Sonos Bridge Instant Setup Solution For Sonos Wireless Network (BR100)
by Sonos
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List Price: Our Price: $28.49 You Save: $70.51 (71%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Speakers See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Sonos Bridge Instant Setup Solution For Sonos Wireless Network (BR100)
Customer Review: The ultimate solution to accessing all your music
Summary: 5 Stars
I received my Sonus Bridge and Zone Player yesterday. Both boxes were small, compact and thoughtfully designed. The units themselves are elegant and the start-up documentation is easy to understand. If the player is remote from your computer you need the Bridge which you have to attach to a LAN port on your router. You plug the remote Zone Player into whatever it will control. In my case I attached the audio output on the Zone Player via RCA cables to the AUX input on my Tuner/Amp. Both units have to be connected to power. There are other configuration choices, but that worked for me, and I expect that's probably the most generic choice. Digital audio is also provided, if that works better for you.
After hooking up, you insert the setup CD into the drive and try to run the setup program. At that point everything fell apart for me. The software attempted to update, but for some reason the updates kept timing out. I was able to contact Sonus customer service via live chat and we struggled with the problem for quite a while without resolving it. I tried downloading the controller software directly from the Sonus website, but that failed as well. In the end I made fourteen separate attempts to download the software, each one timing out after 5 to 30 minutes. I was getting pretty frustrated at that point, so I started another download and went off to bed. At 5:00 AM I went to check, and that one had failed, too. But I started another one and the download completed at a high speed in just a couple minutes. I never found out what the difficulty was - a network problem or Sonus server. It just went away.
Once the controller is up, you register with Sonus and click the connect button on the Bridge. Then you have to also click two buttons on the Zone Player. At that point you are talking to the boxes via the controller.
The next item is creating the Sonus database (index). There are some tradeoffs with the approach here. Sonus could probably have used the Mac/Windows file system or the iTunes database, but in order to make their system fast they chose to implement their own database for "instant" lookup. It is blazing fast on my computer - no perceptible delay. Here's the tradeoff: that only works if you tell Sonus every time you add new music so that they can update their index file. It's easy and quick to do, but it does add another step. So now you have to manage your music in iTunes, in other files if you have them, and in Sonus as well. I also noticed that not all changes I made in iTunes were reflected in Sonus. For instance, I changed the genre on a CD from "country" to "bluegrass", which indicated correctly on iTunes, but the update was never reflected on Sonus even though I requested an index update. Probably the best thing to do is make sure you are happy with your data before telling Sonus to update. Also, I do not see all my playlists reflected in Sonus, and I like to make playlists in iTunes since they have a much more powerful query facility to create smart playlists. I'm still investigating that, but right now it doesn't work.
Those nits aside, I LOVE the fact that the system has excellent sound. There is no suggestion at all that it is wireless. I command the controller and the stereo responds. I like the user interface as well. It's intuitive and powerful. One thing that I do find to be weak is the equalization control. It just gives two ranges (bass and treble) with loudness selectable as on or off. But that's minor and you can always set the equalizer on your amplifier. I also like the fact that you can add extra Zone Players so you can play music in several areas of the house (although there can only be one stream playing, so that may not be useful where there are multiple people with different requirements.)
One of the best things about the system is the ease of using Pandora and other music services. Sonus also allows easy access to real radio stations all over the planet, and their built-in search makes finding them trivial.
Summary: I recommend this system for anyone who feels comfortable setting up iTunes or a system of similar complexity. It's definitely worth the effort. Customer service is responsive and reasonably knowledgeable. They are proud of their products and want to help.
Customer Review: Limited wireless range
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought a bridge and a player in order to play my iTunes music library from my computer (which is in a basement office) to powered speakers set up on our outdoor patio. The actual distance between the bridge/router and the player is maybe 30 meters but I live in Switzerland where houses typically have brick or concrete internal walls. The wireless signal reached the outdoor player at first but dropped out after a few minutes. After that, the player couldn't be located on the system. I tried moving it around to places where it might better "see" the signal but with no effect. I brought it inside to the living room and it worked only if the player was right beside an open door. Here the distance from the bridge is maybe 20 meters. If I put it beside my stereo in order to use my stereo's speakers, it's invisible, I assume because the stereo is in a corner of the room that creates a "shadow" where the wireless can't reach. So I guess I'll have to wire up a network connection to the player and forget about the wireless, which is why I bought the system in the first place.
Also, to connect computer speakers to a Sonos player requires a special cinch adapter that you need to buy separately. That was not really explained anywhere on the website.
After reading a lot of the positive reviews and visiting the company website, I was under the impression that the Sonos wireless system was somehow more powerful than the wireless signal in my existing system. But I would say it's actually a weaker signal, since I can easily use my laptop wirelessly on my balcony but the Sonos system doesn't transmit that far.
So take all the "easiest to use" stuff with a grain of salt. Once again, if you're not a real techie, these solutions are rarely as easy to use as many claim, in my opinion. And to those hoping to have wireless connectivity in a building with thick walls, be forewarned that you may need to invest additional money either in an extra bridge unit or forget about wireless and go for a wired solution using network cables.
Customer Review: Not as easy as they say!
Summary: 2 Stars
I purchased a Zone Bridge and an S5 because I wanted a simple way to play music from our computer and the radio on the internet. The initial set up is relatively easy, but I did not have a large music library in the computer. Now, I will take the long task of importing CD's into my itunes library. I am running it on a lynksis router and a new Mac. My problems began when more than one computer or library is to be accessible. Sharing must be configured. Not too tough if one is used to configuring preferences. Also, music will not be in the Sonos Controller unless the software updates the library. This needs to be accomplished in the Sonos software and is not automatic without making settings. Then, my son comes into town and I tell him his entire library can be played on the system. He sets it up and uses the system, and then goes home. His massive library of music is now resident in the controller, but I can't play any of it because his computer is not here anymore. I have to navigate through all his music without knowing which is his or mine. It all makes sense, but only AFTER hours of trying to figure out what the heck is wrong. I remove his library and now the system can't find my computer and will only play internet radio! I did not remove my library, but the system just won't find my computer anymore. The support team is too busy for quick reply. I wait days. My computer literacy and experience is vast, so this is very concerning. Summary... My experience has not been a good one, but I think the system is fine if you have one or two libraries, and remember only one computer can have a controller working at a time ... and don't mind trouble shooting tech issues. About tech issues... the website support page will give you an idea of FAQ and solutions. I do believe I will like the system very much if I can get it to work again! Oh, The sound is about the same quality as a BOSE wave.Customer Review: Never received it
Summary: 1 Stars
Apparently you can't give a review zero stars.
I ordered this as part of a birthday present for my wife. After a few days I got an email saying it had been shipped via USPS with scheduled delivery two days before her birthday. So far, so good. The tracking number supplied was not recognized by the USPS website. The day before the scheduled delivery, I received two emails - one saying my "return" had been received and another refunding my money. I called Amazon customer service and was assured that the item was still being delivered. I was also told that it was in stock and if I didn't receive it on the scheduled delivery day, they could overnight another. The next day there was still no package so I called customer service back. This time I was told that they had no idea why the item was returned, but it was returned. Then I was told that it was not in stock. In fact, I was told it wasn't even sold by Amazon, but by another vendor whose standard shipping time was 10 to 15 days ( I could "expedite" shipment to 5 to 7 days for an exorbitant amount).
This is very disappointing. I have used Amazon many times in the past with no problems. I will now have to try to find a local vendor for this item or buy online from somewhere else and give it as a belated gift.
Customer Review: Excellent system that JUST WORKS!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I just connected a zone bridge to my Apple Time Capsule and then a ZP120 to the prewired speakers in my house. The installation couldn't have been easier and the system works perfectly. I contacted the Sonos tech support folks to help in transferring my iTunes library to the Sonos. Not only did they take care of it with ease, but they actually connected to my iMac through an online "assist" program and adjusted the setting in my computer without my having to touch a single key. Then they started the transfer and all 57Gb of music flawlessly transferred to my time capsule as an actual file, versus the standard storage zip file, that the Sonos system can access and from which I created my own music library with ease. And of course I can continuously add to this library everything time I add music to my iTunes by "updating data" link. I am using my Apple iTouch and iPad as the wireless controllers using the free iTunes app that is available. The Sonos system comes with Pandora, and 90 day free trial versions of Rhapsody, Napster, and Sirius. Frankly, the system couldn't work better even if I had designed it for my home sound system myself. This system (in the words of Apple) JUST WORKS!! I can't wait to add some more zones to my house using the free standing S5.