Hopefully they fix the radio not playing bug. Essentially you can only play Beats 1 and no other radio stationHere are my steps:
1. Remove Apple Music from the list of services from the Mac Sonos app. Probably unnecessary but I want to start from scratch with my library later when it officially launches.
2. From the Mac Sonos app: Preferences > Advanced > Improve Sonos tab. Choose Beta program and then Leave Beta Program.
3. Download the current stable version of the Sonos Mac app from the Sonos website. (http://www.sonos.com/redir/controller_software_mac)
4. Install the stable version of the Mac app you just downloaded.
5. Launch Sonos app and then check for updates.
6. Install the updates it finds to restore your entire Sonos system to the current stable version.
Now I'm just waiting for the non-beta software to be made available.
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Apple Music on Sonos Officially Launching Tomorrow
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The strength of SONOS is the perfect wireless transmission system of music in your house and its possibility to add as much "satellites" to hear music as you want to. PLUS you can hear different (!) music in each room - perfect for a family.
So - you need access to your Router (Internet access), a Source (NAS, mp3-player, iPod and so on, or your classic stereo-equipment).
Each electronic component of the SONOS system is sender as well as receiver in the Wireless home-net established by Sonos and has enough RAM to generate its own Music Library system of your NAS. Every component has a D/A converter (pretty good quality). There are also components with very good amplifiers in it. So you can connect your own (!) "old" Speakers and hear music without problems. You can as well buy the basic "WLAN"-components without amp and connect it with your "old" stereo equipment - just like a classic source it has standard Cinch connectors.
The Sonos speaker-system is not at all bad. It is good. AND: don´t forget they are active speakers: They include digital frequency crossover and several amplifiers (for each driver a separate one)
BUT the speakers are expensive! While the electronic components have (in my view) a reasonable price (at least compared to apple´s prices) you can get better speakers if you choose professional active Monitors. For example, the Neumann KH 120 A (former known as the famous Klein&Hummel Studio Monitors) has about the same price as the Sonos 5, but is far superior. It is a near-field Monitor with fantastic performance.
Sonos works flawless and since ever they work hard to elaborate more and more the UI. You can hear some 10.000 Internet Radio sources as well - just a click, a second to put it on the favorite-list. You can use it as a classic alarm clock or for awakening with music… and so on.
The only limitations I regret are:
1) The file-library in each Sonos component is limited to (when I recall correctly) about a max of 3000 CDs. So - if you have more than about 3000 CDs on your NAS there is a problem…
2) While Sonos can reproduce CDs, lossless FLAC and every compressed music file, its limits are reached at standard redbook CD-format. More resolution than 16/48 as SACDs contain (24 bit) is still impossible. BUT every SACD has also 16 bit Versions in it - you can hear them - but only in 16 bit.
Since 2) has no importance due to the limitations of human ears, 1) is a limitation for those (like me) who have a mass of Cds on their NAS. The reason is just that when Sonos was developed, Ram was very expensive and users like me are/were rare at that time. Plus - now the era of streaming has long begun - so people like me are meaningless as for their market (sadly, I´d wish they would sell modified components for customers like me).
If you use only the basic WLAN-components, perhaps with your NAS, or just to hear music by web-radio, Sonos is one of the best you can get and worth all the comfortable features. Even if used only as a sort of "invisible cable" for connecting a source (living room) with speakers or a Stereo-equipment in one or multiple distant rooms it is well worth its money.
The Sonos WLAN is absolutely stable and works flawlessly.
Now there are lots of competitors - but Sonos is the market leader and their components are reliable (one very important difference to apple components!) - the apps on IOS devices are easy to use and the UI is better than some of GUI of apple components.
So - you need access to your Router (Internet access), a Source (NAS, mp3-player, iPod and so on, or your classic stereo-equipment).
Each electronic component of the SONOS system is sender as well as receiver in the Wireless home-net established by Sonos and has enough RAM to generate its own Music Library system of your NAS. Every component has a D/A converter (pretty good quality). There are also components with very good amplifiers in it. So you can connect your own (!) "old" Speakers and hear music without problems. You can as well buy the basic "WLAN"-components without amp and connect it with your "old" stereo equipment - just like a classic source it has standard Cinch connectors.
The Sonos speaker-system is not at all bad. It is good. AND: don´t forget they are active speakers: They include digital frequency crossover and several amplifiers (for each driver a separate one)
BUT the speakers are expensive! While the electronic components have (in my view) a reasonable price (at least compared to apple´s prices) you can get better speakers if you choose professional active Monitors. For example, the Neumann KH 120 A (former known as the famous Klein&Hummel Studio Monitors) has about the same price as the Sonos 5, but is far superior. It is a near-field Monitor with fantastic performance.
Sonos works flawless and since ever they work hard to elaborate more and more the UI. You can hear some 10.000 Internet Radio sources as well - just a click, a second to put it on the favorite-list. You can use it as a classic alarm clock or for awakening with music… and so on.
The only limitations I regret are:
1) The file-library in each Sonos component is limited to (when I recall correctly) about a max of 3000 CDs. So - if you have more than about 3000 CDs on your NAS there is a problem…
2) While Sonos can reproduce CDs, lossless FLAC and every compressed music file, its limits are reached at standard redbook CD-format. More resolution than 16/48 as SACDs contain (24 bit) is still impossible. BUT every SACD has also 16 bit Versions in it - you can hear them - but only in 16 bit.
Since 2) has no importance due to the limitations of human ears, 1) is a limitation for those (like me) who have a mass of Cds on their NAS. The reason is just that when Sonos was developed, Ram was very expensive and users like me are/were rare at that time. Plus - now the era of streaming has long begun - so people like me are meaningless as for their market (sadly, I´d wish they would sell modified components for customers like me).
If you use only the basic WLAN-components, perhaps with your NAS, or just to hear music by web-radio, Sonos is one of the best you can get and worth all the comfortable features. Even if used only as a sort of "invisible cable" for connecting a source (living room) with speakers or a Stereo-equipment in one or multiple distant rooms it is well worth its money.
The Sonos WLAN is absolutely stable and works flawlessly.
Now there are lots of competitors - but Sonos is the market leader and their components are reliable (one very important difference to apple components!) - the apps on IOS devices are easy to use and the UI is better than some of GUI of apple components.
That's true. Nothing worse being at a party, and whomever is streaming the music walks out the room with their phone.
The sad thing is, so many manufacturers are dumping AirPlay because of licensing costs. Arcam, Bowers and Wilkins, Yamaha, KEF, Denon, just to name a few. These are some of the biggest companies in the market, speaking to the reps Apple are being greedy.
One small manufacturer I visited said the license was in excess of £100,000 a year, they'd need to add almost £100 to each device just to pay the fees. Manufacturers get a year or so royalty free, then the fees kick in.
Evidently you did not get the point of the Sonos system… Sonos is primarily a WLAN-system for Music and NOT primarily a producer of active loudspeakers!
Their Speakers are only peripheral components for their WLAN system! You can buy a simple basic electronic device second hand or new - for example the "connect" device… all devices with exception of the speakers have cinch input and output connectors since every of it is able to be source and receiver as well in the Sonos-WLAN. Connect now your source with this little component you bought and it will immediately and perfectly communicate with the speaker.
Hope this helps.
If you are just searching for a active speaker to connect it with a source, you don´t need Sonos - every active speaker on the market will do the job.
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Sonos has much more big advantages: If you have a party, you can run your music in every room and adjust the volume in every room separately (!) so for example one room where people dance with loud music and other rooms with lower level to talk with each other. You can control, change or adapt all this and choose music from EVERYWHERE by using your Smartphone - be it iPhone or Android or WindowsPhone. You can also stop music in one, several or all rooms with two clicks. On top, the music has no delay, so that there is no "echo" effects as well between the rooms.
May look like I am a fanboy - but Sonos is a system that is really very convincing in nearly every aspect.
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[doublepost=1455109385][/doublepost]Hopefully the conversion from Beta will be as seamless as the roll-out. This was by far the #1 reason we converted to Sonos and Apple music as a paid service. My iTunes library of songs, genius lists and custom playlists has been growing since it was introduced 15 years ago, and everyone of them is there in the Sonos app, whether on the iMac, iPad or phone.
Sonos today announced that Apple Music will be officially available on Sonos wireless speakers starting tomorrow, ending a two month beta testing period. Sonos customers across the world will be able to stream Apple Music content and directly access Apple Music features including For You, Radio, and My Music.
Over the course of the beta test, which started on December 15, Apple Music on the Sonos platform was tested by hundreds of thousands of listeners. Apple's Eddy Cue commented on the beta test, calling it "great" and an "amazing listening experience."
Beginning Wednesday, February 10, streaming Apple Music on Sonos speakers can be done by selecting "Add Music Services" from a Sonos controller app, choosing the Apple Music icon, and logging into the service. An Apple Music subscription or free trial is required.
Apple Music on Sonos has been highly anticipated as it was noticeably absent from the system when Apple Music first launched on June 30. Sonos previously supported the direct streaming of Beats Music and promised to implement Apple Music support before the end of 2015.
Ahead of the announcement of official Apple Music support, Sonos conducted a study on the positive effects of music listening in the home using an Apple Music subscription paired with a Sonos sound system. The study found that families who regularly listened to music in the home spent 67 percent more time together and ate together more often, among other positive effects.
Article Link: Apple Music on Sonos Officially Launching Tomorrow
This. Don't get me wrong, I'm intrigued, but I wonder if it'd be really useful in a home where everyone has their own taste in music...
...Now if the Amazon Echo could get Apple Music support...
Fully agreed. Sonos is very close to prefect multi room sound system. I've been using it for over four years now and it has never crashed on me. Their mesh network seems to be superior compared to other wireless transmission methods. My only complaint is lack of BT on Play:1. To me this could be perfect portable audio unit that connects to Sonos WiFi mesh network when used at home and when on move it could use BT. For normal use I would never use BT if Sonos proprietary mesh is available. For some reason Sonos has no interest in manufacturing truly hybrid home/portable unit. If they had one available I would buy it straight away.
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It's perfect system for that purpose. You can play different tunes from different sources simultaneously. Each of the speakers can be controlled separately or they can be used as surround sound systems if linked (TV use).
You don´t understand the Sonos system. Everyone can hear his/her personal music. even from one only NAS! It is just the opposite you´re thinking about…
edit: Nuvi answered at the same time as I did…
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I picked up a Play:1 off of Craigslist the other week and definitely like the improvement in sound quality for what little I paid compared to the handful of Bluetooth speakers I had around the house. Dabbled with a few of the music services and now have to explore setting it up with local file share and higher quality sound files hosted locally.
It is nice that playback is done through the speaker and not streamed from the mobile device as there is virtually no interruption to playback regardless of what you do with your device once music is playing; found this out the first time I started to play something and then had to leave the house only to come back and find the music was still going!
It is nice that playback is done through the speaker and not streamed from the mobile device as there is virtually no interruption to playback regardless of what you do with your device once music is playing; found this out the first time I started to play something and then had to leave the house only to come back and find the music was still going!
Did not read the study but surely that is just a poorly worded sentence. I can't imagine listening to music via Apple Music has any different effect than listening to the same music from any other source. I'm assuming the study relates to listening to music at home. But of course even then there are studies that show different kinds of music affects brain waves differently. All music doesn't have the same positive effect.
Sonos, like Apple, is a brand that gets people into a fervor on both sides of the fence. And Sonos in particular has just so much mis-information spewed on forums that it has to be very frustrating for people wanting to learn about features and benefits of the system. Here are a handful of points about Sonos, both pro and con, depending on your needs/wants.
1) Sonos is designed to be a wireless, integrated, whole-home audio system. It can be wired via ethernet, and some models allow for auxiliary inputs. But the primary value proposition of the company is that it offers wireless streaming from many sources to many speakers.
2) Further, Sonos offers integration such that you can group zones for independent or synchronized playback. Each zone can be completely controlled as desired. And importantly, the Sonos system in your home becomes fully integrated and controllable form all devices on the network. So I can start playing my sports talk station via my laptop while sitting at my desk (I work from home, and use the system grouped to all zones all day every day), my wife can walk in from work and turn the volume off on the speakers in the family room via her iPhone while I continue to listen to sports talk in the office, and my son can switch over to music upstairs from his iPhone, all while my programming remains uninterrupted. That would be impossible with bluetooth or traditionally wired system (except for those with hugely costly 5-6 figure home integration). Note: You can substitute iPhone above with Android phones, iPads, Amazon Fire tablets, etc. All types of platforms support the Sonos app.
3) The Sonos system must be played/controlled from the Sonos app (except in some rare cases). This is a negative to some people, a positive to others. I love the fact that I have 1 app to control all listening I do.
4) Sonos speakers, other then the Play:5, cannot be directly connected to a computer. I will admit than in a perfect world, all Sonos speakers would have at least an aux input. I would rarely if ever use, but it would certainly not hurt.
5) Conversely, bluetooth speakers or powered stand-alone speakers are single-points. For example, you can connect an iPhone and control playback on 1 speaker, or a stereo pair, at a time. I believe that there may be bluetooth speakers that allow for multiple connections, and with powered speakers you can run wire to extend to multiple speakers, but those are exceptions not the general use. Bluetooth speakers might be perfectly adequate for a single user in a single room. Beyond that, the value of Sonos is immense. By the way, there are BT speakers that cost well more than a single Sonos Play:1 speaker.
6) Every forum chat that includes Sonos invariably includes the statement "Sonos is way too expensive". That statement is wholly subjective and incomplete. Expensive compared to what? Expensive compared to a $15 bluetooth speaker, sure. Expensive compared to a set of powered speakers, maybe and maybe not. Expensive compared to a traditional amplifier and bookshelf speakers wired for multiple zones, likely not. Expensive compared to a wired whole-home system with multiple amplifiers and in-wall controllers throughout a home, definitely not.
7) Sonos is simple to use. I bought my dad a single speaker for Fathers Day, and his 1st reaction was "what the he!! is this?". In 10 minutes we set up a Pandora account, made a few stations, and now he uses it every day. He doesn't have to press any connection buttons, he doesn't need to turn it on/off, etc. He picks up his iPad, opens the app, and presses play. In fact, if I told him so, he could also just reach over to the speaker from his chair and press a single button.
8) In addition to cost, virtually every chat on Sonos includes "the sound quality is horrible". Again, wholly subjective. I believe that the Sonos sound is commensurate with its cost. I also have a 5.1 system with floor standing speakers and a 12" subwoofer that sounds better, but cost ~25% more than what a comparable Sonos setup would cost.
If you haven't used or researched Sonos, try to before listening to random negative comments. Sonos is not for everyone. As I mentioned above, if you are looking for a single speaker to play from a computer or iPhone, the a BT speaker may very well be a better option.
1) Sonos is designed to be a wireless, integrated, whole-home audio system. It can be wired via ethernet, and some models allow for auxiliary inputs. But the primary value proposition of the company is that it offers wireless streaming from many sources to many speakers.
2) Further, Sonos offers integration such that you can group zones for independent or synchronized playback. Each zone can be completely controlled as desired. And importantly, the Sonos system in your home becomes fully integrated and controllable form all devices on the network. So I can start playing my sports talk station via my laptop while sitting at my desk (I work from home, and use the system grouped to all zones all day every day), my wife can walk in from work and turn the volume off on the speakers in the family room via her iPhone while I continue to listen to sports talk in the office, and my son can switch over to music upstairs from his iPhone, all while my programming remains uninterrupted. That would be impossible with bluetooth or traditionally wired system (except for those with hugely costly 5-6 figure home integration). Note: You can substitute iPhone above with Android phones, iPads, Amazon Fire tablets, etc. All types of platforms support the Sonos app.
3) The Sonos system must be played/controlled from the Sonos app (except in some rare cases). This is a negative to some people, a positive to others. I love the fact that I have 1 app to control all listening I do.
4) Sonos speakers, other then the Play:5, cannot be directly connected to a computer. I will admit than in a perfect world, all Sonos speakers would have at least an aux input. I would rarely if ever use, but it would certainly not hurt.
5) Conversely, bluetooth speakers or powered stand-alone speakers are single-points. For example, you can connect an iPhone and control playback on 1 speaker, or a stereo pair, at a time. I believe that there may be bluetooth speakers that allow for multiple connections, and with powered speakers you can run wire to extend to multiple speakers, but those are exceptions not the general use. Bluetooth speakers might be perfectly adequate for a single user in a single room. Beyond that, the value of Sonos is immense. By the way, there are BT speakers that cost well more than a single Sonos Play:1 speaker.
6) Every forum chat that includes Sonos invariably includes the statement "Sonos is way too expensive". That statement is wholly subjective and incomplete. Expensive compared to what? Expensive compared to a $15 bluetooth speaker, sure. Expensive compared to a set of powered speakers, maybe and maybe not. Expensive compared to a traditional amplifier and bookshelf speakers wired for multiple zones, likely not. Expensive compared to a wired whole-home system with multiple amplifiers and in-wall controllers throughout a home, definitely not.
7) Sonos is simple to use. I bought my dad a single speaker for Fathers Day, and his 1st reaction was "what the he!! is this?". In 10 minutes we set up a Pandora account, made a few stations, and now he uses it every day. He doesn't have to press any connection buttons, he doesn't need to turn it on/off, etc. He picks up his iPad, opens the app, and presses play. In fact, if I told him so, he could also just reach over to the speaker from his chair and press a single button.
8) In addition to cost, virtually every chat on Sonos includes "the sound quality is horrible". Again, wholly subjective. I believe that the Sonos sound is commensurate with its cost. I also have a 5.1 system with floor standing speakers and a 12" subwoofer that sounds better, but cost ~25% more than what a comparable Sonos setup would cost.
If you haven't used or researched Sonos, try to before listening to random negative comments. Sonos is not for everyone. As I mentioned above, if you are looking for a single speaker to play from a computer or iPhone, the a BT speaker may very well be a better option.
The updates are live for the Mac app, the iOS app, and the speakers now.
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Sonos seems hardly "in bed with Apple". They're just adding Apple Music to the list of services that are compatible with their speakers. If you don't like Apple Music, don't add it to your Sonos system and keep using the services you like.
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Sonos seems hardly "in bed with Apple". They're just adding Apple Music to the list of services that are compatible with their speakers. If you don't like Apple Music, don't add it to your Sonos system and keep using the services you like.
It doesn't mean anything to people,that don't have a sonos speaker or the sonos system. The app by itself doesn't work without the speakers. Now regarding wifi/Bluetooth, sonos actually creates its own network and is far superior both in sound and operation than a Bluetooth/wifi setup. But, if you have a Play5, you can add a very cheap Bluetooth line in adapter and then can play all Bluetooth enabled devices on which ever sonos speaker you choose.
I've been using the beta since December and have had no issues other than the organization of the horrendous Music app. It is honestly so un user friendly, but I prefer it over Spotify which I have had lots of problems with (says I'm offline when I'm not, sharing playlists isn't easy).
You are absolutely right!
This so-called "study" is nothing but marketing BS
Apple takes their customers more and more for idiots...
The did the same thing with their ridiculous "Nightshift" feature in transfering scientific studies about color of ambient light to the use of a little phone screen or that an ipad.this is just the opposite of scientific behavior. They are not serious any more.
As for their claims Apple is now establishing itself on the same level as the community of people selling old used crappy cars in backyards...
It is all about greed...
Sonos must be careful.
Perhaps one day apple will practise the same method they did with f.lux .... They are ruthless . And desperated because they did miss the upcoming future market of streaming.
Monopolists and big players get extremely dangerous when starting to panic about a missed market/being far to late for it....
I hope sonos has signed a double- waterproof contract with apple.
If not, they are already dead.... It will be not a question IF, but only WHEN they will pass away...
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I could not agree more with this statement. If you use a sonos speaker you will not want to use anything else. Over the years my sonos speaker list has increased and now my whole home is connected. We have had Bose speakers, simple BT speakers, and many others over the years, and sonos and its app are the only ones to pass the wife test.
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Exactly, I have 3k songs on my iPhone plus a library in the cloud plus Apple Music. The Sonos app lets me create playlists and even radio stations from all these sources plus soundcloud, tunein and others. It does it seamlessly and I don't even think about it.