are there wireless routers with storage built-in?

Not that I'm aware of.

Does Sonos have its own NAS or a Zonebridge that includes storage?

No, Sonos is storage agnostic, it really doesn't care what you're storing your files on.

Is there a list of recommended NAS to use with Sonos?

No, there's a VERY short list on the Sonos website that Sonos DOESN'T work with (clicky also gives incompatible routers and switches), but any "normal" NAS that provides a CIFS/SMB (Windows basically) share will work with Sonos, that's >99% of the NAS's on the market.

Finally, I don't really understand how to ensure my laptop rips my CDs to a NAS. At the moment the files are buried within an itunes folder that is in turn within my music folder. Do I just copy and paste this folder to the external storage?

Yes that'll do it, you may be better off setting iTunes to use the NAS itself, so it rips directly to it, however if you wanted to listen to music on the laptop when away from home you'd have to have two copies of your library.

 

[david_tring]

I'm a very happy Sonos ZP90/CR-200 user - bought it on the strength of What HiFi's reviews and I have mine hardwired to my router for Internet radio and Spotify Premium. Excellent sound. But there is one major issue to bear in mind - the Sonos system only handles up to 48kHz sample-rate files, and not at a particularly good bit depth either. I've been in touch with them and have been told that proper 192kHz/24 bit support may come one day, but who knows when .......? This means that the system is OK now, but is very much non-future proof. Once you've outgrown ordinary ripped CDs and want to try some better quality music files from people like www.hdtracks.com - well you can't. Or should I say - we can't....

 

[audioaffair]

As good as the S5 is if youre making the effort to rip tracks in losless format then space permitting consider either the ZP90 with an existing stereo set up or the ZP120 with some decent bookshelf speakers. The difference is immediate and well worth a bit extra !

 

[amcluesent]

>Finally, I don't really understand how to ensure my laptop rips my CDs to a NAS. At the moment the files are buried within an itunes folder that is in turn within my music folder.<

Using iTunes to rip to Apple lossless maybe isn't the wisest choice, unless that's an Apple laptop. There is far better ripping s/w (i.e. dbPoweramp or EAC) and FLAC lossless encoding has much more support.

 

[byakuya83]

Thank you for all the helpful tips.

I think whilst I get to grips with it I will go with the S5. Eventually I might buy the separates and use the S5 elsewhere in the home.

Is the S5 good enough that the difference between lossy and lossless is noticeable?

I've just read that the NAS doesn't have to be hardwired to the router, it can be connected to my zoneplayer.

Therefore, I would assume that a Zonebridge can connect to the wireless router, the S5 can be placed in a separate room with a NAS drive connected to it by ethernet.

Then I simply need to ensure my computer is ripping CDs to the NAS.

The reason I go with Apple is because I'm familiar with how it works and I do use an iPod touch for apps.

 

[bigboss]

I've just read that the NAS doesn't have to be hardwired to the router, it can be connected to my zoneplayer. Therefore, I would assume that a Zonebridge can connect to the wireless router, the S5 can be placed in a separate room with a NAS drive connected to it by ethernet.

As far as I'm aware (I may be wrong), the NAS drive has to be hardwired to the router, and so does at least one Sonos component (ZoneBridge in your case).

 

[The_Lhc]

I've just read that the NAS doesn't have to be hardwired to the router, it can be connected to my zoneplayer. Therefore, I would assume that a Zonebridge can connect to the wireless router, the S5 can be placed in a separate room with a NAS drive connected to it by ethernet.

As far as I'm aware (I may be wrong), the NAS drive has to be hardwired to the router, and so does at least one Sonos component (ZoneBridge in your case).

Doing it the way the OP has mentioned is acceptable, Sonos has a wired connection to the NAS, which is the important bit. It might make access to the NAS for non-Sonos components a bit slower though.

 

[byakuya83]

OK, that is a possibility then but it would be preferable to install the NAS in the traditional way.

The other option is of course the extremely convenient Zeppelin Air. The only downside as far as I can see if that airplay has reliability problems.

I imagine the S5 and Zeppelin Air are comparable in terms of sound quality. So is lossless going to make a difference, are these systems producing a sound quality that will reveal loss of detail in AAC or MP3?

 

[The_Lhc]

I haven't listened to either for long enough to give an opinion on that, however if you subsequently do go for a more serious system you don't want to be re-ripping everything in lossless having already done it once (you can't go from a lossy codec to a lossless one. Well, you can but there isn't any point, you won't gain anything).

 

[audioaffair]

When ive listened to lossless versus lossless on an S5 and through a ZP90 setup i couldnt really detect any difference on the S5. But then without two totally seperate left and right channels it think it is harder to detect flaws. Certainly worth the time to rip in lossless so you have the best format for the future, saves re-doing it all over !

 

[byakuya83]

Thank you, that makes sense. There is also an option within itunes to convert large files before syncing to my ipod so space doesn't become an issue.

Despite still buying my albums on CD I do enjoy the ease of access that digital music affords. The DJ, genius and playlist features within itunes make it easy to enjoy my collection.

I think I will need to have a little play on a Sonos system to see whether it will work for me or I'd be better off with the simplicity of an airplay/dock system with similar sound quality.

If you've read the latest issue of WHF you'll see the Zeppelin Air received 5 stars and does have improved sound over its predecessor.

 

[BenLaw]

Don't underestimate the simplicity of sonos. It really is virtually foolproof. While I'm sure the problems will be ironed out, it does sound as though several people are experiencing some difficulties with Airplay. Plus sonos gives you almost limitless expansion possibilities: you've already suggested you could later add a ZP90 and expand your network.

As you say, going and having a play around with the sonos will help you decide if it's for you

 

[byakuya83]

Multi-room isn't top priority for me. Relaxing in a chair with my iTouch and wirelessy playing music without intteruption is what I want to achieve. Based on reviews I've read and experience with my own wireless network to date I think Air Play would struggle to work well in my home.

Luckily I spotted a third option, even simpler than the Sonos, it's the rWand or rDongle from Arcam. This can stream wirelessy to the rDac or rCube! It uses kleer wi-fi which is apparently very stable.

Not sure with the rCube whether I could tell the difference between lossless and an itunes+ quality download.

 

[The_Lhc]

It uses kleer wi-fi which is apparently very stable.

It might be stable but it's still wireless and (I think) still using the same frequencies as every other wi-fi network, so if you have problems in your house with interference or thick walls I wouldn't expect this to cure those problems to be honest.

 

[byakuya83]

I think the wireless problem in my house is due to the walls. The rWand I gather works like a remote, i.e. you point it straight at the rCube rather than it going through my wireless router.

The only thing that puts me off using Sonos is the additional equipment in the form of a NAS. It's not something I've ever used before and I can't get my head round it without actually using from start to finish.

 

[The_Lhc]

I think the wireless problem in my house is due to the walls. The rWand I gather works like a remote, i.e. you point it straight at the rCube rather than it going through my wireless router. The only thing that puts me off using Sonos is the additional equipment in the form of a NAS. It's not something I've ever used before and I can't get my head round it without actually using from start to finish.

You don't have to have a NAS, presumably you have your music stored somewhere else at the moment and not just on your iPod? If it's on a laptop or other PC (or Mac) Sonos can pull it straight off of there and of course now there's the Airplay option, although you'll need to buy an Airport Express as well, if you haven't already got one.

The other option of course if you have a Spotify Premium account you can just set the Sonos up and play everything from there, broadband allowance providing...

 

[CustomCable]

I think that in terms of ripping and getting storage for the Sonos systems in house would simply be to purchase a ripNAS device available in a large variety of storage sizes. The rWand/rCube/rDAC system is convenient but definately has its limitations that the Sonos can easily overcome. The rWand is not exactly like a remote in the it isnt line of sight, it doesn't need to be pointed to the rDAC or rCube like infrared would be.