Pretty please - Build a Play:Win device

The Open Source aspect had nothing to do with the software being used as a substitute for hardware purchases. No modification was needed, it could have been non-Open Source and the same cannibalizing of sales would have occurred. Now is the fact Squeeze started out as an enthusiasts company that embraced Open Source the reason they put out a software based zone, simply because they could with no thoughts about the financial impact? Maybe, but that is yet another argument against Sonos doing a software zone.

The fact remains,. there are significant technical reasons why a PC cannot be used for a software zone. The interrupt based PC clock is one, and no, there is no way to argue against this. If you do, you will expose your ignorance of PC architecture. So don't go there, you will be embarrassed, as were others in the original thread (which you obviously have not read).

There are also financial reason, which have been discussed. So wish all you want, it is not happening. Better to take the time wasted here posting about it and put it towards making money to purchase a Connect for your PC. That is the only way to get what you want.

I guess the great USB and HDMI sound I hear from other apps on my PC is my imagination and 30 years in computer software and hardware doesn't count. I'm quite aware of how interrupt logic works having written device drivers for Intel. Yet I don't care to keep arguing. I'll hope for them coming out with a wireless headset and/or look into a Connect.

hopefully they encrypt their remote command protocol so no one actually does clone it.
It uses UPnP, which is in clear text. Many have implemented third party controllers.

And you wouldn't need to open source a Sonos software player in order to blow a big hole through Sonos' business model, just a Win32 emulator.

Obviously this is a religious issue with many of you yet I will keep my freedom to believe it makes perfect technical sense. The financial sense can be argued but who in their right mind would open source their IP for something like this? Not sure how you thought that was part of my suggestion. In fact, hopefully they encrypt their remote command protocol so no one actually does clone it.

Sonos connect

the softsquueze player probably took away 20% of their hardware business. I think their other mistake was trying to cater to every whim of requested features (although Sonos could do a little more of this)...leading to bloatware that was difficult to keep running for it core purpose of serving music.

There was a myriad of problems. Open Source without a dedicated team of programmers was one. Quality Control was another, with daily releases and "Load the latest build" being a mantra for some support personnel. But the SoftSqueeze player was most definitely to blame. There was talk on their forum of people who had already fabricated players from Raspberry Pi's within seconds of the first rumors of the line going bye-bye. If there is that level of support in the first few seconds after "The End is Near" declaration, then you know there was a healthy underground of users who were forsaking Squeeze hardware beforehand.

. . . like Squeezebox.

Sonos is not going to make a PC zone. It makes no technical or financial sense. If it did, they would have done it 10 years ago when it was first requested.

CodeSlinger, besides the technical reasons, including the lousy timing of the pc clock, why in God's green earth would Sonos allow you to turn a pc into a zone? Raspberry Pi computers can be bought for under $100. That's half the price of a Play:1. Add cheap speakers and you have a Sonos device for under $150 with no profit to Sonos, spelling Sonos' death knell.

Don't believe me? The last multi-room streamer with a PC zone was Squeezebox. Their line is now deceased, except for the users who keep it going using Raspberry Pi computers and their old PC based software zone, all for less than half the price of the original Squeezebox hardware.

You are wrong on the technical reasons and yes I know that is why they don't do it but I would like to believe they are looking at it wrong. They c/should sell the zone software to implement a zone as after all it is their intellectual property that they have every right to a profit from. And then I don't need to burn watts for another piece of gear I don't really need when I'm sitting much of the day in front of a system way more powerful, including very accurate timing and digital audio, I7, 32G etc. And I don't have to waste my time or space having additional devices and/or multiple apps on my PC to listen to all the music that Sonos can already nicely control. This could also add new sources for other zones. I just wanted to easily use my USB headset so must consider Chris' suggestion as the only possibility right now yet am going to wait a bit before going that route.

I think it makes logical and financial sense and would like to see Sonos do this and/or sell some wireless headphones. I think they can make decent $ doing both and I would like either as a consumer and it will further lock in their customer base. If folks use their software they would be hesitant to convert to other delivery systems due to the hassles of migrating off any entrenched software platform. Sonos is really in the music delivery business, not just the speaker busienss, and right now they don't easily deliver to headphones. Honestly, I'd rather have some really nice wireless headphones so while I'm reading Asimov on my Kindle in front of the linear FP I can listen to some nice instrumental w/o bothering the wife. And then I could use them sitting at the PC as well.

I currently have a connect hooked between my PC output and my PC speakers. That makes my PC a Sonos Zone where I can play anything from my PC to any Sonos speaker in the house and I can play Sonos music to my PC speakers (making them a zone and I could just as easily have a splitter to use my wired headphones as well.

If speakers are built into the PC you could hook the connect to the MIC/Audio input of your PC to play Sonos sound - and from the audio out to play PC sound to other Sonos units.

How does the Connect not work for you?

Well that costs a lot more but some good ideas thanks. Maybe they could sell the PC software if the issue is they would not be selling hardware.

CodeSlinger,

Here is a very old, very long, and sometimes contentious discussion about using a PC as a zone.