Sonos leaks new CR200 remote control

A low-resolution shot of the upcoming CR200 remote.

(Credit: Sonos)

The folks at Sonos told us they had some new stuff coming out soon, but we weren't expecting to get any details on it until they briefed us in a few weeks. However, word of a new remote started to trickle out recently, and on Tuesday Sonos itself leaked info on the new CR200 controller on its own Web site (the page has now been taken down).

Unlike its predecessor (the CR100), the new controller has a touch screen, and the 3.5-inch VGA LCD is capacitive, which means it's more responsive. The other thing to note is that it's smaller, measuring 2.9 inches by 4.5 inches by 0.7 inches, and weighs only 6 ounces.

If you buy it alone it'll cost you $350, but you save $60 when you buy it as part of the upcoming Bundle 250. According to Automated Home, that new bundle features the same Zone Players you get with the Bundle 150, but with a slight color change to match the new controller.

We really like the Sonos system and it's nice that the company is offering a new, improved controller, because it's high time they upgraded the CR100. But the sad fact is you're probably going to be better off buying an 8GB iPod Touch, which only costs $215 on Amazon and can also serve as a Sonos controller. Of course, when we finally see the CR200 in person, I'm sure the folks at Sonos will tell us why it has a better interface and more functionality than an iPod Touch (or iPhone) equipped with the free Sonos iPhone app.

Comments?

(Credit: Sonos)

(Source: Engadget)

[papapad]

Still not as good a product nor feature rich as the lesser priced Squeezebox.

[dinkeldorf]

As good as the squeeze is, it requires Slimserver running moslty on a PC, and doesn't scale much past one zone, nor does it synch well.

[dinkeldorf]

The Sonos CR100 does not have a touch screen.

WRT to functionality, does it do anything else?

[dcarnoy]

Corrected. Meant to say, "Unlike..." Thanks.

[mrbalky]

The thing that really gets me about the ipod touch app is how long my ipod takes to reconnect to my wifi network. I don't broadcast my network ssid, and it just seems the ipod to take a really long time to reconnect after it goes to sleep. My original Sonos controller does not have this problem, so I'd assume the new controller would be similar.

[jwc13ac]

That's a great update, the old Controller seemed real dated to me.

Still, too bad the controler alone is more than the Squeezebox Duet.

[mw111]

I've heard a number of people suggest that the iPhone app is better/cheaper/more convenient than the Sonos controller. Not true. Imagine this... you're sitting there, listening to some great tunes, really loud, and your iPhone rings. Good luck trying to use it to turn the music down while it's ringing. No dice.

[grandhirk]

Is it any better than Harmony 1000?

[dinkeldorf]

If it's like the CR100, uses WIFI, no IR, only controls Sonos equipment.

More importantly, is it wineproof? The Sonos is a party favourite.

[sleepysurf]

WRT the Squeezebox, SqueezeCenter software runs on PC, MAC, or Linux. I am currently running 4 Squeezeboxes in my home (the 5th will be the forthcoming Squeezebox Touch), and they all run and sync smoothly. Not sure why dinkledorf says otherwise.

[littlemob]

To people that keep saying the Squeezebox is cheaper and does the same. I say that's comparing a fiat with a ferrari. The do the same but one does look a million times better, and yes you must be willing to pay for style. about the CR200 don't need it, nice if you are buying a new system but will not buy it to replace the cr100. I like the weight, size ( easy to find) and feature's. And CR200 can't replace the features of the I Phone so why bother.