Audio options for new home layout

[NotAGolf]

I'm renovating my home soon and I'm trying to ensure I plan for suitable power/network/speaker cables to make my life easier later.

I'm trying to work out what to do with the audio in the kitchen/family room. The layout is below. There's a separate lounge where we'd watch films and have decent surround sound setup, so I'm more interested in a simple and flexible setup in the kitchen/family room.

In terms of usage:

• We'd be listening to music in the kitchen daily.
• We'd watch TV/play xbox in the family area fairly regularly.
• We'd also like to play music throughout the kitchen and family room fairly regularly.
• Rarely, we'd like to watch the TV and have the audio from TV audible throughout the kitchen and family room.

I already have a Sonos Play 5 and a Play 1 and am pretty pleased with them. I was thinking of putting both of these in the kitchen area and buying a Beam/Arc to go in the family room area. I've never owned a soundbar though so not sure how these sound.

Is this a sensible idea? Anything else worth considering?

Here's the layout. The family rooms is ~5.5 x 3.5m and the kitchen is ~5.5 x 4.5m.

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

Sounds like you're just after background music, and that this won't be for seriously listening.
If that's the case, something like an Amazon Alexa? Cheap, easy to network.

 

[hornetstinger]

max I'd go in kitchen would be Wiim Amp with Wharfedale Diamond 9.0, anything bigger and it's no longer a kitchen.

 

[NotAGolf]

Sounds like you're just after background music, and that this won't be for seriously listening.
If that's the case, something like an Amazon Alexa? Cheap, easy to network.

I think it needs to have more guts than that. If you've got pans frying on the hob, extractor fan going and the tap running, you need something with a bit of oomph!

max I'd go in kitchen would be Wiim Amp with Wharfedale Diamond 9.0, anything bigger and it's no longer a kitchen.

How would you connect that to the TV in the family room, or an optional speaker in the family room?

 

[hornetstinger]

I think it needs to have more guts than that. If you've got pans frying on the hob, extractor fan going and the tap running, you need something with a bit of oomph!


How would you connect that to the TV in the family room, or an optional speaker in the family room?

Maybe another Wiim amp in the main room if you can duplicate audio from one other? Not sure, although I do have a Wiim Ultra and Squeezeboxes. Haven't tried multi room TV source to multi room

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

You'd be surprised about how loud the Alexas can go. We have a single Echo unit in our kitchen, and my missus regularly uses it at volume that prevents chit chat easily. On top of that, they can be easily grouped, to allow stereo, or I assume in theory more, all the while being voice controlled and useful for other things like a kitchen timer.
Don't get me wrong, it's not "hi-fi", but for background noise, it's OK.

 

[tom_nieto]

When we did our downstairs I put in a small media cupboard with a central AV receiver which has 2 zones. Honestly it’s probably a bit too complex for our needs but it’s quite nice to be able to have music throughout the house, all media sources available in both lounge and kitchen/diner and all boxes hidden away.

Next time I’ll almost certainly look to something simpler so that the kids can use it more easily.

 

[hornetstinger]

When we did our downstairs I put in a small media cupboard with a central AV receiver which has 2 zones. Honestly it’s probably a bit too complex for our needs but it’s quite nice to be able to have music throughout the house, all media sources available in both lounge and kitchen/diner and all boxes hidden away.

Next time I’ll almost certainly look to something simpler so that the kids can use it more easily.

A physical amp per room is probably easier to use, plus have a physical thing rather than app. No need to do speaker house wiring, as you can put the amp near each set of speakers.