It's that time again. The FamilyWishy is looking to replace its rather tatty looking FM/CD system in the kitchen and what would tick everyone's boxes doesn't seem to exist at the moment unless we've missed something (hence this post).

Ideally we'd like something that will have (in order of importance)
1. Radio (DAB or otherwise so we can just stick the radio on for breakfast)
2. Wifi (so we can get at tunes on our media server)
3. CD (to play CDs although we could just rip everything we have and put them on the server)
4. Bluetooth (so miniWishy/guests can play banal crap from his/their mobile phone)
5. Not have shed loads of wires all over the place (MrsWishy has this one, I'd just paint everything white and use cable cable ties)

Looking at what's available leads me stuck between two basic types. A Sonos Play 3 will do all the WiFi bits and internet radio although only via their app which won't work on my phone (WP8 although longer term I'll probably end up back on Android) and won't handle physical media.
Alternatively something like this will do the DAB without requiring a compatible mobile and handle physical stuff. It won't do the WiFi stuff but a RaspberryPi connected to an Aux in behind the unit would do this however compromising requirement 5.

The current best compromise appears to be a Play3 as we can just rip the physical media and longer term I'll move from Windows Phone 8 (there is an app that claims to mimic Sonos app functionality for the princely sum of £1.89 so I'll try that too).

One closer option is this Bose unit as it has similar functionality to the Sonos but the added bonus of physical preset buttons so precious playlists or radio stations can be assigned to physical buttons avoiding the neceesity for a mobile phone. BUT the PC World Sales bod I spoke to today was really trying to put me off the Bose on the grounds of a couple of reasons.
1. They don't sync neatly in time if going to a multi room system (which may be an option later)
2. The app is awful.


The sceptic in me thinks PC World staff have some incentive to push Sonos but the Bose system isn't as well established and has some ropey feedback. I can't find any tangible negative feedback regarding the Sonos system bar the requirement to use premium Spotify and that it can be a faff to set up, neither of which bother me.

I don't normally listen to PC World staff but he did seem to know his stuff and did manage to answer all my questions and I can be an awkward bugger when pestered!

Anyone got a Bose system (or some other alternative) who can convince me not to get a Play 3? Lets call the budget £300 and size shouldn't be much more than a Play3 due to the shelf it needs to sit on.

We plumped for this Roberts unit which is also available from Amazon if you want to save money.

Quality workmanship and good technical support if req. from their base on normal landline

Edit: doesn't have the wifi

It sounds like you have summed it all up very well! Good to hear your local PC World staff were actually knowledgeable! I went the Sonos route and think they're great.

If you really need Bluetooth then go for the Bose, but if miniWishy/guests can download the Sonos app then you don't need the Bluetooth functionality. The Sonos app really is a big selling point for the Sonos systems as it links so many things together.

If you want to add a CD player to the Sonos system then the Sonos Connect would like it up but it's £259.

In my opinion the Play 1 sounds better than the Play 3. The 3 is older and will likely be replaced in the next year or so. If you can stretch to £299 I'd go for a pair of Play 1's (discount code still works) which can be set up as a powerful stereo pair or used in separate rooms.

Whatever you decide I'm sure you'll thoroughly enjoy it, wireless hifi is excellent in the modern MP3 age.

I've several Sonos units. At least two have a line-in through a jack.

Yep good point the Play 5 has a line in as 3.5mm. So you could plug a CD player in direct.

Shame about the lack of WiFi on the Roberts unit, we have an older analogue Roberts in the bedroom for radio and it's a nice piece of kit.

That highlights the quandary I've come up against as it seems to be a very binary choice between DAB/CD units without streaming capabilities or streaming units without the CD/DAB capability. I'm leaning towards a streaming unit which also gives me the man maths to pop another server in the rack cabinet that sits in the garage for media streaming duties! Currently it's just a hard drive hanging off the back off our router but I'd prefer something more robust.

I'll suggest the CD player option but I suspect that will be rebuffed on the grounds that MrsWishy will prefer a single box solution. It will sit right in the middle of our general living area so aesthetics are important. The Play 5 is too big for the shelf it will need to sit on.

I had also heard elsewhere similar comments regarding the sound of the Play 1 being better. Anybody know when the Play 3 will be replaced? Even a single Play 1 might do for the area that it's in. I have a more robust pair of active speakers upstairs for more critical listening duties.

Edited to add
looking at the range specifications, the Play5 has a line in but the Play1/3 doesn't.

We've got a Roberts 93i in the kitchen and that does have WiFi and Ethernet and USB and Aux In, but not Bluetooth, although there is a Bluetooth adaptor too, and even a battery pack so you can take it in the garden or the bathroom. A much more sensible price than Sonos IMHO. Don't bother with CDs, just rip 'em all to your library. I looked at that Panasonic slidey door thingummy, rubbish sound though, the 93i is pretty good. The external aerial makes it look untidy, but I could remove that and use an F-plug lead used instead (the unit sits right next to a TV/DAB/FM aerial point and ethernet connection).

Looks like Newcastle is the nearest JL store, or you can click/collect much nearer if you don't want to listen first. If you do go and listen in-store, take a small USB memory stick with some fave tunes to play in case there's no WiFi or FM/DAB reception.

Could be a possibility, got a tape measure handy? Does that 205mm height dimension include the handle?

2 sonos play 1's and a sub and a play 5 used as a portable depending on room or garage I am working in. The WP app works fine as does the windows 10 desktop app.

I spent ages doing the similar research and although there are some negatives the SOnos wins out, especially with the sound quality. You get one and you will get more. Tow play 1's make a great stereo option over the Play 3.

As for a physical player... just rip your CDs.

Which version of WP are you on?

Yes, 205mm height including the handle. The power cable plug sticks out the back too, so it won't sit flush against the wall, sticks out about an inch (25mm). Aerial is at the back, top right (looking from the front), extends about 760mm. It's got an IR remote too, 46 W x 129 W x 10 D. You can find the manual as a PDF online

Thanks for checking, the depth is fine as there will be a couple of inches behind the unit.

The 93i also can be controlled from a phone app UNDOK, just installed it (Android) and it works OK, much quicker to whizz through lists of stations or albums/tracks

Was wp8.1. Recently jumped ship to iOS due to lack and poor quality apps.

Interesting as I was given the impression that it didn't work with WP8.1 (which is what my phone is) and it doesn't show up in my app store. Shame really as this phone (Lumia 1020) is the only one that I have ever kept more than 2 years. I'll probably go back to Android next but that's another thread/can of worms (delete as applicable).

The Undok app won't work with my phone for the reason above (everyone else in familyWishy is fine though) but I do have a DLNA app which I reckon should work for what I'll want to do.

Yep, used it on my Lumia 1020 (still miss the camera and oled screen ) Think it was called Phonos.

edit
Yep Phonos for £1.89

That would explain it as there isn't an official Sonos app for WP8 (WP10 will work however my phone isn't on the upgrade list). Phonos is the £1.89 possibility that I mentioned in my OP. I'm hanging onto the phone for now as I don't see anything that I'd want to replace it with but I may have to give up in the future due to the aforementioned lack of apps.

The final decision looks like it's going to boil down to whether we see multi-room systems in the future. If we do then Sonos, if not then Roberts.

The case for the Sonos is that miniWishy would also like a replacement speaker for his aging (according to him anyway) DAB iPod docking station. If we are going to be buying two such devices then we might as well start our way on the Sonos route. Much as I resent buying something new for no other reason than the existing fully functioning item is "old", we have no other tangible ideas for his birthday. If we persuade him to look for something else then he may come up with something more expensive.

The case for the Roberts is that we don't actually have any rooms that are without music reproduction devices and in fact all the rooms that aren't bedrooms have DLNA compatible set ups that can stream from the server already. Obviously nowhere near as slick as the Sonos system but the capability is there. It would also give us the option to just switch the thing on without fiddling with a remote/smart phone and go straight to radio which is what it will used for mostly. I'm all up for the doing the absolute minimum until I've had a cup of tea and some Weetabix.

Sonos have a 100 day return policy so try it risk free. It's not perfect.....but close.

I went through a similar exercise at xmas and ended up with 2 Sonos Play 1s, with one in the kitchen and one in the bedroom. They have been absolutely brilliant, couldn't be happier with them. We didn't listen to that much music in the house before, but have them on all the time now.

The app is great and the quality of the speakers is perfect for us.

We use internet radio and songs stored on our phones, but have also found Spotify to be superb. They have a playlist for everything!

I actually had my heart set on different speakers, but the salesman in PC World did a proper sales job on me and I walked out with the Sonos. But I've never looked back.


I thought I wanted a speaker with a line-in and a battery so I could move the speaker about - but looking back there hasn't been a time where I'd have needed it so far!

3 months procrastination later, I got the Roberts and am pretty happy so far. MiniWishy went for a camera for his birthday and new mobile for Christmas so I didn't bother looking to start our Sonos collection. I decided a few months ago but waited until the spendfest was over before clicking the buy button.

All set up and it has been happily munching FLACs and mp3s all afternoon. Final crunch test will be at breakfast time for switch-on-click-button-have-radio duties. The only downside is that it didn't fit where it was supposed to go (for the record that was due me not measuring properly rather than the sizes that DaveG gave me above). I've no idea how I managed that as it was a very straightforward dimension to measure but some shelf customisation and it's in position.

In the meantime I also looked at an Echo but the sound quality of the one I heard wasn't up to much IMHO. Might still get one for the other features later on but for now I wanted some decent music playing capabilities in the kitchen/dining area.

As always, thanks for the input and ideas. New shiny 27" monitors for my next help-me-I-don't-know-what-to-get thread once I have sufficient funds....

I bought a Cambridge Air 200 thingy before Christmas, a holiday home that I stayed at had one and I thought my sons Bose speaker was good, but the cambridge is amazing. Really Bass heavy (which can be turned down).

Each time I come home to Scotland I'm impressed by the tone of our previous version Play5. I have a Play1 and Playbar in England but the Play5 has a fuller sound.

Well the switch-on-click-button-have-radio test was passed with flying colours this morning. The only downside being that it's that easy to use that I came downstairs to Radio 1.

Only a button press away from Radio 4 though which the rest of the family detests bar the comedy.

Glad you like the Roberts (and made it fit I've not used it to its full extent really, and the only thing I don't like is the power supply jack in the back, I'd like one at 90° so I can push it up closer to the wall.

And although I bought it for the wife to listen in the kitchen, it's really only me that uses it, she watches "The Chase" and "Come Dine with Me" on the TV instead (I much prefer to listen to music!)