Sonos vs. Sony Media PC

[admin_exported]

I took the plunge this year and installed CAT6 cabling around the house. I am currently ripping my CD collection to lossless FLAC and 320 KBPS mp3 (to use with my iPOD). I am looking at purchasing the Sonos BU150 bundle (which can play FLAC). I was about to part with my hard earned cash when I saw the Sony Blu-Ray Media Centre PC (Model VGXTP3Z). It has a HDMI connector for video and audio plus an optical out. I have recently purchased a Sony LCD TV (40W4500) and have been looking at a separate Blu-Ray player and the Sony Media Centre PC would cover this requirement as well. Has any one had experience of the Sony Media Centre PC and thoughts on whether it is better to get this as opposed to the Sonos and separate Blu-Ray player? I realise that either way there will be a compromise in sound compared to a good quality CD transport but it is destined to be used by the entire family.

 

[The_Lhc]

Surely you're talking about two completely different products here? A PC is a PC, even with HDMI and Blu-Ray to plug into your TV. Sonos doesn't have either of those options because that's not what it's designed for, it's a multi-room music distribution system (you cannot store your music on the Sonos incidentally, so you'll need a PC or NAS running all the time for the Sonos to stream music from).

I don't know what options the Sony PC comes with but I doubt it's going to pipe music all round the house like the Sonos will. So really you're comparing apples with oranges (sorry, I hate that old cliche but it's appropriate here!).

I guess one question is, how much is the PC? If it's cheaper to buy the Sonos and a seperate Blu-ray player (the PC would have to be DAMN expensive!) then do that, unless you really want a new PC, in which case buy the Sony but say goodbye to your multi-room music, but that's not a decision anyone else can make for you!

 

[up the music]

I was horrified when I saw the price of the Sony and how little was in it.

Given spec below and asking price of £818 for this machine it looks like £550 is being spent on software you don't need and a cute case. It won't be easy to fit new kit into when you realise how rubbish it is. This is a complete style over substance rip off.

Don't touch it. Look to pay somebody to build a machine for you to a discussed spec if you can't build your own.

Sony VGXTP3Z/B T8100

CPU - Intel© CoreT2 Duo Processor T8100 2.1 GHz,3072Kb L2 Cache,
Intel© 965PM Express Chipset Motherboard 800MHz FSB
RAM - 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (2 x 1024MB), 4096Mb max
NVIDIA© GeForce© 8400M GT GPU 256MB
HD - 500GB, 7200RPM SATA
Twin Hybrid Digital Tuner TV Card
BluRay BD ROM/ DVD+-RW/+-R DL/RAM

UHF in,
RJ-45 Direct Port
HDMIT out
VGA out
Headphone Jack
Microphone Jack
SPDIF Port
Wireless LAN antenna
802.11 a/b/g
Ethernet 10 BASE-T/100 BASE-TX
USB Port * 2
4 Pin i.LINKT (IEEE1394)
Memory StickT Slot
SD Slot
Infrared port
Wireless Keyboard
Remote Control
HDMIT to DVI-D adapter
A/V input connector
Antenna Cable (EU-PAL)
AC Adapter
Power Cord

Genuine Windows Vista© Home Premium with Service Pack 1
Extensive software bundle

 

[Clare Newsome]

We're not too impressed by the Sony Media Center PCs, either - review of the last Vaio-TP here. Just not the picture and sound quality you'd expect.

One more thing... if you can, why not rip your files in Lossless format? 320Kbps may seem a high bitrate, but you'll really hear what you're missing (or not, actually!) if you move to Lossless. Also, MP3 is far from the best format....