Sonos gets official on ZP120 and ZP90, but no new controller
By Ryan Block 
posted Aug 5th 2008 3:00AM
posted Aug 5th 2008 3:00AM
Sonos is also launching the 2.6 version of its desktop software, which indexes more music than before (65k tracks total) and, surprisingly enough, gives new AND existing users $200 in free music from sites like eMusic and Livedownloads. Of course, the one piece of Sonos gear we've been most longing to see updated -- the $400 controller -- has gone totally untouched, and won't even be getting SonosNet 2.0. Maybe they'll throw us a bone and hook us up with an iPod touch / iPhone controller app in the mean time, but we're not holding our breath. Photos and unboxing / hands-on shots below.
Nice! I don't have money for stuff like this anymore, but if I did I would get the full set. Please drop the price? Just a little? For me?
*sighs*
You want something cheaper? Get a Squeezebox Duet. Does almost everything this does in a much cheaper package. $400 for the remote and 1 player, and then additional players are $150. Plus, you can write your own apps for the remote. Bonus!
Of course, YMMV.
will my iPhone work on this ?
I mean, will my iPhone work on anything ?
No, but it will work with appletv, which costs 200$ incidentally.
There is no point in having Sonos any more.... Appletv+Iphone have a nicer interface, internal (upgradable) hard drive and can play (some) video, too.
Yeah, but this setup is uber-expensive (for what it does), so it must be better!
(yes, I was being sarcastic)
Thank you Marco!
I'm thinking of it already, taking into consideration the amount of bucks I'll save I might give it a shot.
The problem is that I'm having a severe apple hatred syndrome lately, which I might not easily recover from.
Great work from Sonos - the amplified model gets louder and higher quality yet they make it much smaller too.
The controller may be unchanged, but it's still the best device for controlling 32 different zones of music - there may be some nifty iPhone utilities but they simply don't have that level of control and flexibility. Most people could have the same music playing in several rooms with their old in-house "home run" music system. The big win with Sonos is that each room can listen to DIFFERENT tunes at the very same time.
SonosNet 2.0 means the wireless connectivity is twice as good and should now reach that detached summerhouse, poolhouse or garage without much effort and as the controller only needs to talk to the closest ZonePlayer in the mesh then range is no issue there either.
iPhone
+ iPhone Remote App
+ MacMini with iTunes (or just an used cheap Mac)
+ Airport Express in each room you want to ear music
= SONOS PWNED with way less $$$
Disappointing that there's no new controller, it looks and feels just a bit too big and it has a real 70's vibe that looks dated. Shrinking the amps is fine, but you hide them away in any case, so there's no real gain there.
I guess it's an OK mid-fi system, but I would have preferred to see something more radical as an update, like a higher end player for serious listeners. I'm not into 32 different zones that sound like cheap transistor radios, just one or two high quality ones that I can connect to a good HiFi
The Sonos is a fantastic system let down only by:
1. you can't set a static IP address so you must have a DHCP server,
2. lack of inputs (one is a bit limiting), and
3. no video.
Incredibly easy to use and intuitive.
Will European customers get free music as well, or will we as usual (60% higher price for less services) be screwed by Sonos? I assume we will be screwed.
Will European customers get free music as well, or will we as usual (60% higher price for less services) be let down by Sonos? I assume we will be let down.
@Antonio - Airport express will only play the same music in all the rooms, you'd get more functionality from a Bose SoundDock in each room. Besides, everyone knows the iPhone is tied to it's charger.
@George Payne - It's a music system, it's not going to have video.
@Kingpin - The free music downloads applies in the US, the EU and the UK. The European pricing, including all relevant shipping, duties, taxes and local warranties is highly equivalent to the US price.
I got news for you the UK has been a member of EU since before I was born
Engadget, your comment system makes MobileMe seem like a wizardry of great technology.
I think you guys are missing the point of Sonos.
It's a rock solid system that doesn't require rewiring your home/apt. to get music in every room and the controller is so easy to use Grandma will love it. Not sure what you would want changed on the controller, other than adding a touchscreen, it's still the best one in it's class.
Squeezebox Duet is not even in the same world when it comes to ease of use and support. Yes, I've used the Duet and it's not a real competitor to Sonos, maybe for geeks, but not for the average Sonos buyer.
The new units have even better networking (not that the originals were lacking) and better amps, what's not to like?
I hear the old Squeezebox and the Squeezebox duet is notoriously troublesome with Apple. True?
Dead on. I mean the full integration with subscription services like Rhapsody and Napster. Also internet radio, Pandora, etc. is simply amazing, this is the highlight of every get together we have at home. It's all people seem to talk about. I haven't run into a situation I can't find a tune someone wants, it's like magic. And the fact that it can deal with 10 zones in my home perfectly is simply amazing. It's one of the few technologies that really does just work.
I really want an iPod Touch/iPhone native app, but that may be tough since it may be seen to cannibalize their controller sales...
@Furious Styles: Nope, not true at all. We've had a Duet system from the first day they were available served by a Mac Mini and it has been incredibly trouble-free. Once I got SqueezeCenter (the server app) to pair up with iTunes' database, it has been smooth sailing. My family loves the Squeezebox and we now listen to our music much more than before.
They just updated there webpage. Looks good !
"gives new AND existing users $200 in free music from sites like eMusic and Livedownloads."
Way to go Sonos! This is how companies SHOULD treat their existing customers. Not charging for firmware upgrades and passing incentives to early adopters.
I probably won't find $200 in value with the free downloadable stuff, but at least I have the option.
the sonos system does indeed "just work". i have been using with great results for about 1 1/2 years now and has a great WAF. one of its key features is being able to play back all of my music without turning on a PC and/or monitor/tv. one area which could use an upgrade though is the controller - it should support double-byte character sets particularly, chinese, japanes and korean. i read in one of the sonos forums that the existing hardware in the controller (display panel? memory?) was the limiting factor so maybe any entirely new controller is needed, please make it smaller and lighter too, sonos!,
Sad to see that they still don't include the charging cradle with the BU150 bundle.
Who needs a new controller? I've only just managed to teach my old one how to swim!
Don't try this at home!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqHdxVK9cvI
I'm Thinks Ipod Vs Bundle 150
http://www.cheap-apple-ipod-classic.co.cc