Read enough reviews and you understand that part of a reviewer's job is to present an unemotional -- even detached -- evaluation of Product X, Y, or Z. For this reason, you almost never see reviews that begin:

"Oh, my stars and garters, this thing is amazing!!" because such effusive language is likely to cast the objectivity of the review in doubt. To bypass that doubt I'll begin my review of the latest iteration of Sonos' Multi-Room Music System with:

Oh, my stars and garters, this thing is amazing!

(Note the more restrained single exclamation mark.)

Regardless of how you punctuate that statement, it's true. The Sonos Multi-Room Music System is amazing for a variety of reasons. They include its simple design and ease of use--getting the Sonos system set up and packed with music is mostly a cinch (I'll indicate where it isn't later). It's also easy to access audio files stored on computers and storage devices on your local network as well as listen to streaming audio from such sources as terrestrial radio, Internet-hosted podcasts, Rhapsody and Napster subscription music services, the Pandora and last.fm music services, and SIRIUS Internet radio. And what iPhone or iPod touch owner wouldn't be thrilled by Sonos' free iPhone/iPod touch controller application, which nearly duplicates the functionality of Sonos' $400 CR100 hardware controller (making it possible for frugal shoppers to skip the hardware controller altogether)? Oh, and the music that comes out of it sounds great.

My colleague, Dan Frakes, has previously reviewed the original Sonos Digital Music System and the Sonos ZonePlayer 80. In the first review you'll learn the nuts and bolts of what makes the Sonos systems work. The second review provides information on Sonos' first amplifier-free player, the ZonePlayer 80--the current ZonePlayer 90 (ZP90) replaces it. Read those two reviews and you'll understand what makes the Sonos system tick. Beyond that ticking, let's look at what's recently happened with the Sonos Multi-Room Music System.

My setup

The review units sent by Sonos included the $999 Sonos Bundle 150 With Free Charging Cradle (this budle includes the $499 ZonePlayer 120, the $349 ZonePlayer 90, the $399 Sonos Controller CR100 hardware, and $40 charging cradle for the controller), the $99 ZoneBridge wireless bridge, and the $179 Sonos SP100 bookshelf speakers.

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