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The Sonos One SL is a microphone-free version of its most accessible speaker
It's been about two years since Sonos released the One, its first speaker with built-in microphones for Alexa and, much later, Google Assistant support. The One was essentially an upgraded version of the Play:1, which didn't have mics. Sonos kept selling the Play:1, but its days appeared numbered with the company wasn't able to add AirPlay 2 support to the speaker when it arrived last year. Today, Sonos is officially discontinuing the Play:1 and replacing it with the One SL. That new speaker is nearly identical to the One, aside from a key difference: It has no microphones, so there's no way to use Alexa or the Google Assistant.
Sonos Play:1 is a well-priced, super-sounding wireless speaker
Sonos is a manufacturer of high-fidelity, wireless audio speakers that bring your digital music into every room of your home, all controlled from the Sonos app on your Mac or iOS device, through your home's WiFi network using the Sonos Bridge. There are currently 5 speakers in the range; the Play:1, Play:3, Play:5, Playbar and Sub. The Playbar and Sub are more geared towards home theatre. I've had the pleasure of testing the Play:1 over the last couple weeks. Design The Play:1 (US$199) is Sonos' entry-level speaker. It's compact enough to fit just about anywhere in your house -- it's also wall mountable -- but large enough to produce compelling, high-quality sound. In fact, as I type this in a coffee shop that's approximately 10 meters x 10 meters large, there's a Play:1 on a book shelf comfortably filling the room with weighty, clear sound. The Play:1 weighs 4 lb. (1.85 kg) and has dimensions of 6.36" tall, 4.69" wide and 4.69" deep (16.15 x 11.9 x 11.9 cm). It's really solid and unassuming in its appearance, but has a premium look and feel to it. There are just three buttons on the Play:1 (and it's the same for the Play:3 and Play:5): volume-up, volume-down and a play/pause button that doubles as a pairing button when you first connect the speaker to your network. On the back is an Ethernet cable input (in case you decide to go for the wired option) and a threaded mounting hole. Underneath is the input for the AC power adapter. Unfortunately there's no auxiliary input on the Play:1 for those odd occasions when you might want to connect the Play:1 to another audio source (Mac, CD player, or even your iPhone for those moments when you don't have a WiFi network available). The Play:1 is certainly portable enough to move around and use in different rooms around the home or office, though it's not what you'd call a portable speaker. There's no battery or anything like that. In that sense, it's designed to be stationary. Sonos wants you to get a speaker for each room! The Play:1 has two Class-D digital amplifiers, one tweeter to cover the high frequencies and a mid-woofer to cover the mid- and low-end range. Setup In order to get the Play:1 up and running wirelessly, I had to connect the Sonos Bridge (sold separately) to my WiFi network router, which in this case is an Airport Extreme. The Bridge ensures that wireless range is solid, with no quality issues during playback. Once connected and the Play:1 powered up, I ran the Sonos app on my iPhone to pair the two. After a few false starts, the Play:1 successfully paired. The Sonos app With Sonos speakers, the Sonos app becomes, for better or worse, the control center of your digital music. Wherever you get your music from (local library, streaming service, internet radio, iOS device), it needs to be routed through the Sonos app. Fortunately, Sonos has done a great job at partnering with a wide range of streaming and cloud-music services (that's continually expanding), including Spotify and many others, to make this happen smoothly. However, it's worth checking that where you get your music from is compatible with Sonos. For example, Spotify requires a premium account to work with Sonos. Using the app takes a bit of getting used to. For example, I repeatedly found myself opening Spotify or iTunes to play something and then realizing I needed to go to the Sonos app instead. Or in the Sonos app I would hit play on a track in an album and the app would only play that track. It doesn't automatically go to the next track. Why? I don't know. You've got to add tracks to the queue. Another little niggle was with volume control. You can't use the the Mac's keyboard shortcuts or the volume rockers on an iPhone or iPad to change volume levels. You've got to do it through the Sonos app. It's not a big deal, but when you're used to using the volume controls on your Mac or iOS device, it's a little counterintuitive. It was also quite frustrating to find that not all audio from my Mac or iOS device would play through the Play:1. For example, I would be listening to music while on my Mac, come across a movie trailer that I wanted to watch while browsing in Safari, play it, only to discover the audio would go through my Mac's speaker instead of the Play:1. That's when it hit me: the Play:1 is for music only. Don't plan on watching a movie on your iPad, for example, and routing the audio through it. It won't happen. Everything has to go through the Sonos app, and if it's not supported, you're out of luck. I know the Sonos app is designed to make sure everything sounds as best as it can, with no playback issues etc -- and I never had any issues with audio quality -- but the Sonos way of doing things felt a little limiting when it came to audio that wasn't music. Performance Despite these issues, when you do want to listen to music, the Play:1 really does deliver. In fact, with its smaller form factor and very reasonable price, it really feels like the Play:1 punches well above its weight. Coldplay's A Sky Full Of Stars was punchy, rich and driving. Turn up the volume and the Play:1 continues to handle things very well. There's balance and clarity with no hint of distortion. It really was astonishing just how loud the Play:1 could go when you see how small it is. The more subtle Ryan Adams Amy carried just as well, with vocals clear and warm, while the acoustic guitar and chamberlin instrument are detailed and well-placed. But that's not the end of it. The beauty of the Play:1 is not just its fantastic sound reproduction, but the fact that you can easily add more Sonos speakers to the mix, perfectly in time, without any quality issues. Get another Play:1 and create a stereo sound stage or place a Play:1 in all the rooms of your house and have an awesome house party with music perfectly synced in every room. Conclusion While the Play:1 won't meet all the audio requirements you have on your Mac or iOS devices (films, YouTube, gaming etc), when it comes to playing music as a dedicated speaker in your home, the Play:1 has a larger-than-life premium sound, considering its size and price point. Furthermore, Sonos has superior music streaming compared to Bluetooth and Airplay. Finally, when you're ready to get your digital music into more rooms in your house, Sonos makes it really easy to add and expand your Sonos system in a way that suits you. If you're wanting to invest in a digital music system for your home, but you're only ready to take the first step. the Play:1 is the right place to start.
Hands on with the new Sonos iOS app
I've spent a few weeks using a beta of the new Sonos app which is to be released this spring. Sonos was one of the first companies to embrace the Mac when the company launched its whole-house wireless music solution back in 2002. When Apple allowed apps in iOS, Sonos was front and center with an app to control the system. The original 'blue' app has been around ever since, but the new app, reworked from the ground up has a nice fresh design and some important feature upgrades. The most significant new feature is universal search. For example, type in the name of an artist and you'll find relevant tracks in your music library as well as across any streaming services you subscribe to. You might get pointed to Pandora, Spotify or something else. The app itself has been simplified, and there are now three main areas; What's currently playing, what room it is playing in, and how to navigate to the next song you want to hear. People who are used to the current app (check the slide show for comparisons) will find the new layout takes some getting used to, but once you do, it is an easier and prettier app to use. The design has been 'flattened' in much the way iOS 7 has been graphically simplified. Buttons and controls don't have the drop shadows and highlights like they used to, and the result is a very clean look. There are little touches that are nice. In the list of tracks playing, there is a little bouncing bar graph that identifies the current selection. Album view presents a circular graphic that indicates how much time is left on a track. Using the beta, I was generally pleased, but I have six playback devices in my home and I was displeased to see that it could only see three rooms that were playing in sync at a time. The app showed '3+' rooms and didn't identify the others by name until I clicked on that grouping. All in all, Sonos owners will be pleased with the changes. I couldn't find any features that have been taken away, but after a short time with the app I preferred it to the original version. That's because features that were buried in the old app are now front and center. The Mac OS X version of the app will also be updated, but so far, no release date. I expect it to look similar and follow the feature set of the iOS app closely.
Aperion Audio's second-gen Zona Home Audio Link cuts the musical tether for $150
No need for the bookshelf speakers? No problem. Aperion Audio just introduced the second-generation Zona Home Audio Link system, enabling cable detesters to send music from any USB / 3.5mm-enabled source to, well... just about anything. The basic HAL package is comprised of a compact wireless transmitter and receiver, and since there's no proprietary shenanigans going on, it's about as universal in nature as you'll find. Needless to say, folks who've been trying to find an easy(ish) way to convert their existing indoor / outdoor speakers into wireless speakers should certainly have a gander, and given that it'll stream uncompressed 16 bit/48 kHz CD-quality audio to up to three simultaneous zones, the $149 price tag just might be justified. Hit the source to learn more (or place your order, if you've heard enough).
Tango links your iOS devices for remote music control
The Tango Remote Music Player performs a neat trick and does it for free: it links any two iOS devices on a wireless network, allowing one to be a music source and the other to be a remote control. To get going, Tango needs to be on both devices. One device is set to play its on-board music; the other device serves as the remote. In my case, I used my iPhone as a music source while it was plugged into some external speakers. My iPad discovered the iPhone, and I saw playlists, albums, and tracks. I could play anything I wanted from the iPad. Of course it also works the other way, and you can have an iPod touch substituting for the iPad or iPhone. The only issue I had was that the two devices could not link if Bluetooth was activated. There is an on-screen note about this, so if Tango's not working, Bluetooth is the first thing you should check. Hopefully this isn't permanent -- I'd like to see the developers add Bluetooth linking between iOS devices, rather than requiring Wi-Fi. (Note: The developers says you can link with Bluetooth, something I didn't try. you just can't have WiFi and BT on at the same time and have the WiFi work.) Tango may be a bit of a niche product because it solves a problem that only a few people might have, but it works well and does the job at no cost. Assuming you have multiple iOS devices, I would definitely give this app a go. It has some built-in help and doesn't require deep thought to get it up and running. Check the gallery to see what it looks like running on an iPhone. %Gallery-106912%
Sonos updates iPhone app with more radio for everyone and Spotify for Europe
Following quickly on the heels of the long awaited iPad Sonos app, there is now a new version of the free music controller for the iPhone. The Sonos system provides a wireless music experience in as many rooms of a house as you want to put Zone Players and speakers or you can connect to an existing music system. The new app, which appeared today, supports the popular Spotify service in Europe, and adds an additional 1000 radio stations that use the AAC format for streaming. One thing missing is support for the iPhone 4 Retina display. A Sonos spokesman says that is coming early next year. The updated iPhone app has no GUI changes from the previous version. If you're a Sonos fan with an iPhone, it's time to download this free app.
Denon RCD-N7 loves a wireless party, AirPlay too after $49 update
Denon's got the Apple AirPlay bug and bad. The company was showing off several AirPlay compatible 2010 receivers (models ending with "11") at the CEDIA show last week including this new RCD-N7 CD jobbie. The $599 unit coupled with a pair of $199 SC-N7 speakers features an iPhone dock (or USB jack) for local music sourcing. Otherwise, it'll stream audio from the likes of Rhapsody, Napster, Pandora and Last.fm. Better yet, the receiver also features a Party Mode Plus setting for a five-system multi-zone setup scattered throughout the home, all managed by Denon's new iPod / iPhone / iPad Remote App. Look for it to hit shelves in October along side Denon's $49 AirPlay update. That's right, it's no freebie -- an unfortunate precedent for anyone hoping to update their existing audio gear. Update: Denon let us know that the AirPlay update will be free to new and existing owners from October 15th to November 7th.
Sonos S5 all-in-one wireless speaker fades to black, like your career
The $399 black Sonos S5 is just like the original... only now it's a little bit older and a lot darker. Just like a former teenage popstar. Either is available to purchase now.%Gallery-94168%
Cignias NAO Symphony wireless iPod boombox gets unboxed
Cignias' NAO Symphony still doesn't seem to be widely available following its CES unveiling, but our good pal Dave Zatz looks to have sourced one from the wild, wild abyss. He did the world a favor by hosting up unboxing shots and a few first impressions, noting that this "sophisticated" iPod speaker dock actually interests him far more than most of those me-too offerings cluttering shelves today. Unfortunately, he's still working on getting the iPhone app to connect to a hidden SSID, but feel free to hit the source link and peruse the image gallery while he gets that ironed out. Update: This is now available directly from Cignias.
Belkin Bluetooth Music Receiver adds BT functionality to your 70s era home stereo
Just now dusting off those vinyl-wrapped cabinets from the glory days of disco? Good, 'cause Belkin's about to breathe new life into 'em. The outfit's newly unveiled Bluetooth Music Receiver presents itself as the device to stream your iPhone and iPod touch jams to your home stereo, but in realty, this thing will work with any BT 2.0-enabled music streaming device. Phones, PMPs, genetically modified children -- you name it. Simply plug the base station (shown after the break) into your home stereo, pair up to six Bluetooth devices with it, and watch as your favorite tunes are transmitted from device to driver sans cabling. It's almost magical, but we're not quite sure if it's $49.99 magical.
Sonos ZonePlayer S5 all-in-one speaker system now available
We managed to get a early hands-on look at Sonos' new S5 all-in-one speaker system last month, and if that got you intrigued you'll no doubt be pleased to know that the rig is now available in the US for the slightly premium price of $399. That will get you all the usual wireless connectivity you'd expect from a Sonos ZonePlayer (minus the need to purchase additional speakers), plus support for the Sonos Controller iPhone app (but no actual iPhone / iPod dock), and of course some "room-filling" sound, which we found did actually live up to its promise. Still confused about the whole thing? Head on past the break for a video.
Creative Sound Blaster Wireless 'for iTunes' works with other software too
You've known how to wirelessly connect the music on your computer with your massive hi-fi speakers since about the dawn of the caveman, but that doesn't mean Creative won't try to make it seem revolutionary. The company has this week announced immediate availability of its Sound Blaster Wireless for iTunes, which essentially functions as a wireless adapter for any pair of regular old speakeroonies. The name is a marketing-inspired misnomer as the device will work with all manner of software, including Windows Media Player, Napster, Rhapsody, LastFM and even YouTube. The relative straightforwardness of this unit is appealing, though we're skeptical about Creative's claims of zero signal drop-offs, given that transmissions are done via the already crowded 2.4GHz wireless frequency. If you just have to hear it for yourself, entry fee is $149.99.
Aerielle readying i2i Stream music-sharing device
It looks like those in need of a little wireless music streaming on the cheap (relatively speaking) will soon be able to get their hands on a new device that does just from the folks at Aerielle which, as Crave points out, is better known for churning out gear for the likes of Kensington, iRiver, and SanDisk. Dubbed the i2i Stream, the device employs the tried and true 2.4 GHz frequency instead of that fancy Bluetooth or WiFi, and promises to give you a range of 30 feet or so between devices, each of which boast their own independent volume control and a battery that promises seven hours of juice before it needs a recharge. While there's no word on an exact release date just yet, you'll apparently be able to grab a pair of the devices for $129, with extra units running $69 apiece.
AT&T teams with Napster (again) for wireless downloads
We suppose the third time's a charm. AT&T and Napster have quite the history of offering up lackluster deals to customers -- first with that $14.95 Napster To Go scam on Cingular, then the free Napster To Go on AT&T -- but they're finally doing it up right and offering wireless downloads from Napster's 5 million strong catalog to AT&T's music-starved subscribers. Right now your options with the carrier are eMusic for some spendy wireless downloads, or the iPhone. Unfortunately, while Napster bests eMusic on selection, the price remains the same at $7.49 per five songs, and these ain't no DRM-free affair like eMusic. The Napster service will also allow for $1.99 a la carte purchases, something eMusic lacks, and with every purchase you receive an email on your PC to help you download a copy of the track. Verizon and Sprint have quite the jump on AT&T when it comes to over-the-air music downloads, but we'll see if AT&T can start to gain some ground starting early next month when the service launches. Oh, and before you ask: no, Napster won't work on the iPhone.
Logitech's new and sexy Wireless DJ Music System
There are plenty of wireless music systems already competing for our home entertainment dollar, but this new Wireless DJ Music System from Logitech is looking snazz enough to at least give a second glance. Taking a welcome cue from our usual favorite, Sonos, Logitech's remote features a clickable scroll wheel, and while their LCD isn't near as impressive, it should get the job done. The system's StreamPoint software can hook up with popular jukeboxes like iTunes, Windows Media Player and Musicmatch, and uses some 2.4GHz wireless tech for digitally streaming your tunes to the included Music Receiver, which also happens to be a dock for charging up your remote. Logitech has the price set fairly low at $250, but there's no word on when this setup is due to hit the streets.[Thanks, Dave Z.]
