New Sonos ZoneBridge and Sonos System Review
If the world of music streamers were a private club, then Sonos didn't merely ask to join. Sonos kicked down the door with a model on each arm, slapped the owner, and renamed the joint Sonos' Place. It's just that good.
Introduction (the more experienced of you readers can feel free to skip down to the start of the review):
People have a common problem. Yes, exactly, they have a ton of digital music on their computer but no way to play all the delectable music on their home stereo or in their office, or by their pool, in their garage...well you get the point. Thus entered a new market of Music Streamers. Quite simply, these products "streamed" your music from your computer to your home stereo. Often times they worked. Often times they were ugly, hard to setup, hard to operate...the list could go on.
In 2005, Sonos had enough. They decided there was room for a well-built, slick, smooth, incredibly easy to use product that could blow this whole Music Streaming business to the next level. Remember the private club I told you about? Yep, this is about the time they kicked the doors down. The current Sonos setup has evolved over the years but a few days ago they added a massive addition to their solid lineup: the ZoneBridge (more on that in a bit).
Review:
First off, I must mention that I worked with Mike Zapata of the Sonos Sales Team. He was everything you want in a Sales Manager; knowledgeable, easy to talk to, not pushy in the slightest, and extremely prompt in reply time. If he is any example of the rest of the Sonos staff (which i'm sure he is) then they are definitely doing something right. Mike and I put together a killer system which basically consisted of everything in the Sonos Store excluding a Sonos T-Shirt. Ahem, feel free to send me one, Sonos...
My System: Sonos Bundle 130 with Loudspeakers (1x ZonePlayer 80, 1x ZonePlayer 100, 1x Controller 100, 1x Loudspeaker 100) plus a 1x ZoneBridge and a Controller Dock.
The Sonos ZonePlayers come in two flavors, the ZP-80 and ZP-100 ($349, $499 respectively). The main difference is that the ZP-100 has an internal amp that allows it to power a set of external speakers by itself whereas the ZP-80 needs to be plugged into a receiver/amp. In short, you put the ZP-100 in your bedroom, attach a set of speakers and your set. The ZP-80 plugs right into your home stereo amp/receiver. This was sometimes a tough setup because most people have their routers tucked away in a closet and would have to spend $350 for a ZP-80 which is a waste.
Enter the ZoneBridge ($99). This is simply a cheap way to start your (happier) Sonos-filled life. It is a very small, very good looking white box the plugs directly into your router and starts spreading the Sonos love around your house. Attach the ZoneBridge to your router, add a ZonePlayer to external speakers/a home stereo and off you go in musical bliss.
I live in a fairly large 2 bedroom condo. I have a nice home theater setup in my den/living room but it was always a hassle playing music. Do you burn and play a cd? Do you listen to radio? I don't have time for these questions. I wanted to press some buttons, hit "Pre-Party Playlist" and get things rockin'. I also wanted to hear some nice music in my bedroom. Have a chill downtempo playlist to go to sleep to and then wake up to some heart racing, start your morning right jams (nothing like waking up to Kanye West's Stronger at 7am). Could one system do all this? Would it be easy for my technologically inept friends to operate? Would I be able to pay my rent once it was setup? Yes, yes, and technically yes (credit cards are fantastic things).
Installation and Setup:
Sonos is brain-dead simple to setup. The instruction manual literally has 3 steps. In general, you plug one of their hardware into your wired/wireless router. You then plug another into your home stereo. Turn on the controller. Um...done.
Ok, technically there is a little more to it, but not much.
Step 1: Plug the ZoneBridge into the router
Step 2: Install the Sonos Desktop Controller Software from the CD
Step 3: Run the software and let it find the ZoneBridge on your network
Step 4: Plug in a ZonePlayer to your home stereo
Step 5: Turn on your controller and connect it to your ZonePlayer
Step 6: Setup any other ZonePlayers
Step 7: In the Sonos Desktop Software, add the folder where you store your music
Step 8: Play with the Controller for hours
I had the entire setup completed in under 10 minutes. It only took me that long because I messed up (mea culpa). It just worked. No connection hassles, no drop outs, nothing. From Step 1 to the end, it was too easy. How often do you say that about technology?
The Controller
The arguable core of the Sonos System is the awesome Controller. It is a beautiful piece of equipment. It's solid, responsive, and has one of the most intuitive interfaces next to the iPod. I gave it to four people who have never heard of the idea of Music Streaming and they instantly felt comfortable with the Controller.
Let me drop some Sonos experience on you...
I pick up the wireless Controller from the charging dock on my bedside table, hit a few buttons, set a 15 minute timer, and start a chill music playlist. Music starts playing instantly. I read my book, nod off as the Sonos quietly turns off after 15 minutes.
7am rolls around and Kanye is telling me I've Got To Be Stronger so i reach over and hit the snooze button on my Controller. Kanye doesn't wake up at 7am. In a few minutes, music starts up again and this time Kanye will not be ignored. I roll out of bed with Controller in hand. Press a button, select Living Room and instantly the music that was playing in my bedroom starts playing out of my home stereo. Booyah. For fun, while in the kitchen making breakfast, I press three buttons and start playing a new playlist in my bedroom while Kanye is still playing in the living room. All of this happens instantly.
Fast-forward to later that night. I have some people coming over so i put together a good mix in iTunes on my computer. It takes Sonos about 2 seconds to recognize the new playlist. I pull it up on my wireless Controller, select that i want it playing in the living room and Voila, my new mix that I JUST made in iTunes is playing out of my home stereo.
Damn, phone rings, hit pause on my Controller, music pauses, take the call, hit play, bam, right where I left off. Too easy.
People come over, having a good time and my playlist is running out. Add some more on the fly, search my library, online radio, Rhapsody, Napsterm Pandora, Sirius...non-stop music.
Are you getting the picture? Also, did I mention you add up two 32 (yes, 32) ZonePlayers to your network? The music is everywhere...
Conclusion:
Sonos does not stop innovating. It just released software version 2.5 which allows you to browse Napster Online Music service right from your Controller. Sonos also works with Rhapsody, Sirius, and Pandora. You don't have your favorite new songs on your computer? No problem. Select Rhapsody from your Controller, search for your artist, find your song, click play. Done.
The Sonos System and the new ZoneBridge are so good that I am actually trying to find a fault with it. Is it absolutely, positively, 100% perfect? No, of course not, nothing is but it is pretty darn close.
What would I change? It's pricey. My setup costs almost $1,300 which is steep when someone first hears it. You want me to pay how much to listen to music in my bedroom?? I'll buy a clock radio for $20. That said, you don't have to get my system. With the new cheap ZoneBridge, the Controller, and a ZonePlayer, you might be able to get out under $700 which in my mind, is a steal. Sonos also needs to release a ZonePlayer with speakers built in. It seems like the next logical step. Some people want just a small box that they could put in the kitchen or bathroom which could play all their music. While we're at it, Sonos should make it run on batteries. And then sell it for $50. I'll hold my breath of the final two wishes but get on that Sonos. The ZoneSpeaker, the Zone Hi-Fi, or something much more clever. Get your marketing team on it.
This is not a system for everyone. Let's not kid ourselves, this is a luxury item but unlike most luxuries, the Sonos System is undeniably useful, built well, and is unbelievably fun to use. If you love music, appreciate form and function...you owe it to yourself to try this system out.
Sonos offers a 30 day no questions asked return policy. Be warned, however, once you get this system in your house, you won't let it go without a fight.
More Photos for your Enjoyment
Introduction (the more experienced of you readers can feel free to skip down to the start of the review):
People have a common problem. Yes, exactly, they have a ton of digital music on their computer but no way to play all the delectable music on their home stereo or in their office, or by their pool, in their garage...well you get the point. Thus entered a new market of Music Streamers. Quite simply, these products "streamed" your music from your computer to your home stereo. Often times they worked. Often times they were ugly, hard to setup, hard to operate...the list could go on.
In 2005, Sonos had enough. They decided there was room for a well-built, slick, smooth, incredibly easy to use product that could blow this whole Music Streaming business to the next level. Remember the private club I told you about? Yep, this is about the time they kicked the doors down. The current Sonos setup has evolved over the years but a few days ago they added a massive addition to their solid lineup: the ZoneBridge (more on that in a bit).
Review:
First off, I must mention that I worked with Mike Zapata of the Sonos Sales Team. He was everything you want in a Sales Manager; knowledgeable, easy to talk to, not pushy in the slightest, and extremely prompt in reply time. If he is any example of the rest of the Sonos staff (which i'm sure he is) then they are definitely doing something right. Mike and I put together a killer system which basically consisted of everything in the Sonos Store excluding a Sonos T-Shirt. Ahem, feel free to send me one, Sonos...
My System: Sonos Bundle 130 with Loudspeakers (1x ZonePlayer 80, 1x ZonePlayer 100, 1x Controller 100, 1x Loudspeaker 100) plus a 1x ZoneBridge and a Controller Dock.
The Sonos ZonePlayers come in two flavors, the ZP-80 and ZP-100 ($349, $499 respectively). The main difference is that the ZP-100 has an internal amp that allows it to power a set of external speakers by itself whereas the ZP-80 needs to be plugged into a receiver/amp. In short, you put the ZP-100 in your bedroom, attach a set of speakers and your set. The ZP-80 plugs right into your home stereo amp/receiver. This was sometimes a tough setup because most people have their routers tucked away in a closet and would have to spend $350 for a ZP-80 which is a waste.
Enter the ZoneBridge ($99). This is simply a cheap way to start your (happier) Sonos-filled life. It is a very small, very good looking white box the plugs directly into your router and starts spreading the Sonos love around your house. Attach the ZoneBridge to your router, add a ZonePlayer to external speakers/a home stereo and off you go in musical bliss.
I live in a fairly large 2 bedroom condo. I have a nice home theater setup in my den/living room but it was always a hassle playing music. Do you burn and play a cd? Do you listen to radio? I don't have time for these questions. I wanted to press some buttons, hit "Pre-Party Playlist" and get things rockin'. I also wanted to hear some nice music in my bedroom. Have a chill downtempo playlist to go to sleep to and then wake up to some heart racing, start your morning right jams (nothing like waking up to Kanye West's Stronger at 7am). Could one system do all this? Would it be easy for my technologically inept friends to operate? Would I be able to pay my rent once it was setup? Yes, yes, and technically yes (credit cards are fantastic things).
Installation and Setup:
Sonos is brain-dead simple to setup. The instruction manual literally has 3 steps. In general, you plug one of their hardware into your wired/wireless router. You then plug another into your home stereo. Turn on the controller. Um...done.
Ok, technically there is a little more to it, but not much.
Step 1: Plug the ZoneBridge into the router
Step 2: Install the Sonos Desktop Controller Software from the CD
Step 3: Run the software and let it find the ZoneBridge on your network
Step 4: Plug in a ZonePlayer to your home stereo
Step 5: Turn on your controller and connect it to your ZonePlayer
Step 6: Setup any other ZonePlayers
Step 7: In the Sonos Desktop Software, add the folder where you store your music
Step 8: Play with the Controller for hours
I had the entire setup completed in under 10 minutes. It only took me that long because I messed up (mea culpa). It just worked. No connection hassles, no drop outs, nothing. From Step 1 to the end, it was too easy. How often do you say that about technology?
The Controller
The arguable core of the Sonos System is the awesome Controller. It is a beautiful piece of equipment. It's solid, responsive, and has one of the most intuitive interfaces next to the iPod. I gave it to four people who have never heard of the idea of Music Streaming and they instantly felt comfortable with the Controller.
Let me drop some Sonos experience on you...
I pick up the wireless Controller from the charging dock on my bedside table, hit a few buttons, set a 15 minute timer, and start a chill music playlist. Music starts playing instantly. I read my book, nod off as the Sonos quietly turns off after 15 minutes.
7am rolls around and Kanye is telling me I've Got To Be Stronger so i reach over and hit the snooze button on my Controller. Kanye doesn't wake up at 7am. In a few minutes, music starts up again and this time Kanye will not be ignored. I roll out of bed with Controller in hand. Press a button, select Living Room and instantly the music that was playing in my bedroom starts playing out of my home stereo. Booyah. For fun, while in the kitchen making breakfast, I press three buttons and start playing a new playlist in my bedroom while Kanye is still playing in the living room. All of this happens instantly.
Fast-forward to later that night. I have some people coming over so i put together a good mix in iTunes on my computer. It takes Sonos about 2 seconds to recognize the new playlist. I pull it up on my wireless Controller, select that i want it playing in the living room and Voila, my new mix that I JUST made in iTunes is playing out of my home stereo.
Damn, phone rings, hit pause on my Controller, music pauses, take the call, hit play, bam, right where I left off. Too easy.
People come over, having a good time and my playlist is running out. Add some more on the fly, search my library, online radio, Rhapsody, Napsterm Pandora, Sirius...non-stop music.
Are you getting the picture? Also, did I mention you add up two 32 (yes, 32) ZonePlayers to your network? The music is everywhere...
Conclusion:
Sonos does not stop innovating. It just released software version 2.5 which allows you to browse Napster Online Music service right from your Controller. Sonos also works with Rhapsody, Sirius, and Pandora. You don't have your favorite new songs on your computer? No problem. Select Rhapsody from your Controller, search for your artist, find your song, click play. Done.
The Sonos System and the new ZoneBridge are so good that I am actually trying to find a fault with it. Is it absolutely, positively, 100% perfect? No, of course not, nothing is but it is pretty darn close.
What would I change? It's pricey. My setup costs almost $1,300 which is steep when someone first hears it. You want me to pay how much to listen to music in my bedroom?? I'll buy a clock radio for $20. That said, you don't have to get my system. With the new cheap ZoneBridge, the Controller, and a ZonePlayer, you might be able to get out under $700 which in my mind, is a steal. Sonos also needs to release a ZonePlayer with speakers built in. It seems like the next logical step. Some people want just a small box that they could put in the kitchen or bathroom which could play all their music. While we're at it, Sonos should make it run on batteries. And then sell it for $50. I'll hold my breath of the final two wishes but get on that Sonos. The ZoneSpeaker, the Zone Hi-Fi, or something much more clever. Get your marketing team on it.
This is not a system for everyone. Let's not kid ourselves, this is a luxury item but unlike most luxuries, the Sonos System is undeniably useful, built well, and is unbelievably fun to use. If you love music, appreciate form and function...you owe it to yourself to try this system out.
Sonos offers a 30 day no questions asked return policy. Be warned, however, once you get this system in your house, you won't let it go without a fight.
More Photos for your Enjoyment
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