Sonos VS Squeezebox Duet

[El Hefe]

Planning to purchase either one of the above. Need to get some facts sorted out first because I am getting different info from different people and some info is the opposite if whats stated on the official website of Sonos and Logitech.

I require a wireless system for the house with details below:

Main source of music: CD player/iPod

Secondary source of music: iTunes from a laptop (need to access with laptop off)

Tertiary source of music: Music on a portable hard disk

Between Sonos and Squeezebox, which one can handle all/one of the above?

Anyone can help?

 

[manicm]

Squeexebox Duet - since you have a laptop. But make sure your WLAN is rock solid.

 

[method man]

manic. how will squeezebox access the music files on the laptop if its off? im interested as im an owner.

 

[nads]

El Hefe:
Planning to purchase either one of the above. Need to get some facts sorted out first because I am getting different info from different people and some info is the opposite if whats stated on the official website of Sonos and Logitech.

I require a wireless system for the house with details below:

Main source of music: CD player/iPod

Secondary source of music: iTunes from a laptop (need to access with laptop off)

Tertiary source of music: Music on a portable hard disk

Between Sonos and Squeezebox, which one can handle all/one of the above?

Anyone can help?

none.

problems.

CDP.

Laptop off.

Nas will need tobeable to have some software installed on it for the Squeezebox..

you need to think a bit more about what you really want to do.

 

[Dave_]

The sonos do have a line in so you can connect a cd player, Squeezebox doesnt.But neither will stream from your laptop if it's off.

 

[El Hefe]

daveh75:The sonos do have a line in so you can connect a cd player, Squeezebox doesnt.But neither will stream from your laptop if it's off.

Thats what I thought. Neither both can access iTunes with laptop off. The reason I am putting a CDP as my main source is that I do not wish to keep my laptop on 24/7 as what I am doing now via airport express.

So Sonos would be the better choice then.

As for the NAS, I guess either one can access it right?

 

[Dave_]

El Hefe:
daveh75:The sonos do have a line in so you can connect a cd player, Squeezebox doesnt.But neither will stream from your laptop if it's off.

So Sonos would be the better choice then.

As for the NAS, I guess either one can access it right?

If you want to be able to hook up the cd player then yes sonos is the best/only choice.

Both can stream from a NAS,however squeezebox requires slimserver/squeezecentre software to be installed on the NAS.Though i gather it's a nightmare to try and install yourself,so would be better to buy a NAS with it pre-installed if going the squeezebox route.

http://ripcaster.co.uk/ sell NAS with the software pre-installed.

AFAIK sonos doesn't require any additional software to stream from a NAS.

 

[Anonymous]

Get Sonos, dump itunes and stream your music from Napster

 

[manicm]

If you have a NAS, the Sonos does not require a PC at all.

Ditto the Squeezebox if you have a NAS with SqueezeCenter installed like Netgear's Nasready, after setting up.

 

[Anonymous]

Gets my vote. £10 per month and you can listen to anything(just about!)

 

[Anonymous]

dustymrb:Gets my vote. £10 per month and you can listen to anything(just about!)

I use Napster through Squeezebox and dont pay anything for streaming. Is the £10 for downloading rather than streaming?

 

[Anonymous]

Please let Logitech know - they will be delighted

 

[Anonymous]

That's for streaming and downloading(but not to mp3 players thats an extra fiver)wasn't aware you could stream for free!

Have to say I don't really bother downloading but it has changed the way the whole family listen to music.Excellent for themed parties or some authentic music when eating foreign food! Recently even found some belly dancing music which made for interesting party entertainment!

Of course we do listen to 'normal 'music aswell.

 

[El Hefe]

Thanks for all the feedback. I think most of you is in favour of Sonos which I tend to agree. So, will audition both and see which I can get at the best price.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm thinking of getting the Sonos 150 bundle. I currently have a Yamaha Soundbar in my lounge with a DVD player and Foxsat HDR Freesat box and a laptop with some iTunes music on it, though it has limited HDD space. I have got Wifi in the house too.

My plan is to get the Sonos 150 bundle and a Buffalo LinkStation 500GB Media Server, possibly adding further ZonePlayers at a later date.

My 1st question is whether the Buffalo works as a NAS (not knowing a huge amount about these things) and whether anyone has successfully used one as a storage device with the Sonos? Secondly, what is the Sonos Zonebridge Wireless Router and do I need one?

 

[d4v3pum4]

The Buffalo Linkstations work fine with Sonos. At least one of the Zoneplayers has to be hard-wired to your router so if this isn't possible, the Zone Bridge is used. It also extends the range.

Try sites such as ripcaster and the main Sonos site which is pretty good at explaining how it all works and there is a forum at Sonos too which should be able to offer more specialised advice when it comes to using NAS' etc.

I'm a Squeezebox fan and one of the main reasons I went down that route was cost and I hated the remote but now Sonos is cheaper and you can use the iphone/itouch app to control your Sonos system. It is very impressive. I use my itouch to control my two Squeezeboxes as well as my Harmony One/525. The itouch makes a great remote (as long as noone removes it from the house!)

Sonos

Itouch Controller

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks, that makes sense - I hadn't appreciated that one of the ZonePlayers had to be hardwired to my router. That however, is perfectly possible so I think I'll take the plunge. My router has four, currently unused, ethernet ports, so there's plenty of room for the Buffalo, a Zone Player and my Foxsat to be wired in (should Humax ever release their much awaited software upgrade that's supposed to add internet capability!)

What's so bad about the Sonos controller? It certainly looks pretty and I don't remember too many bad comments about it in the What Hif Fi review (though I dare say that was some time ago now!). I wondered why it was available bundled with an iPod Touch via SuperFi... Is it possible to use an iPod Touch and a Sonos Controller at the same time in different rooms? If I got an iPod and took it out and about, would the missus be able to use the controller in its absense?

 

[Anonymous]

Personally I think the sonos controller works very well . The main issue some have is that it is not touch screen and therefore inputting seaches for tracks ,artists etc isn't as slick as with the ipod, oh and the touch is cheaper. Downside of the ipod is that it relies on your home network and not sonos own mesh.It also takes longer to fireup and loses charge more quickly.

in answer to your last 2 questions...yes and yes

 

[d4v3pum4]

deejay2007:What's so bad about the Sonos controller? It certainly looks pretty and I don't remember too many bad comments about it in the What Hif Fi review (though I dare say that was some time ago now!). I wondered why it was available bundled with an iPod Touch via SuperFi... Is it possible to use an iPod Touch and a Sonos Controller at the same time in different rooms? If I got an iPod and took it out and about, would the missus be able to use the controller in its absense?

That is just my opinion of the Sonos controller. Once you got past the wow factor of having album art, I found it clumsy and awkward, simply as I don't like two handed remotes.

You can use itouch and/or Sonos Controller at the same time so yes you can use both.

 

[The_Lhc]

dustymrb: Personally I think the sonos controller works very well . The main issue some have is that it is not touch screen and therefore inputting seaches for tracks ,artists etc isn't as slick as with the ipod,

There's a new controller the CR200 due for release imminently, have a look on Sonos's own forum, it looks suspiciously like an iTouch in drag, touch screen, same interface, with a few extra buttons on the front. It's smaller and lighter than the existing controller.

oh and the touch is cheaper.

Yeah that hasn't changed, sadly...

 

[d4v3pum4]

The new controller looks good and at least comes with a dock. I have yet to find a charging solution for my itouch, which I only use as a remote control for Squeezebox.

Prices of the existing controller should drop much like the Squeezebox kit is dropping in price with rumours of new players being banded around.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks very much for the advice everyone - I think I'll try and see a aystem in action somewhere, but it certainly looks like it'll fit the bill nicely.

 

[El Hefe]

before i plunge my money into sonos, can someone clarify one thing about the discussion on remote. Is itouch = ipod touch?

 

[Dave_]

El Hefe:before i plunge my money into sonos, can someone clarify one thing about the discussion on remote. Is itouch = ipod touch?Yes, Sonos can be controlled by an ipod touch/iphone.

 

[mcjwalters]

I was not sure and went for the Sonos and wow best money I have spent in a long time. I use a bridge in sky router and a NAS hard drive also in router. An Itouch is used to control and cannot believe the sound quality and easy of use. Am now really considering getting rid of my Cyrus CD player. The dealer was very helpful on buying it and sold me a ex-demo unit for alot less and the saving using itouch that I already had was very attractive in a sonos system. I have also called the Sonos call centre and they were very helpful.
Take the plunge and enjoy lossless files as well as Napster's huge playlist.