Enthusiast II

Is it time to upgrade?

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
December 3, 2021
13 replies
483 views

So we run a bunch of ZP100s,ZP120s and a ZP80, plus a Play5, Playbar, Sub, and a plethora of Play1s and 3 CR100s.

And up till now we have been walled off on 8.4 and quite happy. However about a year ago the stream from Spotify to devices stopped working. And last week my NAS drive failed (not a drive failure). Its done sterling service since 2004 and I’ll probably give it a good send off with a flag and all that.

So now I can play the radio, and thats about it. All that tech and its just a wireless (with wires). There is a limited function Spotify option on the CR100 but its not great.

For my daughter the loss of Spotify streaming was a deal breaker so I have reset her Play1 and upgraded it to S1, and Spotify ‘stream to device’ is back working. I have relinked Spotify on 8.4 several times to get it to work but no luck, so pretty much confirms that it is a feature loss for 8.4 rather than a config/network issue,

NAS:

My understanding from a catch up in the threads is that SMBv2/3 is likely to be (or is) supported but requires all devices to be S2 so if I replace the NAS it will need to support SMB1 or use a SMB1 gateway. So for my ancient hardware there is no change, I’ll have to allow SMB1.

Last time I looked upgrading everything to S2 was something like £8k. So isn’t really a cheap option. A new NAS for Christmas. Although mostly the NAS only does duty for Sonos as most other data in the cloud now. So I wonder if I even need a NAS, and might just stick a cheap none Raid NAS in that backs up elsewhere (it did anyway even with Raid5).

Controllers:

The Sonos S1/S2 app is still is loved by some and hated by others, but could be used to stick the radio on (and could be used to play stuff not on Spotify). And that streaming from Spotify is the likely easy route for day to day listening. I quite like the Spotify app.

Option 1

Stay as I am and replace with cheap SMB1 capable NAS. And I can keep the CR100s. Limited Spotify access.

Option 2

Upgrade to S1, and gain Spotify easy access. Radio via Sonos App (that two app thing). Install cheap NAS capable of SMB1 for CDs. But lose the CR100s easy volume control/mute in my office when taking calls as will need to open an app after unlocking phone to pause music whilst answering phone.

With a possible option to fudge things onto additional tablets in kiosk mode so they work a bit like the CR100.

Option 3

Upgrade a whole ton of stuff and spend £8k and getting all new kit. Might be able to salvage a £1k from eBay of old kit.

Clearly all the above have scope for me shouting at Alexa and her ignoring me or doing something else. Does that just about sum the state of play?

Cheers

Dave

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F00tS0reAuthor

Enthusiast II

Great review. It just depends on what you are used to. I always have my phone with me, as I expect many people have. If you are used to putting your phone on a side table when entering the house, I see you’d want the CR100’s back. Would voice control (in your case with the help of with Alexa or Google devices) not at least ease the “pain” of losing the remotes?

As you might guess from the list of kit we have it isn’t the littlest spot so phone not always to hand. I have added 4 more Echo Dots to the 3 Alexa devices we have and it covers most of the areas. It works for stopping music/putting the radio on. Once I learned the exact phrases to say and had to add TuneIn to get Alexa to play BBC Radio2. But prefer scrolling through album covers for picking music.

But it’s working and I’m sure we will adjust.

Owner since 2006: Legacy System(8.4):3*CR100:1*ZP80:4*ZP100:1*Play 5. - S1 System:1*ZP100:1*Z120. - S2 System:5*Amp:1*Port:2*Five:1*Arc,1*Move:1*Play Bar:1*Subwoofer:5*Play1 : Long live the CR100!

ossodiseppia

Enthusiast I

Buy a PORT and plug it into the back of one of your old ZPs.

K

k1elec

Collaborator II

Correct, when streaming Spotify via AirPlay, your streaming device must be on your Wi-Fi network (the same local network the AirPlay receiver is on) continuously, because the device is streaming the data from Spotify and to the AirPlay-supporting receiver (or speaker). As opposed to Spotify Connect, where Spotify’s server builds a direct connection to the compatible/supporting playback speaker. Re: using Samsung tablets, that is great for new controller substitutes, but will not work if using an AirPlay receiver on a ZonePlayer’s line-in port, because the *source* of all AirPlay transmissions must be an Apple brand device. Thus my suggestion of an Apple iPad devoted to the task. There is probably some ChromeCast Audio dongle that could do Spotify line-in with those Samsung tablets, but I don’t know anything about Google’s ecosystem.

Thanks, got a Chromecast device kicking about for TV but it never gets used. Simplicity always seems to win. We watch everything through SkyQ (including Netflix/Prime) and even watch films we have on DVD/Bluray via streaming because its less faff than getting the disc out. We listen(ed) to everything through Sonos, radio, Spotify, CDs from NAS. I’d also roll that simplicity statement to set-up, its what got me on to Sonos in the first place. Connecting a dongle to a do-bris running on a Pi, to simulate a whatsit so that the stream can replicate across the planosphere is frankly a pain.

Music stopping because someones gone to feed some animals or deal with guests and then has to be streamed when they get back is clunky at best. So would probably end up with dedicated iPads to stream to airplay. In which case we almost might as well ditch the CR100s and upgrade to S1 when Spotify Connect can do its thing, and use the iPad as a dedicated controller.

In terms of actions:-

I bought a cheap ZP100 off eBay last night (£40) so will upgrade that to S1 so have a couple of zones (this and daughters Play1) so I can play with it. Will set this one up in my office without having to touch the core system. I have a Fire Tablet, and a relatively spare iPad and will set-up as kiosk mode.

And I’ll have a hunt for a cheap simple NAS to replace the dead one.

Thanks for thinking points.

Dave

Synology NAS still supports SMB1 even on the latest DSM 7 version but you have to enable it

the other option you have as well is install Plex server on the NAS and set Plex as a music source on the Sonos (this also allows you to get round the 65,000 track limit

https://support.sonos.com/s/article/3405?language=en_US#:~:text=Is%20Plex%20affected%20by%20the,available%20to%20your%20Sonos%20system.

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