Comments on: The Whole House iPod (Revisited)

By: Dane Sanders

Dane Sanders — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 00:01:28 +0000

Buyer’s beware! Sonos does not work with a satellite isp(wildblue). So before you buy one and install it, I will save you the frustration and the several hours talking to a Rhapsody tech in India(you won’t be able to understand them,trust me)then speaking with a Sonos tech,then e-mailing the CEO of Sonos,only to have them tell you that their system won’t work for your application.How disappointing!

By: jon

jon — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 11:22:41 +0000

I really like the integration of Sonos, however a less expensive alternative that integrates well with Asterisk is the squeezebox (wired and/or wireless). It can be used with PC,UMPC or nokia 770 or N800 as a fully featured remote. Hez.ca has a script where asterisk tells the squeeze box to turn down the volume and display the name and number of the incoming call. There have even been mods to the squeezebox to enhance the audio quality.

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 20:05:52 +0000

Sonos also works with http://www.pandora.com for a small annual fee.

[WM: Good point. It, too, is $3 a month after a 30-day trial.]

By: Fernando

Fernando — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 22:04:57 +0000

As a systems integrator, I must say that the Sonos system is nice (especially for retro work where the house isn’t pre-wired for distributed audio). But, there ARE other traditional distributed audio systems out there other than ELAN that cost significantly less and in my view deliver excellent performance. Some of which cost LESS than the Sonos system. For instance, Nuvo sells a 4 source, 4 room system for $999. The package comes with an 4 room/4 source amplifier/controller and 4 wall mount keypads. A similar Sonos system would cost $2,200 (4 in-room amp and 1 lcd controller) and that’s before speakers which at say $130 a pair $520 for a total of $2,720. I charge roughtly $2,500 for a full Nuvo 4 room package including the $999 package listed above, along with speakers, and installation. Granted, I didn’t include the pre-wire cost (~$600). But, even with those costs you are very comptetive price wise with a sonos system. I would not dismiss the traditional wall keypad/in-ceiling/in-wall distributed audio systems.

Having a traditional system has numerous advantages over a Sonos system. No box or bookshelf speakers clutering up a room. Everything is mounted into the wall or ceiling. The ability to integrate home automation products into the distributed sound system (i.e. door bell mute), integrating intercom capabilities, etc.