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Linux HiFi: The Sonos Digital Music System 183
TractorJector writes "Mad Penguin published a 5 page review of the Sonos Digital Music System, a wireless music distribution system built on Linux. According to the site, you can use a single remote to control up to 32 "zones" (locations throughout your house where the receivers are placed). The interface is intuitive and well done for such a compact device. According to the review, it's extremely simple to setup as well."
... neat idea ... (Score:4, Interesting)
I ended up just putting a computer with some decent speakers in each room I wanted music and accessing my music files over my existing network.
One thing in Sonos' favor is that their system is a lot more consumer-accessible.
Very neat.
Re:... neat idea ... (Score:2)
Re:... neat idea ... (Score:2)
I'm using mpd [sourceforge.net] now, which does allow you to control volume. So I use my laptop as a remote to one of mpd's web UIs, then I can hide the ugly sound system in a closet. It's not ideal, becaus
Re:... neat idea ... (Score:2)
Not true, the current slimserver interface allows control of the volume from the web interface.
Re:... neat idea ... (Score:2)
Now if you could program your tuner remote to the Squeezebox code, that would be something.
Re:... neat idea ... (Score:2)
They're obviously not aiming this at people with CD/tape/record players. But honestly, those are ancient audio technology now.
Re:... neat idea ... (Score:2)
Everybody wins...
Re:... neat idea ... (Score:2)
Looks like you put the wrong link in.
From the project description
did you mean this [musicpd.org] -
Re:... neat idea ... (Score:2)
Re:... neat idea ... (Score:2)
Squeezeboxes are by far the most flexible & cost effective solution for network audio around these days.
Coincidence? I think not... (Score:2)
Check out the screen shot [architechsystems.com]
Re:Coincidence? I think not... (Score:1)
ipod clickwheel (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:ipod clickwheel (Score:2, Informative)
These guys probably got them from Synaptics too.
Nope (Score:2, Informative)
Re:ipod clickwheel (Score:2)
If cool tech music toys come out on Linux first (Score:1)
I mean, think of all those MSFT coders
[grin]
Re:If cool tech music toys come out on Linux first (Score:2)
Scalability (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Scalability (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Scalability (Score:1)
Re:Scalability (Score:2)
I know this was modded funny for a reason but, I for one would love to listen to my classical station with some news while I do my SSS routine. Good sounding water/moisture resistant speakers are dirt cheap these days (check out Bose), and enjoying a little Mozart or Led Zeppelin would get me going in the morning.
Re:Scalability (Score:1)
Scroll wheel (Score:3, Interesting)
My only question is on the school wheel interface. My understanding is that Apple had purchased the rights to use the patents to the scroll wheel touchpad system for their technologies (I don't recall the actual patent holder). Does this mean that Sony's scroll wheel is not touch pad based (could be a physical wheel and *not* violate the patent, I guess), or did they also get a piece of the patent license somehow?
Just curious.
Re:Scroll wheel (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Scroll wheel (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:Scroll wheel (Score:2)
Seems pretty expensive (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Seems pretty expensive (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Seems pretty expensive (Score:2)
Re:Seems pretty expensive (Score:5, Insightful)
Ultimately, they will reduce the price by about 50% or they will fail. I looked at the Sonos a while back and it was great, pretty much everything you could want in a multi-room wireless music distribution system, as long as money is no object.
My only complaint is that by making it white and oddly sized, they made it look like a Mac Mini, not like a stereo component. I don't know why so many companies have such a difficult time understanding that oddly shaped/colored components may be a plus in the computer world, but not in the audio one.
Re:Seems pretty expensive (Score:1)
Re:Seems pretty expensive (Score:2)
I still want it to be black though.
Re:Seems pretty expensive (Score:2)
Also...Best Buy isn't exactly the place I'd go for any reasonably good stereo equipment. All they carry is mostly mediocre consumer sound equipment for people that don't know/care what good sound is available out there....and really not for THAT much more $$'s.
Re:Seems pretty expensive (Score:2)
If this is your first time buying a "good" stereo
Re:Seems pretty expensive (Score:2)
When my ancient stereo system gave up, I went to the audio store expecting to be wowed by all the new audio tech, instead I found myself in a timewarp back to 1980 or so.
Aside from remote controls, there hasn't been a significant advance in audio equipment UIs since the '70s or '80. The Sonous probably isn't for someone who still appreciates all those dreary kobs and switches, but it's exactly the thing I was looking for.
Re:Seems pretty expensive (Score:2)
I also wanted a single remote control that would display information about the currently playing audio track. What I didn't want was a remote controled CD changer that forces you to remember the index number of the CD, and doesn't tell you song information. That kind of UI seems beyond useless
Re:Seems pretty expensive (Score:2)
Funny you should mention that, I was just discussion the utter ridiculousness of this with a friend earlier today.
Has anyone noticed that all R&D on audio CD players apparently ceased about 5 years ago? Not a single feature advancement has seen the light of day. Several years back I b
Re:Seems pretty expensive (Score:1)
You're absolutely correct from what I've seen. Most of the audio manufacturers' flavors of wireless multiroom entertainment (a bunch are covered in http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article.asp?secti on_id=2&article_id=831&page_number=1 [soundandvisionmag.com]) are awfully expensive, on the magnitude of dropping multiple thousands of bucks.
The key is the consumer-friendliness other posters have noted. Personally, I entered the world of open source when I pulled an old Pentium II machine out of the closet and installed t
Re:Seems pretty expensive (Score:2)
cheap, easy wireless networking and it pipes your music to the stereo.
Re:Seems pretty expensive (Score:2)
Re:Seems pretty expensive (Score:4, Insightful)
Yes. What you save in dollars you'll be spending tenfold in time.
Stop thinking of price as something only measured in dollars and you'll better understand why people buy things like this when they could have something "better".
Re:Seems pretty expensive (Score:2)
What you describe has scarcely any resemblance to the Sonos. Yes, there are a million ways to solve the problem of "playing music", but if you're trying to get the same functionality as the Sonos you're going to have to do a lot more work.
(And you've got video playback)
Who cares? You'v
Re:Seems pretty expensive (Score:2)
With the Sonos solution party goers attending parties at your house will think you're a bastard with too much money on his hands, but at the same time be impressed with how sweet the system works. They'll linger around drinking your booze and bouncing between Infected Mushroom beats in the Living Room and the smooth sounds of Stereolab in the guest bedroom.
With the Dell solution party goers will think you're a cheap rich bastard with too much time on his
Consider the list... (Score:4, Funny)
What I hoped AirPortExpress would be (Score:3, Insightful)
Jobs has hinted at a remote control feature for AirportExpress, but nothing has materialized so far.
Re:What I hoped AirPortExpress would be (Score:2, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
Re:What I hoped AirPortExpress would be (Score:2)
I just sent email to the webmaster listed on their product page saying they should add the cable length to their info.
Re:What I hoped AirPortExpress would be (Score:1)
UPnP media player for linux (Score:3, Interesting)
There seem to be plenty of UPnP servers being developed under Linux, but no clients.
Are there proprietary codec issues that are hindering this?
Re:UPnP media player for linux (Score:2)
V2 is still available from the Rhapsody home page.
Re:UPnP media player for linux (Score:2)
This is OK... But no AM/FM/XM/CD player options. (Score:5, Informative)
Therefore, what I did opt for is a system from Russound. Their "CA-Series" is very nice. Check them out at russound.com [russound.com]. I have two six-zone systems, creating a total of twelve integrated zones.
You definitely loose the oohs-and-ahhs factor that Sonos brings with their remote LCD. However, when I walk into a room in my house, I can control that zone from any one of six sources: two AM/FM radio tuners, XM Satellite radio, a CD player, my MP3 collection, and even a cable TV feed. Yes, I can even tune the station I want on the radio, skip tracks on the CD player, etc.. This is all done via the in-wall control panel.
It's not as [fancy|sexy|cool] as the Sonos, however, it's more functional for my listening style.
Re:This is OK... But no AM/FM/XM/CD player options (Score:2)
Re:This is OK... But no AM/FM/XM/CD player options (Score:2)
Two ponderances (Score:1)
1. Will it interfere with existing wireless networks?
2. Have they now beaten Apple to the crunch ahead of their proposed Airport expansions?
Which is pretty much what you'd expect... (Score:3, Insightful)
Expensive (Score:5, Insightful)
What sort of interference will this cause? (Score:2)
Re:What sort of interference will this cause? (Score:2)
Re:What sort of interference will this cause? (Score:2)
Finally... (Score:2)
How many people need different music for different rooms anyway? Aren't most people listening to the music in the same room as the device? Plus, unless you happen to be cruising around you house with the giant remote control, you're just going to have to run to the room with the remote in it instead of the room with the stereo...
Re:Finally... (Score:1)
ARGGG! (Score:1, Insightful)
Cute, Badly Positioned Product (Score:2)
Consider possible users:
1. Hi Fi enthusiast.
This person is not going to pay $1200 to use a cheesy 50W amplifier.
2. Computer Nut.
Already has all his/her audio digitized and several spare computers lying around along with a wireless network and some decent stereos. Why pay $1200 for Sonos when $129 per A
Re:Cute, Badly Positioned Product (Score:2)
Which sometimes fall into the category #3 you quoted above, sadly.
It almost seems like this is supposed to be used in something like a restaurant, where you can control the different zones... however, I don't know of a restaurant that has "zone" control that plays different music on different zones. Usually just volume - that's it.
Maybe not such a badly Positioned Product (Score:2)
- With the Airport Express you don't get a nice GUI or remote control device.
- With the Airport Express, you can't play the same music in multiple rooms at once.
- You also have to have a computer running. I'm told the Sonus will play interenet radio without requiring a computer or file server running. (Roku does this as well, and apparently the new Slim Devices product does as well)
Sonus is too
Slashvertisment? (Score:3, Insightful)
Analog loophole, analog loophole... a whole page raving about that and the fact that you can rip CDs to MP3s on your computer and play them on this thing! And there isn't even a single real-life photo, only those found on the official [sonos.com] site. [sonos.com] Nobody seems to be complaining about the slashvertisment now, eh?
I have demo'd these (Score:3, Informative)
It's a pretty cool system... (Score:4, Interesting)
The big selling point for him was being able to have all the "zones" synchronously play the same song in every room. None of the other solutions he looked at were able to do that.
As far as I remember, the scrool wheel doesn't move- it's touch based, like on the recent iPods.
I just wish I had the money to buy one for myself...
Re:It's a pretty cool system... (Score:3, Informative)
Squeezebox (www.slimdevices.com) does that, but isn't standalone and assumes you're providing the computer and hard drive holding your music collection. Each player ("zone") is $300 ($250 if you don't need wireless) and requires external amp/speakers. For those of us who like the sound of our existing systems, it seemed better.
Build Your Own (Score:2)
Re:Build Your Own (Score:2)
Re:Build Your Own (Score:2)
Surround Sound (Score:1)
Amp-less Version? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Amp-less Version? (Score:2, Interesting)
The Squeezebox is an excellent low-cost solution, especially if you already have amps and speakers, music ripped on a server, and a home network.
Ack! -1, Uninformed (Score:2)
That would be a "plug". The male (sticky-outty) thing is a plug. The female (takie-innie) thing is a jack.
I'm about to run speaker wire to the upstairs bathroom, to put a pair of car speakers in the ceiling above the sink. That means crawling in the attic, pulling wires, etc. I
Sonos vs. Airport Express vs. Cheapo Dells (Score:4, Insightful)
Sonos
=-=-=
*multi-room capability (control up to 32 rooms on one controller)
*multi-source capability (play different songs in different rooms)
*synchronization capability (play the same in different rooms, or in groups of different rooms)
*built-in amplifier (not everyone has a speaker amp in each room)
*line-out to existing amplifier (for those beefy existing home theatre setups)
*line-in on each zoneplayer that can be streamed to any other zoneplayer (connect any legacy device like cd/dvd/tape/sat radio/etc.)
*integration with music services (rhapsody)
*integration with internet radio streams
*wireless controller w/ lcd (huge benefit on getting the wife/gf to use it)
*ease of use (anyone can use that scrollwheel interface)
*ease of setup (not everyone is a tech)
Now let's look at the other talked about solutions and compare their capabilities:
Airport Express
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
*line-out to existing amplifier
*can play one audio source at a time (so can either play on my computer, or my airport express)
*walk back to computer each time you want to change anything
Cheapo Dell ($500 - I have yet to actually see anyone get a computer for $299)
=-=-=-=-=-=
*computer functionality at each room [benefit, assuming you have a montior, keyboard, and mouse to take advantage of it]
*no sychronization (might was well have a indepent cdplayers in each room and burn cds)
*need powered speakers at each location (more $$$)
*walk up to computer and change tracks on it
Besides all the extra functionality (link/separting rooms of audio, rhapsody integration, ease of use/setup,...) everyone is missing the most important thing [and what makes the iPod so successful]. THE INTERFACE! Why do people buy iPods in droves instead of getting a regular flash/hard drive based player. It's because the iPod has blended simple but powerful functionality with elegant design. Sonos wireless lcd controller gives that same beautiful abstraction and gives *anyone* control of the audio in their house seamlessly.
Re:Sonos vs. Airport Express vs. Cheapo Dells (Score:2)
I love my audiotrons. they use the samba share of my music on the main server in the house perfectly. and at only $299.00 each + $299.00 for a pair of alesis powered monitors that kick the crap out of most "home speakers" in each room I get much more for much less.
I can program in icecast stations on my audiotrons, and have a perl script that has all my podcasts in a podcast section that auto delete if listened to during th
Re:Sonos vs. Airport Express vs. Cheapo Dells (Score:2)
Care to explain why? I used to use audiotron, they were OK. Nothing spectacular, browsing was a pain for one thing - they were slow. Now I use Squeezeboxes. Yes they need a server running, but it's open source perl, so (hopefully) no complaints about lockin there. What you get in exchange is much better performance when searching through 10000 files (because meta data is all in a db), support for multi-player synchronized play
Re:Sonos vs. Airport Express vs. Cheapo Dells (Score:2)
*computer functionality at each room [benefit, assuming you have a montior, keyboard, and mouse to take advantage of it]
And be able to take it to various places outside, assuming the access points can reach.
*no sychronization (might was well have a indepent cdplayers in each room and burn cds)
And just what is wrong with the sound players that will synchronize the songs playing on two computers across a network?
*need powered speakers at each location (more $$$)
Are you saying the Sonos
Rhapsody (Score:3, Informative)
WinXP 10/10 ; Linux 2/10 (Score:4, Interesting)
The reviewer said he had to ask the Sonos community (maybe a web forum?) for help getting it to work under Suse. Apparantly you need to run Samba for the Sonos controller to be able to access the music and gave the reviewer enough trouble that he writes:
"For Linux wizards, this is probably just another opportunity to play and have fun, but for me it was some serious work, and I would not have been able to do it but for the graciousness of the Sonos community. "
It seems that they haven't put a lot of polish on the linux support for the server end yet. I'm wondering why is there no NFS support which should do away with needing Samba... I have my entire music collection on an NFS share, and I'd expect any linux client to simply mount it over the network and away we go.
Should we be giving much credit to a product just because it runs linux if it's really that difficult to make it play nicely with existing linux networks?
Re:WinXP 10/10 ; Linux 2/10 (Score:2)
Roku Soundbridge (Score:2)
It solves some problems of the AirPort Express (no display, no ability to control the host computer).
Has anyone here used it?
(And to answer the question of why get this instead of an actal computer--some people have home theaters or stereos and want something that integrate with th
Re:Roku Soundbridge (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Roku Soundbridge (Score:2)
Home sound (Score:2)
I'm a huge fan of this (Score:3, Informative)
Why is Sonos great? (in no particular order)
1. No need to put your MP3s on it's HD. You store them where you want and simply mount a drive
2. A remote anyone can use with no training. My previous hacked together PocketPC device accessing internal website via 802 was a disaster.
3. Use traditional audiophile grade gear (amps with sonos as preamp) and input devices (DVD, tape deck, LP, etc) as inputs to Sonos. Nothing beats an LP streamed all over the house
4. Play multiple zones "in Sync" (all playing the same thing in time) or each zone plays what it wants
5. It just works. Well. Hugely high Wife Acceptance Factor (WAF).
6. Software upgrades (flashable ROM) to hardware. I've never got an upgrade to my old, black rack audio gear.
7. water-resistant remote
8. Desktop client, if you can't find a remote, use your laptop
9. we just listen to more music.
10. whole home networking without running wires (here in Boston, old home networking can be tough)
11. programable interface
12. active developers community
What I don't love about Sonos:
1. Cost
2. No support for real/MS/quicktime, only shoutcast. For now, hoping for an upgrade
That's really it. The wife and I just love it.
I can't recommend it enough.
Feel free to post questions about the devices if you like and I'll try to answer.
Re:I'm a huge fan of this (Score:2)
One of the enhancement requests via the Users Forum is for seamless play. With the soft upgrades, it should be a future improvement.
They have already did a patch for things like additional format support, Rhapsody support, etc.
Re:Not free (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Not free (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Why didn't they use OS X? (Score:1)
Re:Hah... (Score:1)
Re:FP! (Score:1)
Except for the ones with "
" in them.
You are the weakest link! Goodbye!
Re:Do it yourself (Score:2)
Re:The Cost! (Score:2)
Mark
Re:I hope the have the (Score:2)
If you are in the market for high-end audio, smart home systems, and the like, DRM is essentially irrelevant.
Your free time is worth more per billable hour than any thirty DVDs or a ten year subscription to Rhapsody. You do not waste it trolling P2P for an amateur's mp3 rips. You will never be a problem for the RIAA.