Video Streaming

I love my sonos and i love the potential multi room concept of both audio and video. Many of the posts (admittedly old) think it will compromise the current set up, where as I see it as something that was complement it perfectly..

If we assume all current ZPs and the bridge are audio only and then Sonos come out with a new AV bridge and AVZPs (which are a flat panel of various sizes, with a really good speaker/sound set up) that's capable of streaming/receiving audio and video and all controlled in the same way it would be a dream.

Id love to use my C200 controller and choose the satellite HDMI feed and send it to the 50" Sonos AVZP panel in the lounge and then grouping it with the 2nd bedroom AVZP (26") for the kids to watch the same as me or they could jump on their iphones and change their feed to YouTube or to something on the NAS.

Come on Sonos it could be the perfect home set up !

SONOS does music really well. Sometimes trying to change a business model leads to disaster. Keep making innovations but in music delivery not video.

I understand the hesitation for some but things have to evolve, or Sonos will end up very niche and eventual lose market share.

Where would Apple be if they stuck with just the computer, or google if it only did search etc. (I accept there are opposites too this part of the argument too 🙂 )

Bottom line is I trust Sonos to bring AV to their ZPs and to the masses and to do it well, they would never allow anything to affect their reputation/brand and quality of product.

But if I think about the iPod, it was first only music, then it added a display, then video and then a phone and it's still one of the best in many of those areas, but if I still want only music, I can buy the music only shuffle.

It has to come, and i'm convinced it will come and i just hope it's soon.

There are already systems on the market that do Audio, Video and Pictures in one unit - I have three of them in daily use.
The trouble is it does a poor job of Audio and an unreliable job of Pictures.
But the Video is good, so I use just that.

Next to these devices also sit Sonos units for Audio, with some cross-connections.

IMO, unless there is some major unique benefit that Sonos can bring, Sonos will be just another player in the market.

I truely cannot understand why any Sonos user would not want to have video streaming.

Video streaming would be the next logical step.
I am reading posts back from 2006, i would almost suggest that people who don't want video streaming are either people from competitive companies or people from Sonos that want to delay this due to the large impact of change.

Why on earth would you NOT want this?
The Sonos system is by far the best and easiest multiroom system, why would you want a separate system? Why??

People who say that, do they also use 10 different systems for playing music, radio, etc? i don't think so.

I cannot imagine anything better than choosing a movie from my ipad with the Sonos App and play it on my TV. And when i am in my bedroom i can play it there ... this would make Sonos the most allround system.

Right now you see many different systems coming, all of them are weak imitations of Sonos, but they develop faster so video streaming will be available asap. Check Apple TV2. This is a serious threat for Sonos.
The only thing is that Apple wants people to use external content and does not work with a NAS. This is the biggest advantage for Sonos right now.

I predict that adding video streaming is so important, that it would mean the difference between gaining new market or losing the game!
Sonos is a great concept right now, but new players are entering the scene and are offering more and more flexibility in their systems.

Have a look at Apple's Ipad and Samsung's version of teh Galaxy Tab.
Apple refuses to work with Flash.
Samsung embraches it and their market share is growing so fast.
Apple forgets that Flash is what people wantand need, flash has enriched our internet experiance.
Now samsung has build a tablet that looks very much like the ipad and makes flash possible they are taking the lead.

We don´t want 20 different machines at home to watch a movie or listen to music.
The way Sonos delt with this is fantastic. Now they should repack them selves and don´t wait any longer.

I am in this business too long to understand what will come and what is needed.
I still remember that the biggest recordlabels here in The Netherlands (2001) declared we were crazy to sell music over the internet, they could not find any businessmodel in that, and we saw it wrong according to them, this would never work...
A few years later Itunes did exactly what we had made up in a business plan!

The time is more than ripe, actually, it should have been there already.. it could even be to late too...

Why on earth would you NOT want this?
The Sonos system is by far the best and easiest multiroom system, why would you want a separate system? Why??

Because video is not music. Because music can follow you throughout the home, whereas video is anchored to a display. Because there are plenty of video streamers; Blu-ray players, streaming TV's, Roku, Apple TV, etc., etc., on the market already. Because most video streamers require a dedicated server, whereas Sonos does not. Because video requires far more bandwidth than audio, overtaxing the network which can effect reliability and overburden support lines.

Is that enough? I've got more.

I'd prefer them to concentrate on getting the user interface and desktop controller better for music rather than diluting their resources on providing video as well.

I'd also like to see better hardware being brought out with good quality headphone sockets and top quality audio performance for those who want it.

I wouldn't want my Sonos system to be a "jack of all trades and master of none"

Because video is not music. Because music can follow you throughout the home, whereas video is anchored to a display. Because there are plenty of video streamers; Blu-ray players, streaming TV's, Roku, Apple TV, etc., etc., on the market already. Because most video streamers require a dedicated server, whereas Sonos does not. Because video requires far more bandwidth than audio, overtaxing the network which can effect reliability and overburden support lines.

Is that enough? I've got more.

I know that there are plenty of systems out there that can do 'something' ... but you want it in 1 system. Who wants all those extra boxes , machines and remotes?
I think it's great when you are watching a movie downstairs and continue in your bedroom! Won't take much of the bandwidth or network nowadays!

If Sonos would bring it together as good as they did with music it would be a fantastic plus!
If you are only interrested in Music, just don't use the video option i'd say... or buy a few new gadgets and lots of wires and do it your way.
I'm sure it is not only what i want, it is as i sais the next logical step!
If Sonos does not do it quick there will be others that have it all soon..
i'll get back about this issue in some time!

There is still a lot of work that they need to do on the music side in my opinion to keep up with the many competitors they now have. I'd rather they concentrate on keeping Sonos at the top of the pile for music systems 🙂

I know that there are plenty of systems out there that can do 'something' ... but you want it in 1 system. Who wants all those extra boxes , machines and remotes?


What extra boxes? I have a TV that streams. Is my TV an extra box for . . . uhhh . . . my TV?


I think it's great when you are watching a movie downstairs and continue in your bedroom! Won't take much of the bandwidth or network nowadays!


Sorry, but if I'm watching a movie, I want to be in front of my 65" HDTV with surround sound, and I'll never continue it on the 32" in the bedroom. That's what I meant by "video is anchored to a display."


If Sonos would bring it together as good as they did with music it would be a fantastic plus!
If you are only interrested in Music, just don't use the video option i'd say... or buy a few new gadgets and lots of wires and do it your way.


What "lots of wires" are you taking about? Both my TV and Blu-ray stream, with no "extra wires." The "extra boxes and wires" would come from having to buy yet another streaming box from Sonos.


I'm sure it is not only what i want, it is as i sais the next logical step!
If Sonos does not do it quick there will be others that have it all soon..


The "next logical step" is determined by Sonos' business plan, not the anecdotal wishes of a few posters in a forum. I'm sure Sonos has a better handle on the market than any of us.


i'll get back about this issue in some time!



Video has been on the "Sound Ideas" wishlist since Sonos was introduced. The CEO himself said it is a non-starter due to the many solutions already on the market. I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for it.