I'm thinking of getting a couple of Chromecast Audios as I have a stereo I'd like to add to my Sonos but can't justify another Connect. A Chromecast Audio in to my existing connect and another on the stereo should let me group the Chromecasts and Sonos. But fiddly but much cheaper.
All you need for Sonos is a router, not necessarily WiFi. Wire one component into the router and you're done. Since the bridge became optional, these are cheap on eBay so it doesn't have to be a speaker. If you have music store locally on a PC or NAS then you don't even need internet.
Also worth noting Sonos creates its own very stable wireless network, with each component you add strengthening the links. Android phones can use the Sonos network as WiFi, so you have a range booster with every speaker, which is nice. Any other controller (Apple) would need WiFi access to the router to control the Sonos though.
Of course this means you do need a network, preferably WiFi, so speakers don't work stand alone, so no good for taking out and about, such as camping, bunk houses, holiday cottages with no router etc.
You could try this DIY project using a Rasberry Pi:
[url= http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/technology/1404017/best-raspberry-pi-projects ]Rasberry Pi multiroom[/url]
mikewsmith - MemberMostly because if you have wifi you don't need the others, what device will you be using that doesn't have a wifi connection? When I get enough rooms the ones will be in them, the idea of plugging stuff into the speaker or connecting your bluetooth to the speaker direct rather than the group seems to be outdated.
Yeah. In most situations, you probably don't need another connection method.
But there are occasions when it's nice to have.
For example, my Brother-in-law has a Sonos speaker. I wanted to play some music through it while visiting him a while back, but the only way to do so from my phone was to download & install the SONOS app. Had there been a cable connection, or the ability to just stream direct to the speaker over Bluetooth it would have been a lot easier. As it was, I just didn't bother.
So, yes - not essential but (for me) it would be nice to have.
So as above, the play 5 and soundbar both have a line in.
I like Bose stuff, but there offering just doesn't quite tick the box. It's going to have to be Sonos for me.
PlayBar only has a single optical in (and 2 network ports), no 3.5mm
Play 5 has a 3.5mm in
Connect has RCA in
The line ins let you 'piggyback' in and play the source around your system, but you still need the app to select that source and group speakers.
PlayBar is good as you can then stream TV inputs round the house, so you don't miss the comedy when you go to the kitchen, or can enjoy YouTube music, for example.
Phone - Chromecast - TV - Playbar - SonosNet (your other speakers)
Another plus is the network ports turn the unit into a mini range extender/hub. My TV and Humax are wired to the PlayBar and stream HD on demand, no need for wireless dongles or wiring up the room.
I have bluetooth on one stereo, looking to replace with something wifi based as the range is crap, if I leave the room with my phone in my pocket it unpairs.
To that point, Sonos only really makes sense for a multi room system you want to expand. Once you have a couple of rooms set up it's brilliant and seamless.
Expensive as a single room solution and not portable, which is where you'd want a battery powered bluetooth unit.
stumpy - good point, it's a bit 'closed' but downloading the app is about as quick as pairing on Bluetooth, mates have it, it just hooks up when they are on my wifi. Just make sure you trust them not to fire up your tunes full blast on their way past your house back from the pub 😈
For example, my Brother-in-law has a Sonos speaker. I wanted to play some music through it while visiting him a while back, but the only way to do so from my phone was to download & install the SONOS app. Had there been a cable connection, or the ability to just stream direct to the speaker over Bluetooth it would have been a lot easier. As it was, I just didn't bother.
I reckon it's quicker to install the app and connect than to pair Bluetooth.
Certainly nothing in it after the first time setup.
I have a Cambridge Audio Mix XI - a fantastic bit of kit with superb sound quality. I stream Spotify Connect directly to the amp, using my phone as the controller. There's also a Cambridge App on my phone I can use to stream from a hard drive I leave attached to the router. It's connected to the Blu Ray & TV recorder digitally, and the turntable on analogue.
About the only gap is the loss of BBC radio Iplayer, but they're working on it apparently. You can still get it via a phone or tablet, and stream on Bluetooth.
I have a setup that is very similar to SONOS except a lot cheaper. I have a Logitech Media Server, on a server, and a Pi in most rooms connected to a speaker or the room stereo. Each Pi runs [url= https://sites.google.com/site/picoreplayer/home ]PiCorePlayer[/url], I then use the iPeng app to play music to all rooms, or a selection of rooms. Perfectly synced between rooms, no delay from room to room.
You can also use Spotify and all the other online streaming sites.
I'm still happy with streaming Apple Music from my iPhone to a bluetooth speaker (JBL Flip 2)
Enough for my needs, though might like a bit more bass every now and then. Can control it from my Apple Watch, which is the icing on the cake!
Plus I can move it to somewhere without having to plug it in, so the garden or a quick session in the garage
Where do people keep their music? I'm interested in reducing the shelves of CDs, but don't really want to spend a trillion hours converting, when I can collate from a selection of music stored on different devices into one USB drive, say, plugged into the back of a player.
a Pi in most rooms connected to a speaker or the room stereo
Getting rid of the stereo was the driver for Sonos in my house, but what speakers are you using? Might have a gap for some stylish active speakers as it happens, recommendations appreciated.
Where do people keep their music? I'm interested in reducing the shelves of CDs, but don't really want to spend a trillion hours converting, when I can collate from a selection of music stored on different devices into one USB drive, say, plugged into the back of a player.
If you've already got it ripped then it's a case of just shifting it all to a single hard drive that makes it available on the network somehow. I ran a NAS drive for my Squeezeboxes for a couple of years but then decommissioned it and ran the media server on an iMac. Power consumption of an iMac wasn't different enough to the NAS to make a significant difference, performance was better and there was far less faffing around when adding stuff to the library. (Changed back up practice at the same time - all documents went to Dropbox which was far easier in use than a shared folder and worked with laptops taken off the network. Photos and music got a reasonably regular Time Machine back up to an external hard drive).
If you've not already ripped your music debatable whether it's worth it or just a lot easier to use a streaming service now (or download it all of filesharing services - which presumably isn't illegal if you own a CD copy) . What to do with the racks of CDs is another matter. Mine have just come out of storage - none of it's been in a player since it was ripped about a decade ago.
Where do people keep their music?
- Cupboard full of CDs
- Ripped and stored on a NAS drive for local access or copying to portable devices and sticks etc
- Music also synced to Google Play Music for access anywhere
A streaming service makes sense if you buy lots or explore new music, I'm tempted but still trying to move from 'one time purchase' to 'lifelong rental' model in my mind.
Where do people keep their music?
Mine are all stored on a NAS drive which is backed up to cloud storage. Being the uptight hoarder that i am the original CD's are all boxed and on shelves in the loft.
I can also access the files on my NAS drive from remote location via the plex app on my phone/iPad.
Getting rid of the stereo was the driver for Sonos in my house, but what speakers are you using? Might have a gap for some stylish active speakers as it happens, recommendations appreciated.
As previously mentioned, I run my Sonos Connect into a pair of piano white AVI ADM9s +AVI Sub. They sound [i]significantly [/i]better than my old separates. It's a bit of a leap of faith as you can't audition them easily as they sell direct, but I've not been disappointed. They offer a pretty good compromise between sound and not having the front room look like a hi-fi shop. The NAS and Connect live in the press, cables run under the floor.
The 9s have now been replaced by the [url= http://www.avihifi.co.uk/products.html# ]10s[/url], I'm not sure if they still do the gloss finishes (the website is a bit basic)
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benp1 - MemberI'm still happy with streaming Apple Music from my iPhone to a bluetooth speaker (JBL Flip 2)
Enough for my needs, though might like a bit more bass every now and then.
Funnily enough, this has been the reason for me not adopting any of this wireless multi-room stuff yet.
I was intending to get a Bluetooth speaker for 'in the garden/garage/camping' and a multi-room set-up starting in the bedroom & kitchen, with a view to getting a module for the stereo in the living room so I could also stream to that. I was also considering a NAS drive to store all my music/photos/films on, but that is still in the pipeline.
But, the Anker Bluetooth speaker I ended up getting is so good for casual listening while in the bathroom/bedroom/kitchen/garage/garden etc. that I just use that and carry it around with me. Battery life is 20hrs which can be increased if I plug my phone/tablet into it and use the 3.5mm headphone jack as the source.
In reality I recharge it perhaps once a month.
If I want to listen to music for an extended period in the living room, or put some music on while eating dinner, I just plug my phone/tablet straight into the stereo in the living room which has a phono-3/5mm jack lead permanently connected to the aux input.
Listening 'multi-room' just means turning the dial on the amp in the living room up past about 2.5 notches & living in a detached house means disturbing the neighbours isn't an issue.
Hard to justify several hundred £'s on a Wi-Fi multi-room set-up at the moment - all down to a £25 Bluetooth speaker. 😀
Cheers vorlich, they look great and doubtless sound great too, but are wasted on me (too many small club gigs with a 135W Fender Twin, and an AC30 at the 'correct' volume :-)). That's exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for though, DM5 might be an option if the next project bonus delivers 😀
Recently bought a Bose solo 15 for use as a TV soundbar thing. It's fairly low key as just sits under the TV. Has Bluetooth so we can stream iTunes to it. Sounds good I think. It has a great universal remote too.
[quote=gravity-slave]Another plus is the network ports turn the unit into a mini range extender/hub. My TV and Humax are wired to the PlayBar and stream HD on demand, no need for wireless dongles or wiring up the room.
Great tip! The internet / streaming on my TV is now much improved!
