Is there anything similiar to the Sonos ZonePlayer 120?

[matt91]

I've looked around, but can't seem to find anything.

Are there any other one-piece audio streaming solutions like the Sonos ZP120? (http://www.sonos.com/products/zonepl...&LangType=1033)

I just want to hook up speaker wire, rather than run an amp/receiver in the middle.

The unit can be Cat5 wired or wireless, although wireless is a nice advantage. I don't necessarily need the ability to "play anything" that Sonos offers.

All the streaming devices that I've seen are either speaker units and/or just offer a line-out. I'm looking for one that has a speaker amp built-in.

[stanger89]

Do you actually want to use separate speakers? Because the Squeezebox Boom has integrated speakers (which are surprisingly good).

The other thing you could do is get something like a "T-Amp" which is really small and just stuff it somewhere out of sight and use a more "normal" media player.

[matt91]

Yeah, I plan to use separate speakers.

I haven't ever heard of the T-amp, but it looks intriguing. (especially @ $50)

I suppose I could get a "regular" network media player with headphone out, and hook it up to a T-amp.

Certainly something to consider if there are no other network-player-amp-in-one units available.

[cncb]

I recently ordered two of these "T-amps" to use with my HD300s. Crazy cheap (<$20) and small with bass/treble controls too. I will let you know how they are if they ever get them back in stock and ship them to me.

[BobPhoenix]

Originally Posted by cncb

I recently ordered two of these "T-amps" to use with my HD300s. Crazy cheap (<$20) and small with bass/treble controls too. I will let you know how they are if they ever get them back in stock and ship them to me.

Amazon has some sellers that show in stock. One says they are in stock in US

[Mitch G]

FWIW, I use an older T-Amp with a SqueezeBox2 driving a pair of Paradigm atoms. Definitely loud enough. Not party in da house loud. But definitely loud enough to enjoy and work by.

Similarly, I use one of the newer T-Amps with a SqueezeBox 3 driving a pair of outdoor "rock" speakers. Again, not hollywood party loud but again definitely loud enough to do yard work by or for background music when having a family get together outside.


Mitch

[PLUCKYHD]

Sonos is hard to beat. But unless things have changed at least on unit must be hardwired FYI.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Mitch G

FWIW, I use an older T-Amp with a SqueezeBox2 driving a pair of Paradigm atoms. Definitely loud enough. Not party in da house loud. But definitely loud enough to enjoy and work by.

I have almost exactly the same thing but with a Roku M500 and Paradigm Cinema 70's in my shop.

[SomeWhatLost]

the ZP-100 is very similar to the ZP-120...

[pjpjpjpj]

Originally Posted by cncb

I recently ordered two of these "T-amps" to use with my HD300s. Crazy cheap (<$20) and small with bass/treble controls too. I will let you know how they are if they ever get them back in stock and ship them to me.

Crazy thought:
1) Buy two RCA audio splitters (male plug at one end, splits to two females... http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2) for your L/R audio outs (on your Sonos, HD Extender, whatever)
2) Run L/R RCA from one side of the splitters to a T Amp. Run L/R from the other side of the splitters to another T-Amp.

Result = Two-zone audio. As long as the T Amps had enough juice to boost the audio loss that you would see from the splitters.

And depending on that, you might be able to split the audio four ways (splitter into two more splitters), use 4 T Amps, and have a 4-zone system...

Sounds ridiculous but if you weren't looking for high-end, super-clear, super-loud audio, and just wanted the ability to have soft background music playing in your home, it would be a heck of a lot less expensive than buying an 8-channel amp to get four zones (which could range from a cheapo around $300, up to thousands). Four T Amps and the splitters and cables would be < $90 before tax/shipping.