
Review
I had the Squeezebox Duet for about a year in property and its use in the music control one or two rooms. (I have a cable connection between the two rooms, which I have to switch to a manual control.) Basically, I hear music from the Internet-based provider Rhapsody. Although I like the look and feel of the Squeezebox system and controller, it would not work reliably in my two-story house where I have a wireless router upstairs and down using a Squeezebox Receiver. Every day or two, the remote controlController would lose contact with the recipient (or perhaps the recipient would lose contact with the router), and I was forced to try to reset the system. Sometimes resetting process was relatively easy (just turn switch on the controller, and then again, what a minute or so last was), but more often it is quite costly, requires me back into the router's 22-digit security code by using the controller's wheel to through all possible combinations of upper and lower case, scrollLetters, numbers and punctuation marks. Even then it would connect, sometimes not, and I would give up in frustration. The Logitech support people were great, and they even gave me a new system to try, but it still crashes.
Finally, I decided to try the Sonos system instead, even though it was considerably more expensive than the Squeezebox. I was a bit of money by buying only three pieces: the Sonos Zone Bridge 100 (which connects via Ethernet cable to save myRouter on the floor), the Sonos ZonePlayer Z90 (which is a direct connection to my amp down, I'm using an optical cable, can improve the sound quality) and an iPod touch 8 GB (2nd Generation) as a wireless controller. I saved more than $ 180 by purchasing the iPod Touch instead of the Sonos wireless controller (actually $ 220 because I do not buy the charger for the Sonos controller). I am much happier with the new system.
Setup was fairly easy compared to theSqueezebox. Getting the iPod Touch as a wireless controller work was the difficult part. After completing the setup for the Sonos components that was simple, I get the iPod to my computer and have connected my iTunes program (I already opened two other iPods). I had to say, not sync to my iTunes music on this iPod, because I want to use it only as a controller for Sonos. Then in iTunes, I went to the iTunes Store and searching for "Sonos iPhone app." This search yielded two results,but one was a podcast. I downloaded the other, simply "Sonos Controller" and then dubbed it the iPod Touch with iTunes. After ejecting the iPod from iTunes, I started with the Sonos Controller on the iPod. Eventually I was asked that all too familiar 22-digit security code to give to my router, but this time it was much easier, as I input it was on a virtual keyboard on the iPod screen, instead of using try to Squeezebox-wheel system. It was helpfulWatch the video demonstration of the Sonos Sonos controller on an iPhone (on the Amazon-screen description of the Sonos BU150 Multiroom Music System Found to be seen), including volume controls, etc.
There are several advantages of the Sonos / iPod system, compared to the Squeezebox and two disadvantages. Advantages: 1) the Sonos / iPod system will not crash (but I had ceased to be a difficult problem after several weeks of use: Rhapsody's list of my favorite channels to work, and we tried to remove theRhapsody service from Sonos, and then bring them back. If I have to try it again, the Rhapsody server refused to accept my username and password. Getting started took that fixed three long phone calls with Sonos and Rhapsody, and more than 24 hours downtime.), 2) the iPod its charge for about five days in normal use, holds in comparison to a day or so for the Squeezebox remote control, 3 ) It is much easier for the music with the iPod's virtual keyboard search unpleasant wheel is against the Squeezebox, and thisDifference is huge because the search for Squeezebox music was so difficult that I almost never did it, and 4) I could slide the iPod in his pants pocket and carry it around the house without fear of a fall or accidentally pressing buttons, the station's power, however, is the Squeezebox Controller too large to be comfortable in the pocket, and if I have to insert there, I would be very likely to push buttons and produce some undesirable activity. Disadvantages: 1) the Sonos / iPod systemwill cost me about $ 330 more than I would have paid if I had bought a new Squeezebox Duet, 2) the iPod goes into a partial shutdown mode after 50 seconds when I change so the volume or track setting, takes there is more (a total of about 6 seconds) to these processes with the Sonos / iPod system, when I first time on the iPod (by pressing a button and sliding my finger across the screen rotate to wait) and then, right up there with the Sonos power back.
Feature
- Convenient & cost effective way to get started with a multiroom wireless audio system
- SonosNET’s best-in-class wireless technology sets itself up with a couple of button pushes
- Instant access to endless music, either from your own digital music collection or from popular online music services
- Control via the included Controller or via a free iPhone app
- New features and music services with automatic updates
Overview
The Sonos Bundle 150 gives you everything you need to wirelessly play music in two rooms of your house. And with SonosNet’s superior wireless range, no room is out of reach. Just connect the ZonePlayer 90 (ZP90) to your home theater or stereo and place the ZonePlayer 120 (ZP120) with built-in amplifier in any room where you want music. Connect one ZonePlayer or ZoneBridge (sold separately) to your network and all the rest work wirelessly. For the ultimate in convenience, choose the Sonos Bundle 150 with Loudspeakers and you’ll also have a pair of powerful bookshelf speakers to attach to your ZP120. To start playing music, just grab the full-color wireless Controller and simply pick a room, pick a song and hit play. With the Controller in hand you’ll have instant access to your entire music collection, plus thousands of Internet radio stations, and the most popular online music services to play all over the house. When you want to play more music in more rooms, just add ZonePlayers and Controllers to your heart’s content.
( Product Information and Prices Stored: May 15, 2010 04:24:47 )