Review: Sonos BU150 music sharing

The world has moved on since Sonos first wowed us with its music-sharing kit.

At that time, there was nothing that worked so well, but since then the Logitech Squeezebox and Pinnacle Soundbridge systems have improved to the point of being serious competitors.

But this new Sonos kit is smaller and lighter than its older siblings. There has been a significant software update, too, offering support for the Napster music streaming service, among other things. The firmware is also available to existing customers using the original Sonos players, so no-one is left out.

The BU150 contains a pair of Zoneplayers, which form the basis of the streaming setup, and a control pad. The larger Zoneplayer, the ZP120, contains an amplifier, so you need only connect speakers to get sound.

The smaller player, the ZP90, has a line-level output, so it needs to be connected to an amp or powered speakers. Setting up was easy – the instructions are clear and you can make the connections using the supplied Sonos Desktop Controller software or the control pad handset.

Sound quality, as before, is excellent. The ZP120 provides sparkling sound quality if you attach a good pair of speakers (it's impressive even on average models), and the ZP90 is, likewise, good. It's easy to use, too, with its iPod-like wheel navigation of the controller. The screen is easy to read and it's simple to get different tracks playing on each player (for different rooms).

The sticking point, as before, is the price. Admittedly, it hasn't increased, but it's still considerably higher than the Squeezebox or Soundbridge. But we much prefer the Sonos' navigation, and if you can stomach the investment, it's an excellent choice.

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