Gizmodo Gifts
For sharing music across all rooms of the house, the Sonos Digital Music system is the only way to go. This system includes a remote control that can wirelessly communicate with up to 32 different receivers to play back the tunes. So everyone if your 32-room hostel can enjoy tunes without anyone feeling discriminated against.
The handheld remote includes a color screen and can play back almost any audio file, except for the files from iTunes. It will communicate with a couple different types of receivers. The smaller of the two is designed more for home entertainment systems because it can connect to amplifiers. The larger of the two is a 50W system that only needs a couple of speakers plugged in and is ready to go. The system, which includes the remote and one of each of the receivers is available for $1,000. [Sonos]
That's completely wrong. The larger of the two is meant to stand alone, because it has a built-in amp and speaker wire connections. The smaller is meant to connect to a home entertainment system, typically with RCA cables.
You shouldn't call them "speakers" either, they are Zone Players. You connect speakers to them.
And why not link directly to Sonos? It's the same price as Cruthfield (though Crutchfield ALWAYS has free shipping).
I absolutely love my Sonos system! My bundle came with two ZP100s and a remote. I've expanded the system by adding wireless speakers to each ZP100 (much cheaper than buying another two ZP100s for my apartment). One of my friends bought a set for himself after seeing mine.
It's certainly not "the only way to go". The Squeezebox can do this, for a lot less money. I do like the Sonos remote, though.
As long as we're correcting, "except for the files from iTunes" is both vague and incorrect. Sonos does not have any fundamental incompatibility with iTunes software. It simply cannot play DRM versions of songs sold at the iTunes Music Store. DRM-free files (MP3 or AAC), including the DRM-free songs at iTunes Music Store, work fine.
Specifically, these formats are supported:
MP3
WMA (not lossless)
AAC (unprotected, including Apple lossless)
FLAC
AIFF
OGG
Audible
WAV
I also want to point out that the remote IS JUST A REMOTE. It does not "play" the music. That's what the PLAYERS do.
@MOFD:
The Squeezebox, although great in its own right, can only do a fraction of what the Sonos can. (Which is why I sold mine.)
Love the Sonos! Best piece of consumer electronics I've bought since my first Tivo.
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