Another Sonos Airplay Question

[bobby.is.rad]

I've been using airplay to play songs from my iPhone through my apple tv until I purchased the Sonos Connect Amp and Play 5.

The previous setup was great as both my fiance and I could play from the individual spotify accounts that were associated with our own phones, and the songs in our iTunes library that were downloaded or streamed in via match.

I know that the Sonos system is very powerful in the playback options it supports, but is simple Airplay support one of those options? I have read about purchasing an Airport Express, and then using that as a line-in to the Play5, but to be honest, after dropping over $800 on a two-part system, I'm not eager to drop an additional $100 for what I see to be a hack (for example, if I have the AE hooked up to one speaker, does that audio work with other speakers in the house?)

Is there a way to get native AirPlay support with the Connect Amp?

[NoBoB]

Welcome to the forum.

Originally Posted by bobby.is.rad

I know that the Sonos system is very powerful in the playback options it supports, but is simple Airplay support one of those options?

Simple? No. As you've found, a workaround has been provided via Airport Express, but that method certainly does not provide a Sonos-like experience.

For reference, though, any Line-In connected device -- including an AirPlay-enabled AirPort Express -- is available on any Sonos player in your system. You can connect the AE to the Play:5 and listen to it on the Connect:Amp, even while playing something else on the Play:5. Sonos also offers the Dock, which will make audio from an iDevice available to the entire Sonos system as well, with the added benefit of control from other Sonos Controllers if you wish.

AirPlay requires a licensed hardware chip to be integrated into the device, so your Connect:Amp and Play:5 will never have native AirPlay capability. In interviews, the Sonos CEO has called AirPlay 'a step backwards', so I doubt we'll ever see native AirPlay in Sonos. Sonos doesn't publicize their product roadmap, though, so one never really knows.

[bobby.is.rad]

Thanks for your response NoBob.

That's unfortunate. I understand them not liking Apple's proprietary AirPlay hardware requirements, but to me, Sonos requiring their customers to purchase a $99 proprietary piece of Apple hardware (the Airport Express) is an even bigger "step backwards."

If this setup weren't a gift to my fiance, I would have returned it over the lack of AirPlay. If this were a cut-rate audio solution, I'd be ok with what I consider to be a glaring omission, but it isn't. To even call line-in support, "AirPlay support" is somewhat insulting. I should have done my homework.

[jgatie]

Originally Posted by bobby.is.rad

Thanks for your response NoBob.

That's unfortunate. I understand them not liking Apple's proprietary AirPlay hardware requirements, but to me, Sonos requiring their customers to purchase a $99 proprietary piece of Apple hardware (the Airport Express) is an even bigger "step backwards."

If this setup weren't a gift to my fiance, I would have returned it over the lack of AirPlay. If this were a cut-rate audio solution, I'd be ok with what I consider to be a glaring omission, but it isn't. To even call line-in support, "AirPlay support" is somewhat insulting. I should have done my homework.

There are a few reasons for non-integraed Airplay support:

1) Sonos pre-dates Airplay by 6 years. Being a multi-room synchronized system, if they released a new device with an Airplay chip, it could not be used with older Sonos devices. This would be unacceptable in a marketing sense.

2) Even if it were possible to retrofit Airplay support, it is estimated that adding the licensing and chip to a Sonos device would add $50-100 to the price. $50-100 is steep for someone who does not want Airplay.

Given the above, along with the facts that lead the CEO to all Airplay "a step backwards" (no synchronization, no multiple sources, you need to run a computer with iTunes for your own library, you can't stream multiple tunes from you own library without multiple computers - All things Sonos does just fine), it is easy to see why integrated Airplay is not coming.

[steelrat]

The only real logical way would be to add an airplay specific device..... the issue, probably would end up more expensive than an AE......

Personally, IMHO, I've never understood the airplay... Even though the denon I have will do airplay with the 50 buck firmware update, I can't see the benefit. I guess I'm just not all that in love with the itunes ecosystem..... Instead of streaming from my ios devices, I'd rather have access to the full mp3 library (or higher bit-rate) anyway.....

[bobby.is.rad]

Given the above, along with the facts that lead the CEO to all Airplay "a step backwards" (no synchronization, no multiple sources, you need to run a computer with iTunes for your own library, you can't stream multiple tunes from you own library without multiple computers - All things Sonos does just fine), it is easy to see why integrated Airplay is not coming.

In our house with AirPlay, we can actually do all of what you just mentioned with our iPads, iPhones, and laptops. They are all multiple sources that work just by hitting play on the device in your hand. I don't really know what you mean by synchronization, but my entire music library and Spotify collection is available on my iPhone, which I can stream via AirPlay. Since they are both cloud services now, they are always synchronized.

Not only that, but with support for multiple devices, our AirPlay setup can play songs from both my Spotify account, and my fiances Spotify account seamlessly. She has her spotify account on her phone, and I have my account on mine. This is something that Sonos cannot do since it only supports one Spotify account.

Also, I'm not sure why you think a computer needs to be involved with AirPlay. It doesn't. I can play songs directly from my iPhone. The same can't be said for Sonos, which requires me to setup my laptop as a music server if I want to listen to my MP3's. Which means my laptop must always be out of my laptop bag and turned on. This is a hassle I didn't have before.

After reading over my post, I'm kind of wincing because it seems like a commercial for AirPlay, but it's not. I'm not bothered by lack of AirPlay support because I'm some Apple fanatic. I'm bothered because all the features I previously mentioned were very useful to me. Therefore, in my opinion, the Sonos way of doing things is a step back.

[jgatie]

Synchronization means you can have a Play:5 in the dining room, a Play:3 in the den and a Connect:Amp in the living room, and have the same music playing on all three, perfectly synced with no echo. You can't do that with Airplay. As to your other points: Can you play two songs from your iPad to two differnt speakers? No. Can you play three diferent stations from your Pandora account in three different rooms? No. So you are limited to a single source/song at any one time, be it iTunes, iPad or iPod. This is what separates Sonos from Airplay: Sonos is a multi-room, whole house audio system, Airplay is essentially wireless speakers for one device. If you miss the Airplay functions you list, all you need to do is get an Airport Express; you will get all the Airplay functions, but you will be able to do it in any room you want, expandable to all over the house, perfectly in sync. In addition, you get all the benefits of Sonos, all for $100 extra (without forcing others to pay $100 for functionality they don't want or need).

[the_lhc]

Originally Posted by jgatie

Synchronization means you can have a Play:5 in the dining room, a Play:3 in the den and a Connect:Amp in the living room, and have the same music playing on all three, perfectly synced with no echo. You can't do that with Airplay.

Airplay users tell me you CAN do that. I've no idea, I don't even use iTunes but I'm assured it is possible.

[jgatie]

Originally Posted by the_lhc

Airplay users tell me you CAN do that. I've no idea, I don't even use iTunes but I'm assured it is possible.

I know they could never do it before, but like you I don't keep up to date with Airplay. I'd like to see it confirmed.

[bobby.is.rad]

Yes with AirPlay you can play to multiple AirPlay enabled devices from multiple AirPlay enabled sources in the scenario you just described. You just select the destination device(s) from within your laptop/iOS device. It's very simple.

Honestly the more I think about it, the more I realize I should have just gotten a few AirPlay enabled speakers and called it a day. The Sonos setup is nice, but probably wasn't the best setup for us. At least it sounds good.

What I've learned is that if you don't use AirPlay, Sonos is your best bet. If you do use AirPlay, it's probably a good idea to go with another solution.