Sonos vs. Logitech - What do you think

Post by **Francois** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 4:44 pm

Over the last weeks I have been looking at both Sonos and Logitech SqueezeBox. I like to setup a multi room audio system that can be controlled by both a vendor specific remote control and my Homeseer server and HSTouch setup.

In my quest for pro's and con's I have compiled the following list (so far):

SONOS
(www.sonos.com)
+ Very well designed product
+ Very nice remote that works fast and reliable
- Expensive (when compared to Logitech)
- Very proprietary interface
- Homeseer plugin exists but mixed feelings about quality, reliability and limited functionality (eg. no library browsing).

LOGITECH
(http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speak ... /&cl=nl,nl)
+ Cheap(er than SONOS) 2 room Sonos = 1000 euro Logitech = 500 euro
+ Quite open, seems easy to interface with
+ Plugin for homeseer seems to offer more functionality
- Remote feels cheap
- Less robust than Sonos

I appreciate your thought on this, can you help me completing the list?

Francois

Post by **jvs** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 4:59 pm

I suggest you first start listening to these systems...

I am not so sure about the quality of Sonos, in my opinion it is better to use the Squeezebox. Use it's digital out and you have one of the best price/qulity digital processor you can buy.

Don't forget that there are two ways to use these equipments, as a processor or as an processor/integrated amp. I would only use it for processing and buy a seperate amplifier.

As for the interface/remote, if you already use HS why invest in interfaces/remotes etc. so why consider it in your evaluation.

Conclusion: in my opinion there is only one option; Squeezebox classic-digital out connection-amplifier(with integrated DA or seperate)even the most complicated setting is less than eur 1000 and sounds much better than the Sonos.

Post by **Dickr43** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 5:09 pm

I'm not sure if there is something like it for Sonos but there is also an iPhone/iTouch app that works great with the Sqeezebox: iPeng. That and the good sound quality have made me choose Logitech. I have never used the remote, only to set the system up.

Post by **Tiz** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 7:23 pm

For Logitech I get the feeling that there is a much larger community on the internet that helps to get software support for every Logitech application that you van think of.
Furthermore, Sonos is targeting a public that wants the product to work out of the box and never to be changed or adapted again. Probably very userfriendly, but also kinda dead and less flexible.

Post by **Francois** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 7:37 pm

Some additional thoughts:

Quality: definatly something to consider, but... practically all my music is MP3 coded so it might not be such an issue (the end result is never better than what you start with)

I see practical use for both an amplified box as one without. For the living room the non-amplified one will do when connected to the existing stereo setup but in the bathroom, bedroom and kitchen I prefer a all in one solution.

Interface-remote: I am really impressed with the Sonos RC, it scrolls easily through thousands of songs, I have a collection of about 300 GB of songs and wonder if a HS setup can meet the same fast & user friendly experience. As I understand it the homeseer plugin for Sonos does not have the ability to scroll through the library and I am not sure if the Squeezebox plugin can do this. Additionally I do not have a (HS)Touchscreen in every room so there is a need for a rc.

One thing I find very intresting is the ability to control the display on the squeeze box from Homeseer. I am not sure how flexible this is but having status message onevry device is really nice.

iPhone/iTouch: I have seen the Sonos iPhone app and it looks nice, for me iPhone is not an option, I prefer a Windows Mobile (Windows Phone) device

Francois

Post by **TANE** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 8:10 pm

Why not Itunes.
Is the cheapest solution and works great.

What you need Itunes server (can be your Homeseer server) for free
Ipod touch/Iphone 179 euro
AirPort Express-base station with AirTunes for every room 90 euro

<hr noshade size="1">Enver
http://twitter.com/Chak64%20My%20Domoti ... dware.html My Domotica Hardware Software

Post by **Francois** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 8:35 pm

Enver,

Two things that are not clear yet:

- can I use the iTunes plugin on homeseer to control the airtunes in every room?
- can I use the plugin to control iTunes on another machine, I don't want iTunes running on my HS server

Francois

Post by **TANE** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 9:02 pm

1. I'm not sure about this option since i have no AirTunes. It must be possible..else we can request this.
With the Iphone/Ipod Touch remote application this is possible. Works much better that HStouch..faster startup and more options
You can use combination of HST and Itunes remote..both can connect to the same system

2. Itunes must run on the HS server...to bad..I have also Itunes services running on my Qnap.

If you have a Iphone or Ipod give a tray..works great.

<hr noshade size="1">Enver
http://twitter.com/Chak64%20My%20Domoti ... dware.html My Domotica Hardware Software

Post by **r_255** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 9:20 pm

At 1st i was a bit sceptical about the price, but after buying a boom for my mum i was in love with squeeze.

Oh and take notice that the plugin for homeseer is still in development and soon hopefully we will have full hstouch support. Now a lot of things must be handeled thru the api. Things like controlling homeseer devices from a squeezebox, screensavers with hs device statuses like temprature or alarms... you name it.

+ squeezebox can be software to... so a hstouch client can be used as squeezebox player in your network to have an extra player and can be controlled remote thru hs.

Wonderfull machines/system...

love to put them all in sync with my favorite music and the chromoflex on disco

Post by **glabbeek** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 10:34 pm

I've been a sonos user for many years now. If you read the hifi magazines, there is no question. The Sonos system is the best multi room system. Sound quality is suprb over the squezebox. The interface was almost perfect and with the new controller even better.
The downside is that due to the high price the user group is much smaller than the squezebox user group.
The HS script for the Sonos is ok, but a full plugin would be nice.
Still, the Sonos purchas was one of my best ever.

Post by **Francois** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 8:55 am

r_255, glabbeek,

I understand you are both using the HS plugin (if you may call it that way). Can you confirm that for both systems it is not possible to do library browsing and track selection with HSTouch (like the iTunes plugin with the nice selection boxes) and always need the remote control to select new track from the library?

Francois

Post by **mgb** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:09 am

I'm a user of the slimserver / squeezecenter for years. Currently I'm using a windows mobile application as a remote control called slimcontrol. Looks realy nice but is a work in progress. Most functions are already there so it's usable. Most of the software of squeezecenter is opensource and the api is well documented. For Domotica this is an absolute pre. I'm considering this Forum also as a sort of DIY Domotica so that's also a pre for Squeezecenter. Even the remote software can be altered to add extra functionality.
Regarding the soundquality. The DAC's of the squeezebox are good value for the money. If you want better quality than you could use an external DAC. So soundquality wise there is no reason to choose one system or the other. If you like to tinker with your equipment choose Squeezebox. If it should work out of the box than choose SONOS.
Just my 2 cents.

Michael

Post by **jvs** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:15 am

Again, you should listen to these devices.

Apple: It sure is a nice/cheap sollution for MP3's
Sonos: For that money there are better solutions (remember all the reviews etc. are written for losless formats, compare it to losless over your squeezebox and seperate amplifier/DA for the same money as a Sonos and you will know what the difference is)
Logitech: device around 159euro compared to Sonos 90 349euro...

Sure the Sonos is user friendly etc but when it comes to sound...

NB I do not compare to the Duet but the classis.

Post by **Herbus** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:42 am

Perhaps a little off topic:
Is it possible to use the Sonos/Logitech SqueezeBox solutions to play music AND stream Voice Messages from Homeseer to this speakers?
In that case it's very handy to have some around the house for a pleasant sound experience and to be informed about domotica issues.

Herbus (Jos)

Post by **AshaiRey** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:54 am

This is my opinion for what it worth is.

Have a look at what you do now and what you use. And be honest about it. Possibility to playback Flac, raw, wma and more. Do you really need that. Do you need that fancy expansive remote controle, console, mega button screen.

In the end it turned out that i use only MP3's and that i start a playlist and don't use the selection device anymore for the whole evening. So in that perspective solutions like Sonos and even Squeezebox are rather a expensive solution.

Btw, i had the same thought when buying a media player. Discarding many players just because it couldn't play HD movies. I have one HD capable media player but till now i did watch a single HD movie...