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Sonos and alternatives for basic wireless audio

Posted on 11/17/14 at 11:02 am
Posted by CajunAlum Tiger Fan
The Great State of Louisiana
Member since Jan 2008
7878 posts
Posted on 11/17/14 at 11:02 am
I'm looking for a simple wireless audio system to stream music to my kitchen and deck. I know Sonos gets plenty of love, but they still don't offer outdoor speakers. I'm only looking to spend a grand or so. Any other options I should look into?
Posted by dlambe5
Prairieville
Member since Jul 2009
631 posts
Posted on 11/17/14 at 11:27 am to
SONOS play 5

SONOS play 1


I would leave the play 1 in the kitchen. Play 5 you can leave in living room and move to patio when you want sound outside. You can play music to both simultaneously or to just one from your smartphone or tablet. Go to a BestBuy with the Magnolia section in there and you can listen to both. They also have people that can help you out.

Magnolia Home Theatre

This post was edited on 11/17/14 at 11:31 am
Posted by dlambe5
Prairieville
Member since Jul 2009
631 posts
Posted on 11/17/14 at 11:29 am to
Also it doesn't have to be Sonos. Any mid-high end portable wireless speakers will do.
Posted by Hopeful Doc
Member since Sep 2010
14965 posts
Posted on 11/17/14 at 12:10 pm to
quote:

simple wireless audio system


You want the speakers, the controls, or both to be wireless?

Do you want:
1) permanent speaker setup with wireless controls available from phone/laptop/tablet?

2) wireless speaker that can move from inside to outside and also play from the sources above?

3) something different than the above?
Posted by CajunAlum Tiger Fan
The Great State of Louisiana
Member since Jan 2008
7878 posts
Posted on 11/17/14 at 12:19 pm to
I'd like the outdoor speaker to be permanent and the one for the kitchen tobe portable, all controlled via mobile if possible.
This post was edited on 11/17/14 at 12:21 pm
Posted by TigerRob20
Baton Rouge
Member since Nov 2008
3732 posts
Posted on 11/17/14 at 12:41 pm to
You can have outdoor speakers hooked up to a Sonos connect. The internal Amp drives speakers without needing a receiver.

LINK

Obviously you can get this cheaper on eBay, or an older version for much less than $500.
Posted by Hopeful Doc
Member since Sep 2010
14965 posts
Posted on 11/17/14 at 12:45 pm to
One last question that I should've asked first: what's the source for your audio? Is multi-source (cd player, music channel on AppleTV/Roku/etc, music channel from satellite/cable box, computer audio collection) required/desired? If so, does changing the source from the mobile device make it easier?

Is simple bluetooth connection from the mobile device sufficient? Because if so, one portable Bluetooth speaker ($40-200, depending on how nice you want) + outdoor speakers (price can vary plenty) hooked to either a "dumb" amp with a Bluetooth receiver or a Bluetooth streaming amp (several options from as cheap as about $50) could suit your needs fine. If playing both at the same time is required, a lot more thought will be necessary, and nicer devices (more expensive ones, for sure) will be necessary.
Posted by CajunAlum Tiger Fan
The Great State of Louisiana
Member since Jan 2008
7878 posts
Posted on 11/17/14 at 1:19 pm to
Audio source will mainly be mobile device, but I also use a projector outside for football games and would like to have audio from cable box to the outdoor speaker on occasion. I have a jambox that use at the beach, but I'm looking to take it up a notch and make it easier to turn on better quality sound without dragging a speaker around. I like everything about sonos except the lack of outdoor speaker. I know I can connect a regular outdoor speaker to a sonos amp/transmitter, but I'd like to avoid another connection.

Thanks for the advice.
Posted by Buck Dancer
New Orleans
Member since Jan 2008
4680 posts
Posted on 11/17/14 at 1:32 pm to
I have the sonos amp pushing outdoor speakers and it works great in addition to the play 5's I have inside. Love my sonos system.
Posted by Hopeful Doc
Member since Sep 2010
14965 posts
Posted on 11/17/14 at 1:38 pm to
quote:

I like everything about sonos except the lack of outdoor speaker. I know I can connect a regular outdoor speaker to a sonos amp/transmitter, but I'd like to avoid another connection.


I really don't know of a better solution than this if you're willing to pay for a Sonos. I do not believe there are any outdoor, permanent powered speakers that have network connectivity. Anything you place outdoors permanently will need to be driven from a place out of the elements (ideally inside the house somewhere) making that Sonos linked above a pretty good option. I can't think of any replacement for it that would function any differently or "avoid another connection" as you say.

Most of the "multi zone amplifier" (in quotes because that's the best search term for them) solutions are designed for more than 2 zones, and they are way more amenable to permanent installation than any wireless speakers.

Any other way of powering the outdoor speakers and using the same sources and controls for an inside wireless speaker would be particularly complicated, wouldn't avoid the part you don't want to do, and would almost certainly require amps + 3rd party receiver/distributors. It could be done cheaper but not more simply than with a Sonos- and the one drawback you have to the sonos device above isn't avoided, so going another route for that reason just doesn't make good sense in this scenario.
Posted by Helo
Orlando
Member since Nov 2004
4592 posts
Posted on 11/17/14 at 1:54 pm to
quote:

You can have outdoor speakers hooked up to a Sonos connect. The internal Amp drives speakers without needing a receiver.

This^
Just put the unit inside and run the wires to a pair of outdoor speakers. Best of both worlds.
If paired with zones inside, you can have party mode that plays throughout the house.
Posted by CajunAlum Tiger Fan
The Great State of Louisiana
Member since Jan 2008
7878 posts
Posted on 11/17/14 at 2:31 pm to
Thanks to all.

I'll do a little more homework on the sonos amp to a powered outdoor speaker.
Posted by TheEnglishman
On the road to Wellville
Member since Mar 2010
3111 posts
Posted on 11/17/14 at 8:52 pm to
I have a Heos, Denon competitor.

It blows Sonos out of the water... same thing other than Heos has better sound.

I have two Heos 5's
Posted by TheEnglishman
On the road to Wellville
Member since Mar 2010
3111 posts
Posted on 11/17/14 at 8:54 pm to
quote:

quote:
You can have outdoor speakers hooked up to a Sonos connect. The internal Amp drives speakers without needing a receiver.

This^
Just put the unit inside and run the wires to a pair of outdoor speakers. Best of both worlds.
If paired with zones inside, you can have party mode that plays throughout the house.


Definitely This if you want spend less and have a similar workability
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