2. pc-audio
  3. 1264990107

Sonos vs. airport express

What is the big diff between these two products: sonos ZP90 and the airport express? Aside from the fact that the sonos will transport the digital audio via coax, and the airport is limited to optical? I would be using an external DAC, so the internal D to A conversion of either unit is moot. Neither one stores media locally, both are meant to receive audio streaming from a laptop or desktop, can anyone shed some light? Thanks!
realremo
rbstehno
1,498 posts
 
hundreds of $$$$$.
soundgasm
152 posts
 
Rbstehno's right. And:

- vastly superior dedicated remote for Sonos
- marginally worse desktop software for Sonos
- much better multi-zone support with Sonos
- ultimately, no need for a computer to administer Sonos
- actual human being tech support available for Sonos
- one's a weird little box, the other's a wall wart
- some upgrade paths (Cullen, etc) available for Sonos

Depending on your configuration and need, none or all of these may matter to you.

I've had both, and Sonos feels like a $ignificant step up in my household. YMMV.
rbstehno
1,498 posts
 
it depends on what you have and what you want to do. if you already have a mac with itunes on it, and you want to distribute music to 1 or many rooms at the same time, and you have a touch or iphone, you don't need a sonos. if you want multisource capability for music and for audio if you own a pc or mac, then go for an apple tv. IMO, the user interface from the touch/iphone with the latest i tunes is very good. if you need more than that, there are products like airfoil that allow you to transmit xm/sirius over itunes. instead of the sonos devices with the amp built in, i just use a little jolida integrated amp in that room with the capability to change tubes and get the power i need. for a sweet little setup for the price of a sonos, get a music hall 25.2 dac, jolida 1301 integrated amp and use your mac/pc with a touch or iphone.
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