Did anybody succesfully / reliably integrated those two via IP protocol ? I found a Crestron IP module at sprules.com , however based on my ( little ) experience with IP modules in Prodigy systems i am not sure if this can work . I am currently controlling Onkyo receiver in my test / demo system via IP , but it seems somehow unstable - i had to reboot prodigy controller at least twice already - it stops communicating with that receiver after a day or so ( and this is original Crestron module ) , basic rs232 module works fine .

So far there doesn't seem to be a reliable module. I would sell a ton of Sonos if they did have one.

As far as network control and your Onkyo, did you use the Integra dtr 5.8,6.8,....9.8 v3.1 module. This is the best working module for Onkyo/Integra at this time. I heard from Integra that there was to be a new module for the .2 series soon. I hope.

Thank You very much for your reply , that's correct i am using crestron integra module v3.1 . Also i have just discovered new firmware update for our Onkyo receiver which according to Onkyo website " Improves network operation when using the TCP/IP control "
As far as Sonos goes i absolutely agree . I wish that they would listen to us ( CI guys )a little bit more . They have a pretty cool and reliable product . We have been using their stuff for years , helped them grow and got absolutely nothing in return ( not to mention rather low profit margins ).

I'm not sure about the Crestron part but with regards to low profit margins.....they are low but I've never had to go back and fix a properly installed Sonos system. That should be worth something.

For a while I was emailing their sales department once a month telling them how many units they would sell if they opened up third party control but it seems to fall on deaf ears. There was a survey conducted by Sonos asking a lot of questions regarding third party control. It must not have went anywhere.

They had some BS line of crap in CE Pro a while back about how they have not offered easy 3rd party integration because they want to "maintain the user experience".

Don't get me wrong . Sonos makes great and rock solid products . However IMHO Sonos by alienating themselves from the rest of the crowd create competition ( URC streaming player etc. ) . Sonos could be the only and the best , instead they risk loosing that part of the market .
Even simple home theater - AV Receiver with two zone / multiple source and Sonos integration becomes this kludgy solution with two remotes ( or two apps ) - there goes " maintaining user experience " . Just a basic ability to control volume and transport buttons would be huge .
From what i understand there are still Nevo and Pronto - sonos solutions , but that does not help the rest the URC / RTI / Crestron / AMX etc. crowd .

I am looking at the marantz NA 7004 [Link: us.marantz.com]
as an alternative to the URC SNP. I haven't gotten my hands on either (of course) but I hope someone creates a 2 way module for one of them quick. The Marantz doesn't have a Video out but if the info can be displayed on the PTX3 there's really no need.

The menu structure will be the true challenge for the new pieces. The Sonos is very intuitive.

According to the spec sheet I got they are certified Crestron/AMX/c4 RS232.

I have been a Sonos dealer since the begining and I have also wanted 3rd party control. I talked to a Sonos employee at a show this year and made a point to ask about it. The answer I was given was one that I can agree with to a point. Sonos has great tech support, very little voice prompt menus and short hold times. And all support is based in the US. It's not cheap to run that kind of tech support and service dept. When you start opening your product to talk to other peoples hardware who may not subscribe to the same standards or want to have the extra expense, what happens if people that need the help tend to take the path of least resistance. So your brand X remote isn't controling the sonos right. Are you going to call brand X and sit on hold, get guy in India and elevate through 3 teirs of support or are you going to call Sonos, where they are on the phone in minutes if not seconds and have them troubleshoot some elses hardware? Most people will take the second option and that is all on sonos' dime. With the advent of the ipad, their role will be greater in the coming months and years in the automation industry, pretty soon everyone will have something on that platform and Sonos already does. I think their theory now is to stick it out, soon enough it won't be an issue.

Thats bs. Bottom line - it's a consumer product that does not play well with others. It also does not allow you to troubleshoot the system without any actual technical information.

The wireless cr200 often does not see bases upon wakeup.
Just not a satisfying product to work with.

Of course I do sell it here and there but I try not to.

"I think their theory now is to stick it out, soon enough it won't be an issue."

I call BS too.
Bwaters the reason it wont be a problem in a minute is all the other manufacturers that play well with control system have caught up to Sonos as far as access to content. See Marantz and URC. Sonos will work its way right out of the custom channel. I am a dealer and agree it works well and is content stuffed.....but it is on its way out.

The answer would be to write their own modules for 3rd party systems so they retain control and charge licensing fee for use. That is what a number of others have done and it's a way to keep control while opening up the product for use as it was not intended.

On the other hand, my understanding of Sonos is that it wants to sell its hardware, not merely become a source on someone elses hardware.

Alan

I have nothing against selling Sonos exclusively as audio distribution system . I will be happy to supply an average household with six or more zone players . As mentioned previously i like the reliability as well as the choices that are not available in other systems i.e last.fm , wolfgang's vault and more .
However very seldom it's just audio distribution . What happens when there are other devices in the room ? What's the best approach ? When programming third party control system to operate Home Theater / hvac / lights etc. am i supposed to create a macro that triggers necessary switching , than create a page flip that says : " to control Sonos go find your Sonos Remote " ???

I call BS also...

I use and sell Sonos and think it is hands down one of the most feature packed and user friendly music distribution products on the market.

That said, it is fairly clear that Sonos is intertwined with Apple at some level. The UI and touch interface are certainly Apple relatives licensed or derived from Apple's touch core. Users and dealers alike have been begging for a Windows Mobile app and the requests have been flatly ingored or excused with BS. The same holds true for the Android platform and a WEB based interface. All (3) could be easily and quickly built in house and doing so would expand the user base and product attractiveness. Why have they not? I would bet that Apple has an arm twisted in the proprietary contract direction.

Sonos can't or won't develop cross platform interfaces and refuses to release an SDK or any semblance of an interface. They are as proprietary as can been, just like Apple. The product, while amazing may end up like most Apple products, cool but with no market share due to not playing nice with others.

While I would really hate to see Sonos go away, it would appear that their desire to be proprietary and closed may land with in the same museum aisle as min-disc, DAT and AppleTV.

LOL