iPod, Internet Radio & Wireless Speaker system

[AndyP & Lenore]

We're looking for a sort of Hi Fi kit that will do ALL of the following in the one package...

An iPod docking station like the ones BOSE make.
With Internet Radio capabilities, so we can listen to Forth One in the house. We don't get Forth One down in Galashiels, we have to put up with crappy Radio Boredom.
And it needs to have wireless remote speakers, like the www.eoswireless.com system has, so we can pipe the source (iPod or radio) through the house.

Does such a system exist, or have I just discovered a huge hole in the market waiting to be filled?

A.:confused:

[euan]

Did I not see an app for digital radio on the iPhone? Would that negate the need for an inbuilt digital radio?

[AndyP & Lenore]

There are Internet radio Apps for the iPod and iPhone, but none of them state which radio stations you can get with them. I've read the reviews on a few of them and most folk in the US rate them highly because they get US radio stations, and most folk in the UK rate them low because you can't get UK stations. They are all paid for apps (which I have no problem paying for) but I don't want to pay for an App until I know it will do what I need it to do.

I have tried just going to Forth One's web site and clicking the "listen now" button, hoping the live stream would play on the iPhone, but it wants to install Windows Media Player which, of course, the iPhone cant do.

A.

[Bazthemod]

Andy i would recommend the Philips Streamium range... it connects to your wireless network ... has hard drive to store music.... internet radio... you can get ipod dock for it... you can buy stations to set up in up to 6 rooms.

the stations can all play the same music or each station can play their own choice of music. Im looking into getting one as they have recently come down in price at work :cool:

clickety click to philips website...

http://www.consumer.philips.com/consumer/en/gb/consumer/cc/_categoryid_WIRELESS_AUDIO_PRODUCTS_CA_GB_CONSUMER/

[RyanK]

I would highly recommend a Sonos Bundle 150. I have got one and it is awesome. Wireless docking station linked to all rooms in which plays the ipod, worldwide radio, napster and a few other things I can't think of off the top of my head

Have read what you need and this ticks all the boxes, and has consistently won awards over the time it has been on the market. Best thing about the system imo is that you can control the whole system through your iPhone :cool:

http://sonos.co.uk/whattobuy/bundles/Default.aspx?rdr=true&LangType=2057

[euan]

I'll be honest, I've been looking at those Sonos systems for when we move house, they get great write ups.

[Bazthemod]

Nice link young pub 2 :p hmmm think i have gone off the philips with possibilities on control via my iphone :cool:

[AndyP & Lenore]

Had a wee look at the Philips Streamium. Absolutely hideous. Sorry if that offends anyone, but just our opinion.

Sonus stuff looks lovely, but too pricey for what we want and how much we listen to radio etc.

I've installed an App called RadioBOX. It didn't have Forth One listed, so I submitted the station using their on-line system and it was added within 12 hours - excellent service. Best 59p I've spent on the iPhone.:thumbs up:

This evening we checked at a local electrical store and my iPhone will play the RadioBOX app through a hi fi system when it's on a proper iPod dock. So I no longer need the "internet radio" functionality as I'll have it on the iPhone or iPod when we get it.

So, now looking at this from Sony: Sony Air (http://www.sony.co.uk/product/acc-docking-and-wireless-solutions/air-sa20pk)

Saw it in Costco and it looks OK.

A.:D

[Scottie]

I can get you a Sonos ZonePlayer 120 for £200 it came from a BU150 bundle, it has no OEM packaging on its own.

The unit is brand new and comes with the Power Lead.


All you have to do is plug it in, connect your choice of speakers and you've got a room filled with music. And with the ZP120’s superior wireless range, music lovers really can play all the music they love, all over the house.

If your interested let me know pretty quick.;);)

[AndyP & Lenore]

Hi Fi.... Gonna pass on that, thanks anyway. Gonna stick to the Sony Air thingymabob.

Cheers,

A.:D

[Gismo]

Hi Fi.... Gonna pass on that, thanks anyway. Gonna stick to the Sony Air thingymabob.

Cheers,

A.:DLooks a nifty bit of kit :thumbs up:

[AndyP & Lenore]

Looks a nifty bit of kit :thumbs up:

Which one? The SONOS or the SONY?

A.

[Gismo]

Which one? The SONOS or the SONY?

A.The one i included in my reply to you :rolleyes: the Sony

[Scottie]

Hi Fi.... Gonna pass on that, thanks anyway. Gonna stick to the Sony Air thingymabob.

Cheers,

A.:D

No probs

[euan]

If that SONY had built in digital radio, I'd be interested as I don't have a ipod touch. Have you heard it yet Andy, does it sound good?

I'm trying to sort out music for the new house at the moment and am swinging between Sonus, or just getting a decent couple of docks.

[AndyP & Lenore]

If that SONY had built in digital radio, I'd be interested as I don't have a ipod touch. Have you heard it yet Andy, does it sound good?

I'm trying to sort out music for the new house at the moment and am swinging between Sonus, or just getting a decent couple of docks.

I haven't heard it yet, I've seen it on the shelf in Costco. And to be fair, the spec isn't great for loud music - only something like 8watts rms. As opposed to 55watts per channel for the Sonus. But we don't really need it LOUD and being Sony, should still be of decent quality.

A.

[AndyP & Lenore]

Bought the Sony S-Air kit tonight. Unpacked, switched on and it just worked.:thumbs up: Anyone would think it had been made by Apple:D. Not bad looking units, incredibly easy to set up and use, and the sound is stunning for the size of the unit and how much we paid for it. Very happy chappy indeed.:thumbs up:

Got the radio on the main unit tuned to Radio 2 (awaits a bashing from the "boom boom boys") and crappy Radio Bordem (Borders) - Hamish may get that one.

And I can dock my iPhone on it, play the RadioBox app tuned to Forth One using Wi Fi on my home network and it plays to both speaker units in the bedroom and the kitchen.:thumbs up:

Sorted!:clap:

I'm sure the Sonos units would have sounded better and they do look very nice in the pics but never seen one in the flesh. But we just didn't need/want to spend £900 when we got the same for £240.:yes nod:

A.:D

[euan]

Andy, I was looking at these again last night having played with a BOSE setup last night and loved it. How are you getting on with the Sony?

I'm still looking at the Sonos and also at the Squeezebox Duet which does a similar thing but is cheaper. But may need to look into the Sony as well, but the volume level concerns me as I want to hook it up in the kitchen which will mean I'll need some oomph in the system!

To be honest, I could convince myself to get a Sonos as a bargain compared to the BOSE at the moment ;-)

[AndyP & Lenore]

We're getting on fine with our Sony. It has plenty of oomph for us, but I realise thats relative really, one man's "plenty" is another man's "that's cr@p". We don't tend to listen to ear-puncturingly loud music, so the Sony is fine for us. Even if I do stick the volume up to daft levels, there's plenty of range and no distortion. It's fair to say there's not a huge amount of base, but nothing sounds "tinny" and the sound that comes out of these units is better than you expect for their size.

The only problem we've really had is the dropping of the radio station, and I don't know if this is because the iPod is losing the wi fi connection, or the Radio Box APP is losing the stream - I suspect it is a mixture of both. Sometimes it just stops playing and we need to come upstairs and click the "Play" button on the iPod again - no great shakes. If you were just using it for playing iPod songs, or the regular FM radio tuner built into the unit you wouldn't have this problem.

If you were closer I'd suggest you stop by and have a listen, but it's a fair trek for you.

The problem we found was that we wanted to listen to these units before we part with cash - but no-one was able to let us listen to the Sonus or the Sony, and we'd rather risk a couple of hundred quid than a grand - so we plonked for the Sony and haven't regretted it.

A.:thumbs up:

[euan]

I know what you mean about the costs, but there is a local hi-fi specialist who stocks the Sonos and have a demo room so I'll maybe pop along and see if it's worth it.

I'm tempted by the Squeezebox setup though, a Boom in the dining room and a Duet in the lounge may just do it, and a lot less than the Sonos!