[Carlman]

Is Sonos really the only game in town these days for streaming audio to a receiver/amp? I have a network of the old squeezebox threes. They sound pretty good when they work. As the world keeps changing the software seems to have harder and harder time syncing up with the rest of the technology. For instance Pandora is now hit or mess when I listen. Maybe I'll get to hear my whole Christmas song, maybe I won't.

Anyway, just curious. Since the Sonos connect is $350 and a Chromebook is $250, I'm guessing it IS the only game town. I can't pay that much for Sonos.

[Phil A]

Depends on your goals and what you are using it with.  For example, you can always get stuff like - https://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Fanless-Desktop-Windows-storage/dp/B00SCBWF52

You can use it with (free) Foobar or another program and you can either stream or get a small hard drive.  There may be similar things available as a refurb a drop cheaper.

[JRace]

Anyway, just curious. Since the Sonos connect is $350 and a Chromebook is $250, I'm guessing it IS the only game town. I can't pay that much for Sonos.

Get a chromecast (<$50)

Or a Raspberry Pi and build your own ($50-$100)

[Carlman]

Thanks Homestar and Phil. Reckon a micro PC is a good way to go. I already did a little mini PC (Zotac) as my primary audio player. Not sure I want to be the only one that knows how to use it, though. I guess that's the value of Sonos. No figuring out, no options or choices. Just pop.

[tvyankee]

The thing that makes sonos in my opinon better than the rest is the user interface. The box itself logins into the music services not you phone. The phone itself is just a control surface.

Couple of short comings is lack of  bluetooth no way to stream to it from phone and noway to lock people out of it if they are on your network unless you are on a seperate vlan.

They sound pretty good for the most part but the user interface is the best hands down and nothing comes close.

Btw but used on craigslist like i did for 175.00 great deal.

Hope this helps.

[mcgsxr]

+1 on the raspi.  Lots of stable Linux installs that mimic a Squeezebox.

I am using a hacked Pogoplug to do the same.

[jarcher]

Sonos does have the best / easiest user interface and setup. The only real competitor I've found is Bluesound (from the NAD / PSB / Bluesound group). It definitely sounds better and has more features (e.g. Bluetooth) and even allows you to connect a hard drive to the back of it. The user interface is not as intuitive but most people figure it out with out a problem. Prices and products are comparable to Sonos.

We sell a lot Bluesound and have had a 9o% or so satisfaction rate.