Using Sonos Bridge to create wired connection
Posted by: Calpark46 on 22 September 2015
I have a Unitilite and mostly use it to stream wirelessly from my NAS that is wired to my router in another room. I would like to gain additional stability (and some people would say improved sound quality also) by using a wired connection, but would find it difficult to have a direct ethernet connection between the Unitilite and the router/NAS.
I have a couple of Sonos Bridges and am wondering whether there is anything to be gained by plugging one into my hub and one into the Unitilite?
I have a Unitilite and mostly use it to stream wirelessly from my NAS that is wired to my router in another room. I would like to gain additional stability (and some people would say improved sound quality also) by using a wired connection, but would find it difficult to have a direct ethernet connection between the Unitilite and the router/NAS.
I have a couple of Sonos Bridges and am wondering whether there is anything to be gained by plugging one into my hub and one into the Unitilite?
I don't think that'll work if you want to use the Naim App to control the Unitilite. But obviously no permanent harm if you just try.
As I understand it, the Sonos Bridge will set up a wireless network that is somewhat separate from your existing wifi network. So it's not clear to me that if the Unitilite is on that wifi network that the Naim App on your 'main' wifi network will talk to it. But try.
If this doesn't work, use an Apple Airport Express. Many here use that to do what you're trying to do.
Yes this will work.
I used to do the same with a Sonos connect connected to my NDX. The Connect like the bridge gives you an ethernet connection in a remote location using the Sonos mesh wireless network.
You will still have wireless control as your wireless router will be on the same network as the Sonos devices as one end of the Sonos network will be connected to the hub.
This avoids using the wireless connection on the Naim device. I had no issues streaming 24/96 this way and it was very reliable.
I still use the Connect today but it has a wired connection. I bought some flat ethernet cable which is very easy to conceal.
Richard
Yes this will work.
I used to do the same with a Sonos connect connected to my NDX. The Connect like the bridge gives you an ethernet connection in a remote location using the Sonos mesh wireless network.
You will still have wireless control as your wireless router will be on the same network as the Sonos devices as one end of the Sonos network will be connected to the hub.
This avoids using the wireless connection on the Naim device. I had no issues streaming 24/96 this way and it was very reliable.
I still use the Connect today but it has a wired connection. I bought some flat ethernet cable which is very easy to conceal.
Richard
That's really useful to know Richard, especially that you were streaming 24/96 files reliably.
Yes it was very reliable unless the microwave oven was running and then I would get dropouts on hi res but not on redbook
Yes it was very reliable unless the microwave oven was running and then I would get dropouts on hi res but not on redbook
The wonders of modern technology 
The sonos network is very robust and gets more so the more sonos units you have. Agreed about the microwave though......
Thanks everyone for the helpful replies.
Bart & Harty601 - I am able to control via the Naim app and it all seems quite seamless. The only quirk I've noticed is that if I try to convert from FLAC to WAV on the fly by running Asset on my laptop (which I don't tend to do as a rule), a track will play for a few seconds and then cut out. Other than that, it seems more stable than wifi and I stream FLAC 99% of the time anyway.
ChrisSU - I was under the impression that if I move the NAS to connect to the streamer direct, rather than being wired to the router, it is more unwieldy to rip new CDs to the NAS. or is that where Airport Express comes in?
Thankfully no microwave issues here!!
ChrisSU - I was under the impression that if I move the NAS to connect to the streamer direct, rather than being wired to the router, it is more unwieldy to rip new CDs to the NAS. or is that where Airport Express comes in?
I can't see why there should be a problem ripping CDs this way. If you are doing this on a computer, then saving or copying the music file to the NAS, you can do this by connecting the computer to the same switch as the NAS & Unitilite with another Ethernet cable. If that's difficult you could connect it to your router by Ethernet or WiFi - then, you would need the Airport Express, but you really need that anyway, as it will connect your streamer to the router for iRadio, etc. as well as giving a more robust connection for the Naim app.
No need for a new AE, an old style one that plugs directly into a mains socket will be fine, and used ones are cheap on eBay.
Obviously, if you can get all this working with the Sonos gear you already own that's great, but I've never used it so I can't help you on that one.