Sonos ZoneBridge 100 (BR100)

This is a basic part of the Sonos system. It's used to connect the larger system to the internet. The advantage of the Sonos system the simple set-up. I had the whole 3 room system set up (without any call to customer service) in just a few hours. I considered alternate (and cheaper) systems like the Logitech Squeezebox. However, the alternatives use an existing wireless network. With one kid playing WOW and another downloading video, bandwidth is already um, squeezed. Of course, I could beef up my network, but that would make the price much higher and add a lot of complication. Sonos sets up its own proprietary "net" that works great and is dead simple. I'm very happy with the system.

Very satisfied with this product.
I wanted to listen to the music files on my PC and to playlists on Rhapsody on my home audio system that is in a different room. This device along with the Zone Player 90 allowed me to connect my PC to my audio receiver without having to run wires between the devices.

In addition the Sonos Desktop controller allows connectivity to a large number of radio stations over the internet that I can now listen to using the Zone Player. I wasn't aware of this feature when I made the purchase but it is a pleasant surprise.

I had some McAfee firewall problems in getting the files set up on the Sonos Player initially but the customer service rep at Sonos helped me resolve that issue quickly. Sonos also has an extensive FAQ list on their internet site that is helpful to users.

Given the stated distance Sonos nodes are supposed to transmit between, I shouldn't have needed the sound bridge, but highly intermittent reception forced me to buy it. It's worked fine except last week when it just dropped from the network. Going through the "find new node" process rediscovered it and it's working fine again. Coincidentally, one of my controllers froze up at the same time, so I guess you just have to get used to fixing it. At least that's very simple.

I have eight zones spread over four floors. Two of the zones are near each other, but remote from all the others. When running a nearby microwave, they would sometimes drop the music for several seconds. I installed one sonos bridge, which helped reduce drop outs from once every couple days to once a week or so. Since installing the second bridge, there have not been more dropouts for those remote zones (about three weeks)

My Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station is centrally located in my house. The PC that stores all my music was at the far end of the house. Before the ZoneBridge 100 (BR100) I had to "waste" a ZonePlayer 80, a $350 investment. Now I have the BR100 connected directly to the Base Station. It simply sits on top of the Base Station, with no noticeable impact on range or wireless performance. I am able to listen to my music files throughout the entire house AND connect to Rhapsody's online music service. The BR100 is easy to setup and, IMO, very cost effective.