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Audio System for prewired indoor/outdoor speakers

Posted on 1/2/25 at 12:26 pm
Posted by SwampCollie
Louisiana
Member since Nov 2018
314 posts
Posted on 1/2/25 at 12:26 pm
Looking for recommendations on a user friendly sound system.

Home has 4 flush mounted ceiling speakers in the living room and 2 outdoor speakers by the pool. All 6 speakers wires run to a cabinet in the living room.

Would like ability to control/stream audio from our phones and select which speakers play etc. If we could run living room TV from same system - even better.

Budget $1k ish unless spending more means substantially better performance/user experience

TIA!
Posted by LemmyLives
Texas
Member since Mar 2019
13273 posts
Posted on 1/2/25 at 1:05 pm to
Consider how cheap the speakers were, and resolve to ignore the fact that they’re there. Go with Sonos or Denon speakers that you can control through Spotify or their respective apps.
Posted by Dallaswho
Texas
Member since Dec 2023
3380 posts
Posted on 1/2/25 at 2:10 pm to
quote:

Consider how cheap the speakers were, and resolve to ignore the fact that they’re there. Go with Sonos or Denon speakers that you can control through Spotify or their respective apps.


This. But options:
1. Full zone control box will cost >$1k but will at least be fully AirPlay compliant and work with anything without proprietary crap in the way.
2. I absolutely loathe Sonos/denon stuff for whole home but some people like it. Both are rather limited in what they let you do and what online libraries can easily be accessed.
3. Cheap route: get used 12 channel amp for nearly free then get as many synchronizable airplay2 devices as you want zones. Also is the most easily upgradable.
4. Surprisingly good: just buy Amazon echos. The full(non studio) version was on sale for $50(half off) over Xmas. These are super configurable, synchronize perfectly, receive constant updates/features, and sound as good as ceiling speakers. Create all the groups you want.
5. Ignore. Ceiling speakers can be great for the right person and there are maybe some better ones on the market now with atmos being a thing. Still, you’ll likely be disappointed if you expect any capability beyond background music. That’s what these are made for. I would personally fill the holes in next paint job.

One more edit: you said there are six wires(pairs) and not twelve(pairs) for your six speakers? Most whole home stuff is built for DVC. In this case, you likely have a pro system not super compatible with modern home equipment or a custom DIY install where you’ll need equipment capable of mono output(most are). May need to see speakers.
This post was edited on 1/2/25 at 2:52 pm
Posted by LSU Jonno
Huntsville, AL
Member since Feb 2008
604 posts
Posted on 1/4/25 at 10:12 am to
Like others have said, there are many options and it sort of depends what your goals are. I personally run Sonos, but for my outdoor passive speakers I bought a cheap, stand-alone class d amp off amazon for like $40 to power them and a WiiM hockey puck for like $70 to stream to them via apple airplay. You can go this route to have unlimited zones and scale how you want. Not audiophile quality at all, but it can get loud and doesn’t sound bad.
Posted by LSU Jonno
Huntsville, AL
Member since Feb 2008
604 posts
Posted on 1/4/25 at 10:16 am to
I bought something like this:

LINK

Plus a WiiM puck.

These days WiiM makes an all in one product (amp plus streamer) that is about $300.

I can’t cast content from my Sonos system to these outdoor speakers, but if I control everything from my phone and treat my Sonos speakers as airplay targets it all syncs up great.
Posted by Zach Lee To Amp Hill
New Orleans
Member since Mar 2016
4910 posts
Posted on 1/4/25 at 9:22 pm to
Get some cheap amps off Amazon and some Chromecast audios off eBay.
Posted by billjamin
Houston
Member since Jun 2019
16571 posts
Posted on 1/5/25 at 10:59 am to
I just went through this decision.

I had 3 6” DVC speakers inside and 3 6” outside.

One good option is a Juke amp. It’s affordable and gives solid control and people seem to like it.

I ended up replacing my entire system. Went up to 8” Sonos architectural speakers with 2 Sonos amps and replaced my Bose sound bar with the Sonos ultra arc and sub. Also grabbed a couple roams.

It ended up costing more than I wanted to spend but it syncs perfectly and my wife loves it. The app takes a little getting used to but it works fine.
Posted by whiskey over ice
Member since Sep 2020
3676 posts
Posted on 1/5/25 at 11:34 am to
quote:

I ended up replacing my entire system. Went up to 8” Sonos architectural speakers with 2 Sonos amps and replaced my Bose sound bar with the Sonos ultra arc and sub. Also grabbed a couple roams.


Posted by billjamin
Houston
Member since Jun 2019
16571 posts
Posted on 1/5/25 at 11:43 am to
I’m poorer now. But my wife likes it so it was money well spent.
Posted by AlxTgr
Kyre Banorg
Member since Oct 2003
86409 posts
Posted on 1/5/25 at 5:41 pm to
quote:

Get some cheap amps off Amazon and some Chromecast audios off eBay.
This is pretty much what I did when I moved into this house with existing speakers. I added an impedance matching speaker selector, and am very happy with the setup. I just tell the little Google Dot to play music on ________ speaker(name of my Chromecast Audio) and music starts playing. It's a beautiful thing.
Posted by tes fou
Member since Feb 2014
954 posts
Posted on 1/5/25 at 10:58 pm to
I have 5 Klipsch in ceiling in my living room and 2 in my patio. Added a JL sub for the living room and run it all off a Yamaha receiver with outside running on zone 2. Works well enough and I find their app for control/multizone better then the one on my denon which I moved to my office.
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