Multiroom in a box: The Bundle 250 retails for $999.
(Credit: CNET)
Sonos is back for 2009 with a new version of its signature Digital Audio System. Like earlier iterations of the Sonos product, the new Bundle 250 lets you wirelessly access your computer's digital music collection as well as a wide range of Internet radio and streaming-audio services (Pandora, Last.fm, and--with paid subscriptions--Napster and Rhapsody) in two rooms of the house, with the option to expand that up to a whopping 32 rooms. But the latest Sonos system adds a major upgrade: the CR200 touch-screen remote.
If that wasn't good enough--and the remote is excellent--it can also be controlled by any iPhone or iPod Touch running a free application that's available via the iTunes App Store. The result is a whole-house music system that's easier to control than ever before.
What's the catch? The system costs a somewhat pricey $1,000. While that may seem like a lot, custom-installed systems can cost as much as $5,000 per room and they aren't as easy to use nor do they offer the level functionality found in this system. We were always impressed by Sonos' capability to access your home music collection and a variety of online music options, but the addition of the slick new touch-screen remote--and the iPhone/iPod Touch integration--gives the luxury digital audio system a compelling leg up on the competition.
Read the full review of the Sonos Bundle 250.
Disclosure: Last.fm is a part of CBS Interactive, which also publishes CNET Reviews.
(Credit:
Sonos)
Add iPhone control, Last.fm, and an expanded Internet radio roster to Sonos' bag of tricks.
Starting Tuesday, a free application available at the iTunes App Store will allow iPhone and iPod Touch owners to control their Sonos digital audio system via their home's Wi-Fi network. The Sonos Controller for iPhone provides the Apple handheld with most of the same functions as the Sonos CR100 Controller, but provides direct touch-screen access not available on the latter device.
The Sonos system can already be controlled via its companion Windows and Mac software, but the iPhone Controller provides a much more convenient and accessible interface to the multiroom music system.
In addition to providing a secondary control option for existing Sonos owners, the Controller App also lowers the effective entry-level price for the Sonos. The company's two-room bundle, the $1,000 BU150, includes a ZP120 base station (with built-in amplifier), ZP90 base station (no amp), and CR100 remote. Previously, those looking for a single-room option were left with purchasing a separate ZP90 ($350) and CR100 ($400), netting out to a very pricey $750.
But the availability of the iPhone application means consumers can grab a ZP90 and an iPod Touch for $580. Still a lot of money, to be sure, but now you're getting top-notch home and portable digital music players. And existing iPhone or iPod Touch owners, of course, need only get the ZP90 or ZP120.
Photos: Sonos Controller iPhone App
Sonos is also updating the product's firmware to version 2.7. The free upgrade (it's a one-touch automatic free download for all Sonos systems, available now) adds the following:
... Read more
Internet radio service Pandora is now lending its services to mobile phones and living rooms in a new platform called Pandora Everywhere. Sprint phone subscribers will be able to access the mobile version of Pandora to listen to music, give songs the thumbs up or down, bookmark what they like, and get new music recommendations based on their tastes. Pandora to Go is free for 30 days, and jumps to a $2.99 monthly subscription when the trial is over.
The Pandora Everywhere platform is also launching with support for home products from Sonos, the music hardware that connects to networked PCs and internet radio streams. Sonos users can log in to their Pandora account and access their custom radio stations by using the familiar Pandora interface.
Crave has more on the announcement.
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