Why Can't I listen to my music through my Computer?

I am becoming adept at "hand syncing" music streamed directly from the internet to my computer and the music played by the Sonos system.

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...

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 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,

The dongle which arranb is after is an output device, not input.

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

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???

Before the idiots reply why don't I add a Sonos Play in my home/office it's because I have a nice sound system on that computer (again I say you idiots who want to offer stupid suggestions). Anyway, if I'm playing music throughout my house (I have 2 Sonos Play 1) I want it to be in sync with the music playing on the computer (maybe it's just an iHeartRadio thing).

Ok, I'm going to help. Buy a Sonos Connect. It is designed to take analog output (the audio out from your soundcard) and digitize it for play though the Sonos system. It is also designed to output to powered speakers, like those you use for your computer. This is the Sonos solution for getting computer output to play over Sonos. No "oversight" on Sonos' part, they already have your solution.

So then you will complain about the price of a Connect and after that . . . Countdown to you calling me an idiot in . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . 1.

So whatever. But you just aren't going to get is Sonos playing over your computer without investing in a Connect, for all the reasons discussed in this and other threads by some very knowledgeable people for the last 8+ years.

Had I know you couldn't do this, I'd have selected a different system.
An informed buyer knows what he's buying.

So Apple doesn't exist any more?

The point is that I *CAN* listen to my library on an "inexpensive PC." I'm doing that right now, as I write this note (via Itunes---Sonos is linked to the same music folder. Nightingale does the same thing, as would Google's player if you back up your collection to Google. Nightingale supports the Apple Remote app as well). Why do you imagine that that's difficult to do? If being able to stream my library to my "inexpensive PC" was going to drive Sonos out of business, it would have done it long ago. I bought the Sonos to connect the computer to my existing stereo system over the network, something that it does better than Apple's Airport. A Connect is smaller and (marginally) cheaper then devoting an entire "inexpensive PC" to the same purpose, and there's no real difference in sound quality). The point is that that it's inconvenient to deal with two music apps, and their strategy does not prevent me from streaming to my PC or give them any sort of lock in. it does, however, annoy many customers, judging by the comments on this thread.

I should also add that an Apple Airport Express and the iTunes remote will work fine if you don't want zones (I don't). However, iTunes is a pain. I bought a Sonos because I prefer the Sonos *software* to iTunes. That is, I'd happily buy the software as a stand-alone iTunes replacement.

So Apple doesn't exist any more?

The point is that I *CAN* listen to my library on an "inexpensive PC." I'm doing that right now, as I write this note (via Itunes---Sonos is linked to the same music folder. Nightingale does the same thing, as would Google's player if you back up your collection to Google. Nightingale supports the Apple Remote app as well). Why do you imagine that that's difficult to do? If being able to stream my library to my "inexpensive PC" was going to drive Sonos out of business, it would have done it long ago. I bought the Sonos to connect the computer to my existing stereo system over the network, something that it does better than Apple's Airport. A Connect is smaller and (marginally) cheaper then devoting an entire "inexpensive PC" to the same purpose, and there's no real difference in sound quality). The point is that that it's inconvenient to deal with two music apps, and their strategy does not prevent me from streaming to my PC or give them any sort of lock in. it does, however, annoy many customers, judging by the comments on

I should also add that an Apple Airport Express and the iTunes remote will work fine if you don't want zones (I don't). However, iTunes is a pain. I bought a Sonos because I prefer the Sonos *software* to iTunes. That is, I'd happily buy the software as a stand-alone iTunes replacement.

And this post right here is the issue people are struggling with. Especially that last paragraph comparing iTunes to the sonos controller.

iTunes is a MEDIA PLAYER - Sonos controller IS NOT A MEDIA PLAYER! Say if with me people, SONOS CONTROLLER IS NOT A MEDIA PLAYER.

You don't expect to watch TV on your TV's remote control do you? Because that's what you seem to think you can do with the Sonos controller. It's a remote control for the sonos equipment. It's not "playing" anything. Pick up your TV's remote or your DVD players remote or any physical remote control. Hold it in your hands and say out loud "This is what the Sonos controller is - a remote control, nothing more." Period. Close thread we're done.

The lack of this feature is NOT cool.
As has been pointed out countless times, the lack of this feature ensures that Sonos stays in business. If a pure software Player was available someone would put it on a Raspberry Pi in a jiffy, thereby cannibalising Sonos hardware sales. Consider the fate of the Squeezebox as a text-book example.

The notion that someone would just by a Raspberry Pi is absurd.

No, it's not. Sonos' chief competitor used to be Squeezebox. They created a "software zone", exactly like what is requested here. It was no secret you could cobble together an extra Zone or two by using a Raspberry Pi, if you didn't want to pay the premium for regular Squeezebox hardware. It didn't sync well, but nobody cared. Nowadays, Squeezebox is long gone as a brand, but do you know what lives on? The Squeezebox "software zone" running on Raspberry Pi computers.

Fast forward to today, and there are a half-dozen or more Sonos competitors. You know what they all have in common? They all do not have a software player to play over computer speakers. Looks like the market learned its lesson.

He's just trolling. Sonos is a wireless loudspeaker system manufacturer. Mike101 wants to benefit from their technology without buying the Sonos Connect that achieves it.

My question was reasonable. Some of you are clearly so highly invested into their system so that you become angry when "outsiders" question things.
I'm not angry; I think your request is grossly unreasonable. You wish to increase your benefit from someone's technology, but you don't want to pay any more for the privilege. As a product developer myself (in a very different product category, but still) I have a very low opinion of your position.