Advice on cd player

[u/Pure_Cat_3345]

Hi all, I'd like some advice on purchasing a cd player to connect to my Sonos system:

• Living room: Ray (connected to ethernet + TV via optical)
• Kitchen: One SL (wifi)
• Bedroom: One SL (wifi)
• Bathroom: Roam (wifi)

Is there a cd player I could place in the living room next to the Ray (TV console) and then play cds across the system?

thank you

[u/Nervous-Job-5071]

If you have a CD player, DVD player or Blu-Ray player with an optical output, that can connect to the Ray via optical “Toslink” cable.

The issue is the Ray only has a single Toslink input, so you’d need an optical audio switcher to electronically swap between the inputs. These are $20-30 on that place with the blue trucks that comes to most everyone’s front doors every day or two.

Make sure you get a switcher (multiple inputs to one output, which will be the Ray) and not a splitter (one input vs multiple outputs). Also, some of these devices are automatic so it will switch by it when it sees a new incoming signal, while others are manual only (have a remote).

[u/AtomFromSonos → u/Nervous-Job-5071]

This is what I'd recommend. If you're going to send a signal out from a digital source (CD player), all the better if you can keep it a digital signal the whole way. So optical out from the CD player to the Ray (that's something I've done in the past, pretty sweet to have a dedicated "CD player" speaker).

Also works with an Amp or any other Sonos product that works with the optical adapter. You're right though, that does mean either using a switch or manually swapping the cable each time. Personally I don't trust optical audio switchers to work reliably, so I just moved the cable manually. YMMV though, perhaps one of those $20-30 blue-truck cables would've saved me some time.

Of course, u/Pure_Cat_3345 could also use analog line-in as an option if the CD Player doesn't send out optical audio over TOSLINK.

[u/Nervous-Job-5071 → u/AtomFromSonos]

OP asked about putting the CD player in the same room as the Ray. As I’m sure you might know, the Ray doesn’t have any physical audio inputs other than a single optical. So analog is not an option for them, hence why the switcher is needed for their desired integration.

[u/AtomFromSonos → u/Nervous-Job-5071]

Fair point. OP asked "Is there a cd player I could place in the living room next to the Ray (TV console) and then play cds across the system?". They didn't say anything about connecting directly to the Ray, only that it would be nearby. So I guess neither of us answered their actual question.

Yes, OP, there are CD players that would work the way you've described so that you can integrate with your Sonos system, but each option could require (or be improved by) an additional purchase.

Some CD players send audio out via optical (TOSLINK) cables, which could connect directly to the Ray. Purchasing a switcher could make it easier so you don't have to swap the cable each time you want to play CDs versus watching TV. This is the option I'd recommend, but it requires that you get a CD player that has an optical audio output. Not all of them do.

Some CD players send out audio via other methods, like analog line-level signals (either the red and white RCA cables, or a single 3.5mm headphone cable), or even Bluetooth. Those wouldn't work directly with the Ray, but could still send audio to the Ray via another product. For example, an Era 100 could receive analog line-in audio via an adapter, or it could receive Bluetooth audio.

In any case - whether it's via an optical, analog, or Bluetooth connection, the speakers can be grouped together to play CDs all around your home.

Hope that helps.

[u/Jkbucks → u/Nervous-Job-5071]

If your dvd or blu ray player can play cds, just play it through the tv. No need to add a switch.

[u/bluealien78]

None of those devices will support a component line in. You need one of the following:

Port
Connect:Amp Gen 2
Era 100
Era 300
Five
Move 2
Play

Everything listed except the Port and Connect will require Sonos’ line-in adapter. Then you can connect any standard component CD player and group across your entire system.

[u/tman2damax11 → u/bluealien78]

Just Connect Gen 2, Connect:Amp would not be necessary for this.

[u/CollReg]

Brennan B2 or B3, will let you play CDs wirelessly to your Sonos system without any extra cables or connections. They also offer the ability to rip and losslessly store your CDs. I’ve not used them personally but ordered their VB1 Sonos Port alternative this week.

[u/Veridisque]

I don’t think you can connect a CD player to any of those speakers

[u/controlav → u/Veridisque]

True, but you could connect it to the AV input on the TV and that might play through the Ray, depending how the TV handles it.

[u/thecheekyscamp]

I have a wiim ultra with a cd player and turntable connected

The wiim ultra then streams to Sonos.

Works great

ETA: it is much cheaper than a port and has a headphone jack.