sonos lcd touch screen keypad price

If you already own a Sonos Digital Music System, you’d better not pick up the brand-new controller unless you intend to buy one. The original touch-wheel controller is wonderful; the touchscreen model is absolutely irresistible.

If you’re not already familiar with Sonos’ innovative multi-room audio system, you can read our review here. Sonos is now shipping the new model CR200 controller with all its bundled products, but it can be easily added to any existing setup. And thanks to the way the Sonos wireless network is designed, it’s possible to use multiple remotes, including the older model CR100 or an iPhonerunning Sonos’ free app.

The CR200’s screen looks much larger than the CR100’s, but it’s an illusion: Both models have 3.5-inch displays, but the monitor on the new model is much brighter and it boasts twice the resolution (640×480 pixels, compared to the CR100’s 240×320 pixels). The new controller’s housing is also much smaller— measuring 4.5 inches high by 2.9 inches wide—which further contributes to the perception that it has a larger screen (the original measures 3.82 inches high by 6.5 inches wide). The device is fabricated from anodized aluminum with a rubber backing that makes it easy to grip. The dimensions, weight, and touchscreen render the CR200 much easier to use with one hand than the original controller is.

The main music menu provides access to just about every aspect of the system, including your music library, Internet radio, and whatever online music services you subscribe to. Tap the Music Library button and you can view the contents of the music stored on your PC, server, or NAS box sorted by artist, album, track, genre, and more. Sliding your finger up and down the screen to scrolls through the list of choices. Flicking your finger up or down scrolls more quickly; there’s also a speed-scroll feature on the right side of index pages with lots of entries, such as the artist and album title lists. Sliding your finger up and down here displays a large capital letter in the middle of the screen. Lift your finger when the letter you want appears, and the index will jump to content beginning with that letter. The on-screen keyboard makes it very easy to perform in-depth searches for artists or specific albums, but we’ve found the only time we make much use of this feature is when we’re listening to music-subscription services, such as Rhapsody and Napster.

The new controller starts up much faster than the original, but it also consumes battery power much quicker. Sonos claims two to five days of battery life, but we got just one day’s use out of our evaluation unit before we had to put it back on its cradle for recharging. The cradle, by the way, is included in the price of the new controller (it’s a $40 option on the CR100). Sonos also sells standalone cradles for $39.99 each, should you wish to place a charger in more than one room in your house. Unlike the original model, the CR200 has a removable battery.

The CR200’s $349 price tag renders it an expensive upgrade; after all, you could bring music to another room in your home by adding a non-amplified Zone Player for the same amount of money (plus the cost of powered speakers). And people who own iPhonesmight forgo the new controller altogether, since the free Sonos app delivers the same functionality from the hardware they already own. But none of this detracts from the new controller’s utter brilliance. Yes, folks, Sonos has done it again.

The Apple HomePod is on its way. It’s been delayed for months, but while its arrival is exciting, Sonos is absolutely not going to let a young buck in the smart speaker game steal its thunder — even if it comes from Apple. After Apple announced that the HomePod would retail for $349, Sonos fired back immediately, announcing that for a limited time, you can now get two Sonos One smart speakers for $349. The Sonos is one of the best smart speakers on the market, and it’s a system that we’re already well familiar with. Get it before promotional stock runs out.

As mentioned, the Sonos One is back on sale. You can get a pair of one of our favorite speakers for just $349, a $50 discount, which you can find at Amazon, Sonos, and B&H.

Raspberry Pi 3 bundles are back on sale at Massdrop and Amazon. The Massdrop kit is available as a baseline bundle for $69.99 or an LCD touchscreen bundle that is available at checkout for $99.99, a $35 savings. Massdrop’s bundles end on January 28th. Amazon is currently offering a Model B kit for $45.57 with the promo code 6OOQOSHO. They’re all great deals, so if you want to start tinkering with a Raspberry Pi, you can’t go wrong here.

Note: This post was updated to reflect the QLED TVs for sale at Samsung and new information on Sonos One’s pricing history. Additionally, Amazon devices and the Samsung vacuum deals were added on Sunday, January 28th.

Multi-Room Music System. Whereas the original Controller 100 (CR100) provided an LCD display with an iPod-Click-Wheel-like interface, the Controller 200 (CR200) uses a 3.5-inch, full-color, VGA touchscreen display similar to the one on the iPhone and iPod touch.

Sonos Controller for iPhone application. The company told Macworld it used the iPhone app as a testing ground for perfecting the Controller’s software interface. (The controller also provides hardware buttons for Volume, Mute, and Zones.)

While the CR200 lacks the CR100’s water-resistant casing, it gains a much more powerful interface for navigating your music, finding new music, and controlling the Music System. Key among the improvements, thanks to the touchscreen display, are iPhone-like navigation gestures and an onscreen keyboard that makes entering search strings, and creating custom radio stations on services such as Last.fm and Pandora, much easier than it was on the CR100. In addition, the CR200 is now made of machined extruded aluminum, instead of plastic, provides longer battery life, and includes a charging cradle; the cradle was a $40 accessory for the 100.

The Controller 200 is available today at a suggested retail price of $349. It is also available as part of a new $999 Sonos Bundle 250, which also includes a ZonePlayer 120 and a ZonePlayer 90.

Sonos also unveiled Sonos Software 3.0, a significant update to the Music System’s core software. The 3.0 software provides new tools for browsing and discovering music when using the CR200 or Sonos’ iPhone app. According to the company, when listening to an artist, these tools let you easily view artist bios, album reviews, concert listings, and lists of similar artists.

The Music System software is a free update for all Sonos customers via the Music System’s software update feature. Version 3.0 of the iPhone app should soon be available for free via the iTunes App Store. The free Sonos Controller for Mac and Sonos Controller for PC are

In this post, I’ll show you the five best remotes for your Sonos speakers. And I’ll throw in a solid budget option if you aren’t ready to go all in just yet.

It controls over 500,000 infrared and Bluetooth devices via Wi-Fi, so it’s likely compatible with all of your home entertainment equipment in addition to your Sonos speakers. You can also use it to control up to60 devices like your TV, cable box, other popular soundbars, your DVD player, projector, streaming boxes, and even Philips Hue lights.

The remote has customizable activity buttons that let you quickly access favorite channels, inputs, or streaming services. You can create an activity like “Watch Netflix” that automatically opens your favorite streaming player, turns on your Sonos soundbar, dims the lights, and launches Netflix for example.

Ah, the Harmony Elite. To quote a recent review I wrote on the Elite, there are 10 reasons that this mature, battle-tested remote just rocks. From its cool color LCD touchscreen to haptic feedback to the ability to integrate with Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control, this is really the best remote you can buy today.

Best of all? In addition to your Sonos speakers, you can also control your entire home entertainment setup and smart home stuff too. What’s more, Harmony’s support for “Activities” lets you integrate Sonos with other speakers such as your soundbar, home theater, and any other Bluetooth speakers you might own.

One for all Streamer is the easy way to control your Sonos soundbar and two additional devices. With four shortcut keys to your favorite streaming service, it’s never been easier to enjoy your favorite shows and music. The learning remote is straightforward to set up, and can copy functions directly from your original Sonos remote.

This remote will control IR devices only. This basically means it will work with Sonos sound bars but not Sonos Wifi-dependent speakers. It will also not work with RF devices like Amazon Firestick. Still, if you only want to control a few devices that include a Sonos soundbar, this is a very affordable option.

If you are interested in controlling your Sonos speakers via a wall switch in your home or apartment, the Lutron Caseta is an affordable way to go. This is a very popular option and it will let you adjust and control music from anywhere in your abode where you install it. It fully integrates with Sonos and customers report ease of setup with very few problems.

You will need a Lutron bridge (sold separately or as part of a bundle) to get this to work with Sonos. Once you have the bridge set up you can buy additional remotes for lights etc.  One bridge supports up to 75 Caseta devices so you can personalize your home and expand at your pace.

TJ Reishus has a wonderful demo of how to set up Lutron Smart Bridge with the Sonos app.  He moves fast, but this is exactly how you do it. I agree! Absolutely, genius!

The Brilliant Smart Home Control Panel is the perfect way to control your Sonos speakers, as well as lights and other smart devices in your home. With everyone at home able to be an in-wall DJ, the only thing you’ll argue with your family over is who gets to play their music next.

Brilliant Smart Home Control (1-Switch Panel) — Alexa Built-In & Compatible with Ring, Sonos, Hue, Google Nest, Wemo, SmartThings, Apple HomeKit — In-Wall Touchscreen Control for Lights, Music, & More

EASY SMART HOME CONTROL FOR EVERYONE: Brilliant touchscreen panels with built-in Alexa make it easy for everyone at home to control popular smart devices, lighting, cameras, locks, thermostats, intercom, scenes and more by simply replacing a light switch.

REPLACES A 1-GANG LIGHT SWITCH PANEL & REQUIRES NEUTRAL & GROUND WIRES: This 1-Switch Panel installs in a standard 1-gang electrical box. Includes a 5" LCD touchscreen, a built-in camera with privacy shutter and a built-in motion sensor.

Here is a comparison table that shows the major features of all my top three best remotes for Sonos speakers side-by-side. These are my universal hard remote picks. The differences between the keypads are fairly obvious.

Custom Activities such as “Good Morning” that turns on your lights, opens your blinds, starts the coffee maker and begins playing a specific Sonos station

Custom Activities such as “Good Morning” that turns on your lights, opens your blinds, starts the coffee maker and begins playing a specific Sonos station

Custom Activities such as “Good Morning” that turns on your lights, opens your blinds, starts the coffee maker and begins playing a specific Sonos station

Custom Activities such as “Good Morning” that turns on your lights, opens your blinds, starts the coffee maker and begins playing a specific Sonos station

If you can afford it, treat yourself to the Sofabaton X1. I use this remote to control my Sonos speakers, my Philips Hue lights, several streamers, as well as my home theater. And I love it for all of the above reasons.

What I like best personally about using x1 with Sonos is the Alexa integration. I can just say, “Alexa play Rock music.” And it automatically plays my Rock playlist on my Sonos speakers in the desired rooms at the desired volume.

Are remotes like x1 and the Harmony Elite too expensive to justify the cost?  What features are important to you when trying to control Sonos with a remote?  What is your take on the wall mounts?  If you really wanted to, you could install a few wall mounts in addition to using the X1 or Harmony remote for the ultimate in Sonos control.

It would be amazing to have a Sonos solution to this need. My speakers are out of reach and a very simple solution would be something like the attached picture. These could be placed next to existing light switchs where power is easily accessible (so you don"t have to charge them) and could ideally be paired with zones or work globally. While the app is great, getting to it quickly to change the volume or pausing is not easy or even possible some times. I realize that some would like more control and info, like that of the CR100, in a hard button controller but if you have the time to browse music options you probably have time to navigate to the app too - this is really about making a quick change. Please consider adding this product.

Room scheduling mode requires the TS‑770 to be designated exclusively for room scheduling use, which precludes use of certain features and functions described in this spec sheet. Additionally, CollegeNET® 25Live® scheduling software and Ad Astra™ software do not support scheduling ad hoc meetings from the touch screen. For design assistance, contact the Crestron True Blue support team at www.crestron.com/support.

Crestron, the Crestron logo, Cresnet, Crestron Fusion, Crestron Home, Crestron One, DigitalMedia, Rava, Smart Graphics, Sonnex, and XiO Cloud are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Crestron Electronics, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Ad Astra is either a trademark or a registered trademark of Ad Astra Information Systems, LLC in the United States and/or other countries. Bluetooth is either a trademark or registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. CollegeNET and 25Live are either trademarks or registered trademarks of CollegeNET, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. G Suite and Google Calendar are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Google, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. IBM and Notes are either trademarks or registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft, Active Directory, Azure, Microsoft Exchange Server, Office 365, and Outlook are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Sonos is either a trademark or registered trademark of Sonos, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. UL is either a trademark or a registered trademark of Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Wi-Fi is either a trademark or registered trademark of Wi-Fi Alliance in the United States and/or other countries. Zoom and Zoom Rooms are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Zoom Video Communications, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Other trademarks, registered trademarks, and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Crestron disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others. Crestron is not responsible for errors in typography or photography. Specifications are subject to change without notice. ©2022 Crestron Electronics, Inc.

It"s here Sonos fans, finally. The new touch-screen CR200 controller is announced and ready for purchase. After making an appearance at the FCC on its way to being leaked in full, the new CR200 controller for Sonos" multi-room wireless music system is everything we heard including a 3.5-inch, 640 x 480 pixel (VGA) capacitive touchscreen with on-screen keyboard, beefier processor, and relatively tiny 2.9 x 4.5 x 0.7-inch / 6 ounce footprint with scaled-down charger to match. Those changes make the new CR200 pocketable, faster, and far more useful than the CR100 ever was. Not that the CR100 was a bad device, it wasn"t, but the $399 controller (plus $40 for the charging cradle) was definitely beginning to show its age as the only dedicated handheld controller available since Sonos launched back in January 2005. What really made the CR100 archaic though, was the 2008 release of the free iTunes App Store controller for the iPod touch and iPhone. It was faster, more graphically rich, and offered an on-screen keyboard unlike the CR100.

Fortunately, the price of the CR200 has dropped a bit to $349 / €349 list, a price that now includes the charging cradle. Still, we know what you"re wondering: is it worth it when an iPod touch can be purchased new for $229, or closer to $170 refurbished? Having used the CR200 for a week now, we found that the answer"s not as obvious as you"d think. Click through to find out why.

Although it may resemble a rather thick, portable media player, the CR200 is a one-trick pony that does one thing and it does it very well: it controls the music in any room where a Sonos ZonePlayer is installed. The new controller also features a user-replaceable, 1850mAh Li-ion polymer battery; a seemingly odd choice for a device that never leaves the house. That is until you consider that you"ll use the CR200 controller almost daily for a long, long time (the CR100 is already pushing 4.5 years in some homes). Making the battery removable allows for an easy, $30 swap when you finally hit the lifetime recharge cap of the CR200"s battery. By comparison, CR100 owners must send in their controller as part of a battery replacement program offered by Sonos at a cost of more than $100 per controller.

As much of an advance as it is, it"s worth pointing out a few things the CR200 can"t do in comparison with the older CR100. First, the deep-sleep battery saving mode found on the CR100 no longer exists on the CR200 -- it"s instant-on or nothing which is fine by us. And while the CR100 was splash-proof (not waterproof, big difference), the CR200 isnot as a result of the changes required to make the battery user-removable. Having said that, the new design introduces just a slim strip of buttons along the front-side of the device and the seams between the glass, aluminum, rubber, and plastic are tight throughout. While steering clear of calling the device splash-proof or water-resistant, Sonos did indicate to us that the CR200 design was tested to withstand casual spills prior to approval for mass production. In other words, don"t use it in the shower but don"t worry (too much) about setting it on the kitchen counter while cooking. If you"re concerned by this change then we"d suggest stocking up on the more rugged CR100 controllers and docks that have now reached end-of-life; they should be available at discount soon enough.

We"ve been using the CR200 for the last week and, forgetting the price for a second, found it to be the absolute best way to control our Sonos system spread across two zones: one on the first floor (living room) and another on the third floor (master bedroom/bath). The biggest enhancement enabled by the new CR200 is without a doubt, the very usable keyboard enabled by the capacitive touch-screen. Gone is the scroll-wheel used to navigate the on-screen QWERTY -- a frustrating experience to be sure, especially when searching the thousands of songs in our iTunes library or the millions or tracks offered by on-line subscription services like Rhapsody or Napster. Unfortunately, there isn"t a universal search at the moment though Sonos tells us that they"ve considered the idea. Currently, you can only search in one library at a time, be that your personal music library stored on your home network or the vast catalogs offered by on-line music subscription services. Even then you still have to drill down one additional level -- artist, track, album, or composer -- before entering your query. We"d prefer to search at a higher level and then let Sonos sort the hits by the appropriate category just as Spotlight does on a Mac. But really, this is nitpicking -- search works, it"s easy with the new on-screen keyboard, and we found ourselves using it heavily.

Remember, Sonos offers three ways to control its system: the dedicated CR200 hardware, the free 3.0 software controller that can be loaded onto your iPhone/iPod touch, and the free 3.0 desktop software than be loaded onto any PC or Mac. In fact, Sonos doesn"t care which controller you use and is committed to offering as many ways to control your distributed audio as possible -- if you don"t purchase a CR200, no worries, you still have full control over your home audio system without spending a dime. In total, we have 1 Mac desktop, 2 Mac laptops, 1 PC laptop, 1 CR100, 1 iPhone, and now, the CR200, all capable of controlling our two-room system. You can never have too many controllers.

Why carry two devices? Easy, the CR200 is dedicated to controlling our music experience. When the urge strikes to "turn it up" or when Hakuna Matata accidentally sneaks onto the playlist, nothing beats the CR200 for instant access to your system. With the iPhone you to have turn on the device, swipe the unlock slider, quit any running app, navigate to the page where the Sonos app lives, launch the app, wait for WiFi to connect, and then wait for the app to load. Of course you could, for the price of the CR200, easily justify the purchase of a dedicated iPod touch just for Sonos. However, you"ll have to avoid the urge to take the device out of the house loaded with music, apps, and games in order to keep the Sonos app loaded into memory and always available to control your home audio. Something we suspect you, or your family members won"t do, at least not for long. Even if you do manage to dedicate an iPod touch to the Sonos it still won"t be as fast as the CR200 riding Sonos" proprietary 802.11n-based SonosNet wireless mesh network -- it"s not even close.

Unfortunately, the CR200 wasn"t designed to be carried in a pocket. It"s intended use is as a shared controller for all members of the house-hold. In other words it was meant to sit stationary on a tabletop like a standard living room remote. While you can lock the buttons by holding down the "Zone key" (the one with the house icon) for a few seconds and even turn off the very sensitive accelerometer-enabled instant-on function, the CR200 lock-screen display still turns on automatically whenever the physical buttons or capacitive touchscreen get jostled -- something that happens all the time when carried in a pocket. Granted, the capacitive touchscreen works best with bare fingers, but it will turn on, and stay on anywhere between 10 seconds and 1 hour depending upon how you configured the "undocked sleep-timer." Naturally, we dialed it down to 10 seconds but we still managed to nearly deplete the battery by the end of each day. Surprisingly, Sonos didn"t consider this usage scenario even though the CR200 is clearly portable. Nevertheless, we"ve been told that the controller"s behavior can be modified via software update if it proves problematic. Otherwise, we found the battery to last at least a few days between charges (we didn"t have time to conduct formal tests) when leaving the CR200 on the table as Sonos intended.

The CR200 also features a new "Info" icon that provides easy access to information like artist biographies and side projects, album reviews, and even concert dates (when using Last.FM) at the tap of a button. We found this feature to be pretty impressive when curled up on the lounge browsing through Last.FM radio or Rhapsody"s 6 million strong subscription service. Unfortunately, it"s not available when browsing your own music library. The feature"s a big value add when you"re lost in the act of sampling new music. Look for the info feature to be included in the free 3.0 Sonos app for the iPhone / iPod touch any day now, just as soon as it clears the App Store approval process. You won"t find it on the 3.0 update for the CR100 (understandable) or on the 3.0 PC or Mac controllers (huh?).

The value of using a subscription music service with Sonos can not be overstated. Being able to stream just about any track you can imagine to any room in the house whenever you feel the urge easily justifies the $13 per month (or less with Napster) subscription fee in our opinion. It"s absolutely seamless, instant, and deeply, deeply awesome if you enjoy playing and discovering new music as much we do.

First off, let"s differentiate between those looking to get into their first Sonos configuration and those who want to enhance their existing Sonos system with a new controller. For first timers, purchasing the CR200 is a no-brainer as part of the BU250 bundle. For $999, you get the CR200 (plus cradle) and ZP120 (amplified, just add speakers) and ZP90 (good for home stereo hookup) ZonePlayers -- almost everything you need for a two-room setup. However, since most homes won"t have fixed Ethernet drops in the rooms where you want your audio you"ll probably have to add a $99 BR100 ZoneBridge to the purchase in order to bridge the Sonos network of devices with your home WiFi network.

Now the hard part: what if you already own a Sonos system, does it make sense to purchase the CR200? Well, you probably already have the original CR100 controller in addition to a PC and/or Mac controller and maybe even have the Sonos app loaded on your iPod touch or iPhone. That makes it difficult to justify that $349 price tag of the CR200. If you think of the CR200 as just a remote control (and let"s be honest, it is), then its price is $150 less than the Logitech Harmony 1100 remote with 3.5-inch touchscreen and $100 more than the Harmony One, each of which can control thousands of different devices. In fact, they"ll control pretty much any device except your Sonos.

So we guess it boils down to this current Sonos owners: if you have more time than money then the answer is no, don"t purchase the CR200. If you have more money than time then absolutely, the CR200 is the best Sonos controller money can buy. If you have neither time nor money then perhaps you"d be interested in something from Creative?

Room scheduling mode requires the TSW‑770 to be designated exclusively for room scheduling use, which precludes use of certain features and functions described in this spec sheet. Additionally, CollegeNET® 25Live® scheduling software and Ad Astra™ software do not support scheduling ad hoc meetings from the touch screen. For design assistance, contact the Crestron True Blue support team at www.crestron.com/support.

The TSW‑UMB‑70 is also compatible with older TSW‑UMB‑PMK series preconstruction mounting kits and TSW‑BBI series back boxes, allowing the TSW‑770 to be installed in place of a previous generation touch screen.

Crestron, the Crestron logo, Cresnet, Crestron Fusion, Crestron Home, Crestron One, DigitalMedia, Rava, Smart Graphics, Sonnex, and XiO Cloud are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Crestron Electronics, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Ad Astra is either a trademark or a registered trademark of Ad Astra Information Systems, LLC in the United States and/or other countries. Bluetooth is either a trademark or registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. CollegeNET and 25Live are either trademarks or registered trademarks of CollegeNET, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. G Suite and Google Calendar are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Google, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. IBM and Notes are either trademarks or registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft, Active Directory, Azure, Microsoft Exchange Server, Office 365, and Outlook are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Sonos is either a trademark or registered trademark of Sonos, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. UL is either a trademark or a registered trademark of Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Wall-Smart is either a trademark or registered trademark of Wall-Smart Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. Wi-Fi is either a trademark or registered trademark of Wi-Fi Alliance in the United States and/or other countries. Zoom and Zoom Rooms are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Zoom Video Communications, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Other trademarks, registered trademarks, and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Crestron disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others. Crestron is not responsible for errors in typography or photography. Specifications are subject to change without notice. ©2022 Crestron Electronics, Inc.

Also, if using an HDMI screen/TV, it’s probably more convenient to power the Pi via USB port on the TV. Don’t need an extra outlet available and Pi would only get power when the TV is on.  Although it looks like the Pi Zero W sellers don’t recommend something like that due to unreliable voltage. Might be something I would try anyways.

There’s the Sonos One, the One SL, and the Five. The Arc and the Beam. Yes, the Sonos product line is flexible and diverse, and just about anyone can find a solution for their needs. But with plenty of options also comes the paradox of choice — Where do you start? What Sonos speakers are best for you? What"s the difference?

If you’re asking yourself those questions, you’ve come to the right place. We put this guide together to demystify and simplify Sonos, and bring you closer to delivering beautiful, wireless music in every room in your home.

Before we dive in, let"s take a quick look at Sonos and wireless multi-room audio. (Already familiar with Sonos? Jump ahead to the "Choosing the right Sonos speakers" section.)

Sonosis a multi-room wireless streaming system. Let"s take that one step at a time. A Sonos “system” consists of a streaming device, amplifier, and speaker, all contained within one unit, like theSonos One speakersound bar. You plug the speaker into a wall power outlet, download the free Sonos app onto your smartphone, iPad, or computer, and Sonos will walk you through setup, step-by-step so that you"re off and running in no time. Every Sonos product connects to your home"s Wi-Fi, so you can play your music wirelessly from a music streaming service like Spotify or TIDAL, or from your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

When you add more than one Sonos speaker to your home, you can play a different song in each room or listen to the same one throughout the house, which is where "multi-room" comes in. From small and compact for a kitchen or bathroom to larger and versatile speakers for a home theater surround sound, all are designed to deliver big, room-filling audio anywhere you put them. (Sonos speakers will even optimize it based on your room"s acoustics, thanks to the easy to use, built-in audio calibration technology called TruePlay.)

Instead of buying music song by song, wireless streaming services like Spotify, Pandora, Qobuz, or TIDAL give you instant access to almost any song or album recorded, ever, via a monthly or annual subscription of about $15 (or roughly the price of one CD). You don’t own the music; you are listening to it, continuously streaming over your Wi-Fi and into a pair of Sonos speakers. This is very different from Bluetooth, where you are transmitting the music from your phone (and as a result, every alert and sound your phone makes, too). With Sonos, the music continues (even if you get a phone call) and does not drain your phone"s battery.

Choosing the right Sonos speaker for you.You can start small and purchase any Sonos piece a la carte over time, mixing and matching your way to suit your audio needs. Every Sonos product works great on its own, but the real magic of Sonos happens when you expand your system. Before we get into building your multi-room audio system, let"s meet the essential Sonos lineup.

Similar to the original Play:1 in size and sound, the Sonos One comes with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant built-in, so you can control your music with simple voice commands and access all of Alexa"s awesome skills (get weather and news updates, turn the lights on and off, etc.). The One also gives you voice control over other Sonos speakers in your home, so if you have a One SL (which doesn"t have voice built-in) in the kitchen, you can tell the One to play a song through that speaker. Pretty cool.

The Sonos One SL is a powerful microphone-free speaker that gives you the same rich, room-filling sound and all of the same features as the Sonos One, just without voice control built-in. The "SL" stands for speechless - so Sonos quite literallydropped the micon this one. You can control the One SL with theSonosapp or Apple AirPlay 2. If you already have voice control capabilities or simply don’t need it, the One SL is the way to go.If you already have voice control capabilities or simply don’t need it, the One SL is the way to go. (Watch our video on theSonos One SLhere.)

If you"re looking for voice control, simply include at least one other Sonos smart speaker in your setup, like or theBeam or theOne. Or you can use Amazon Echo and Google Home products to control One SL with your voice. There is no benefit to having multiple products with built-in voice control in the same room. With the One SL at a lower price point than the One or the Beam, this allows you to save some money on the rest of your system.

The largest speaker in the Sonos family designed for delivering the richest audio into larger rooms. The Five sounds incredible on its own, but it is designed to work best as a stereo pair, thanks to the six Class-D amplifiers and six dedicated speaker drivers inside. And depending on how you orient the Play:5, you"ll get a different audio experience: lay it horizontally for a wide sound stage or vertically to create a more direct sound stage.

But how is the Sonos Five different than its predecessor, the Play:5? To start, it"s got a chic new monochromatic look and new technology focused on increasing memory and processing power to provide improved performance. Enhanced TruePlay, Sonos" proprietary tuning technology, optimizes the sound for the unique acoustics of your room, calibrating the height channels for precise localization.

TheArcDolby Atmos sound bar is the long-awaited sound bar update from Sonos. It"s sleeker and sexier with curved edges and less overall depth than it"s best-selling predecessor,the PLAYBAR. This 3D sound-enabled sound bar features 11 high-performance drivers for bass, clear dialogue, and a realistic 5.0.2 sound experience.

This multipurpose piece let"s you play your music, check the news, set alarms, and more with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice control built right in. Stream music, radio, and podcasts from your favorite services with the Sonos app or Apple AirPlay 2 when the TV is off. But, let"s be real, this is a sound bar first and foremost... and, we"re impressed.

The most obvious difference between the Sonos Arc and the Playbar (aside from cosmetic), is the addition of Dolby Atmos. Arc"s 3D Dolby Atmos sound comes from its upward-firing drivers that create a multi-dimensional soundstage that moves around you. Arc"s advanced processing creates five channels that deliver sound to your ears from all directions at the exact right moment. And, Sonos" Trueplay tuning technology optimizes the sound for the unique acoustics of your room, calibrating the height channels for precise localization.

TheRayis Sonos’ most affordable and compact soundbar to date. The Ray utilizes a speaker array that uses four Class-D digital amplifiers, has two tweeters (off center), two elliptical Mid-woofers (centered), and proprietary low-velocity ports as part of Sonos’ bass reflex system to help lower distortion. Sonos also put in two split waveguides at the tweeter locations that expand the soundstage so the tweeter sound spreads wider and encompasses the room. All of the speaker elements are front facing, meaning you can tuck away the Ray in a TV cabinet without interfering with its sound quality (not something you can do with the ARC and probably shouldn’t with the Beam).

If you have a compatible iOS device, you can take advantage of Sonos" Trueplay tuning to adapt the sound to the acoustics of your space and ensure that you’re always hearing your content the way it was meant to be heard.

If you want a full surround experience, we’d suggest you consider adding a matching pair of speakers for rears and a Sub. The Sonos One, One SL, and Sonos Five will work as surrounds and the Sonos SUB would be your go-to subwoofer. You can also use the Sonos AMP to power in-wall, in-ceiling, or other passive speakers as surrounds.

This powerhouse subwoofer adds a healthy layer of bottom end to all of your home entertainment; sound that you can hear and feel; deep full bodied bass that rattles the floorboards and shakes the walls. With the touch of a button, the Sonos SUB easily connects to all of your other Sonos speakers using your home’s WiFi network, making it easy for you to build the home audio system of your dreams. This wireless subwoofer contains two force-cancelling speakers to deliver all the sound without buzz or rattle.

Sonos" Sub Mini is the smaller, more affordable subwoofer in the Sonos lineup - standing at just 12-inches tall. The Sub Mini comes in the traditional Sonos colors of white and black and weighsless than half of the Sub (Gen 3). Its smaller size and rounded profile makes it very easy to tuck away in your room, but its slick design isn’t something you’ll need to hide. For Sonos users that already have the Beam or the Ray, the Sub Mini is a better price match to complete your compact Sonos home theater system. Add the Beam or Ray for 3.1 home theater sound — and add two Sonos Ones or One SL speakers in the rear for 5.1 surround home theater sound.

The Sonos Move is the first ever portable speaker from Sonos offering the convenience of a built-in battery and Bluetooth. That also makes it the most flexible speaker in the Sonos family with three real use cases: 1) Add it to your existing Sonos network in your home and continue to expand your multi-room audio system as another tabletop speaker. The Move integrates seamlessly with other Sonos speakers. 2) Take it outside by the pool or patio - thanks to its durable, weatherproof design and IP56 rating - and continue streaming music via your Sonos network (so long as you still have a wifi signal). 3) Here"s the standout differentiator: switch it over to Bluetooth mode and take it with you wherever you go. So you canmovewith your Move.

The Roam is Sonos" first evercompactportable Bluetooth and WiFi smart speaker. And, while smaller and lighter than anything else in the Sonos family of speakers, Sonos still managed to pack an amazing Sonos-worthy feature set into something weighing in at less than a pound.

Like its sibling, the Move, the Sonos Roam is equipped with Bluetooth, WiFi, and AirPlay2 for iOS users. So,you can wirelessly stream with the Sonos App if you"re on your WiFi network, connect directly from your iOS device with AirPlay 2, or pair directly to your mobile device. Plus, being a part of the Sonos family, you can easily group the Roam with other Sonos products on your network for that true Sonos multi-room experience. A new Group + Swap feature lets you easily "swap" your music to and from the rest of your Sonos system. (Of note, the Roam cannot be used as surrounds in a Sonos Home Theater setup.). And, you can control it all with your voice via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant built-in. And yes, there is an option to disable the microphone for the voice assistant for privacy reasons.

Wired in-ceiling, in-wall, and outdoor speakers made in partnership with Sonance. Power with the Sonos Amp for the full Sonos streaming and multi-room experience, including custom Trueplay tuning.

Sonos offers a straightforward line-up of in-wall, in-ceiling, and outdoor speakers. These speakers are passive, wired speakers - meaning they require an amp. And, they require installation. To take advantage of Sonos" functionality and feature set, these speakers were optimized to be used with the Sonos Amp. The Amp unlocks access to Sonos TruePlay, for customized tuning and accounts for the size, construction, and layout of the room where the speakers are placed and adjusts for the best possible sound. We have Sonos packages already made and available to make it easy.

The Sonos in-ceiling speakers are great for ambient listening, while the in-wall speakers deliver more focused listening. Both have grilles that can be painted to match your wall/ceiling color so that they disappear into your decor. Like any quality outdoor speaker, Sonos" outdoor speakers come in black or white and are engineered to withstand humidity, water, salt spray, heat, UV rays, and freezing temperatures.

Now that you"ve got a lay of the Sonos land, there are many different ways to configure your Sonos system. You can mix and match Sonos speakers to your liking, or take advantage of pre-bundledSonos Speaker Sets. Each set is designed to make it easier (and more affordable) to set up the multi-room audio system or home theater surround sound you need. Our Sonos customers particularly like the Sonos "Group" feature, which allows you to fill every room with music with the touch of a button. No more walking around the house in and out of music “dead zones.”Two Room Set

Features two Sonos speakers (either a pair of Ones, One SLs, or Fives). Place one speaker in the family room and one in the kitchen, or pair two together for stereo sound.

Features four Sonos speakers. Place them wherever you like - one in every bedroom in the house, a stereo pair in the basement and a pair in the family room, etc.

Whether you"re a movie buff or your week centers around family movie night, mix and match Sonos speakers to create a wireless 3.1 or 5.1 home theater system.

A Sonos soundbar makes for a simple home theater setup. Add a Sub to it and you"ve got earth-shaking, room-filling sound for your home cinema experience. Choose the Ray or Beam + Sub mini for smaller rooms and the Arc + Sub for filling up larger rooms. The Soundbase would be your go-to if space is a concern. With a super slim, low-profile design, it can lay flat on top of your media cabinet and under your TV.

Add a pair of One SLs or Fives to your Arc + Sub setup, and you"ve got a full-blown, jaw-dropping Dolby Atmos home theater with 3D surround sound that will blow you away.There are many configurations for home theater sound, but keep in mind you can expand upon your Sonos Set no matter where you start. You might have a home theater set in the family room, and a few Ones in other rooms around the house for multi-room audio. The beauty of Sonos: there’s a ton of flexibility.

The Sonos Portis a small device that connects to your existing amplified audio system (stereo or receiver) to add wireless Sonos streaming and easily expand your sound system to more rooms. Listen to music, podcasts, audiobooks, and internet radio with your amplified audio equipment. You can also stream vinyl, CDs, and stored audio files to Sonos speakers in other rooms of your home.

Sonos" amplifier/streamer, known as the Amp is, in fact, just that: a Class-D amplifier (125W/Ch at 8 ohms) that can bring the Sonos wireless streaming experience to your floor-standing, in-wall, in-ceiling, outdoor, and bookshelf speakers. Simply run a wire from the Amp to each of your speakers, and you have a complete Sonos system in that room that you can control from any device with the Sonos app. Many homeowners even use a Sonos Amp to power wiredoutdoor speakersfor a clean, wireless sound system in their backyard.

Every time you add a Sonos piece to your home, it acts like a “booster,” extending the Sonos Wi-Fi coverage. With that said, Sonos also makes a piece called the BOOST, which takes your Sonos off your regular home network and creates a new, powerful dedicated Sonos network that will reach further. Since it’s under $100, we recommended it to anyone with “less than perfect” Wi-Fi in their home. It plugs into your router and gives greater coverage.

Have questions? Our Sonos experts are here to answer them — contact us viaphone, online chat, or email. If you"re in the PA area, visitone of our showroomsto hear Sonos in action!

When these speakers are connected to Sonos Amp, the Amp will automatically detect them, and automatically adjust the sound to be best for that speaker. This is only possible because we designed the speakers from the ground up with Sonance. This also means the indoor models (In-Wall and In-Ceiling) are the only passive speakers to support Sonos’ Trueplay tuning, which tunes the system to the room environment.

The Sonos Architectural speakers will work with most amplifiers. However, you will not be able to take advantage of the TruePlay room tuning capabilities with any amplifier other than Sonos Amp.

Only the Sonos Outdoor by Sonance model is rated for outdoor use. The In-Wall and In-Ceiling models are not rated for outdoor use and should only be installed indoors.

Sonos is a well-known brand that consists of multi-room audio products. As of now, it manufactures speakers, soundbars, sound systems, and other music components. If you have lost the Sonos remote, you can control it using universal remotes. There are alternative options, and you will deal with the best universal remotes for Sonos.

Sofabaton X1 is the best universal remote compatible with all audio and video device brands. The remote can control up to 60 devices at a time. It includes Sonos, TV, DVD, Blu- Ray, set-top boxes, gaming consoles, Apple TV, Roku, Philips Hue lights, projectors, etc. Furthermore, you can also create a custom activity to access your favorite channels, streaming services, and others. It also provides a wireless hub to control devices in closed cabinets. In addition, it has a dedicated smartphone app Sofabaton that can be used as a convenient remote. It is also the best remote for YouTube TV.

Compatible with over 500,000 devices of all brandsNot supported for Sonos with no Bluetooth and InfraredLimited smart home controls to Philips Hue and Sonos that should be improved

Create a custom activity and listen using the Sonos soundbarAn update is necessary for both the wireless Hub and the remoteTouch screen display could be better if provided

Logitech Harmony Elite is a feature-packed universal remote perfect for Sonos and other smart home devices. It is integrated with Amazon Alexa, you can easily control it using voice commands. It lets you control over 15 devices at a time. In addition, you can create Activities to integrate Sonos with other devices like soundbars, sound systems, or Bluetooth speakers. Unfortunately, Logitech has discontinued this remote since April 2021. However, you can still buy refurbished remotes online.

One For All Streamer remote controls TVs, soundbars, Now TV, Roku, and Apple TV. It lets you control up to 3 devices at once. The remote has four shortcut keys to stream Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and YouTube. It is easy to configure the One For All Streamer remote, which can sync functions from the original Sonos remote directly. But keep in mind it can only control infrared devices like Sonos soundbars and other smart TVs.

Easily program the remote with the simplest featureNot supported for non-IR Sonos speakersNeed to provide options to reprogram shortcut keys to any streaming service

Lutron Caséta Wireless Pico is suitable for controlling Sonos soundbars, speakers, and sound systems. But you should purchase a Lutron Caséta Smart Hub to control devices from even closed doors. The remote features playback controls like play, pause, skip tracks, adjust volume, and more. Download and use the Lutron app for free to group multiple devices simultaneously. Moreover, it can control up to 32 speakers of any Sonos Home Sound System.

Control Sonos devices with a single clickAdditional purchase of Lutron Caséta bridge is unfairIf a hub is included with the remote, it could be better

iPort Xpress Audio Keypad is used to control Sonos devices with ease. You can play music on your Sonos right away without using a smartphone. In addition, it lets you skip tracks, adjust volume, or add to favorites with a single click. You can easily set up this device using the IPORT Connect app, which is available on the App Store. For Sonos device pairing, you should connect it to the same WIFI network.

Caavo Contro Center Smart Remote supports TVs, DVRs, streaming players, gaming consoles, soundbars, and more. You can use this remote to control up to 4 devices at once. With media playback controls, you can play, pause, skip or view favorites of your Sonos devices. It has a Family Care feature to monitor whether the kids watch age-restricted content.

You can control Sonos speakers using the volume buttons on your Android or iOS smartphone. Open the Sonosapp on your device first. Then go to Settingsand click on App Preferences. Further, turn on Hardware Volume Control or Home Screen Volume Control by clicking on it. From now onwards, if you press the Volume buttons on the remote, it will increase/decrease the volume of your Sonos speaker.

As the highest-rated product on the whole of CNET UK, updates to the Sonos Music System are well worth a good mention. Today, a new touchscreen controller -- the CR200, which replaces the dated old one.

It"s good to see Sonos finally releasing an overhauled controller -- the technology world is currently an orgy of touchscreens, so it"s a wonder it took Sonos so long to join the fondle-party. But by the looks of things, it works just like that sweet iPhone app the company

And here"s where things get murky. It"ll sell at the same price as the current model -- about £279. Not cheap. Weirder, an iPod touch running the free Sonos app would do the same job, and cost you less. With such a capable application available on a device such as the iPod touch, you have to wonder if Sonos is missing a trick keeping the controller so expensive.

Of course, the iPod app works only over Wi-Fi, whereas the Sonos controller works wirelessly with the rest of the Sonos system without any kind of home network. You can browse for music and set it playing in any room you have a Sonos ZonePlayer, adjust volume of ZonePlayers independently of each other, and pull in streaming audio from services such as Last.fm if your Sonos system is connected to your home network.

It"s a great-looking upgrade, but if you have an iPhone or iPod touch, seriously consider how well the free Sonos app works for you before downing almost £300 on another piece of kit that does the same job.