 Excellent article. I am at work so have to be brief. Basically I am thinking of setting my own version of this up once Nokia launch their 770 Tablet. And my current Debian Linux box (which has all my MP3's on it already. I probably going to setup another silent very small PC to sit in with the Home Cinema setup that will sit on the network and act as the network to hifi device. I will post up more details when I have the time. I'll probably create an article on my website and link it in for discussion!
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 That sounds interesting Ollie we look forward to hearing how it goes. How would you feel about writing a piece for the member feature's section documenting how it all goes?
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Thanks Maybe I will! But I will probably also write a more techy version (with more of the nitty-gritty) and stick it on my site. The project will also involve some X10 home automation (not as much as this guy - but it's food for thought)
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 Sounds like an interesting project, it'll be interesting to see what happens - i lok forward to reading it.
Is the 770 still due for a definate launch? I remember hearing about it a while back but it all seemed to go very quite on the front?
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Dec/January apparently. I hope it isn't one of these products that gets canned at the last minute.
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I agree, it looks promising, hopefully it'll still see the light of day.
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 The Sonos sounds like headway is being made although I note the comments about distance impairment, 30ft isn't great.
Sad to report but my experience with an earlier "streamer" was very dissapointing. I tried using it on both wi-fi and ethernet connections and only ever achieved a playing time of about 3 hours. It was never stable and certainly not some thing the rest of the family could use. I also found the database management poor and unable to handle a large CD collection. I stuck with it for a while and had some fun with the yahoo user group before consigning it to ebay. Crusing the web I came across XITEL. I did my research and bought their HiFi Link.
This simple device connects to a usb port and delivers signals to your Hi-Fi inputs incorporating an in line quality sound card.
It worked 1st time and every time since.My entire CD collection is controlled via the excellent Windows Media Centre and gives endless options.
The slight drawback is wires but I am fortunate to have suspended floors. I'd love to know if other readers have used the Xitel maybe the editors could arrange a review?. I've since bought their product for copying LP's etc on to the computer. This is slow, being limited to real time, but the results are excellent.
WWW.XITEL.COM is well worth a visit.
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 Yeah I'd agree that while the Sonos does look an inticing piece of kit, I'm still sceptical about the stability of wireless connections. Admittedly I'm basing this around related wireless stuff I've recently bought (i.e. wireless headphones / ADSL router etc..), but I've found them to be a little unreliable, with connections being lost on more than one occasion. Maybe I'm just not using my equipment correctly, but for an AV novice such as myself I'm yet to be totally convinced.
Maybe AVReview could loan me the Sonus and I'll try it out at home? ;-)
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I'm just wondering who is actually keen on having streamed digital audio going throughout the house?
My problem with it is that if you're running 128kbps MP3s (or whatever) through a decent set of speakers then surely you'll notice the sound quality being far, far inferior to CDs.
It would certainly bother me, as even using my iPod with a semi-decent pair of headphones I find the quality adequate at best. Anyone else share my reservations?
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Interesting site
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Hi Ollie, was there gonna be a link to a website on your post? All I've got on my screen is 'interesting site'...
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Paul
I'd agree that any compressed format is never going to give the ultimate quality that we've all stiven for Hi-Fi wise over the years.
Sadly I don't get enough dedicated listening time and find that the facility to pre-program a mornings listening from maybe 25 cd's or more and walk away from it means I actually listen to more music than I have for ages...at the end of the day is the equipment more important than the music? I don't think so.
Mike
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Fair point Mike, maybe I'm being too precious about sound quality. It's just now and again that it really bothers me on my MP3 player so I'm just guessing it would annoy me more listening to music the old fashioned way in my living room (god, come to think of it I haven't done that in ages).
I suppose the ideal solution would be to store your entire CD collection on your PC in lossless format. Now, I'll just have to track down a 400 terabyte hard drive... :-)
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Dan was referring to xitel.com from Mike's post. But some as it was posted after some other messages the meaning got lost!
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 Well I certainly won't be giving up my CD player or even my turntable as a result of using the Sonos but I'm finding it great for piping my music from my office into my kitchen, or into my living room when I have people round.
Don't get me wrong, for dedicated listening, I'd much rather listen to my hi-fi set-up, but for background, it's a really good, user-friendly option.
By the way Paul, I'll look into the XITEL option and try to get a compare and contrast test going - watch this space...
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I know you're only having a joke Paul but I imagine within the next 30 years having whole music collections completly uncompressed and lossless on massive multi terabyte (or larger, what is larger the a terabyte? A nanobyte?) hard drives will definately be a reality and will also be the time when digital music become a true successor to traditional forms of storage.
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Hi,
(I work for Sonos BTW)
I wanted to comment on the questions about the audio quality of streamed digital audio on the Sonos system.
There are a few bit-perfect (exactly replicates what is on the trigonal CD) file formats available.
The Sonos system supports a number of these bit-perfect file formats, FLAC (which is losslessly compressed), WAV and AIFF.
The Sonos system streams all music in its native format. Which means that if you play a FLAC track is is not down converted to another format before being distributed. It arrives in full fidelity at the unit that is going to play it.
I'm no 'golden ear' but in A/B tests i'm unable to tell the difference between my CDs and their FLAC equivalent.
Best,
Graham
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 Have to agree with Chris. We've been selling the Sonos kit for a number of months now, and I have many CDs imported using AIFF, and use it to demo not only the Sonos system in our retail store, but also speakers. I too would have to agree the audio qulaity using AIFF is superb (can't stand MP3 myself!).
As for wireless straming, I can also happilly report an almost faultless display. I say "almost" becuase there have been ocassions where the sound has dropped, only to then discover the PC on which the music is, has been doing some intensive process, so not Sonos related at all!
I recently set up a 4 zone Sonos system for a client who had what can only be described as a HUGE house. One ZP in his lounge, one in his study, one in his kitchen (all on the ground floor but fairly far apart) and the 4th ZP in his loft (for in ceiling speakers in his bedroom). I can report that the system worked, and is still working perfectly!
Anyone with any questions, please feel free to e-mail me, the Sonos system is one that I am more than happy to recommend!
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