Sonos Multi-room Audio System - Control in your hands
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But if the ZonePlayers and SonosNet are at the heart of the system, much of its power comes from the remote control. This wireless handheld device allows instant and complete control of every ZonePlayer in the system. Imagine you're sitting downstairs in the lounge and want to reduce the volume of the music playing upstairs in the bedroom. Or cooking in the kitchen when you decide you want to listen to a track stored on the hard drive of your PC in the office. No problem. A press of the controller's Zones button allows you to select any zone, change the music playing in it, adjust the volume and tone, and link or unlink it from the system's other zones.
Linked zones all play the same music simultaneously, while unlinked zones can each be assigned an independent soundtrack selected from any audio source devices connected to the system. The Sonos controller is straightforward to use, thanks to the large 3.5" color screen, dedicated volume, zones and music buttons, an iPod-like scroll wheel, and three soft buttons whose functions adapt to the context of the currently displayed menu.
One of the controller's most powerful features is its ability to select any connected audio source. This isn't just limited to your local collections either, but seamlessly integrates with online services including over 600 pre-loaded Internet Radio stations and a selection of common download sites, including Napster and Pandora. Better still, Sonos can access these services directly with no need to turn on a PC. You just select the music right on the controller and the system will take care of downloading and playing it. However, iTunes users in particular should note that one of the system's few limitations is that DRM-protected files are not supported.
Just a single controller is required to manage a full multi-zone system, but it is equally possible to add as many additional controllers as are required: one per room, or even one per person. Or perhaps just a single spare for when the rechargeable battery of the main unit runs out after a couple of days of moderately heavy use. Of course this isn't a problem if you remember to charge it up at night.
Unfortunately the battery is fixed permanently inside the controller, so when it eventually loses its ability to retain a charge, the entire handset will need to be replaced. With controllers costing around $400, this might be good business for Sonos's accountants, but not for its customers or its environmentalist credentials; at some point, we would like to see Sonos improve the system by using replaceable batteries.
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