Filed under: iPhone, iPod touch, Music
Sonos offers new portable music system controlled by iPhone or iPod touch
Sonos has announced a portable wireless music system that uses an iPhone or iPod touch for a controller. The Zone Player S5 is a one piece, 5 speaker music player that can access your iTunes library or any internet radio station, as well as Napster, Rhapsody, Pandora, last.fm or Sirius if you have the required subscriptions.The physical unit has only volume controls and a mute button. Like other Sonos products, the S5 needs a wired router connection or a Zone Bridge unit, which is a U.S. $99.00 box that plugs into your router and then allows the S5 to be wireless anywhere in the house. You can add additional S5 units that only need AC power to work.
The S5 looks a bit like the Bose audio systems that dock with the iPhone. The difference with the Sonos unit is you keep the iPhone with you, and the S5 gets your music from iTunes.
The S5 will be available later this month for $399.00. If you already have a Sonos system in your home or office, or are just getting started with multi-room music, this system is worth checking out.
Of course Apple also provides solutions to stream iTunes with the Airport Express Air Tunes hardware/software. Apple also offers Remote, [iTunes link] a free app to control Airport Express or an Apple TV from your iPhone and iPod touch. Logitech also offers the Squeezebox family of wireless music products, and there are other good solutions as well.
Choice. It's a good thing.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mikael.stange said 5:24PM on 10-13-2009
Apple really need to release a iPod hi-fi with built-in Airport Express.
Reply
Dan Woods said 5:31AM on 10-14-2009
I've been thinking of a device like this for ages. A cross between the Griffin Technology Airbase, and Griffin TuneCenter.
Just slot an AirPort Express into one side, and dock your iPod into the other side and you have a more practical alternative to an TV.
It would only suit people who already have a video-capable iPod and an AirPort Express, so may not be a commercial success, but it is a neat idea.
Badger said 6:14PM on 10-14-2009
..that's portable, dockable and has wake on receive.
mdezz said 10:58PM on 10-13-2009
Sonos has a nice product but its price point is too high....too many other choices of equal quality at lower prices. I just some in wall speakers into my kitchen with a small stereo amp powering them and an airport express feeding the tunes all for $250
Reply
Scott said 11:39AM on 10-14-2009
Wow, you just gave me a winter project idea!