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CodeSlinger
Avid Contributor I
December 19, 2015
Answered

Pretty please - Build a Play:Win device

  • December 19, 2015
  • 46 replies
  • 2343 views
I absolutely love the Sonos Windows and Android apps and my new 5.1 and other Play speakers. You did an excellent job on this system!

I also want to listen to all the great music sources while working at my PC and don't always want to bother everyone else turning on the real speakers (I develop Windows software at home).

Please create a new "Play:Win" device that can be a Sonos "Room" which can send audio to any of the Windows Playback devices. E.G. headset, speakers, digital audio S/PDIF 5.1 etc. same as how a user can select audio playback output on a PC. You can build a Windows device driver to do this.

This way I can use my local USB headset and you don't need to come out with those wireless headsets quite so soon.

I don't want to have to also run WinAmp or Kodi or something to play my local FLAC files that I can already play via Sonos reading my NAS drive.

And I want to use the great features in the Sonos app for internet radio, playlists, favorites etc. which would be yet additional apps if I can use Sonos.

Please add a Play:Win device as part of the Sonos PC app.

You of course could also build Play:Android etc. but I sit at my PC all day and that one is top priority :D

Please consider this especially for the Windows PC.

Thanks for your consideration. This would set Sonos way above the emerging IP speaker crowd!

Dave
      This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.
      Best answer by Chris
      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?

      46 replies

      Show previous replies
      jgatie
      jgatie
      December 21, 2015
      . . . like Squeezebox.
      Chris
      Chris
      Lead Maestro
      December 21, 2015
      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.
      Respect the Queue (2)Move (3)Beam (1) Era100 (2)ARC (1)SonosOne (1)Playbar (4)Play5 (4)Play1 (3)Play3 (1)Port (2)Connect (1) Roam (2) Ace (1)Connect:Amp (4)Sonos Amp (1)Sub + (9) Echo + Smartthings; (2)Play)
      jgatie
      jgatie
      December 21, 2015
      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.
      CodeSlingerAuthor
      Avid Contributor I
      December 21, 2015


      No, there is a third way, plug some headphones into your pc's soundcard and listen to internet radio through a web browser.

      Sonos don't make pc audio software, why should they when there's a million options out there for doing that already?

      That is EXACTLY what I do NOT want to do! I want a single music app. Perhaps you did not really get my points...
      Chris
      Chris
      Lead Maestro
      December 21, 2015
      Sonos connect
      Respect the Queue (2)Move (3)Beam (1) Era100 (2)ARC (1)SonosOne (1)Playbar (4)Play5 (4)Play1 (3)Play3 (1)Port (2)Connect (1) Roam (2) Ace (1)Connect:Amp (4)Sonos Amp (1)Sub + (9) Echo + Smartthings; (2)Play)
      The LHC
      December 21, 2015


      No, there is a third way, plug some headphones into your pc's soundcard and listen to internet radio through a web browser.

      Sonos don't make pc audio software, why should they when there's a million options out there for doing that already?

      That is EXACTLY what I do NOT want to do! I want a single music app. Perhaps you did not really get my points...

      Oh I got it but you didn't get the point that Sonos does NOT make pc audio playing software.
      CodeSlingerAuthor
      Avid Contributor I
      December 21, 2015
      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.
      CodeSlingerAuthor
      Avid Contributor I
      December 21, 2015
      Sonos connect

      Yes I got that thanks.
      ratty
      ratty
      December 21, 2015
      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.
      jgatie
      jgatie
      December 21, 2015
      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.

      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 reasons, 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.
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