@Timm if you are a Sonos owner and can't figure out what to do with this then it is time to sell your four room set-up to me.

Does your current set-up allow you to move your music from one room to another in a single unit. If this unit were available when I bought my Sonos system, I would not have needed to install outdoor speakers on my deck to enjoy my music collection.

This is also the perfect unit in the garage, basement, guest room etc. The best part is you buy one and move it to where you want it for the moment.

@Jsjohnson

I did this research 4+ years ago when I bought my Sonos system and not much has changed since then. Prior to me buying Sonos, I researched all the solutions that were available at the time and there really hasn't been much movement in this space. In fact, the field has gotten a little smaller with companies like D-Link pulling out of the the Digital Receiver market.

Here is my opinion of the 2 best solutions out there.

Sonos - Since this is the post I'm replying to.

Pro's: Absolutely flawless execution. 4 years of ownership and I have yet to experience a single glitch. Countless firmware updates of the controller and Zoneplayers and never once did it disrupt the experience. Wireless mesh technology ensures you have a continuous wireless network throughout your house. This is very different than any other solution because the further you get from your wireless access point, the more problematic your installation becomes. The ZonePlayer's (ZP) even have wireless switches built in so if you are in an older house and don't have an ethernet connection in every room, you can plug your computer directly into the ZP.

Content Integration - You can use a standard NAS containing your music library to distribute music wherever you have a ZP. There is NO client/server software required to share your music collection. You do not have to leave a machine running in order to access your music library. If you don't have a music library, you can use just about any music service to find and play music over your ZP. Napster, Rhapsody, LastFM, Pandora, etc. I indexed my entire music catalog (approx 150GB at the time) in about 10 minutes. Syncing zones is flawless with no delays at all between any zones.

Set-up - You plug in a power cable, you connect speakers or amplifier (depending on ZP) and at least one ZP must be connected to the Internet or you can use the bridge. Set up time for me was less than 5 minutes.

Simplicity - So simple anyone can pick it up and use it. No joke, my 20 month old can turn on music by herself. Why my wife lets her play with my $400 Sonos controller is a better question.

Cons: Price, price, price and no functionality besides audio.

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Squeezebox Duet - This is the closest thing in my opinion to the Sonos.

Pros: Price, Open source with lots of community development and support.

Content Integration - again closest thing to Sonos with many music providers such as Pandora, Last.fm, Amazon, etc. Sharing your music library is trickier than Sonos. You cannot use a standalone NAS. If you want to use a standalone NAS, you must upgrade the firmware (limited supported NAS drives) to run "Squeeze Server." Otherwise, you need to install Squeeze Server on a PC/Mac in order to index your collection. Not sure if this is still a true statement, but syncing zones was previously very buggy with many delays and/or dropouts.

Set-up - You have to have some computing skills to set up the Squeeze Server software. While it is probably easy enough for most to do, it does require some basic computing knowledge. If you want to install Squeeze Server on a NAS device, you need to be very familiar with Linux operating systems.

Simplicity - with a 2 way wifi remote, it would be easy to navigate your music collection/subscriptions.

Cons: Must be somewhat to very technical to reap the full benefits of the system. No real amplified solution. While Boom and Radio are standalone units, you can't install a single device and integrate with in-wall/in-ceiling speakers like you can with the ZP120. No mesh network. Relies on your wireless access point to connect the various zones.

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Here are a few others worth mentioning but I will not get into the specifics of each one.

Roku Soundbridge
Olive Audio
Soundblaster Wireless Music

This is NOT an iPhone/iPod speaker dock. This is a whole house wireless audio system.

You can use your iStuff to control it via the Sonos app or plug the iThing into an aux jack on the Zoneplayers and distribute the misic throughout your house. However, it will not charge or allow you to control the music like the other "docks" allow you to.

Btw, This is going on my Christmas wishlist.

I'm begging you...Please re-release the Joy Division Zune in HD!

@Mitchell

I meant that as troll bait for the likes of Paul Chapel and his cronies. I wasn't calling you a troll. Now let's stop the name calling and have a virtual Kumbaya. Wait...is there an app for that?

Sorry, should have ended like this....

/trollbait

Can't wait for Apple's lawyers to catch wind of this. They are so copying the iPhone now.

If you eat this phone. Will it look like corn or a cell phone when it comes out? My bet is on corn.

@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.

Navigation was one of the biggest reasons I stuck with the Palm Pre instead of returning and going to the iPhone 3GS. Sprint Navigation is actually quite good. I was very surprised to say the least. With multitasking, I can use the GPS while on a bluetooth call. Best part about all of this...It's FREE! Well, it is included in the Sprint plan but I'm still saving money over the similar VZW or AT&T plan.

I'm sure I am igniting some fanboy flame war. But seriously VZW & AT&T, charging people $9.99/mo to access features that are built into the phone is highway robbery. The fact that people will pay $9.99/mo when more economical solutions exist is proof that humans are NOT the superior species.