Sonos ZP120 Zone Player

The new Sonos ZP120 Zone Player distributes and plays music throughout your house with its built-in high quality state of the art Class D digital amplifier. For improved wireless connectivity the ZP120 has built-in 802.11n WiFi giving almost twice the range of the previous 802.11g version, the ZP100. For music anywhere in your house you just need to connect it to a pair of passive stereo speakers or in-ceiling speakers.

The Sonos ZP120 Zone Player accesses any stored music files so long as they are attached to a Zone Player or ZoneBridge somewhere in the house, so that you can access the music regardless of where it is stored. This ability to accept a line-level input from any device that outputs on phono connectors allows you to distribute not only your music on the computer but also audio on other conventional audio sources, such as DVD players, satellite digiboxes or even turntables with pre-amps. And you can play the same song or different songs in as many rooms as you'd like - simultaneously.

How does the system work

The Sonos supported configuration generally requires that you hard-wire your computer or hard disc storage storing the music to the first Sonos Zone Player. Thereafter all transmission between Zone Players can be wired or wireless, the latter using SonosNet 2.0. This upgraded version of the original secure AES encrypted SonosNet runs on 802.11n for twice the distance between ZonePlayers or ZonePlayer and ZoneBridge. This first connection can be direct between the computer and the Zone Player, using a patch lead, or via your home network (LAN). You can also make this link using an Ethernet over mains 'HomePlug' system, or using Ethernet over Co-ax if you have co-ax cable running between the ZP120 and Hard Disc storage.

Providing your computer or LAN has broadband Internet access, you will also be able to listen to your favourite Internet radio stations directly streamed to whichever Zone Player you want.

It is possible to avoid this first hard-wire link by using a Sonos ZoneBridge as shown in the schematic. As shown, using this ZoneBridge connected to a modem router and then the Internet will also allow you to access Internet radio without your computer.

If you already have a LAN over the whole house then you can connect some ZoneBridges to this, especially if you have areas in your home where the WiFi signal is a problem.

Music sources

For music stored on any computer, it needs to be turned on. However, if you have a Networked Attached Storage (NAS) device such as one of the Buffalo Linkstation range your music is always available without your computer being on, and the music does not occupy your computer hard disc space. The NAS can be connected to any Zone Player either directly or over your home network (LAN).

For an even easier way to rip and store your music the RipServer removes the need for the use of a computer in the process.

The Ripserver is a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device with a fully integrated CD ripping engine. The Ripserver is made by Ripfactory, experts in the provision of software and services for ripping audio. By utilising their core Ripstation technology for high quality CD conversion in a truly hands off way, Ripfactory have ensured that the Ripstation operation is simple: Once Ripserver is plugged into a network connection it takes care of storage of up to 1TB of music files, integrates a UPnP media server and offers a fully automated ripping system.

In use, no monitor or keyboard is required - simply insert a CD into the slot loading drive and the CD is converted within a few minutes, added to the media library and available on a network share, and then gently ejected.

Irrespective of the locations of your digital music they are consolidated and shown on the controller as a single library that can be accessed by album, artist or genre.

You can connect conventional analogue music sources such as DVD or satellite digibox and these are shown as the local source to a particular Zone Player by default, although you can name this on the system. These then become available throughout your house system.

All Zone Players are displayed on the Controller and named according to their location, eg living room, kitchen, and so on. This allows you to decide which room will play which music all from a single controller.

Napster and Sonos

Millions of songs at your fingertips — that’s the power of Napster® and Sonos. With a catalogue of over 6 million songs — pop, hip-hop, rock, country, jazz, classical, and more — you’ll have unlimited music on demand. And you’ll never have to rip another CD, download another song or even turn on your computer to access all that music.

With all Sonos Bundles you receive 30 Days FREE access to Napster. When this period has expired you can continue to subcribe to Napster if you wish for a flat fee. A monthly subscription of £9.95 to Napster allows you to stream any music held by Napster (or any service offering DRM-free tracks) direct to your room. This means that virtually any album or track is available to you at the touch of a button on your Sonos CR100 controller or by using the Sonos PC software.

With Sonos and Napster you can:

• Quickly find and play over 6 million songs in any and every room of your house
• Discover new music and rediscover old favorites with playlists, radio, charts, and more
• Create custom playlists based on your favorite artists and songs using Napster Automix
• Get new releases delivered right to your Controller

For your free trial just hit the Music button on your Controller, select Music Service Trials and choose the Napster Trial. No signup or credit card required.

Last.fm and Sonos

Enjoy a personalised music experience in every room with Last.fm and Sonos. Last.fm is a global music service that lets you play, share and discover new music without subscription. You can also create personal radio stations based on your musical tastes. Just pick up your Sonos Controller and enter the name of your favorite artist or genre and Last.fm will play radio customised just for you. The more you listen, the more Last.fm learns what you like so it can continually recommend new tracks and stations. With Last.fm and Sonos you’ll have hours upon hours of music available all over the house.

For more info on this service click last.fm.

Sonos Desktop Controller

The Sonos Desktop Controller software supplied free with every ZonePlayer lets you control all your music and all your rooms from any desktop or laptop computer in your house. The Desktop Controller software for PC and Mac is included with every ZonePlayer so you can turn any…or all of your computers into multi-room music Controllers.

The software also guides you through setup and music sharing. The Desktop Controller offers all the same functionality as the handheld ZP100 Controller with a user interface designed to take advantage of your computer’s bigger screen and keyboard. Find and play music from your personal music collection, Internet radio and the most popular online music services including Napster.

Use search to find your favorites, and quickly link and unlink zones to play the same song in every room or different songs in different rooms. You can also use the Desktop Controller to add new Internet radio stations with ease.

iPhone or iTouch control

The Sonos Controller for iPhone™ is a free application that turns your iPhone (or iPod® touch) into a full-fledged Sonos Controller. Plus, it has a touch-screen interface and fits in your pocket so you can carry it with you all over the house. To operate simply touch the screen to pick a room, point and flick to pick a song, and then hit play. Grouping zones and searching tracks has never been easier.

You can mix and match Controllers (CR100, Desktop Controller and Sonos Controller for iPhone) for maximum flexibility, or get started with Sonos using the iPhone you already own and one or more ZonePlayers spread throughout your house.

For a video demonstration click here> iPhone.

You can download Sonos Controller for iPhone™ software for free on the App Store in seconds. Click here.

Requirements:

• Sonos CR100 Controller
• 1 pair of stereo 8 Ohm speakers per Zone Player
• Music file storage device, eg PC, MAC, NAS

Specification:

• Amplifier: 55W per channel RMS (8 Ohms, 20-20,000Hz)
• Speaker connections: binding posts
• Analogue connections:Auto-detecting RCA type line in, sub woofer output
• Ethernet connection: 4 port switch, 10/100Mbps, auto MDI/MDIX
• Music formats supported: MP3, WMA (including purchased Windows Media downloads), AAC (MPEG4), Ogg Vorbis, Audible (format 4), Apple Lossless, Flac (lossless) music files, as well as uncompressed WAV and AIFF files. Apple "Fairplay", DRM-encrypted and WMA lossless files NOT currently supported.
• Internet Radio: Streams MP3 and WMA. Comes pre-loaded with 600+ stations
• Operating systems (for stored files): Windows 2000, XP, Mac OS X, NAS devices supporting CIFS
• System setup software (included) PC with Windows 2000, Windows XP
• Weight: 2.3 kg
• Dimensions: 185x207x89mm

Wiring Schematics

To help you make the most of Sonos for your multiroom audio system we have prepared these wiring schematics. Each Figure is a PDF of approx 110KB and includes a key on page 2. If you have any questions regarding these or your planned system please call us.

Standard Sonos arrangements
• Figure 1, standard multiroom wireless arrangement
• Figure 2, standard multiroom wired system using Category 5e cable, no wireless
Multiroom arrangements from a single Sonos ZonePlayer
• Figure 3, 1 x ZP120 shared over 2 rooms using a single speaker switch
• Figure 4, 1 x ZP120 shared over 2 rooms with a switch in each room
• Figure 5, 1 x ZP120 shared over 3 rooms
Home cinema arrangements
• Figure 6, 1 x ZP120 connected to a home cinema set-up with automatic speaker switching
• Figure 7, 1 x ZP120 shared over 2 rooms of which one is a home cinema
• Figure 8, 1 x ZP120 shared over 3 rooms of which one is a home cinema
• Figure 9, 1 x ZP120 shared over 4 rooms of which one is a home cinema
Multiroom centralised arrangements
• Figure 10, 6 x ZP120 into 6 rooms with 1 x ZoneBridge
• Figure 11, 1 x ZP90 into 6 rooms with power amp and 1 x ZoneBridge
• Figure 12, 6 x ZP90 into 6 rooms with power amp and 1 x ZoneBridge

For a datasheet click here.

For more information see here

To answer your questions click here

For a review by Automated Home of the previous ZP100 based system click here