Labs

Sonos's ZonePlayer is the most expensive receiver here, and the one best suited to large, multi-room setups. We've reviewed the most basic bundle, which includes a ZonePlayer 80 receiver and a remote control unit. Any Sonos receiver, once connected to a router, creates its own secure wireless network, which lets you connect to and control up to 34 additional ZonePlayer receivers

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around your house. Each can play different tracks or act as part of a group playing the same content streamed from the internet or a local server. They're all controlled with a wireless remote with a scroll wheel and a 3in colour screen to list music and internet radio rations.

The ZonePlayer comes with its own Desktop Controller server software for Windows. It played all our test files, including unusual formats such as OGG and FLAC. It comes with a selection of preset internet radio stations, including all the BBC channels, and you can add more using the Desktop Controller. It also comes with a free one-month subscription to Napster's Music on Demand service, which lets you download or stream music from the internet without a PC.

The ZonePlayer system is flexible and easy to use, but very expensive. It's a great system for streaming music into multiple receivers but, unless you have a large house and deep pockets, the Squeezebox is a better buy.