Wireless music around the house, anyone experience or thoughts?

TheBigCheese · 1 Feb 2010 at 23:59

Hi guys

I've found myself in the position of helping a client decide and setup a wireless system to play audio round a BIG house.

It's really not my speciality but I've sort of been talked into it and I could really do with some advice.

Their living is at one end of the house and they would like to be able to have music in the kitchen, and bedroom, wherever they are really.

My obvious thought was an iPod and several docks, but that means moving it round from room to room which I would imagine they would think is a bit of a pain.

Is there an easy system whereby you have a central wireless hub (like a router), and satellite speakers round and about the place picking up the music?

It may sound daft, I don't know if it's possible, I'm just mulling it over before I go to bed.

Any thoughts would be incredibly helpful.

If we get some conclusions I'll edit the OP to help out anyone who is asking the same things in the future.

Thanks!

footman · 2 Feb 2010 at 10:53

I stream Itunes music from my pc to my hifi amp via an Airport Express unit and its possible to use an app on an Iphone to remotely control the music

valve90210 · 2 Feb 2010 at 10:57

Philips have an audio system especially for these types of setups.

I'll have a quick look to see if I can find out what it's called: It's the Philips WACS7500/05 - Streamium Wireless Music Centre & Station.

It's like a central hub and you then purchase extra wireless players.

Valve

Raymond Lin · 2 Feb 2010 at 10:59

footman said:
I stream Itunes music from my pc to my hifi amp via an Airport Express unit and its possible to use an app on an Iphone to remotely control the music

I do that, its wicked

HEADRAT · 2 Feb 2010 at 11:08

footman said:
I stream Itunes music from my pc to my hifi amp via an Airport Express unit and its possible to use an app on an Iphone to remotely control the music

Yep, I also use Airfoil to stream from Spotify to my Airport Expresses around the house.

HEADRAT

Tesla · 2 Feb 2010 at 11:40

Look into Sonos equipment,

HEADRAT · 2 Feb 2010 at 11:45

Sonos is overpriced, the GUI is terribly slow once you get a large music collection.

Hamish · 2 Feb 2010 at 12:02

Personally I would get a load of Airport Expresses (which have Airtunes). Hook them up throughout the house.
Have a Mac Mini (or a cheap PC) in the Plant room running iTunes
Give them an iPod touch or two running the "Remote" application. They can connect it to the Mac Mini and play whatever they like, including playing music through up to 3 sets of speakers at once.
The only problem I can see with this is that you can't play different things in each room. Perhaps you could stick an iPod dock in each room to cover this eventuality. Also you can't play anything except iTunes through the iPod touch. Of course they could always use AirFoil directly from the PC.

If you have money to burn it might also be worth looking into a Sonos, but IMO they are overrated.

fabkat · 2 Feb 2010 at 12:03

I stream my music via my mac mini connected to my plasma and controlled by iphone, apple lossless music storage is my pc in the room upstairs, works a treat.