Originally Posted by Gavin B.

In response to GuitarBizzare's comments:

My review was already long without discussing the entire Sonos product line. The line of Sonos Connect products are designed for use with a conventional Hi-Fi system and aren't relevant to my topic of reviewing the Sonos line of wireless speakers to play MP3 files on a computer or electronic device. Maybe you can write a review of the Sonos Connect line, of which I know nothing about.

Most of my review is descriptive of the product, not a shill for the product. There is nothing wrong with writing a good review of a good product and many audiophile reviewers have written far more glowing reviews of the Sonos product line than I have.

However they've sounded less like advertisement copy, and provided more detail and a greater emphasis on personal experience rather than rote description and repetition of manufacturers claims.

I will point out that about of third of my review is about the setbacks or negative aspects of the Sonos system.

Except they're trivial and I know from experience that if you wanted to really discuss the pros and cons of Sonos, there are complaints you could level at it that are far more significant.

Whether or not the Sonos bridge is the "brain" of the Sonos system is a matter of semantics, but the Sonos speaker is as useless as doorstop without the bridge which is the interface that organizes your music library, hence my use of the word "brain" to describe the bridge and it's software program. If you have a better metaphor to describe the music management function of the bridge software, by all means enlighten me.

Its not the brain of the system. You can plug a Play 5, Play 3, Connect, or Connect Amp, into the same wired ethernet port and they will perform all of the tasks of the bridge, in addition to their normal operation. The bridge as a unit is useful if you cannot route wired ethernet to the location of your other Sonos pieces, but every piece of Sonos will quite happily act as a bridge if you give it a wired ethernet connection, and you can set an entire Sonos system up without a single bridge if you plan accordingly. It will function no differently, and you will have saved the cost of buying the bridge seperately.
See here: Sonos System User Guide

I'm more than happy with the full stereo sound I'm getting from a single Sonos speaker. You're correct that a second speaker would improve the sound even more but the system is designed to build a integrated wireless system on a pay as you go basis.

The sound is commendable. But "Stereo" is to have left and right. If you place two speakers less than 1ft apart, you will get no sense of left and right, therefore no stereo effect.

Have you actually listened to a Sonos speaker? The sales person gave me a full demo of both the Play:3 and Play:5 speakers and I could swear I was hearing a full stereo sound and it didn't sound at all like my television speakers.

Again, read what is written and take stock of what "Stereo" means. I didn't say that it sounded like TV speakers, I compared the advertisement of "Stereo" effect to that of TV speakers - Yes there are two speakers, producing an independent left and right channel sound, but the speakers are so close together that it forms a point source rather than a soundstage.

Originally Posted by Pedestrian

As for me, my inbox is as of yet testicle-free, and hopefully remains that way. Don't the rest of you get any ideas.

Originally Posted by Trollheart

I'll have you know, my ancestors were Kings of Wicklow! We're as Irish as losing a three-nil lead in a must-win fixture!