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Getting a SONOS music player - an update

  • November 22, 2025
  • 5 replies
  • 45 views
H

Sometime ago, I asked for people to recommend a music player for my Sonos speakers. I was looking for something to rip my CD collection to that was easy to use and navigate. That thread got closed, but I thought I would provide an update.  

My initial attempt was a Brennen Helix, but I just never got on with it. The 2nd suggestion was to build your own NAS with a Raspberry Pi. I was not keen, because I wanted something a little more presentable than a collection of devices. Also, I wanted my wife to have full access, so easy to use was a high priority

However, with no obvious commercial device out there (or at least one which I could guarantee SONOS  connectivity, I bowed to the inevitable and bought another Pi. However, in this case it was in the form of a Waveshare CM4 box, which I could fit tow 512 GB SSD’s.  These I have in a RSYNC so have a backup (RAID would be overkill, since it rarely changes), and use SMB to connect with. The device came pre-assembled with PiOS and OMV pre-installed so all i needed to do was add the disks and setup OMV for SMS share.

The latter was the hardest bit, but once working it has been perfect. I can rip the CD’s via laptop and the SONOS app allows me to navigate bu album, genre etc. 

The final touch was getting a cheap android tablet, installing the SONOS app, and using that as an alternative UI. 

So far I am pretty happy. My wife likes thats she can play BBC sounds etc through it too. 

Downsides? Well someone said that SONOS maxes out at 65K tracks, however in may case I don’t think that will be an issue :)

More info here https://hammarbytp.blogspot.com/2025/11/lost-in-music.html

 

 

Airgetlam
N

5 replies

Stanley_4
  • Stanley_4
  • Lead Maestro
  • November 22, 2025

The Raspberry Pi and SSD option can be pretty simple.

Pi 5 SSD option card
Pi 4 and older SSD card

 

 

 

H
  • Hammarbytp
  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • November 30, 2025

I agree, and was my 1st thought. But there is a benefit of splitting the os storage from the disk. The waveshare uses a CM4 module that has in built storage so removing the weakness in SD cards. Plus the case comes with 2 SATA interface and extends the WiFi plus has a nice display etc

Stanley_4
  • Stanley_4
  • Lead Maestro
  • November 30, 2025

Nice. 

I’m in the process of building a full NAS, not for just my Pi music, to replace it and an old server that I’ve been using as a NAS. Looked at a huge number of commercial NAS units, mostly 2 bay, and the more I read the less enthused I became. Still worth a shot as the holiday sales prices really help out on the cost.

I’m going to use an older Pi 4 as I don’t need the performance of a Pi 5 or the high-speed PCIe link. The two USB 3 ports on the PI will go to SATA adapters and a pair of scrapbox 4 TB drives. Planning on RAID1 and an occasional export to an external USB 4 TB drive that will normally be unplugged for safety. I did spring for a pretty 2 Bay drive enclosure to keep things neat and the spouse happy.

I’m torn between doing my own setup and using OMV for the ease of use and neat features.

Here: https://stan-miller.livejournal.com/940.html

buzz
  • buzz
  • November 30, 2025

The SONOS library limit is 65K items, which is usually tracks, but it could also be full discs or complete, multi-disc works stored as a single file. Some listeners don’t need access to individual tracks from a disc. A 99 track anthology or full opera could be combined as a single file. Of course, this would be a nonstarter for individual track listeners, but there is no reason why the library couldn’t be a mixture of full operas and individual pop tracks.

Airgetlam
Stanley_4
  • Stanley_4
  • Lead Maestro
  • November 30, 2025

There have been very few mentions, less in recent times, about a limit on the amount of metadata (tag information, track name, etc.) being reached before the hard count limit is reached.

If you are approaching the limits or are just concerned you can submit a diagnostic and ask Sonos suppoort to give you an internal storge update that will give you an idea of how “ful” your players are.

Airgetlam
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