Until now, music networking has generally been done point to point: I have a computer and a stereo and I either control the music from the computer end, a la Apple's AirPort Express or I control the music on the stereo end, like Roku's SoundBridge. With its ZonePlayer, Sonos lets you spread your music around. Each room can have one of these players, up to 32 for one system, which serve as wireless base stations that take your music and pump it into stereo speakers in the area. You can stream a different song to each room, stream the same song to each room one at a time, or send the same song to everybody. This is called "Party Mode."

The Sonos system is fairly easy to set up, but you have to start with the right equipment and a basic understanding of your PC and networking. Unlike other products, you don't need a wireless network in place—Sonos uses its own—but you do need a router to set up Sonos the easy way. Your computer is connected to one port (or via wireless) and the first Sonos ZonePlayer is connected, by Ethernet, to another port. Run the software, point the ZonePlayer to your music, and you will be able to play songs right there next to your PC. The only trouble I ran into was when the McAfee firewall software on my PC blocked Sonos from accessing the music—a problem that, when identified, is easy to solve. Unfortunately, playing music next to your computer is probably not why you shelled out all of that cash. That's why the start up kit comes with two ZonePlayers (and a Controller).

This is the simple part: to add the Controller, just turn it on, flip past the welcome screen and then go and press two buttons on the first ZonePlayer. Suddenly the Controller sees all the music available, and lets you pick tunes and build playlists anywhere within wireless range (technically, a max of about 300 ft.). To add a second ZonePlayer is just as easy. The Controller has an option for adding one, so you just say yes then go and tap the ZonePlayer's two buttons.

Unless you live in a home with walls of radio-opaque chicken wire and concrete, a closed wireless music network from Sonos is quite honestly one of your best options. It's not, however, among the cheapest, so there are a few things to keep in mind. As I mentioned before, you get two ZonePlayers with the starter kit, but unless you're a networking adept, that means one location other than your computer. (Sonos acknowledges that there's an "unsupported" way of tricking ZonePlayers to use a Wi-Fi router for more placement options off the bat.) Extra ZonePlayers cost $500 each.

ZonePlayers contain 50-watt-per-channel stereo amplifiers, so you have the choice of connecting them via red-and-white RCA plugs to a stereo, or simply plugging in speakers you already own. It's extraneous, and I wish there were an option without the onboard amp. Still, if you have speakers lying around, you should calculate that for $500, that ZonePlayer could completely replace an aging stereo or boombox.

Another issue is that at the moment, you can't get at any music that uses "digital rights management"—DRM content including stuff from iTunes Music Store, Napster (well, the legal one) and Musicmatch. Sonos is working on that, and promises to be compatible with Real's Rhapsody service soon. It seems likely that Microsoft will grant access to WMA DRM content by year end, though the chances of getting at Apple's protected tracks are, for now, pretty slim. At least you don't have to wait to find out: like other 21st century appliances, Sonos can be upgraded over the Internet long after it has left the warehouse.