Re: Multi room audio Sonos or what else?

["ianh1000" <ianh1000@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi All,

Thanks for the quick replies! My HP box was never sold in the UK, it
is (was) a Linux based music server with a 40GB hard disk and great
plans for the future that never happened!

I really like the sound of the Sonos kit, I just wish it had a slot
for a little SATA drive in a master zone player, or am I missing the
point?

what I realy want is a low power home media server that does not run
Microsoft operating systems and can store all my media, backup other
devices. I would also like to be able to buy a TV/local device that
can play all my media without having half a dozen boxes each with its
own PSU!

Great to see the new Freesat service now I just forked out for 3 LCD
TV's with built in freeview so that I could loose some boxes.

My guess is that what I want will be very easy in another 5 years!

Thanks again!

Ian

--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Ian Bird" <ian.bird@...> wrote:
>
> I have just bought a Sonos ZP100 and controller. I have put all my
> CD's onto my NAS box and consigned them and the HiFi to the loft. I
> used the HiFi speakers though to use with the Sonos kit.
>
> First impressions were good with excellent packaging and minimalist
> good looks. Plugging in was easy and setting it all up with the PC
and
> supplied CD was a great way of making life easier.
>
> The scan of my music was quick and it just works every time. The
> controller is probably essential unless you are using a PC to
control
> it all. Very nice screen and pretty good menus etc. Plenty good
enough
> for SWMBO who only plays rather than adds music etc. PC control of
> anything is a blasphemy in this house these days. Setup is fine
though.
>
> Sound quality seems good as does volume but neither my speakers nor
my
> hearing are all that good these days.
>
> It is very early days so far but first impressions are great. I
> particularly like the cradle I got for the controller. It was extra
> but ohh so worth it ;-)
>
> I went for Sonos over the Squeezebox flavour purely for SWMBO
reasons
> and so far she likes it. I am thinking of adding rf speakers to it
and
> using that to supply sound to other rooms (pick them up and move
them)
> but am saving up still. For me the multi room side of things is not
> really an issue, just a nicety. Not sure I would spend 300 quid plus
> on a nicety. As a family we only play music in one place at once
> anyway, just not always the same place.
>
> Sonos are doing offers at the moment so it was 500 quid inc vat and
> delivery for the setup I got.
>
> Having multi room Sonos kit would clash with the controller I
expect.
> Whilst the controller can operate zones etc. no problems trying to
> fight the missus for control of the controller could be messy.
>
> All in all for us in the lounge getting rid of all the CD's and HiFi
> has been a real winner. Getting access to all my MP3 stuff has been
an
> unexpected bonus as was internet radio.
>
> You pays your money and you makes your choices.
>
> There isn't a power switch on the unit IIRC so an appliance module
> should work however they are designed to be always on.
>
> Power consumption is minimal and you can even turn off the white LED
> on the front. Google says 5 watts on standby for the ZP100. In
winter
> this is lost as heat thereby lowering your heating bill ;-)
>
> Have fun
>
> Ian
>
> --- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "ianh1000" <ianh1000@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi All,
> >
> > My faithful HP Digital entertainment center seems to have failed
> > after 8 good years work, I had been using this linked to a Kiosk
and
> > other PC's to be able to pay music in different rooms. It all
worked
> > OK for my but SWMBO found it to be unreliable and I was often
> > changing interfaces etc.
> >
> > I am looking for a replacement and Sonos looks nice but a fair
> > investment for 3 rooms or more. I am also trying to reduce the
power
> > that is used on a non stop basis, anyone any idea how much power
the
> > Sonos devices use? Also what do these small NAS devices like
Buffalo
> > use?
> >
> > I have a comfort system, could i use an X10 Appliance module with
> > each Zone Player to turn them all on and off when the alarm is
set? I
> > assume they don't need any gracefull shutdown.
> >
> > Any other suggestions welcome.
> >
> > Thanks
> > Ian
> >
>



------------------------------------