Category Archives: Sonos

Kupuk Zones

kupuk Those who own both a Sonos system and an iPhone or ipod Touch now have the option of controlling their Sonos system from not only the indeed very jazzy Sonos controller but from their phone as well.

Specializing in making software for the iPhone, Kupuk has done a very nice job of making this a slick interface. The program identifies Sonos zones and lets you control each individually. It doesn’t mirror the Sonos controller but is an interesting addition. The application can be found at the Apple iPhone App Store.

Kupuk Kupuk

The Cullen Sonos mod

Reclocker Behind the curious title, lies the modification of the jitter in the original device by replacing the clock circuit and adding buffering. Reportedly this mod, which roughly doubles the price of your Sonos Zone Player, reduces jitter dramatically and makes the player a perfect source for a high-end DAC, effectively combining a WAF* bordering on the unbelievable with audiophile geekiness.

Incidentally; the company is not affiliated with Sonos despite its name-likeness with Sonos founder Thomas Cullen.

Cullen Circuits Cullen Circuits

*An apparently misspelled acronym reading: Spouse Acceptance Factor.

Sonos Digital Music System

sonosbundleThe Sonos Digital Music System is more than just a streamer. It consists of a server connected via twisted pair to your network and a controller with a color display. The server relays music to other Sonos devices via their own proprietary wireless network optimized for audio. All Sonos devices can play either their own playlists or play in sync. Everything controlled from the neat little handheld remote.

If you have more than one device only one of them needs to be physically connected to the network. The others receive their data wirelessly from there. There are three different types of devices to choose from: The ZoneBridge that does nothing except bridge the physical and wireless network – an access point, if you will, and two ZonePlayers that have actual playing capabilities. One of these ZonePlayers comes with a built in amplifier – the other without. In my book it is the latter that is most interesting. You simply connect it to your existing system – maybe even with a Benchmark Dac1 for conversion.

The entire system is controlled from up to 32 controllers or from a PC using some cool looking software – very nicely laid out.


Sonos Sonos

Barebone device Barebone device
Cheap good featured Cheap good featured
Actual hi-fi device Actual hi-fi device
High end hi-fi High end hi-fi
Out of this world Out of this world
CD CD drive
Wifi Wifi
Flac Flac audio
Digital IO Digital IO
Ogg-Vorbis Ogg-Vorbis
uPnP support uPnP support
Video Video

Please note that the ratings are not objective in any way nor are they a measure for quality. They are a measure for what I think the target group for the device was intended to be; my expectations if you will.

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