My only disappointment with the Sonos system is a big one: why can't I listen to the music playing on the Sonos system through my computer? is there a way to do this???
Page 2 / 4
And by the way, if you want to see snobs, check out the Linn systems. They make us seem like mere common folk.
A question I haven't yet seen an answer to.
Like Linn, Naim too has a lot of expensive streaming hardware now. I am sure there are a few others, and most brands now have network players/streamers that are more modestly priced.
What do these systems offer a user that Sonos does not, in terms of SQ, features and convenience? Apart from the hi res stuff?
Equivalent set ups can cost multiples of Sonos, so why do people spend that kind of money?
This isn't rhetorical, I truly want to understand.
Like Linn, Naim too has a lot of expensive streaming hardware now. I am sure there are a few others, and most brands now have network players/streamers that are more modestly priced.
What do these systems offer a user that Sonos does not, in terms of SQ, features and convenience? Apart from the hi res stuff?
Equivalent set ups can cost multiples of Sonos, so why do people spend that kind of money?
This isn't rhetorical, I truly want to understand.
I've not looked into their streamer offerings, so I'll not speak to them, but I do know Linn and Naim are audiophile brands. That right there is mainly what they offer. I'm not saying they are not high quality, but they certainly have that exclusivity and brand elitism going for them.
If one is inclined towards that type of thing, they get a quality product with a price which mainly reflects the reputation and exclusivity. Combine this with the audiophile's need to believe the more $$$ they spend, the better the sound, and you have a valid marketing strategy, even if you are selling 10% engineering quality + 90% snake oil at 5000% profit.
As always, good speakers are a must, lest all the "benefits" of the $$$$ you spend slip away.
If one is inclined towards that type of thing, they get a quality product with a price which mainly reflects the reputation and exclusivity. Combine this with the audiophile's need to believe the more $$$ they spend, the better the sound, and you have a valid marketing strategy, even if you are selling 10% engineering quality + 90% snake oil at 5000% profit.
As always, good speakers are a must, lest all the "benefits" of the $$$$ you spend slip away.
Very true, the last part. And that is the same extra spend for Sonos as well as these brands.
But the price difference is not a price point, it is multiple price points.
Granted they may have better build quality/components, but in this kind of tech, I am not sure it makes sense. In five years all existing solutions may be obsolete, and I am guessing that around that kind of service life is what Sonos designs, builds and therefore charges for its boxes.
I have some Linn speakers.
I am underwhelmed by them.
Cheers,
Keith
I am underwhelmed by them.
Cheers,
Keith
Have you got a sound system in your house? if so seems a waist not to use the Sonos Connect on that instead of your computer much better sound with sub ans all!
Now I know what follows: B-b-b-ut why should I have to buy a Connect? So in reality, you do not want a way to listen to Sonos through your computer speakers, you want an inexpensive or free way to listen to Sonos through your computer speakers. Right? In the four years I have personally been reading this forum, I've never seen a request for a PC based Zone that does not boil down to "I want a cheap zone."
Really love the tone! I have never participated in a forum before but I could not let you just berate people for wanting to use their computer as a zone. Others correctly point out that sound quality out of cheap computer speakers are not on par with a play 5 or play 3 so why would I want to play music through my cheap speakers? How about not wanting to have a set of speakers for the computer and a Sonos speaker on my desk. OK I could buy a $350 connect for my cheap speakers and mac mini but that would be extraordinarily stupid when a play 3 is $50 cheaper and a play 5 is only $50 more expensive. I am not in my office trying to rock out. It just would be nice to be able to listen to the music playing in other zones in my house in my office. I think Sonos need not worry about people using there software for free. They could charge a fee, but I would not pay. Most music player software is better than the Sonos music player software for example Clemintine, Banshee, Nightingale, and even iTunes are better. It obviously was not a deal breaker for me but it is annoying as was your snotty response.
The post you are replying to is almost 2.5 years old. I'm sure any offense the person I replied to felt is far past. So you are a little late to the game. Also, if you read the entire thread with an objective eye, you would see that the "snotty" tone was fully established by those who were stomping their feet for this functionality, a "basic functionality" that has only been seen on exactly one multi-room music streamer, and that was discontinued due to poor sales and support.
Since you are new to forums, I'll cut you some slack, but for future reference it may be better to let sleeping threads lie. Often they are well and fully spent, and everything that needed to be said is fully beaten into dust.
I don't understand, if the play:5 is only $50 more then buy that and plug the pc into the 5's line-in.
The topic of this thread was my first question when I signed up to these forums.
I am very new to music streaming of any sort, so I honestly had no idea what to expect in terms of functionality.
I now understand most of the arguments surrounding this topic, so I do now understand why it doesn't work.
If I could have one piece of input on to the whole subject, I would thoroughly recommend a forum about common issues/misconceptions. Then when the question inevitably arises again someone can just paste a link to the forum/thread that will explain. Someone gave me a link to a thread that helped me to understand. The big negative at the moment is that members who have answered these questions too many times are now answering them in a manner that seems to the reader to be very unfriendly. IMO that is not good for the forums, the products or the members who then end up in an argument which has started largely due to the tone of their reply.
I hope that my thoughts are in some small way insightful.
I am very new to music streaming of any sort, so I honestly had no idea what to expect in terms of functionality.
I now understand most of the arguments surrounding this topic, so I do now understand why it doesn't work.
If I could have one piece of input on to the whole subject, I would thoroughly recommend a forum about common issues/misconceptions. Then when the question inevitably arises again someone can just paste a link to the forum/thread that will explain. Someone gave me a link to a thread that helped me to understand. The big negative at the moment is that members who have answered these questions too many times are now answering them in a manner that seems to the reader to be very unfriendly. IMO that is not good for the forums, the products or the members who then end up in an argument which has started largely due to the tone of their reply.
I hope that my thoughts are in some small way insightful.
If I could have one piece of input on to the whole subject, I would thoroughly recommend a forum about common issues/misconceptions. Then when the question inevitably arises again someone can just paste a link to the forum/thread that will explain. Someone gave me a link to a thread that helped me to understand. The big negative at the moment is that members who have answered these questions too many times are now answering them in a manner that seems to the reader to be very unfriendly. IMO that is not good for the forums, the products or the members who then end up in an argument which has started largely due to the tone of their reply.
I hope that my thoughts are in some small way insightful.
Excellent point - there are maybe a dozen or so such issues that arise over and over that can be similarly addressed, with less frustration and grief all around.
More sticky threads would seem to be an easier way of doing it, they're always at the top of the forums so are easier to spot.
Right. I suppose this will have to be a moderator initiative.
I am a bit disappointed that I can't use my computer as a music player since I can do this with my Squeezebox system. I just installed my first Connect and Bridge and will eventually replace my entire Logitech setup with Sonos components but I have grown accustomed to listening to the music streaming throughout my house in my computer room. My Home Theater PC has a Creative Xfi Titanium sound card and Klipsch Promedia 2.1 speakers. I obviously see the benefits to switch to Sonos but this is not one of them.
Personally, I don't want my computer to be part of the second by second music playing. I prefer to pass the chore to specialist hardware, such as SONOS. Since I sometimes develop and and beta test, I may want to shut the computer down or it might crash. With SONOS on the scene, the music continues while I struggle with the computer issue. Actually, there are no speakers attached to any of my computers -- except the laptop and these are turned OFF.
While they might be at the expensive end of the "computer speaker" range, PLAY:1 is better than any computer speaker that I have encountered.
While they might be at the expensive end of the "computer speaker" range, PLAY:1 is better than any computer speaker that I have encountered.
I am becoming adept at "hand syncing" music streamed directly from the internet to my computer and the music played by the Sonos system.
I have a pair of Audioengine A2+ powered speakers connected to my PC for using my PC as a stereo. Seems like an easy solution. You can play your library, download the various music services you like that have PC apps (or use their web-based players), and you are done.
The new A2+/A5+ even have a built-in DAC to bypass your PC's soundcard. I use a dedicated DAC, USB to S/PDIF converter, and a separate headphone amp. My DAC feeds my A2+s, but one hardly needs this. So many ways to go, but for my computer, I need some decent speakers and a headphone amp.
So, I have a bridge and connect for my main stereo, a play 1 for my bedroom, and my A2+ fed by a DAC for my main desktop PC. I am very new to the Sonos family, having only bought my gear 2 weeks ago. I have used a Squeezebox Touch for the past 3 years. Sonos is easier and more expandable.
The new A2+/A5+ even have a built-in DAC to bypass your PC's soundcard. I use a dedicated DAC, USB to S/PDIF converter, and a separate headphone amp. My DAC feeds my A2+s, but one hardly needs this. So many ways to go, but for my computer, I need some decent speakers and a headphone amp.
So, I have a bridge and connect for my main stereo, a play 1 for my bedroom, and my A2+ fed by a DAC for my main desktop PC. I am very new to the Sonos family, having only bought my gear 2 weeks ago. I have used a Squeezebox Touch for the past 3 years. Sonos is easier and more expandable.
While I would like to see playback through a PC and I could myself amongst those who would gladly pay for an app that allowed PC playback.
The biggest reason I want PC playback is because I don't want another piece of hardware on my desk. Heck, I'd pay close to Play:1 prices for that function.
After reading through most of the 51 pages on the previously mentioned thread I do understand their reasons and the unlikelihood that this will happen.
I am lucky enough that my speakers have a second line input that will allow me to add a connect to it without much hassle.
So I'm pretty much there...
The biggest reason I want PC playback is because I don't want another piece of hardware on my desk. Heck, I'd pay close to Play:1 prices for that function.
After reading through most of the 51 pages on the previously mentioned thread I do understand their reasons and the unlikelihood that this will happen.
I am lucky enough that my speakers have a second line input that will allow me to add a connect to it without much hassle.
So I'm pretty much there...
I have really nice Klipsch speakers and a subwoofer as my office pc speakers. After reading most comments, I agree that creating a Sonos App for all PCs/Macs is an animal not worth taming. It's a great product because they focus on one thing. Linux OS in a speaker with an app. Fracking brilliant! Anyway, this boils down to another post were a guy wanted to bounce around the house listening to Sonos' throughout, but he only has one. Time to add more, that's all. Sonos Connect here you come...
Personally I think they should offer a small usb adapter or even a program you can buy for a one time payment to make one of your computers a connect if you will at a much lower cost than a connect. I just purchased a connect and a play 5 thats $750.00 and where I come from that a lot so, It would be nice to be able to use my macbook in other areas of my home instead of having to unplug my connect and take it with me. I hope you will consider this Sonos. I would pay.
I agree.
A while back I suggested a USB connected "line in" device which could be used to pipe the output of any computer directly into the Sonos network and would act like an audio interface to the PC.
If it was class-compliant, it would be cross-platform and drivers wouldn't be an issue (plug 'n' play on most platforms).
I wouldn't be so keen on software: that is platform specific and, even on "supported" platforms, tends to be tricky and unreliable.
Cheers,
A USB dongle would be handy, but many users would still struggle with the 70ms latency.
The dongle which arranb is after is an output device, not input. Basically what's requested (and not for the first time) is a cheap CONNECT.
Yes, I think you're right, and that's not what I was proposing. I misunderstood this as a way to listen to the computer music through Sonos
Basically what's requested (and not for the first time) is a cheap CONNECT.
Referring to my line-out USB dong thingy:
In essence, yes, but (aside from the cost) wiring up a Connect can be quite clunky, and for most people will require a second audio output from their PC or a lot of plugging and unplugging to switch between local speakers and Sonos.
And I don't see many people wanting to stick pair of Play:1 or Play:3 devices as computer speakers, especially with the 70ms latency.
Of course it may be possible to reduce the line-in delay from such a device (after all, the audio doesn't need to be digitised as it's already in digital format), although USB audio can have it's own latency issues.
As regards cost, my feeling is it can be made significantly cheaper than a Connect (and I'm sort of changing my mind about this as I've previously suggested otherwise): A dedicated line-in device probably doesn't need as much memory, processing power, DSP etc. and certainly doesn't need the pre-amps and other audio circuits as it's never going to play anything. In a USB device, it also doesn't need a power supply, nor does it need ADCs and associated components.
Rather than comparing it to a Connect, a more appropriate comparison would be the old DOCK product, which was less than half the price of the Connect.
My thought was is such a common use-case that it would benefit from an more optimal, more elegant solution. I actually think it is a more common application than the DOCK was.
But I don't support the idea of making a PC a full zone at all.
Cheers,
Keith
Excellent. I also have a connect that until now has seemed redundant. Will try this now.
I too would love to be able to use the Sonos app to play music through my computer, it is crazy that you can't 😞
Enter your E-mail address. We'll send you an e-mail with instructions to reset your password.