Sonos is a great system – it is super stable, feature rich and very easy to use.

The free iPhone app is HUGE. No longer necessary to buy the $400 controller if you already have an iPhone or iPod Touch – not too mention how much smaller and additional functionality they offer.

Additionally, I have had occasion to call Sonos tech support on several occasions and have was blown away. Sonos has A+ tech support – easily among the best I have ever called.

Of course, I think iTunes is an evil, backwards piece of software laden with ridiculous proprietary quirks and unnecessary DRM restrictions — so take my opinion with a grain of salt. I would not be caught dead with iTunes and prefer other music players.

The price is the real negative here. But there’s one thing as a two-year owner I can say about it: the software is bar none, and, after time, the software becomes more important than the hardware. Unlike the mobile phone market with its reliance on programmed obsolescence, the Sonos team has taken a different approach.

The hardware when I purchased it has not been “grandfathered”. Instead, Sonos’ free software revisions have continued to add features and value to the setup. And the way Sonos does software updates is perhaps an industry standard in terms of quality, in terms of avoiding the “dribbleware” problem, and in terms of ease and simplicity.

So while the Sonos is a good chunk of change to outlay, my experience has been that their software continually renews the system and the hardware has a much longer useful life than most high-tech products.

I’m at 5 zones now, 2 controllers, and now the iPod Touch app. I’ve even used the zone players to bridge my wired network to wireless and back (to reach a Ethernet-only device in a building where no cat-5 exists). Rock solid in every way. Including the controllers that invariably get dropped by those late night partiers.

One point not mentioned here is the inclusion of Pandora in Sonos. Sonos has had radio and Rhapsody for quite a while (the latter being very fun for parties; you always have what people want to hear at your fingertips). But with Pandora, creating music mixes is super simple; pick a favorite artist or genre, and Pandora takes over. I love it.

Also, I’ve even pseudo-djayed parties with the Sonos. With an internet connection, the ZP-100 player with amp, my Klipsch RB-35 bookshelf speakers, and my laptop and 2 controllers, it’s a party in a box.

Finally, totally agree with the iPod Touch app. I use it all the time. Although, not in the jacuzzi; while the iPod is not water-resistant, the Sonos controller is, so I can keep the controller and my favorite music handy while relaxing in the bubbles.

-Benson

For what it does, the remote seemed a bit large to me, but not unsubstantial. Something that expensive and powerful should have some degree of heft.

Of course, if you get a system that is this good don’t buy iTunes (the 128 kbps quality is really poor). I wouldn’t settle for anything less than iTunes plus which does play on sonos and are sold at 256 kbps. Lossless works fine for me.

Happy listening!