Replacement CR100?
Userlevel 7
+5
What's best to replace the CR100 ?
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.
Page 3 / 4
Or, if you have more time and curiosity than $$, this looks pretty awesome:
http://blog.stef.be/sonobuttons
I like this approach.
+2
http://www.casetawireless.com/Pages/sonos.aspx
This looks interesting - anyone using it and have feedback?
Hey, everyone. I would like to suggest a reasonable Qi capable androidtablet or phone with Sonos pinned can get one very close and perhaps even further than a CR100. We're rockin 2x Nexus 7 2nd gen (2013, Wifi only) in two separate stands/wall mounts but being Swedish, we're probably pick a few new options the next time we're at IKEA: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/wireless_charging/, wife is on iPhone X so she's already Qi converted :)
Or, if you have more time and curiosity than $$, this looks pretty awesome:
http://blog.stef.be/sonobuttons
Or, if you have more time and curiosity than $$, this looks pretty awesome:
http://blog.stef.be/sonobuttons
Userlevel 7
+5
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/simple-mobile-zte-majesty-pro-4g-lte-with-8gb-memory-prepaid-cell-phone-black/5859401.p?skuId=5859401
aarrgghh... that's kinda getting to the point (or one of them at least) of why many of us want to keep what we have up & running now... - I don't know about you, or anyone else, I speak only for myself... but I like to keep a clean & tidy house that looks smart & stylish. I have over the years, gone to great trouble & expense to fit nice things, and to fit them properly. All my controllers are "properly" wall mounted with all cables flushed away inside the walls... I also happen to think that the CR100's, in their cradle, still, after all these years, look smart & stylish - other's taste may differ, that's fine, that's a subjective preference..
The LAST thing I want is to have to rip holes in my carefully decorated walls and mount some cheap plastic monstrosity, (or even some expensive plastic monstrosity for that matter), that ends up looking like it was cobbled together out of parts from Carphone Warehouse by a chap called Heath Robinson...
Not intended to come over as ungrateful, - although to be fair, Chicks has trolled quite a few posts over on the other thread, so I'm inclined to be a tad less charitable to him/her in particular. I apologise right here & now if anyone thinks my response wasn't up to my usual standards. That said, the point is valid, aesthetics are important, Sonos acknowledge that in their design philosophy. So I'll go right ahead and add aesthetics to the list of important criteria I set out about a dozen posts up...
- Must look "good" (I know that's subjective, but I think most of us could agree that a turd is still a turd no matter how much you polish it). In my mind looking good means looking like a commercially manufactured solution that fits together properly, and looks like it was "designed" rather than "assembled".
Fair enough?
Userlevel 7
+22
That might be a good option for me, shame the $100 voucher is only good at Sonos and it sounds like you only get one per system, not one per CR-100.
Looking for something more integrated, I stumbled upon this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XP5H63T/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I2D00J2NX01X2B&colid=1LVGRHHQL7P4H&psc=0
I'm sure this thing is real slow, but might be good enough to run the win app.
But this led me to think... why mess with Sonos then? The only advantage I saw with Sonos is that, with its closed system, you have something rock solid, which will always work the same, be elegant, well integrated etc... Now that this is gone, why not ditch Sonos entirely, and connect a small, good quality integrated USB DAC & amp? I don't have speakers, only players, so this won't make much difference, and I can play with different sw players.
Not trying to be a smart a$s, trying to figure out the pro's and con's... Any comments?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XP5H63T/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I2D00J2NX01X2B&colid=1LVGRHHQL7P4H&psc=0
I'm sure this thing is real slow, but might be good enough to run the win app.
But this led me to think... why mess with Sonos then? The only advantage I saw with Sonos is that, with its closed system, you have something rock solid, which will always work the same, be elegant, well integrated etc... Now that this is gone, why not ditch Sonos entirely, and connect a small, good quality integrated USB DAC & amp? I don't have speakers, only players, so this won't make much difference, and I can play with different sw players.
Not trying to be a smart a$s, trying to figure out the pro's and con's... Any comments?
Note: Android devices (including the Amazon Fire tablet) can connect directly to Sonosnet.
Don't forget when picking a replacement device to account for connectivity. The CR100 uses Sonosnet to communicate to the nearest Sonos Player while some other control options depend on Wi-Fi. If you don't have good Wi-Fi coverage in the location where your current CR100 resides you might run into issues when converting.
Folks, can we please keep the anger and bickering to the "Save the CR100" thread? People have asked for replacement devices and others are just trying to help them. The suggestions are just that, suggestions (well, except for the obligatory Squeezebox pimping). You don't need to use what is suggested, but someone else just may find it useful. No need to taint this thread with negativity, there is plenty of that going around.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/simple-mobile-zte-majesty-pro-4g-lte-with-8gb-memory-prepaid-cell-phone-black/5859401.p?skuId=5859401
aarrgghh... that's kinda getting to the point (or one of them at least) of why many of us want to keep what we have up & running now... - I don't know about you, or anyone else, I speak only for myself... but I like to keep a clean & tidy house that looks smart & stylish. I have over the years, gone to great trouble & expense to fit nice things, and to fit them properly. All my controllers are "properly" wall mounted with all cables flushed away inside the walls... I also happen to think that the CR100's, in their cradle, still, after all these years, look smart & stylish - other's taste may differ, that's fine, that's a subjective preference..
The LAST thing I want is to have to rip holes in my carefully decorated walls and mount some cheap plastic monstrosity, (or even some expensive plastic monstrosity for that matter), that ends up looking like it was cobbled together out of parts from Carphone Warehouse by a chap called Heath Robinson...
I found my work-around. I pulled out an old Squeezebox V3 and found it sits very neatly on top of a Sonos Connect Amp. This gives me a nice "always ready" hard button remote that can access my local music library. Kind of a waste to use the Sonos component only as a basic auto-on amplifier but at least this setup will not be made non-functional by some random update any time soon.
Userlevel 7
+5
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/simple-mobile-zte-majesty-pro-4g-lte-with-8gb-memory-prepaid-cell-phone-black/5859401.p?skuId=5859401
aarrgghh... that's kinda getting to the point (or one of them at least) of why many of us want to keep what we have up & running now... - I don't know about you, or anyone else, I speak only for myself... but I like to keep a clean & tidy house that looks smart & stylish. I have over the years, gone to great trouble & expense to fit nice things, and to fit them properly. All my controllers are "properly" wall mounted with all cables flushed away inside the walls... I also happen to think that the CR100's, in their cradle, still, after all these years, look smart & stylish - other's taste may differ, that's fine, that's a subjective preference..
The LAST thing I want is to have to rip holes in my carefully decorated walls and mount some cheap plastic monstrosity, (or even some expensive plastic monstrosity for that matter), that ends up looking like it was cobbled together out of parts from Carphone Warehouse by a chap called Heath Robinson...
Another option is a prepaid phone, $20-$40. Most can bypass the carrier setup using key combos at boot up. Then install the Sonos app, pin it, and set it in a cheap charging cradle (I’ve seen Android phone charging stands for as little as $1 at Dollar Tree, though they’re junk).
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/simple-mobile-zte-majesty-pro-4g-lte-with-8gb-memory-prepaid-cell-phone-black/5859401.p?skuId=5859401
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/simple-mobile-zte-majesty-pro-4g-lte-with-8gb-memory-prepaid-cell-phone-black/5859401.p?skuId=5859401
Good point, I stand correctly corrected.
Im borrowing a CR200 this weekend to check it out, never wanted one before but needs must. No doubt second hand prices will now shoot up and there is a very real risk it may also become 'unsupported' very soon.
I love voice control and have 3 echo dots and a Sonos ONE, have set up awesome new playlists for the family on Spotify but 'nothing is more natural? unless you get the syntax EXACTLY right
'i'm sorry I can't find that in your music library
'here's some random song you didn't ask for
'Nope, I can't play any of your own music
'here's a different radio station to the one you asked for
ALEXA STOP!
'on which device?:?
Userlevel 7
+5
I agree... WHEN it works... - I have 4 Echo Dots around the house, one is in a bathroom near to one of my CR100's... I would dearly love to switch to voice control (I've been striving towards it and experimenting for decades with various systems), but it just isn't there yet... far too often I'm in the bath repeating myself until I'm blue in the face, and eventually give up & reach for the CR100 just beside me... - would have been quicker to do that in the first place... Point is... the CR100 is rock solid reliable pretty much 100% of the time. Alexa is not, and that equates to a degraded user experience. (and no, I'm not a Scot, a Scouser, or a Cockney... I have a very plain, clear, almost "accent-less" accent) 🆒
Userlevel 7
+5
No, best I can make out, it's £100 per customer, regardless of whether you have 1 or 8 of them... I'd be happy to be proven wrong, but I'm fairly sure I'm not...
Another alternative is $39 Echo Dots, and soon, Google Minis. I use voice at least 80% of the time now to control Sonos. Nothing is more natural.
Userlevel 7
+5
We all know that there are ways & means of implementing a CR100-a-like.... I'm not going to get into the whole "why should I have to thing" - I'll save that for the "Save the CR100" thread... This thread is primarily to try to discover the options that are available to achieve the closest CR100-a-like possible... To wit, I thought I'd list out the features (in no particular order of importance) that make the CR100 what it is, and so uniquely useful to ME - please feel free to add other features as you see fit.
- Always available, always charged. possibly the most important thing... OK, wall mounts are available for various tablets...
- Always connected & focused - Pick up the CR100 and its ready to use, instantly to control the speaker..
- Screen - for at-a-glance confirmation of the source, song title etc.
- water "proof" - or at least as water resistant as the CR100 is, as all of mine are in wet rooms.
- screen saver - put a CR100 down, it goes dark in a few seconds, pick it up & it's ready to go again - don't want the screen on all night wasting juice, but also don't want to have to do too much to activate it again. - in my case the extremely sensitive tilt sensor inside the CR100 cannot be beat - it reacts to the vibration of the bathroom door closing so it's like magic!
- pick-up-able - a tablet in a permanent flat-against-the-wall mount is restrictive - I like to pick up the CR100 & hold it up to my eyes, or walk around a bit with it.
- NO WIRES!! - all my CR100's are wall mounted in the official cradle. All wires are inside the walls & completely hidden
- Physical, tactile buttons... - possibly the hardest to replicate? and possibly the one I *could* most easily give up, - that said however, in my experience of using an iPad in the bath, the touchscreen becomes decidly "flaky" when wet, where the CR100 is always 100% rock solid. I don't currently have touch control in my wetrooms, so I don't miss it, and won't say that it's an important requirement for me..
I'm beginning to wonder if there's not a Raspberry Pi project I could contrive, that could be mounted inside the stripped out case of a CR100, to kind of rebuild a replica CR100 with modern innards... - I'm going to start to investigate what might be possible there... probably can't connect up the scroll wheel, but perhaps the press buttons could be connected to GPIO pins...
- Always available, always charged. possibly the most important thing... OK, wall mounts are available for various tablets...
- Always connected & focused - Pick up the CR100 and its ready to use, instantly to control the speaker..
- Screen - for at-a-glance confirmation of the source, song title etc.
- water "proof" - or at least as water resistant as the CR100 is, as all of mine are in wet rooms.
- screen saver - put a CR100 down, it goes dark in a few seconds, pick it up & it's ready to go again - don't want the screen on all night wasting juice, but also don't want to have to do too much to activate it again. - in my case the extremely sensitive tilt sensor inside the CR100 cannot be beat - it reacts to the vibration of the bathroom door closing so it's like magic!
- pick-up-able - a tablet in a permanent flat-against-the-wall mount is restrictive - I like to pick up the CR100 & hold it up to my eyes, or walk around a bit with it.
- NO WIRES!! - all my CR100's are wall mounted in the official cradle. All wires are inside the walls & completely hidden
- Physical, tactile buttons... - possibly the hardest to replicate? and possibly the one I *could* most easily give up, - that said however, in my experience of using an iPad in the bath, the touchscreen becomes decidly "flaky" when wet, where the CR100 is always 100% rock solid. I don't currently have touch control in my wetrooms, so I don't miss it, and won't say that it's an important requirement for me..
I'm beginning to wonder if there's not a Raspberry Pi project I could contrive, that could be mounted inside the stripped out case of a CR100, to kind of rebuild a replica CR100 with modern innards... - I'm going to start to investigate what might be possible there... probably can't connect up the scroll wheel, but perhaps the press buttons could be connected to GPIO pins...
Another alternative. $39 each, but need the hub. Cheaper if several needed.
http://www.casetawireless.com/Pages/sonos.aspx
http://www.casetawireless.com/Pages/sonos.aspx
Userlevel 7
+22
But aren’t they going to give you $100 for each of them - net free?
Userlevel 7
+5
Yes, I've seen that one... kinda nice, but has a few issues.. - firstly it has no screen... I do use the screen on one of my CR100's for at-a-glance confirmation that SWMBO hasn't changed the input selection away from *MY* preferred radio station just as as I'm walking into the shower...
Secondly... $99 each??? - I have 3 CR100's that are going to brick... - I use all 3 of them in wet rooms, so I definitely need a replacement for all 3 of them... - that's $300 right there (and still no screen)...
You may want to re-read jgatie's second post above.
I was hoping to see recommendations that included a charging cradle. I don't want to have to muck with the charging cable. just like the CR100 🙂 suggestions??
+4
I'm ticked at the CR100 elim and posted topic elsewhere, but I think that SONOS Inc. should explicitly offer config info for Amazon Kindle's as well as iOS and Android devices. Since they already have a cozy relationship via Alex it makes sense. Also rather than buy a non-name cheap Android tablet, I'd be more comfortable buying a device from Amazon. Maybe someday a total control via Alexa will be possible, but based on my experience, that's a long way off - unless I also buy a teleprompter!!
Page 3 / 4
Enter your username or e-mail address. We'll send you an e-mail with instructions to reset your password.