Sonos CR200 review
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Jul 27th 2009 10:00PM
posted Jul 27th 2009 10:00PM
Fortunately, the price of the CR200 has dropped a bit to $349 / €349 list, a price that now includes the charging cradle. Still, we know what you're wondering: is it worth it when an iPod touch can be purchased new for $229, or closer to $170 refurbished? Having used the CR200 for a week now, we found that the answer's not as obvious as you'd think. Click through to find out why.
Hardware
The Experience
We've been using the CR200 for the last week and, forgetting the price for a second, found it to be the absolute best way to control our Sonos system spread across two zones: one on the first floor (living room) and another on the third floor (master bedroom/bath). The biggest enhancement enabled by the new CR200 is without a doubt, the very usable keyboard enabled by the capacitive touch-screen. Gone is the scroll-wheel used to navigate the on-screen QWERTY -- a frustrating experience to be sure, especially when searching the thousands of songs in our iTunes library or the millions or tracks offered by on-line subscription services like Rhapsody or Napster. Unfortunately, there isn't a universal search at the moment though Sonos tells us that they've considered the idea. Currently, you can only search in one library at a time, be that your personal music library stored on your home network or the vast catalogs offered by on-line music subscription services. Even then you still have to drill down one additional level -- artist, track, album, or composer -- before entering your query. We'd prefer to search at a higher level and then let Sonos sort the hits by the appropriate category just as Spotlight does on a Mac. But really, this is nitpicking -- search works, it's easy with the new on-screen keyboard, and we found ourselves using it heavily.
Remember, Sonos offers three ways to control its system: the dedicated CR200 hardware, the free 3.0 software controller that can be loaded onto your iPhone/iPod touch, and the free 3.0 desktop software than be loaded onto any PC or Mac. In fact, Sonos doesn't care which controller you use and is committed to offering as many ways to control your distributed audio as possible -- if you don't purchase a CR200, no worries, you still have full control over your home audio system without spending a dime. In total, we have 1 Mac desktop, 2 Mac laptops, 1 PC laptop, 1 CR100, 1 iPhone, and now, the CR200, all capable of controlling our two-room system. You can never have too many controllers.
CR200 vs. iPhone App
Why carry two devices? Easy, the CR200 is dedicated to controlling our music experience. When the urge strikes to "turn it up" or when Hakuna Matata accidentally sneaks onto the playlist, nothing beats the CR200 for instant access to your system. With the iPhone you to have turn on the device, swipe the unlock slider, quit any running app, navigate to the page where the Sonos app lives, launch the app, wait for WiFi to connect, and then wait for the app to load. Of course you could, for the price of the CR200, easily justify the purchase of a dedicated iPod touch just for Sonos. However, you'll have to avoid the urge to take the device out of the house loaded with music, apps, and games in order to keep the Sonos app loaded into memory and always available to control your home audio. Something we suspect you, or your family members won't do, at least not for long. Even if you do manage to dedicate an iPod touch to the Sonos it still won't be as fast as the CR200 riding Sonos' proprietary 802.11n-based SonosNet wireless mesh network -- it's not even close.
Unfortunately, the CR200 wasn't designed to be carried in a pocket. It's intended use is as a shared controller for all members of the house-hold. In other words it was meant to sit stationary on a tabletop like a standard living room remote. While you can lock the buttons by holding down the "Zone key" (the one with the house icon) for a few seconds and even turn off the very sensitive accelerometer-enabled instant-on function, the CR200 lock-screen display still turns on automatically whenever the physical buttons or capacitive touchscreen get jostled -- something that happens all the time when carried in a pocket. Granted, the capacitive touchscreen works best with bare fingers, but it will turn on, and stay on anywhere between 10 seconds and 1 hour depending upon how you configured the "undocked sleep-timer." Naturally, we dialed it down to 10 seconds but we still managed to nearly deplete the battery by the end of each day. Surprisingly, Sonos didn't consider this usage scenario even though the CR200 is clearly portable. Nevertheless, we've been told that the controller's behavior can be modified via software update if it proves problematic. Otherwise, we found the battery to last at least a few days between charges (we didn't have time to conduct formal tests) when leaving the CR200 on the table as Sonos intended.
The CR200 also features a new "Info" icon that provides easy access to information like artist biographies and side projects, album reviews, and even concert dates (when using Last.FM) at the tap of a button. We found this feature to be pretty impressive when curled up on the lounge browsing through Last.FM radio or Rhapsody's 6 million strong subscription service. Unfortunately, it's not available when browsing your own music library. The feature's a big value add when you're lost in the act of sampling new music. Look for the info feature to be included in the free 3.0 Sonos app for the iPhone / iPod touch any day now, just as soon as it clears the App Store approval process. You won't find it on the 3.0 update for the CR100 (understandable) or on the 3.0 PC or Mac controllers (huh?).
The value of using a subscription music service with Sonos can not be overstated. Being able to stream just about any track you can imagine to any room in the house whenever you feel the urge easily justifies the $13 per month (or less with Napster) subscription fee in our opinion. It's absolutely seamless, instant, and deeply, deeply awesome if you enjoy playing and discovering new music as much we do.
Wrap-Up
First off, let's differentiate between those looking to get into their first Sonos configuration and those who want to enhance their existing Sonos system with a new controller. For first timers, purchasing the CR200 is a no-brainer as part of the BU250 bundle. For $999, you get the CR200 (plus cradle) and ZP120 (amplified, just add speakers) and ZP90 (good for home stereo hookup) ZonePlayers -- almost everything you need for a two-room setup. However, since most homes won't have fixed Ethernet drops in the rooms where you want your audio you'll probably have to add a $99 BR100 ZoneBridge to the purchase in order to bridge the Sonos network of devices with your home WiFi network.
Now the hard part: what if you already own a Sonos system, does it make sense to purchase the CR200? Well, you probably already have the original CR100 controller in addition to a PC and/or Mac controller and maybe even have the Sonos app loaded on your iPod touch or iPhone. That makes it difficult to justify that $349 price tag of the CR200. If you think of the CR200 as just a remote control (and let's be honest, it is), then its price is $150 less than the Logitech Harmony 1100 remote with 3.5-inch touchscreen and $100 more than the Harmony One, each of which can control thousands of different devices. In fact, they'll control pretty much any device except your Sonos.
So we guess it boils down to this current Sonos owners: if you have more time than money then the answer is no, don't purchase the CR200. If you have more money than time then absolutely, the CR200 is the best Sonos controller money can buy. If you have neither time nor money then perhaps you'd be interested in something from Creative?
Umm is it me...
Or is the "whats playing" screen look strangely like window media center, and the top bar and play controls looks like something from the ipod touch, and I detect a hint of samsung ui on the bottom navigation bar...
I know! Can you believe they have album art and track info, and even play/pause buttons! I can't believe they would copy that!
@hexoDAT64
They don't have to use the EXACT same styling as the devices I mentioned, sure I agree they could get away with the top bar since it fairly generic... But you have to admit they got "inspiration" from the other sources when they made the other parts.
Even the iPhone Now Playing screen fits more information and useful interaction points into its small space than Windows Media Player v12 on my widescreen monitor. The latter is now ludicrously cumbersome in comparison. It also takes WMP more time to load music from its local hard drive than for Sonos to wirelessly pull it up from a mirror on a NAS drive.
ipeng on an iphone and a logitech squeezebox do the same thing for much cheaper.
Not even close. Have you even used a Sonos system?
I'm going to have to agree with the Squeezebox solution on this one. It does in fact do the same thing for cheaper...that said, is the audio quality the same or is the interface quite as slick? (plus the I'd really, really love a SB Player that had an audio in option. Are you listening Logitech?) I have no idea and I don't care...for me, the fact that I can have 2 controllers and 4 players for the cost of the Sonos 1 controller and 2 player system made the difference to me.
We had Sonos for a week and sent it back, unable to justify the (at the time) astronomical cost. For less than half the price, we now have a whole-house system composed of Logitech Squeezebox components (Duet, Boom, etc.) and are 110% satisfied. Many of the new features in the Sonos controller above have been in the Duet controller for a while, and many in the Duet aren't in the Sonos (for example, using it as a stand-alone portable streaming music player)...yet the Duet controller is $100 cheaper than the Sonos.
Sonos seems to be counting on the same market that Mercedes now does: those who firmly believe that something is better simply because it costs more, despite all the evidence to the contrary.
I can never understand how something can be so important it's both Breaking and Featured.
Disclaimer - items sold separately, shitty robot in background not included.
LOL.
So basically this article's point is that overpriced stuff is high quality. How very BREAKING.
I'm a little confused by the mention of the ZoneBridge at the end. I've been keeping an eye on Sonos' stuff waiting for a little more power at a little lower price, and it looks like it's getting there or close to it. But my understanding of the previous generation is that one ZonePlayer needed to be connected via Ethernet to a router, but all of the other ZonePlayers on the mesh network could be wireless. The ZoneBridge was useful for improving reliability or filling in dead spots, but it wasn't necessary.
But the mention at the end makes it sound like a ZoneBridge is necessary for wireless operation now. Am I reading it wrong, or has this changed? Thanks.
No, he just meant that if you don't have an ethernet connection at one of the locations your zoneplayers will be setup, you will need a zonebridge at an ethernet location to create the network.
@BobS The ZoneBridge is only needed when you can't locate a ZonePlayer close to your router.
It's amazing all the negative posts here. It's obvious these people have never used a Sonos system. John is correct, Sonos blows away systems costing many times more and if you're installing into an existing dwelling you don't have to wire all the rooms together to get them to sync. Sonos just works. It works well and it works without hassle. It's high-end and high-end costs money.
My clients would NEVER be bothered with Airport Express devices, media extenders etc and all the configuring and inconvenience that goes along with those "systems". So for those who have to complain about price, just use your iTunes and Airport gadgets and stop crying. LOL, Apple won't even give you the option of a music service.
Still needs WMA lossless support.
Yes, I now have to keep parallel library of Sonos-playable files.... I could stream lossless WMA over my shitty home wireless network years ago and Sonos can't manage it on newer, faster dedicated hardware????
Nobody NEEDS WMA-L support, it's the most inefficient lossless codec in the world. Not even Microsoft's own Zune player supports it...that's how bad it is.
so, it costs $999 + $99 for the wireless adapter. So $1100.
For $1100, you can buy an Airport Express, and FIVE iPod Touches.
It's a weak argument to say, "well, if you buy the iPod touch, you're going to always be in other apps, and the 12 seconds to load the Sonos app is going to make you hate it".
UM, HELLO? You can basically buy TWO iPod Touches for the price of ONE Sonos Controller. It's absolutely remarkable that you consider the extra ability and versatility of the iPod Touch to be a negative thing.
Other than that, if you ARE to leave the Sonos app loaded on the iPod touch, you say the functionality is identical. Unbelievable.
In the end, if you "have more money than time", there's STILL no logical reason why you wouldn't be better off with another iPod touch. Jesus, how much did Sonos pay you to write this bullshit?
Why buy the Sonos system at all, when iTunes is free, AirPort Express can be hooked up to your speakers for $99 per room ($79 per room if you buy refurb AirPorts) and an iPod Touch to control it (via the Remote app) for $199? Seems pretty much an extravagance to say you have a Sonos system in your house - I have the same features for half the price.
Dude, you obviously do not have enough money. Neither do I, BTW, but I do get annoyed by the time it takes to launch the Sonos app on the iphone, and see a point in the dedicated device that does this one thing exceptionally well.
However, the mental weight of having to remember to "pocket" this thing, carry it around, and have to charge it every single day breaks the deal for me. Oh, yeah, and did I mention the fact that I don't have enough money to justify it? :)
@crawdad there aren't enough iPhones/iPod Touches and airport extremes made to outclass the Sonos system. If you ever use Sonos, you would see that Engadget wasn't paid to write this review. It is hands down the best whole house audio system out there. It competes against $10,000 music systems, not throw together dorm room boomboxes. Tell me how you would sync the music playing in you living room with the music on your deck with the Ipod solution. With Sonos you can sync up to 31 different zones without a single hiccup.
The only complaint any Sonos owner really has with it, is the high entry cost, After they realize there is NOTHING simpler/better to stream music around their house, there are rarely regrets. The only thing ever to come close to matching all that Sonos offers is the Logitech Duet. But that system still requires you to run a media server or some proprietary web app.
@bobs, you don't need the zone player for wireless. But one of the ZPs must be connected via a wired connection. So if you don't have a drop at the place where you want one of your 2 ZPs than the ZB can serve as the wired link. Bascially, one node on the network must be wired.
@engadget, I guess you have to follow the rules, but how could you sit on this for a week and not post at least a single shot! Nice review and good coverage. You really can't understate the value of the subscription services. I'd argue that when your CR100 battery dies it's really only a $250 swing for the CR200, plus someone will buy your CR100 on ebay for 75-100 as well. So making the upgrade is probably a foregone conclusion at some point. The iPod app is great but takes forever as mentioned in this review.
It seems to have passed everyone's attention but that is one ugly bit of kit. Industrial design purchased off the shelf at Radio Shack?
I have a Sonos system with just an iPhone controller - as I already had an iPhone I couldn't justify the cost of a CR100.
If the display was a bit prettier I'd be happy to fork out, but I love nice-looking album art and think it deserves a larger section of the screen than it's been allocated here, so I'll stick with my iPhone again.
Since when did $349 equate to 349 euros? Should be more like 245...
Talk about gouging..
Completely off topic but I was watching the antiques roadshow the other day and they had 1 of those toy robots in the pictures (Japanese, early 20th C) on but it was yellow and it's worth a fair bit of money (I forget how much exactly), especially if the windup mechanism still works and even more if the box is with it.
Frankly, if you haven't used a Sonos system, talking about "I can do this with an Airport Express and two iPod Touches" sounds like someone commenting on a pickup truck review that you could do that same thing with a bike and a backpack. It's not even close, and you sound completely clueless.
The Sonos app + iPod Touch (or phone if you already have one) makes more sense than a dedicated controller giving you very likely less functionality or upgrade paths.
For example, I have a SqueezeBox and instead of spending hundreds on their controller bought an iPod Touch + iPeng App ($10). Now I have a kick ass controller for the SB plus a pretty cool device for around the house. I also have the XMBC Remote app for the Touch so two killer apps controlling all my media needs in one little sexy device.
The Touch/Phone is a great developer platform for things like this.
Good article but a false assumption weakens the final verdict. I think its completely reasonable that a person would buy a touch and dedicate it to the Sonos system. The reason I say that is that its so much cheaper than a sonos controller. I have a 3 room system w/ 2 controllers on different floors. The original plan was to share one controller for the 2 1st floor zones. Well the controller is always in the wrong room so I bought a second touch, the cheapest one, and dedicated it to the least used room. It seemed like a better plan than buying a 3rd CR100 since the app is more fun to use than the cr100. Had the CR200 already been out then perhaps it would be a harder decision but I know I won't replace my existing controllers just because. To be frank I really don't see why these controllers can't be priced in the $250 range.
For those that knock the system, you clearly haven't used it. The advice I have is save your money on work-arounds and just buy it the first time. I used the squeezebox before and other streamers but they simple don't compare. Having self powered units where needed and bridges hooked to the HT or stereo where available just works. The first time you host a party and link all the zones you can't help but have a huge smile on your face.
I also have a dedicated iPod Touch for my Sonos system. The one point that was glossed over a bit was that the iPhone uses WiFi, but the Sonos controller uses the Sonos mesh. So if you have a Sonos system but not WiFi, or outside of good WiFi coverage, you're better off with the Sonos controller.
That being said, I chose the iPhone and a WiFi extender, which still came out cheaper.
What I really want, though, is a wall-mount unit, right next to my thermostat.
That's it... My two Squeezebox Duets are going on fleabay today.
I developed a Sonos controller called VersaZones for Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro devices. It is free and downloadable from www.versagroup.net. In addition to the normal control features for zones, it will display song lyrics if available on the web.
Can this be wall mounted like the CR100?
Yes, with double sided tape but why would you want to wall mount it? The whole point of a "hand held" controller is so that you can sit in your chair or lay in bed or even sit in your jaccuzzi and play music. The old controller came with a wall bracket but I never had a client who wanted to use it. When I see systems costing 10 times as much with very expensive in-wall keypads I feel sorry for those owners. Not only do they have to get up every time they want to change something, they don't have near as much access to music and system control as a Sonos controller.
I'm confused. Doesn't this controller require a charge every now and again? I would like to wall mount it where it can sit and lie in wait, charging all the while, so when I need to take the remote mobile, it's in a known place, and fully charged. Crazy, I know.
Yes it does. I believe it's included with this controller unlike the CR100 where you had to pay $40/e40.
I really want the new controller. The sonos system is lie an iPod. You never realize how much you want it until you have it and lose it. I have had a system since late 2005 and never had a single problem. I can get all the free music I want off of Deezer. Control it from anywhere and I used to use it to extend my network and connect the xbox to the internet.
SONOS = overpriced + poor quality audio. The DAC on the SONOS maxes out at 16-bit, so if you are playing any hi-res files it's downsampling the file on the analog outs. The only way around this is to use the digital outs to another processor... and if you are doing that what do you need the SONOS for, as there are much less expensive options like the Squeezebox. The only thing SONOS has over the Squeezebox is their mesh network, but any benefits there are debatable.
BTW the Squeezebox supports up to 24bit 48kHz files on their DAC, and the Transporter will do 24bit 96kHz.
Actually had that messed up... it resamples everything to 44.1 kHz internally which is even worse. Again the only way around it is to bypass their DAC using the digital outs.
enchilada,
I fail to see where 24bit audio comes into this. iTunes is the biggest digital music store in the world, it doesn't sell it. I can't name one mainstream music store that does. CD audio, which after all is what consumers buy, is 16-bit and fully supported by Sonos. There's no doubt whatsoever in my mind that even audio engineers couldn't hear the difference between kit with quality at this level. You need an oscilloscope to see any differences...the key point being that the consumer can't hear any differences you may claim exists.
Sonos offers considerably more than Squeezebox. It doesn't need a server running 24x7 for locally hosted music, it supports up to 32 linked zones playing the same music source, whether that is ripped CDs or online services like Napster, Rhapsody, Spotify etc. There's even a line-in on each device so you can hear the commentary from the football game that's playing in the Den whilst you pop for another beer.
To top it all, Sonos resellers are now selling the TWO best audio controllers on the market...the 3rd one is also free on the iTunes store - they call it "Sonos Controller for iPhone".
@avee - Yes, enchilda is the Squeezebox PR rep.
Already said, I messed up on the 24-bit thing.
The real problem, and to me severe one, is the internal resampling of all music files to 44.1 kHz when using the internal DAC and the analog outs.
Also I don't work for Logitech or Squeezebox, and I've never been in PR.
enchilada,
How many of your precious KHz can be found on a standard audio CD? Oh yes, 44.1KHz...
So if you rip from an audio CD, in lossless quality, how much resampling takes place? None.
Beginning to realise why you don't work for Logitech any more.
I have a Sonos system, and while you can control it from your computer, you cannot play it through your computer directly and that really sucks. The music library is on the computer and the computer is perfectly capable of playing it but Sonos don't allow it.
I have my PC hooked up to my home theater system as I use media center for most of my A/V entertainment. With Sonos not allowing my PC to play content directly, I can only play music in other zones around my home and not in my living room unless I by another Zone ($$$$$) and then I have to switch inputs on my receiver. This may not sound too much of a problem, but as I use my PC for all my other entertainment I have been able to hide my receiver away as I never need to change the source input. Sonos system means I have to and buy that extra zone. It really bothers me as my computer is perfectly capable of playing the music stored upon it.
No bad they can't ship it...
@Enchilada
Aren't you the Squeezebox PR-Guy? So tell us, do you think the Duet remote or anything in the pipeline at Squeeze is better than the CR200? Or was the 16-bit flame the best you could come up with? :p
Don't work for Logitech. I did back a few months, but I was never in PR.
Sonos's own iPhone app makes more sense than this product does, as do any of the iPhone apps for Squeezebox.
And the 44.1kHz on the zoneplayers is not a flame, check the spec on Sono's own site. "Native support" for 44.1kHz and "Additional support" for everything else means all files are getting resampled to 44.1kHz internally if you're making use of the DAC.
Can SONOS be used as an intercom between rooms?
that feature is available in other systems costing around the same. Other systems even let you open the front door and look at the front camera via the remote using ethernet wiring.
No it can't, it just does music.
What system are you referring to exactly, and how much do you think Sonos costs (it costs 499 per room, and 349 per controller). The beauty of Sonos is that it can interface wirelessly, you can buy and install it yourself, without the help of a custom audio guy. Yet it still does more than other whole-house systems. Most notably completely independent operation of up to 32 zones.