I have (is B & W 803D, Classe Processor and Amplifier, Rotel CD, DVD, Power Conditioner AudioQuest cable) a lot of fun audio system and I am looking for really great music server. I played with the application, Escient, Kaleidescape, AppleTV, and numerous implementation WMC. Here were my criteria:
RAID array:
Big sales Sonos Digital Music System price for me was a RAID hard drive. Request and Escient not RAID arrays, but it's Kaleidescape system starts at $ 12K, Apple TV requires a PC or Mac to run, to transfer files and it be trick? SA a great product it didn? T fit my needs and I do not know "that WMC everywhere in my house. My computer gives me enough trouble, even if it works correctly now. One to the Sonos Digital Music System for the best price interesting feature of the Sonos system is the ability , choose any storage system What do you like? as long as it is? with NAS. I went with the Buffalo TeraStation NAS. He 1TB of storage (4 x 250 discs), configured in any RAID 0,1,5 can be, etc. The full RAID mode, you will have 700GB, safe storage - one drive fails you replace it, and no data is lost Oh, and the Tera goes for $ 600 if I have more space I just go and a new and now put it on the network that attempts to do ... this one to the other solutions ...
Bitrate:
It was really important to me that the server does not destroy the sound quality of records and that my processor can do, D / A. ZP 80 T allows Sonos Digital Music System costs O receive the digital output via coaxial or optical. It is worth mentioning that the ZP100 does not? - Do not worry, it's good for the system with Microsoft Office. The next step was to rip all my CDs to the hard disk. I have to copy to iTunes and selected Apple Lossless, to maintain quality. Stereophile magazine did this same thing on their stand, and achieved bit-for-bit throughput. I have some auditions and I am very pleased with the quality. Compared with the original CD is almost impossible to tell the difference. Run the analog cable and the use of D / with the ZP80 is an immediate and noticeable deterioration in sound quality. Let the best D / or surround processor to do its work and you do not Sonos Digital Music System will cost to be disappointed.
User Interface:
Escient, please, Kaleidescape, and WMC all need a display device of any kind I will not turn on the TV, listen to music. Sonos has a very smooth, iPod-like interface in a small remote control. If you've never been one of them, have not seen, go to the store and pick one. This thing is so easy to use Sonos Digital Music System prices for your grandmother she can. They are to navigate the music, look for the lid, moving from room to room and someone tells you to wipe the smile off his face (my friend).
Wireless transmission:
With a single unit in a local network, you can up to 32 + units wirelessly around the house (or cable). This is a very simple process. In each zone, you can play the same source in batch mode, or select a unique for each thread. They are limited to the total bandwidth, and it gets worse if you take a larger and less compressed files (like me) to use. Sonos Digital Music System costs in my system, I do not know? T have any problem running two Apple Lossless files from one wired (Living Room) and a wireless (Office). Can I get a different zone or two (bedroom and kitchen).
Other:
It? SA is a shame all the way to the end, as it really is a great opportunity. You can stream Sirius, Pandora, Rhapsody, Napster and. All services are free for 30 days and then cost $ 10 - $ Sonos Digital Music System costs 15 per month. They all work on the remote control too. It? S is also a PC interface that allowed? With the introduction of the system. It? SA great GUI and my only complaint is that I ZP100 at work, and you can only have one system to bound the GUI at the time. You can work around this, but it? SA a few clicks when I go back and forth. I? M, what are they? LL address of the new software now the Sonos Digital Music System is the best rent at some point.
I can? T recommend this product enough!
Happy listening,
Chris