Sonos Adds AirPlay Support To Their ZonePlayer Multi-Room Music System
April 20, 2011
Many use Sonos' ZonePlayers in their homes to provide quality audio playback throughout multiple rooms and locations. The company offers a family of products to create the setup that works best for you. Nevertheless, ever since Apple's debut of AirPlay, Sonos owners have wanted to combine the benefits of this convenient technology with their multi-room audio setup. Sonos has come up with a way to do just that, but it will require some to invest in a hardware accessory.
With the option to add a Sonos Wireless Dock, stream your entire music library from your computer(s), and direct access to many online radio station services from the Sonos Controller apps; why would a person need AirPlay? There's no need to have several Sonos Wireless Docks placed throughout your home or continuously move a single Sonos Wireless Dock around. Just grab your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad and use the iPod app to stream music from the onboard library. No dock required also means iPad, iPad 2, and other iDevice compatibility that may not work in the dock.
AirPlay could be used with a single ZonePlayer, however, it's truly intended to be integrated into a full multi-room Sonos setup with ZoneBridges. To gain the AirPlay ability on your Sonos setup, you'll need to have the latest software and an Airport Express -- which are available refurbished at a notable discount. To get this up and running, connect the Airport Express to a ZonePlayer, and do a one-time configuration of some settings on both.
Connecting an AirPort Express to your Sonos system:
1. Connect the AirPort Express to a ZonePlayer with an available Audio In connection. Different ZonePlayers will require different audio cables.
2. Connect an Ethernet cable from the Ethernet port on the AirPort Express to an Ethernet port on your ZonePlayer.
3. Plug the AirPort Express into a power outlet.
Configuring the AirPort Express requires a Mac or PC with the AirPort Utility software installed. If you are using a Mac, the AirPort Utility is already installed. If you are using a PC you can download and install the AirPort Utility from here or use the CD included with your AirPort Express.
Configuring the AirPort Express on your home network: (Click Here to watch a video of these steps)
1. Open the AirPort Utility. On a Mac, it can be found under Application > Utilities. On a PC, it will show under your Start Menu.
2. Select your AirPort Express Base Station from the menu on the right and click Continue.
3. In the space provided for the AirPort Express Name enter ‘Sonos’ and click Continue.
4. Select ‘I want AirPort Express to join my current network’ and click Continue.
5. On the Network Setup page, select ‘I want to disable the wireless network on this AirPort Express and connect it to my computer or network using Ethernet’ and click Continue.
6. Complete the setup process and your AirPort Express is now configured to act as an AirPlay device for Sonos.
Configuring Sonos Smart Line-in for AirPlay:
1. Using a Sonos Controller, select the ZonePlayer Settings menu from the Settings menu (iPhone, iPad, or Android, CR200) or Zones menu (PC or Mac).
2. Select the name of the ZonePlayer the AirPort is connected with and update the following Line-in settings:
• Line-in Source Name: AirPlay Device.
• Autoplay Zone: Select a Zone from the list to play audio from the AirPlay device. Select Include Grouped Zones and any Zones grouped with the Autoplay Zone will play the same music.
• Autoplay Volume: Use the slider to set a default volume for the Autoplay zone whenever the AirPlay device is connected. Check the Use AutoPlay Volume checkbox if you intend to use your AirPlay device to adjust the volume in the Autoplay Zone.
3. AirPlay is now ready for use with Sonos. Tap the AirPlay icon on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or in iTunes and select Sonos. The AirPlay audio will play in the AutoPlay Zone.
Sonos Controller for iPhone / iPod touch and Sonos Controller for iPad are compatible with iOS 3.0 or later, and available as a free download in the App Store. AirPlay functionality requires your iDevice to be running iOS 4.2 or later. Sonos Controller for desktops and laptops is a free download compatible with Windows XP or Mac OS 10.4 and later.