SonosController
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Sonos' automatic speaker tuning feature is available today
Sonos' new automatic tuning feature Trueplay is rolling out to the masses. The software addition adjusts the strength of various frequencies in order to compensate for a room's poor acoustics or an ill-placed speaker. The idea is that Sonos speakers should output undistorted music no matter where you put your them. Trueplay has been in private beta since October, but today is the day that it's widely available to anyone with a compatible Sonos speaker.
A software trick will make your Sonos sound better than ever
If you're feeling envious of Sonos' new flagship speaker, the company has some good news in the form of Trueplay. It's a new feature coming to the Sonos iOS app that will make your old speakers sound better through calibration, and it works really well. When the update comes to the app, you'll be asked to run through the setup in order to better tune your speakers. The process is simple. You'll be asked to wander around your room keeping your iPhone or iPad vertical while waving it slowly up and down. At the same time, all the speakers in your room will be outputting some odd sounds, perhaps best described as what I thought a space battle would sound like when I was 5. The microphones in your device will pick up all these pew pews, and then the software analyzes what frequencies are being distorted by your furniture.
Sonos rolls out multi-account support, Playbar sound tweaks
Folks who've invested in Sonos' audio wares can expect to get a bit more out of the Controller companion app for iOS and Android. First, the mobile software now sorts up to 32 music service accounts for beaming tunes to your set-up. This means that both you and your roommate can link separate Spotify credentials and nickname 'em to keep things tidy -- all while getting at your personal repository of playlists. The feature was available in beta form for the last month, but now it's making an official debut. Both versions also received a boost in the search department to make finding what you're after across all of those music libraries easier. Android users can expect lock-screen controls too, and if you splurged for a Playbar, the update packs in those audio improvements that were part of the beta as well.
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.
Sonos app updates foster Spotify integration, easier playlist building
If you're peddling wireless speaker systems that offer internet streaming support, it's only natural to want to get cozy with Spotify. Sonos' latest update for its iOS and Android Controller apps does just that, and you can now log-in to the streaming service using your Facebook account. What's more, version 4.1 makes handling mixtapes easier, as you can access, edit or build new Spotify playlists from within the app. Revising your Sonos playlists, or creating new ones altogether, has also been tweaked so you no longer need to involve the 'now playing' queue. Lastly, the alarm function can now be set to wake you with the sounds of your preferred subscription service, taking you straight from dreaming to streaming.
Sonos app gets universal favorites, Android widget and iPhone 5 tweaks
Ask a Sonos listener about flaws in the Controller app and you'll often hear about three sticking points: favorites buried in separate sections, the absence of an official Android widget and an iOS version that still isn't optimized for the iPhone 5. As of Tuesday, the company is cleaning house by curing all three hiccups at once. A new software update puts a source-independent Sonos Favorites section at the top of the menu system; Android users now have a playback widget to quickly skip tracks, and the iPhone app finally takes advantage of those 176 extra lines on the screen. All the official Controller releases should see their fixes appear at relevant app stores soon, if not by the time you read this.
Sonos finally adds retina support to iOS app, tablet UI on Android
It's taken over two years, but Sonos has finally added high-res graphics to its iOS apps to support the Retina Display. The music streaming remote has been saddled with an interface designed for much lower resolutions until today's update which finally ushered it into the modern age. Thankfully, the company brought Retina support to both the iPhone and iPad app in one fell swoop, avoiding letting one version lag behind the other. The Android remote also got a nice update today, finally delivering a tablet UI. The app has technically supported Google-powered slates for sometime, but it lacked a truly optimized interface with multiple columns like the iPad version. Hit up the source links to download them now.
Sonos Sub review
More Info Sonos' wireless Sub adds extra thump to your Sonos system for $700 (ears-on) Sonos Play:3 review Sonos S5 ears-on review: a premium iPod speaker dock without the dock Every audio product Sonos has delivered so far has worked on the assumption that you would never need anything else after you bought it, whether it's linking to a sound system you already owned or an all-in-one system that Sonos built itself, like the Play:3 or Play:5 (born as the S5). The newly released Sub, by its nature, is entirely dependent on having one of the two Play speakers, and shows the company is becoming more of a traditional audio brand with a full ecosystem. A primary Sonos component can now be just the first step in a growing collection that improves as you expand it -- much as you'd buy a basic stereo, then better speakers, then more at a high-end audio shop. The Sub's $699 price certainly catapults any Sonos system into high-end territory, however, and sets some decidedly lofty expectations for how it will perform. We'll find out after the break if the sheer power and a few clever tricks are enough for the Sub to be an essential ingredient of a wireless home audio setup.%Gallery-158435%
Sonos' new controller apps now available for kicking out those jams
Remember those revamped Sonos apps the company teased last week? Now they can be yours whenever you choose to update the software on your OS X or Windows computer. As well as a refreshed user interface, you'll get unified search, drag-and-drop functionality and one-touch party mode -- although it turns out, that last one doesn't suddenly make a party appear in your house. Shame, that.
Sonos shows off upcoming Controller apps for Windows and Mac
You unfortunately can't download them yet, but Sonos has now detailed just what folks can expect from its newly redesigned Sonos Controller apps for Mac and Windows. In addition to a completely revamped look, they'll offer an improved search box that promises to make it easier to find music across various services, as well as expanded drag-and-drop functionality, more accessible sleep timer and alarm settings, and an all new mini player -- not to mention a "one-touch Party Mode," which lets you adjust the volume in grouped rooms simultaneously. Head on past the break for a quick video, and look for the updates themselves to be available sometime next week.
Sonos software updates bring Android tablet support, Slacker and Spotify upgrades
Wireless music streaming kingpins Sonos rolled out a number of software updates tonight, including System Software 3.6, which brings added controls to Sonos Wireless HiFi, integration with Slacker and some improvements to the service's Spotify offerings. The newly revamped Sonos Controller for Android, meanwhile, offers up support for Android tablets running 2.2 or higher. More info after the jump.
Sonos Play:3 review
Sonos may not inspire the sort of high-end audio lust that a company like Polk can, but it doesn't draw the ire of serious audiophiles the way Bose does either. It straddles a fine line between respectability and gimmicky, and rightfully so -- Sonos isn't really an audio company in the purest sense of the term. Rather than loading up its components with vacuum tubes and gold-plated connectors, units like the recently launched Play:3 make their mark by incorporating wireless streaming -- a feature that's actually painless to setup. They're for people who have embraced the digital music revolution, but don't want to be stuck sitting in front of the computer or tethered to an iPod when the mood to groove strikes. The Play:3 also happens to be the first accelerometer-packing speaker we've ever tested that dynamically changes the EQ based on its orientation. As usual all the details -- from connecting and controlling the player to whether or not it produces the sound quality to justify its somewhat lofty $299 price tag -- are after the break.%Gallery-129581%
Sonos Controller for Android with voice search will blow you away (video)
You can exhale Sonos fans, it's finally happening. The Sonos Controller for Android is official. After almost a year in development, the free WiFi music remote finally gives Sonos owners control over their whole-home audio system from any Android 2.1 and above device with a screen size of HVGA 320 x 480, WVGA 480 x 800 or WVGA 480 x 854. At least it will when it hits the Market at the end of March. Better yet, it trumps the Sonos iOS controller with music controls mapped directly to the buttons on your Android hardware. As such, you can control the volume of your Sonos system with the physical volume rocker on your Desire Z or use the search button on your Droid X to forage for that certain artist, track, or album. Oh, and the Sonos Controller for Android also supports voice search -- take that iOS app. Sorry, Sonos isn't announcing anything related to an Android tablet-equivalent of the Sonos controller for iPad today as the company is waiting to see how that market develops and which screen sizes and resolutions gain the most traction. Nevertheless, we'll be getting our first hands-on opportunity of the handset controller at Mobile World Congress next week. So, until then, why not wipe the tears from your $349 Sonos CR200 controller and watch the video preview after the break.
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.
Sonos update turns wireless S5 speaker into a premium 'stereo pair'
The ZonePlayer S5 launch was an important milestone for Sonos as it attempts to bring down the cost (and raise the appeal) of its excellent whole-home music delivery system. Now we've got a bit of good news for those of you who already picked up a few of the $399 all-in-one wireless speakers we reviewed back in October. A 3.2 software update for the Sonos controller and iPod touch / iPhone apps will be released sometime this month letting you assign left and right audio channels to a pair of S5 speakers. The result should be impressive since the portable units can already easily fill the average room with sound on their own. The update will provide owners of multiple S5s with a temporary option for parties, especially if you decide to take the show outdoors... assuming you can still celebrate knowing that you're listening to two-channel audio on $800 worth of speakers. Hey, at least the software update is free.
Sonos CR200 controller outed by the FCC
Without a doubt, Sonos makes an excellent wireless distributed audio system. If we had to nit pick (and we do), then its massive controller, the CR100 is easily the first thing to complain about. For starters it's a $400 remote control that does one thing, it controls your Sonos audio system. Granted, the CR100 is rugged, splashproof, and turns on in an instant thanks to a built-in accelerometer; features that can't justify the price, however, in light of the solid Sonos did its user base when it released a free Sonos controller app for the iPhone and iPod touch. The app even one-ups the CR100 with its on-screen QWERTY since the CR100's scrollwheel isn't exactly the best interface for typing out the name of an artist search. So imagine our intrigue when we saw a new CR200 Sonos Controller pass through the FCC. The new controller appears to prefer a portrait orientation (instead of landscape like the CR100) and was tested across 802.11g WiFi frequencies with a 24Mbps fixed data rate. While that doesn't give us much to go on, at least it passed the tests meaning we could be close to an official announcement. Considering the controller's physical design hasn't changed since its launch in January of 2005, a few more days or weeks of waiting shouldn't be a problem.
Sonos 2.8 adds Deezer Radio to multi-room systems in Europe, updates iPhone controller
After plunking down a grand for Sonos' impressive 2-room bundle, it's always nice to see a freebie or two arrive via software updates. While not quite as big a release as version 2.7 was for Sonos' wireless (or wired) multi-room audio system, 2.8 does add free Deezer Radio service to Sonos users in 30 countries across Europe -- think Last.fm's artist smart lists with the ability to skip tracks only better dressed and with a knowledge of geography. Sonos is also updating its free iPhone / iPod touch controller application by extending native language support (Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Swedish added to English) and granting access to the sleep timers and wake-to-music alarms you've setup using the Sonos software controller running on your desktop. This update brings the features of the iPhone Controller up to par with Sonos' own dedicated controller and thus makes the €399 price for the CR100 all the more ridiculous.Fortunately, for a limited time (until May 31st) Sonos is heavily discounting its €399 Sonos Controller as long as you buy it bundled with a ZonePlayer -- a box required for adding new speaker zones. The ZP90 and Sonos Controller combo is available for €599 (a savings of €149) while the amplified ZP120 and Controller combo is available for €699 (a savings of €199). The offer seems bent on preventing you from purchasing a relatively fragile but multi-purpose €219 iPod touch with onscreen keyboard to control your whole-house audio instead of Sonos' rugged and water-resistant CR100 Controller with scroll-wheel QWERTY. Try harder Sonos, even Apple learned to ditch the scroll-wheel. A few more interface shots after the break.
Sonos Controller for iPhone and Software 2.7 bring Last.fm, internet radio and 'the future' to your existing setup
We've been griping about the limitations of the existing wireless Sonos controller for just about as long as Sonos has been pumping them out -- not that it's a horrible chunk of hardware, just that we love to gripe, and the lack of good text input is extremely limiting in these modern times of limitless content to surf through. Well, the problem's been solved, at least for iPhone and iPod touch users, and in typical Sonos fashion the solution's free. Starting today Sonos will be offering a free Sonos Controller app on Apple's App Store, which can handle just about every function the existing controller can, with the additional convenience of a touch interface and an on-screen keyboard. Multi-room control, Napster and Rhapsody, your own music library -- it's all here, thanks to the magic of WiFi. Sonos even saw it fit to pack a general software update (Sonos Software 2.7) which includes fifteen thousand internet radio stations and Last.fm integration. The primary limitation to iPhone control is the fact that you're relying on your home's WiFi instead of that schmancy mesh network Sonos products employ, but that's a small price to pay for usability. Check out our highly enthralling hands-on shots below, and then peep the read link for more info and video, which should be live by the time you read this. The app should go live sometime today.%Gallery-35504%
