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Sonos and alternatives for basic wireless audio
Posted on 11/17/14 at 11:02 am
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 on 11/17/14 at 11:27 am to CajunAlum Tiger Fan
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
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 on 11/17/14 at 11:29 am to CajunAlum Tiger Fan
Also it doesn't have to be Sonos. Any mid-high end portable wireless speakers will do.
Posted on 11/17/14 at 12:10 pm to CajunAlum Tiger Fan
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 on 11/17/14 at 12:19 pm to Hopeful Doc
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 on 11/17/14 at 12:41 pm to CajunAlum Tiger Fan
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.
LINK
Obviously you can get this cheaper on eBay, or an older version for much less than $500.
Posted on 11/17/14 at 12:45 pm to CajunAlum Tiger Fan
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.
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 on 11/17/14 at 1:19 pm to Hopeful Doc
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.
Thanks for the advice.
Posted on 11/17/14 at 1:32 pm to CajunAlum Tiger Fan
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 on 11/17/14 at 1:38 pm to CajunAlum Tiger Fan
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 on 11/17/14 at 1:54 pm to TigerRob20
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 on 11/17/14 at 2:31 pm to Hopeful Doc
Thanks to all.
I'll do a little more homework on the sonos amp to a powered outdoor speaker.
I'll do a little more homework on the sonos amp to a powered outdoor speaker.
Posted on 11/17/14 at 8:52 pm to CajunAlum Tiger Fan
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
It blows Sonos out of the water... same thing other than Heos has better sound.
I have two Heos 5's
Posted on 11/17/14 at 8:54 pm to Helo
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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