Sonos this week announced a major update to the software that runs its wireless hi-fi system. Sonos 5.1 makes it possible to set up a Sonos speaker directly on an existing Wi-Fi network, eliminating the need for a SONOS BRIDGE to run speakers wirelessly. You can now set up your Sonos system with nothing more than a single PLAY:1 speaker (which sells for CA$219/US$199). When you’re ready to expand, you can simply add additional PLAY speakers as needed. The Sonos app on your smartphone or tablet is all you need to control the entire system.
Stream HiFi sound to any room in your home without dropouts, echoes, or delays. Our new software delivers the full experience people know and love from Sonos using your existing WiFi network. Following our largest beta test to date over the last several months, we’ve studied the performance across all kinds of home environments around the world to ensure the new WiFi-enabled setup meets our high standards.
While the new Wi-Fi setup will satisfy the majority of customers, Sonos still recommends that its dedicated Sonos network remains “the best way to ensure the most bulletproof experience,” specifically for the following scenarios:
- Homes where the WiFi signal doesn’t reach every room in which you may want to put a speaker
- Sonos 3.1 and 5.1 home theater setups still require a wired connection; a standalone PLAYBAR does not
In those cases, using a BRIDGE or another wired component to the router will continue to be required.
Sonos also introduced an alternative to the BRIDGE. Called the SONOS BOOST, the more powerful wireless accessory will offer ” enterprise-grade wireless capabilities to serve even the most challenging home WiFi environments.” It will sell for CA$109 (US$99) when it launches later this year.
Source : Sonos