What can I get for 3K Sonos related system?

[shado]

After being enlightened by a recent Sonos Demo has anyone got an Arcam Mini Solo as main unit connected to Sonos? I would like an outside spkr setup including ceiling speakers for both my children in their bedrooms (3 rooms). Or do I just go for a PC system/with Sonos (I have Windows Vista) with Ripserver or AVA RS3 plus bookshelf speakers all round.

I have Cambridge Soundworks 4 satellite spkrs plus Subwoofer for PC from older Evesham system.

 

[The_Lhc]

shado:After being enlightened by a recent Sonos Demo has anyone got an Arcam Mini Solo as main unit connected to Sonos? I would like an outside spkr setup including ceiling speakers for both my children in their bedrooms (3 rooms).

Do you want individual zones for each room?

Or do I just go for a PC system/with Sonos (I have Windows Vista) with Ripserver or AVA RS3 plus bookshelf speakers all round.

How are you going to run the Sonos without a PC (or NAS at least)?

I have Cambridge Soundworks 4 satellite spkrs plus Subwoofer for PC from older Evesham system.

That's nice, so what?

Sorry was that a touch harsh? I've only just got up...

 

[shado]

nah, don't worry about it - water of a ducks back - Ive been away for a couple of days anyway back to the business in hand. Yes I was going to use a PC but just wondered about the other options out there. Space is an important part of the decision making where I could at a push fit a Hifi related system into the Conservatory. That is why I was looking at Cyrus size or the Mini solo with KEF. Ceiling spkrs and Zone box in Living room. A setup for outside and the 2 children bedroom with ceiling spkrs as I know the Sonos comes bundled with one Zone. But if need be I could use the 2 pairs of Satellite spkrs from the PC setup, so have 2.1 in Conservatory and the other Cambridge Soundworks in Living Room and forego seperates Hifi. I just need to investigate the various options further. But I have until March next year before I make a purchase. Just interested in what equipment variations forum members have with sonos!

 

[The_Lhc]

My ZP90 is in the living room connected to my main amp the ZP120 is in the dining room not yet connected to anything! The intention is small bookshelf speakers, when I get round to it. I've got a set of outdoor speakers I could use as well though, haven't made my mind up yet, they're currently attached to the B terminals of my main amp, so I can switch them when I want to have toons in the garden. That way I can still use the living room zone for the garden as well.

 

[shado]

Wow now I am looking at 4.5K.....

My son wants a B&W Zeppelin that works with Sonos this Xmas so that his room sorted.

I was looking at Wireless Outcast Spkr for garden at £599.00 - Anyone have experience of these?

For my daughters room and Kitchen Q Acoustic 1010 at £97.99 each - are these any good?

and the heart at the mo until I can audition AVI 9 system

Cyrus 6 XPd Amp - pay extra for DAC.

Cyrus 6 SE CD.

KEF iq30 plus Stands

plus necessary Sonos Items.

 

[The_Lhc]

shado: Wow now I am looking at 4.5K.....

Lucky you!

My son wants a B&W Zeppelin that works with Sonos this Xmas so that his room sorted.

The Zeppelin has a digital input I guess?

I was looking at Wireless Outcast Spkr for garden at £599.00 - Anyone have experience of these?

No, I've just got passive speakers outside, with cable running back into the house where the ZP120 is (under the stairs as it happens).

For my daughters room and Kitchen Q Acoustic 1010 at £97.99 each - are these any good?

No idea, I believe they're fine for the money though.

and the heart at the mo until I can audition AVI 9 system

Cyrus 6 XPd Amp - pay extra for DAC.

Cyrus 6 SE CD.

What do you need the CD player for?

KEF iq30 plus Stands

I think some people might suggest these are a little low-rent for a Cyrus amp but I'd be interested to hear how they sound.

plus necessary Sonos Items.

I think you're looking at 3 ZP120s, 2 ZP90s (I presume you'll put a ZP90 on the zeppelin?), at least 1 controller (or iPhone/Touch) and, depending on where your router is, a Zonebridge, so get 2 BU150 bundles, (That'll give you 2xZP120, 2xZP90 and 2x Controller), plus a another ZP120 and a Zonebridge (if required). I think you're looking at about £1800 there...

You might want to consider waiting for the new Controller (the CR200) to hit the bundles, it has the same interface as the iPhone/Touch Sonos app, so there won't be as much confusion when switching between the two.

Very nice...

 

[shado]

As my broadband connection is fairly pants being at the end of a telephone exchange I am sure on occasions I would not be able to access the Napster via Sonos so the CDP is what a Submariner would call a back up system.

e.g. when planing (driving) the submarine we have electrical/hydraulic/High Pressure Air so if we lose a system we select the next operating device. Again with Propulsion we have nuclear/diesels and mega big battery as a last resort. The Cyrus 6 SE is my battery contingent!!

The Zeppelin works with Sonos but as I do not receive my money until next year I shall def check out your recommendations. As I might have to place my speakers at an odd alignment in the Conservatory I should not loose the stereo coverage as the tweeter is combined with the woofer. Basically I am starting from scratch so a better spkr upgrade in years to come will be on the cards. The KEF sounded better to me than the B&W best buy especially in the Bass, but I am interested in auditioning the AVI option. So that is my next port of call.

 

[The_Lhc]

shado: As my broadband connection is fairly pants being at the end of a telephone exchange I am sure on occasions I would not be able to access the Napster via Sonos so the CDP is what a Submariner would call a back up system.

e.g. when planing (driving) the submarine we have electrical/hydraulic/High Pressure Air so if we lose a system we select the next operating device. Again with Propulsion we have nuclear/diesels and mega big battery as a last resort. The Cyrus 6 SE is my battery contingent!!

Err, ok, but what I meant was are you not planning to rip your CDs to PC or NAS and just play them through the Sonos? That doesn't require any internet access at all (after the initial rip, you need it for tagging), so it wouldn't matter if your connection was down. Given this is Sonos' primary function it seems a little odd (not to mention expensive) to get Sonos solely for streaming from the net. you'd save a deal of cash on the CD player as well, I don't have one at all.

The Zeppelin works with Sonos but as I do not receive my money until next year I shall def check out your recommendations. As I might have to place my speakers at an odd alignment in the Conservatory I should not loose the stereo coverage as the tweeter is combined with the woofer.

Yes I was thinking of them for that reason for my pool room (table, not swimming, sadly...).

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Shado

I also had a demo of the sonos and in march bought a load of gear online at a great discount.

4 zp120 zone players 2 sonos controllers and cradles and 1 A-B-AB speaker switch so I can split the sound from my lounge speakers to outside or have music in both areas all for £1780.

I also bought ceiling speakers for all zones made by Monitor Audio and the outdoor Climate range are awesome so long as your neighbours like the same music

. In the lounges I fitted the M/A C280's great sound but do need the sub for that massive base kick, the only downside to these speakers is the sound bleed to upstaires if you are in the bedroom you can hear the music a little bit. For the bedrooms I used the M/A Bronze BR CPC thes also sound great, the reason I chose these was because they are enclosed so there is very little sound blead into the loft conversion when on a normal to loud volume, plus there is the fire safety factor aswell. I have since stoped using my old equipment as I think the sound is great and saves alot of space being in the ceiling.

Regards your question about the source of music, I have a windows pc that I use as a server but will be buying the AVA RS3 server as its cheaper on the electric than the pc and can be hidden in a cupboard. Once you have bought your sonos you do get a month free of Napster, check out how it works for you if it does chances are you will never buy a cd again but for the odd few that are of older releases that Napster dont list but then all you do is register for free with LastFM and they may have it.

Hope this is usefull

 

[shado]

Thanks guys for both your input. I too have been toying whether to get the AVA or not which is roughly the same price as the Cyrus 6 SE CD Player as my wife would still like a normal hifi setup as well as the computer based setup. I was impressed with Sept issue of What Hifi which really goes into detail with the streaming side as this is def the future of Hifi. I have another 7 months to demonstrate gear and I will go as far as Bristol in order to hear the required variations.

Cannot wait for the final outcome in April next year where I will have the cash to hand and thanks again for the useful input into this thread.

 

[method man]

as my wife would still like a normal hifi setup as well as the computer based setup

hi shado. thats what my wife thought and said. made me promise that we would be able to just 'spin' a cd in a player as well. 3 weeks later the arcam is in the loft.

once she saw all the album art on the controller and saw she could scroll through with her thumb and jump from track to track etc. all her worries went. I think as she just went along with it, and i did all the research she was just scared that it would be like programming an old video recorder everytime u want to play some music. now she wouldnt go back to cds.

I would get it all set up first, and put the cd player on hold for a bit. you might not need it

 

[JamesPianoman]

Hi Shado / others, this is a really informative thread- I'm researching a NAS/Sonos/Squeezebox set-up as well, so its helpful to follow this. Shado, can you keep us updated when you've auditioned the AVIs?

Thanks, James

 

[shado]

At the moment I am on a journey of discovery and I am disappointed on the lack of computer based systems on this site especially on the thread to show pictures of the wifi setup. WHF has seen the light and auditioned a setup in Bristol this year so my endeavour is to explore and report findings this year before I commit next year. Plymouth only have Richer Sounds or Sevenoakes. For information Messiah has a AVI setup and seems quite pleased with it.