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The new sound system is well designed: It has a light color, white finish, and light metallic grill. However, its main advantage is the high quality sound produced by two tweeters, two 3” mid-speakers, and one 3.5” woofer. In order to maintain independent quality for each speaker, all speakers use individual power supplies. Other interesting features include its ability to auto-detect 3.5mm headphone connections and 3.5mm audio line-in connections – both making it easier to attach various devices such as iPhones, iPods, or other music-playing gadgets.
Control is made either via the Sonos CR200 controller or using the free iPhone/iPod touch application provided; another supplied application is made for desktop PCs and Macs. As seen in this YouTube video the application also offers multiple radio stations and the ability to set each speaker in a different room, creating a “musical home”.
All advantages taken into account, the new sound system would probably attract eager consumers that want the high-tech feel and look as well as the fine-tuned sound; however, most people are likely to be withdrawn
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by the $400 price tag. For what it’s worth, the CEO of Sonos, John MacFarlane, is showing full confidence in the S5. “Our customers tell us they listen to twice as much music after bringing Sonos into their homes,” he said. “The new S5 is our latest effort to simplify the Sonos experience so more people can enjoy more music than ever before.”
TFOT covered the Orbitsound T3, an innovative sound system that delivers stereophonic sound using a single speaker, and the CyFi Wireless Sports Speaker, compatible with most music players on the market. Other related TFOT stories include Music Balloon, about a little portable speaker wrapped in what looks like a Nerf ball, and CineBox Home Theater System, which looks at this system’s claim that it offers the experience of home theater outdoors.
For more information about the Sonos ZonePlayer S5, see its manufacturer’s press release.
