Sonos Connect v. Squeezebox Touch

Well---not so fast. I think either system will serve you well, but unless you plan on downloading a boatload of hi-res, I wouldn't count out the Sonos yet. Think about it (and I own a Touch), it's really more about the quality of mastering than it is bit depth. I have a number of 24/96 tracks downloaded--not doubt they sound wonderful--but I would suspect that the same tracks at 16/44 will also sound great. Why? Excellent mastering.

If audio mastering engineers did their jobs well, CD would have lived up to it's promise of "perfect sound forever."

Just something to think about before making your decision.

Both seem to be very good. I will always be a fan of the Squeezebox, they pretty much did it first and I have never had an issue with the set-up the product. Don't know how they compare soundwise head to head as most I know that use either one usually have an external dac.

H9

If you're going to be using the internal DACs then it's hard to go wrong with the SB Touch, the DAC in that box is very good. The SB also has more universal support, more apps that will run on it and there are several NAS solutions out there now that will run the Squeezebox Server app so you don't ewven need a computer to use it, huge plus for me.

I'm sure the Sonos is fine but I went with the SB because they're the original and because of the wider universal support.

The major differences to me any way, is the Touch has a better built in dac, but the Sonos has better software. As far as 24/96 goes, Sonos can be modded, I have a cullen modded one that does 24/96, and compared head to head with a standard Sonos unit, the differences are slight. I would recommend an external dac for either choice if you want to up your game in the SQ department. The Sonos is more expensive but also more versatile. Just depends more so on your needs is all. For a Sonos, you would need the zp90, a bridge, and thats it. You could download the app for the controller for free to use your phone as the controller or you could shell out the 350 bucks for their own wireless controller. Sonos is more of a whole house solution while the Touch is a single room solution. Thats not to say you can still buy multiple Touches for each room too. Two different animals but both do the same thing basically.

I have one Sonos connected to an old receiver with A-B speaker switching that way I cover 2 zones with one box. Speaker A covers the deck, speaker B covers the kitchen area. Just an option, which could also work for the Touch if you have speaker switching available. I'm not too familiar with the Touch's software, but can't say enough about how well the Sonos software works. The other nice thing is you can lump zones together, or play different music in all different zones, from one controller. I know alot of guys here use and like the Touch, so I would listen to them if thats the route you go. I'm not by any means knocking the Touch, as I have limited use of one. Different strokes and all that. Phil and myself use the Sonos, actually Phil was the one who sold me on it, and can't thank him enough. It's so easy, a caveman can do it. I had my mother-in-law using it inside of 2 minutes and this is a woman who can't figure out how to use email. If the cost factor is of concern, then go with the Touch, it's obviously very good at what it does and you'll never hear anyone complain about it. If the whole house thing is more to your needs, then cough up the coin for the Sonos, a 100 bucks in the audio world imho isn't all that much.
I might add that your local Best buy has them so if you want to go play around with one, go check it out first.

EndersShadow wrote: »

I have been dead set on a Squeezebox Touch for my HT rig downstairs to stream FLAC from my upstairs computer for a long time now.

I went to a hi-fi store last night to play around and saw a Sonos player. The Sonos interface was pretty cool, it does distributed audio through multiple zones quite well and wasnt too much more than a Touch.

EndersShadow wrote: »

I think the Sonos might be the ticket simply due to the expandability for playing the same music in multiple zones in the future (as I plan to do outdoor speakers when we move). The only thing I dont like is that its about 100 more than the Touch.

tonyb wrote: »

Sonos is more of a whole house solution while the Touch is a single room solution. Thats not to say you can still buy multiple Touches for each room too.[...]
I'm not too familiar with the Touch's software, but can't say enough about how well the Sonos software works. The other nice thing is you can lump zones together, or play different music in all different zones, from one controller. I know alot of guys here use and like the Touch, so I would listen to them if thats the route you go. I'm not by any means knocking the Touch, as I have limited use of one. Different strokes and all that. Phil and myself use the Sonos, actually Phil was the one who sold me on it, and can't thank him enough. It's so easy, a caveman can do it. I had my mother-in-law using it inside of 2 minutes and this is a woman who can't figure out how to use email. If the cost factor is of concern, then go with the Touch, it's obviously very good at what it does and you'll never hear anyone complain about it. If the whole house thing is more to your needs, then cough up the coin for the Sonos, a 100 bucks in the audio world imho isn't all that much.

Just wanted to set the record straight (although I think it's understood, but just not clear in some of the comments above), that Squeezebox does in fact do multiple zones, and it's easy, too. However, where I think Logitech went wrong is when they discontinued the separate receivers that were once available from the Duet controller/receiver combo. These allowed for simple connection to an amp/receiver for adding zones. $149 for each additional zone (you can still find them on e-bay). Not audiophile quality, but perfect for outdoor, garage, or any place you're not doing serious listening. For the serious listening zone(s), just use a Touch. A good solution for multiple zones right now, would be a Touch and then some receivers as mentioned above, or used SB Classics that seem to pop up now and then. Or, if you've got the money, a Touch in every zone.

For the setup that I have now, Sonos would have been out of my price range. Sonos seems to have a much more comprehensive array of hardware. I like the units that have an amp built in, but then again, I'd hate to be limited to use their amp, although it's probably ideal for places like outdoor zones and the like. I also think that the Sonos proprietary network is better for some folks, because there's less fiddling involved, but network setup has never been a problem for me and I kind of like the control I have over everything.

The way I see the two, Sonos is like Apple - proprietary, but set it up and it just works - and they likely appeal to a similar customer base. Squeezebox is more like Android... open-source, more customizable, but highly functional nonetheless.

mantis wrote: »

Sonos- there is nothing cooler then this product for streaming music and whats even cooler is you can have music is rooms you want that are not audiophile listening. You can get your Connect(ZP90) in your rig , then pick up a few P5 or a pair of P3's for a stereo pair , a ZP120 for an outdoor zone , run wires from the unit to the outdoor speakers ( can live close by but not outside) and you are now building an entire house house music system. It all starts with the Zp90 or connect. You can add as many Sonos pieces you want around your house.

I 've had the p5 and the zp120, which both I didn't care for. The zp90 connected to a 50 buck receiver yields better sq than that zp120. Just my opinion of coarse but one based on experience. The P5 is cool in the fact that you can move it around, room to room if so desired and re connects in 60 seconds when unplugged and pluged back in. I choose to stick with the ZP90's around the house, and a old avr with speaker a and b switching cuts down on the cost of buying another zp90.
Like I said, whole house solution, the Sonos is a tough competitor, single room, the touch is also a tough competitor. You can't go wrong either way.

EndersShadow wrote: »

I It also sets up its own network so its not using any of your network bandwidth to pass the audio. For a gamer like me thats a pretty cool thing, plus my wife is always watching netflix online.

You've said that twice now, and I have no idea what that really means...

If you've got your files stored on a computer and the Sonos is communicating with that computer then it's going to be using the same network that computer is on. The Sonos can create it's own network maybe between different Sonos devices so that transferring data between Sonos devices uses a different network, but if you're connecting to a computer it's gonna connect on whatever network that computer is attached to. You could have a computer attached to more than one network, but could just as easily do that with a SB.

Either way, it has nothing to do with your ISP or the bandwidth coming into your house.

Also, if you find yourself in a situation where streaming audio even to multiple rooms at once has any real impact on your network then you need to update your network. Any reasonably new networking gear (like say in the past 4 years) should have no problem streaming to multiple devices at once. I can stream Netflix in 2 room, stream lossless audio in 3 rooms, have internet on 3 computer an ipad and 2 iphones, and play Borderlands online while chatting with friends...all at once. And I don't have high end gear, just one Airport Extreme running the whole deal.

No worries, was just clarifying. Even if they do create their own P2P network and don't use your network at home, you would never notice the difference unless you're running some seriously old networking gear, it's just not enough bandwidth for you to notice unless you have a really poort network setup.

There are probably other reasons to choose the Sonos, but I really wouldn't let that affect your decision.

FTGV wrote: »

Interesting that would require a serious reworking..

Yep, pretty much why the mod cost 500 bones. But honestly, it all comes down to how well recorded the music is in the first place.

question a little off topic, but still SB related.. for those that have SB and use either the free logitech app or the peng app with your ipads... can you still surf the web using safari while running a squeezebox app? i'm thinking of finally going squeezebox with an ipad control, but i want to be able to surf the web while doing so if i'm not doing any really critical listening.