Sonos launches new CR200, full colour, touchscreen controller

Sonos BU250

It's similar in many ways to Apple's iPod Touch, which isn't surprising given that last year Sonos issued an app enabling users to control a Sonos system using an iPhone or iPod Touch.

The CR200 features a 3.5in, full-colour VGA display (640 x 480 pixels) with a touchscreen and on-screen keyboard.

Its rich graphic interface shows what music is playing in each room, as well as artist information, cover art and other info. You can use it to search millions of songs on Napster, custom radio stations from Last.fm and Deezer, plus 25,000 internet radio stations and your own music library.

One of the new features of the CR200 controller is Info View, which provides one-touch access to artist bios, album reviews, concert listings and lists of similar artists. The Info View function is available on Last.fm in the UK.

Styled in aluminium with a soft, durable rubber backing designed to fit comfortably in the hand, it also comes with its own charging cradle.

You can buy the CR200 now for £279, or as part of the new Sonos BU250 bundle (£799), which includes a Sonos ZonePlayer 90 and ZonePlayer 120.

We have an exclusive review of the new Sonos BU250 system, including the CR200 controller, in the September issue of What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision, on sale tomorrow (July 29th).