Multi Zone Audio

[Martynt74]

Continuing from an old thread here

In Ceiling Speakers - Only really for Spotify - And general Home Automation

I'm tagging @lucid in right from the start here, and am likely to touch on details outside of AV so either reign me in, or tell me to go pay someone instead of taking up too much time! Like wise i'm not sure if part of this belongs more in the Home and Garden sub forum. We're currently around...

forums.overclockers.co.uk

I'm now at the point of needing to make decisions. We did change the layout slightly from the previous thread.

Here is the general layout

My plan is to have 4 zones

Bano 1
Salon/Cocina
Terraza
Out door kitchen (not on plan)

Ideally i'd like all the speakers to terminate in the Lavadero and have a single multi zone amplifier in here. I'm fairly happy for a single source to be used, rather than multiple sources being streamed to different zones. Mainly to be controlled by Spotify on a phone or through the HA dashboard. Most likely to be a raspberry pi running Volumio.

I seem to be struggling to find the best multi zone amp for me. I seem to find some for a few hundred euros which doesn't support apps to control zone volumes and need manually setting (although i guess i could just set it at a certain level and then use the Spotify app to maintain volume?)
The other end of the scale is €3k for something like the Marantz M4 multizone amp.

I could in theory have 4 separate amps to keep things completely independent but i'd prefer not to if possible.

Can anyone help give a bit of guidance? @katie279 You had some input on the other thread, but unsure if any advice might've changed over the last couple years. I still agree with your point on streaming being immature, so having passive speakers/multi zone amp and then having a Rpi for the streaming seems ideal as it's easily changed.

 

[hornetstinger]

You have some options

A top end AVR might have enough zones to do this
Another option is a multi channel power amplifier you'd need a eight channel power amp (with four streamers, or one if you are ok with NOT having ability to play different audio in each room)
Or having four totally seperate audio systems, with four stereo integrated amplifiers, with four sources
Or four Wiim Amp Pro or similar (streamer and amp in one)

Personally I'd just go with four Wiim amp Pros, that way every room is indepedant, no need to do interroom speaker cabling,

I have multi room, I've one down seperate rooms, but the same streamer in each room (using LMS) , with NAS for music with raspberry pi as the server software (picoreplayer)

With maybe primary "best room" with Wiim Amp Ultra

WiiM Amp Ultra

www.wiimhome.com

 

[Martynt74]

Cheers

The Wiim Amp is currently looking a decent option. There is this speaker switch which can be integrated to Home Assistant which means in theory i can start with only one Wiim Amp (likely the Ultra) and control each zone as i want. If i then want more separation in the future i can always add extra units.

Still seems crazy there isn't a single box option beyond spending €3k

 

[tom_nieto]

The more I think about setups like this (I've scratched my head a LOT with mine), the more I'm leaning towards separating everything out and even going for smart speakers in certain rooms. In-ceiling speakers with multiple different zones are nice, but there's a lot to be said for shouting at Alexa (or other home assistant) when you're cooking or in the shower to change the music. Music with a TV soundbar, sub and surrounds in the main room seems like a reasonable place to start from, or a dedicated AV system in the main room and then separate outdoor system for when the time comes. Put an echo whatever in the bathroom and you'll be grand.

EDIT - you could potentially link the indoor system with a terrace system much more cheaply using a second zone from an AV amplifier. You could then have a "party mode" where all the speakers are playing. This secondary zone would be much more easily switched on and off via a modern app controlled amp rather than trying to mess with a 4 zone system.

 

[hornetstinger]

The more I think about setups like this (I've scratched my head a LOT with mine), the more I'm leaning towards separating everything out and even going for smart speakers in certain rooms. In-ceiling speakers with multiple different zones are nice, but there's a lot to be said for shouting at Alexa (or other home assistant) when you're cooking or in the shower to change the music. Music with a TV soundbar, sub and surrounds in the main room seems like a reasonable place to start from, or a dedicated AV system in the main room and then separate outdoor system for when the time comes. Put an echo whatever in the bathroom and you'll be grand.

EDIT - you could potentially link the indoor system with a terrace system much more cheaply using a second zone from an AV amplifier. You could then have a "party mode" where all the speakers are playing. This secondary zone would be much more easily switched on and off via a modern app controlled amp rather than trying to mess with a 4 zone system.

You just use wiim app to control the music and volume in that, and every other room.

This is LMS but principle is the same, the Wiim app will have similar device selection.

Screenshot-36 hosted at ImgBB

Image Screenshot-36 hosted on ImgBB

ibb.co

 

[mid_gen]

I’ve not set it up yet as I’m waiting for Black Friday to get a WiiM mini to connect to an amp and speakers already in our dining room, to give me multiroom from the WiiM pro plus in the living room.

The Home Assistant integration looks pretty good for the WiiM. I’ve been pretty happy with ours, has good software and is very configurable.

In general I prefer going for cheaper, smaller discrete things, than one expensive thing, for longevity.

 

[Martynt74]

Seems like the WiiM is the way forward. I definitely want to avoid boxes in each room, but having multiple WiiM units in the server room is perfectly do-able and makes network connectivity a breeze.

Have got buy in from the wife for wall mounted speakers on the terrace which should be a little better than ceiling ones too i think. Especially for dispersing music out over the pool area

 

[hornetstinger]

Seems like the WiiM is the way forward. I definitely want to avoid boxes in each room, but having multiple WiiM units in the server room is perfectly do-able and makes network connectivity a breeze.

Have got buy in from the wife for wall mounted speakers on the terrace which should be a little better than ceiling ones too i think. Especially for dispersing music out over the pool area

The app is ok, but I much prefer LMS for the music selection side of things.

I use the wiim app for initial device setup and the room correction (and selecting room EQ preset) and that's it.

 

[1pudding1]

Wiim minis x4 here and a variety of power amps ( Home cinema room amps, then 2 x 2ch Crowns and a Behringer i think) All works well. Like you want, 3 are wired to the same requirement area, so amps and streamers in the same place.

@mid_gen which HA integration are you taking about, i didn't think I'd know they had one? Any github link?

 

[tom_nieto]

Looks like I need to look into Wiim in more detail! Maybe I'll ask for one for Christmas to replace the Echo Dot that's temporarily feeding my borrowed (not internet connected) AV amp after mine died

I've been living under a rock. The Wiim Mini is exactly what I need. It would also work with my Beresford DAC via optical to bring my stereo system into the 21st century. You learn something every day!