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I belong to several audio forums and I see some people are using their iPad/iPod Touch or iPhone to feed audio directly into their stereos using the headphone output and are looking for a better way to get music into their stereos.
My answer to this problem is typically to suggest that they add an Airport Express to the setup (or AppleTV if they also want video) and to AirPlay audio from the iDevice to the Airport Express. My Sonos vs Airplay article can be found here. However, some people have a $350 budget and are bound and determined to spend it. They apparently don't realize that Airport Express is bit perfect with CD quality (16/44.1) audio.
For those that want to spend more, the Sonos Connect is often brought up as a solution. If you are using it for multiple rooms, it might make sense to go that route, but my suggestion for the one room scenario would be to pick up a used 2010 Mac Mini and add a couple programs to increase your options across the board.
Below is a few features of the Mac Mini and how they compare to the Sonos Connect:
1. Outputs - the 2010 Mac Mini has several outputs: 4 USB 2.0, optical, analog, HDMI, and FireWire.
The Sonos Connect has analog, optical, and coax.
Winner: Mac Mini (USB alone works with many more DACs)
2. Ripping and playing CDs/DVDs - the 2010 Mac Mini has a 8x slot-loading SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW). You can also add BluRay via an inexpensive USB BluRay Drive.
The Sonos Connect has no way to play or rip discs.
Winner: Mac Mini
3. Formats - the Mac Mini has the ability to play many formats ( excluding some of the High Rez movie formats). It will play DSD, 24/96, 24/192, FLAC, AIFF, ALAC, DD5.1, etc..
Sonos Connect is compatible to only 2 channel - 48khz with a smaller list of Codecs.
Winner: Mac Mini
4. Storage -Mac Mini can store media files on the internal drive or a connected drive and serve it to other devices.
Sonos Connect has no storage and no way to directly connect storage.
Winner: Mac Mini
5. Airplay - Airfoil ($29) can be installed on the Mini. This gives it the ability to receive an AirPlay audio signal or send out an AirPlay audio signal. Very convenient for iOS device owners. It can play and distribute audio directly from storage, CD player, AirPlay, and directly from the web with a huge list of third party apps.
Sonos receives a signal via the web or storage attached to the network. It works with a much shorter list of services. You can add an Airport Express to its analog inputs, but that would cost more money.
Winner: Mac Mini
6. Remote Features - You can control the Mac Mini with apps from JRiver, Fidelia, Apple Remote, Spotify Connect, Rdio app, etc.. You can also take over the desktop with apps like Teamviewer or Splashtop Personal. Additionally, you can control it with a keyboard and mouse or apps like Rowmote if the mini is attached to a display.
The Sonos Connect can be controlled via the Sonos app. Instead of using the app designed by the streaming company, most apps have to fit in the Sonos walled garden. This means that features of the streaming service are often missing.
Winner : Mac Mini
7. Apps - You can install apps like Amarra SQ+ ( ~$45 - filters noise, dither control, and gives you numerous EQ options), record from vinyl with apps like Audacity, give headphones better SQ with apps like Fidelia and JRiver, stream media wherever you are with apps like Plex. The list goes on and on.
The Sonos Connect is simply a receiving device for audio streams at home. It works with the Sonos app.
Winner: Mac Mini
8. Video - the Mac Mini can play and rip DVDs for watching in DD 5.1. It also has numerous photo viewing and editing apps available. Not a big deal if you don't have a monitor, but needs to be mentioned for those that do. You can also watch numerous Internet video sources , like Netflix and YouTube, with it, and mirror or stream video to AppleTVs, Roku's, etc.
No video capabilities on the Sonos Connect.
Winner: Mac Mini
9. Multi-room - Multi zone audio works with any app using Airfoil. You can steam to any/all Airplay receiver(s) or to any iOS device (you can control it directly on the Mac or with AFRemote app on the iPhone). You cannot send different streams to different devices, but I feel that this is a rare need for most people. You can also use apps like Plex to stream audio and video to Roku, Firetv, IOS, Android, PS3, or to any mobile device that has cellular or wifi access. Note: The Mac Mini is compatible with wireless N (5Ghz).
The Sonos Connect can stream audio from specific streaming services or via a source that is hooked up to its analog inputs. The unique feature is that Sonos will stream different audio to multiple Sonos devices, simultaneously. The Sonos Connect is compatible with 2.4Ghz wifi, but gives you the option to use their "mesh" network.
Winner: Toss up depending on whether having more streaming sources available outweighs multi-zone streaming to multiple Sonos devices.
10. Appearance- the Mac Mini is a sleek device made of silver recyclable aluminum. Its dimensions are 1.4 x 7.7 inch x 7.7.
Sonos Connect is a chunky plastic box ("White / high-quality polycarbonate material"). It is 2.91 x 5.35 x 5.51.
Winner: Mac Mini
11. Bluetooth - The Mini also incorporates Bluetooth technology. Bluetooth can be used for keyboards and mouses/mice, but it can also be used to send an audio signal wirelessly to compatible speakers and headphones.
The Sonos does not have Bluetooth capability.
Winner: Mac Mini
Okay, so I much prefer the Mac Mini and it obviously does many other things I didn't even mention. I picked the (mid year) 2010 Mini for this comparison because it can typically be found on eBay between $225 - 300, so it is often cheaper than a Sonos Connect (they typically sell for more than the 2010 Mini, even on eBay). I would recommend Sonos over the Mini for those that favor easy muti-zone audio, especially streaming different audio using one controller, at the expense of the other features. I might also recommend it to someone that is a completely clueless about tech (never used a laptop, for example) because it may be easier to setup due to its walled garden approach. Who knew Apple would be the more open design in the comparison? Heck, Apple even makes it easy to run Windows 7 on the Mac Mini via Bootcamp if you favor apps like Foobar2000 or Windows Media Center. With VMWare Fusion or Parallels, you can actually run Windows and OS X on the same computer at the same time.
NOTE: You can get a brand new Mini for $499 (check the refurb store for possible bargains), if you want the most up to date option available, but keep in mind that it no longer has a DVD/CD player installed, but it and Blu-ray can easily be added with USB. There are a lot of benefits of buying new, including being able to buy Applecare, but it would get the price up over the $350 barrier I started with.
My answer to this problem is typically to suggest that they add an Airport Express to the setup (or AppleTV if they also want video) and to AirPlay audio from the iDevice to the Airport Express. My Sonos vs Airplay article can be found here. However, some people have a $350 budget and are bound and determined to spend it. They apparently don't realize that Airport Express is bit perfect with CD quality (16/44.1) audio.
For those that want to spend more, the Sonos Connect is often brought up as a solution. If you are using it for multiple rooms, it might make sense to go that route, but my suggestion for the one room scenario would be to pick up a used 2010 Mac Mini and add a couple programs to increase your options across the board.
Below is a few features of the Mac Mini and how they compare to the Sonos Connect:
1. Outputs - the 2010 Mac Mini has several outputs: 4 USB 2.0, optical, analog, HDMI, and FireWire.
The Sonos Connect has analog, optical, and coax.
Winner: Mac Mini (USB alone works with many more DACs)
2. Ripping and playing CDs/DVDs - the 2010 Mac Mini has a 8x slot-loading SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW). You can also add BluRay via an inexpensive USB BluRay Drive.
The Sonos Connect has no way to play or rip discs.
Winner: Mac Mini
3. Formats - the Mac Mini has the ability to play many formats ( excluding some of the High Rez movie formats). It will play DSD, 24/96, 24/192, FLAC, AIFF, ALAC, DD5.1, etc..
Sonos Connect is compatible to only 2 channel - 48khz with a smaller list of Codecs.
Winner: Mac Mini
4. Storage -Mac Mini can store media files on the internal drive or a connected drive and serve it to other devices.
Sonos Connect has no storage and no way to directly connect storage.
Winner: Mac Mini
5. Airplay - Airfoil ($29) can be installed on the Mini. This gives it the ability to receive an AirPlay audio signal or send out an AirPlay audio signal. Very convenient for iOS device owners. It can play and distribute audio directly from storage, CD player, AirPlay, and directly from the web with a huge list of third party apps.
Sonos receives a signal via the web or storage attached to the network. It works with a much shorter list of services. You can add an Airport Express to its analog inputs, but that would cost more money.
Winner: Mac Mini
6. Remote Features - You can control the Mac Mini with apps from JRiver, Fidelia, Apple Remote, Spotify Connect, Rdio app, etc.. You can also take over the desktop with apps like Teamviewer or Splashtop Personal. Additionally, you can control it with a keyboard and mouse or apps like Rowmote if the mini is attached to a display.
The Sonos Connect can be controlled via the Sonos app. Instead of using the app designed by the streaming company, most apps have to fit in the Sonos walled garden. This means that features of the streaming service are often missing.
Winner : Mac Mini
7. Apps - You can install apps like Amarra SQ+ ( ~$45 - filters noise, dither control, and gives you numerous EQ options), record from vinyl with apps like Audacity, give headphones better SQ with apps like Fidelia and JRiver, stream media wherever you are with apps like Plex. The list goes on and on.
The Sonos Connect is simply a receiving device for audio streams at home. It works with the Sonos app.
Winner: Mac Mini
8. Video - the Mac Mini can play and rip DVDs for watching in DD 5.1. It also has numerous photo viewing and editing apps available. Not a big deal if you don't have a monitor, but needs to be mentioned for those that do. You can also watch numerous Internet video sources , like Netflix and YouTube, with it, and mirror or stream video to AppleTVs, Roku's, etc.
No video capabilities on the Sonos Connect.
Winner: Mac Mini
9. Multi-room - Multi zone audio works with any app using Airfoil. You can steam to any/all Airplay receiver(s) or to any iOS device (you can control it directly on the Mac or with AFRemote app on the iPhone). You cannot send different streams to different devices, but I feel that this is a rare need for most people. You can also use apps like Plex to stream audio and video to Roku, Firetv, IOS, Android, PS3, or to any mobile device that has cellular or wifi access. Note: The Mac Mini is compatible with wireless N (5Ghz).
The Sonos Connect can stream audio from specific streaming services or via a source that is hooked up to its analog inputs. The unique feature is that Sonos will stream different audio to multiple Sonos devices, simultaneously. The Sonos Connect is compatible with 2.4Ghz wifi, but gives you the option to use their "mesh" network.
Winner: Toss up depending on whether having more streaming sources available outweighs multi-zone streaming to multiple Sonos devices.
10. Appearance- the Mac Mini is a sleek device made of silver recyclable aluminum. Its dimensions are 1.4 x 7.7 inch x 7.7.
Sonos Connect is a chunky plastic box ("White / high-quality polycarbonate material"). It is 2.91 x 5.35 x 5.51.
Winner: Mac Mini
11. Bluetooth - The Mini also incorporates Bluetooth technology. Bluetooth can be used for keyboards and mouses/mice, but it can also be used to send an audio signal wirelessly to compatible speakers and headphones.
The Sonos does not have Bluetooth capability.
Winner: Mac Mini
Okay, so I much prefer the Mac Mini and it obviously does many other things I didn't even mention. I picked the (mid year) 2010 Mini for this comparison because it can typically be found on eBay between $225 - 300, so it is often cheaper than a Sonos Connect (they typically sell for more than the 2010 Mini, even on eBay). I would recommend Sonos over the Mini for those that favor easy muti-zone audio, especially streaming different audio using one controller, at the expense of the other features. I might also recommend it to someone that is a completely clueless about tech (never used a laptop, for example) because it may be easier to setup due to its walled garden approach. Who knew Apple would be the more open design in the comparison? Heck, Apple even makes it easy to run Windows 7 on the Mac Mini via Bootcamp if you favor apps like Foobar2000 or Windows Media Center. With VMWare Fusion or Parallels, you can actually run Windows and OS X on the same computer at the same time.
NOTE: You can get a brand new Mini for $499 (check the refurb store for possible bargains), if you want the most up to date option available, but keep in mind that it no longer has a DVD/CD player installed, but it and Blu-ray can easily be added with USB. There are a lot of benefits of buying new, including being able to buy Applecare, but it would get the price up over the $350 barrier I started with.
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