What Is Multi-Room Audio?
Gone are the days when setting up a multiroom audio system meant navigating a labyrinth of wires or shelling out a small fortune. Today, the dream of filling every corner of your home with your favorite tunes is not just a luxury for the elite but an accessible reality for everyone.
Imagine effortlessly streaming your favorite playlists from room to room with just a tap on your smartphone or a simple voice command. This is the magic of multiroom audio.
Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to upgrade your existing sound system, the concept is simple: integrate two or more wireless speakers or devices into your home and let them connect seamlessly. With just a few taps on your phone, tablet, or computer, you can orchestrate sound that envelops every corner of your living space.
But multiroom audio isn't just about convenience—it's about customization. Want to set the mood for a dinner party with upbeat jazz in the dining room while soothing classical melodies fill the kitchen? With asynchronous audio, you have the power to customize the soundtrack of each room to suit any occasion.
And the source of your music? It's entirely up to you. Whether you prefer streaming from your favorite services like Spotify or Tidal, accessing your library from a network-attached storage device, or tuning in to internet radio stations, the options are virtually limitless.
Why Choose Multi-Room Audio?
- Seamless Mobility: One of the main features of multiroom audio is the ability to move around your home while enjoying uninterrupted playback of your favorite music. Whether you're cooking in the kitchen or relaxing in the living room, you can easily control your music and pick up right where you left off.
- Wireless Convenience: Thanks to advancements in wireless technology, setting up a multiroom audio system is a breeze. Modern wireless speakers, like those from Sonos & Audio Pro, easily allow you to plug them in, connect to your WiFi network via the accompanying app, and you're ready to go. Plus, since playback is controlled through the app, you can place speakers anywhere in your home.
- Modular Expandability: Multiroom audio systems are incredibly flexible and scalable. You don't need to go all out on a setup from the get-go. Start with just a couple of speakers and expand your system over time as your budget allows or your needs evolve. Adding new devices is easily managed through the same user-friendly app.
- Customized Listening Experience: Play different music in different rooms simultaneously, catering to diverse tastes within your household. Each member can have their own personalized profile, ensuring that their favorite playlists and settings are always readily accessible. Moreover, you can effortlessly create customized listening zones that group devices from various rooms, allowing for immersive experiences like syncing your party playlist across multiple rooms.
- Outdoor Entertainment: Multiroom audio isn't confined to the indoors. With weatherproof speakers and outdoor-compatible setups, you can extend your music enjoyment beyond the confines of your home. Whether you're hosting a backyard barbecue, lounging by the pool, or simply enjoying the fresh air on your patio, multiroom audio lets you bring your favorite tunes outside, creating the perfect soundtrack for outdoor gatherings and relaxation.
Getting Started With Multi-Room Audio
It's essential to understand what you'll need to get started. Here's a breakdown of the key components required to build your multiroom audio system:
- Speakers: The cornerstone of any multiroom audio setup is, of course, the speakers. You'll need at least one speaker in each room where you want to enjoy music. The options are diverse, ranging from standalone wireless speakers to smart speakers, soundbars, subwoofers, AV receivers, stereo amplifiers, and network streamers. Choose speakers that fit your room aesthetics and audio preferences.
- Wireless or Wired Connection: Once you've selected your speakers, you'll need to connect them. While wireless connections, especially via WiFi, are the most popular choice for their convenience and flexibility, certain scenarios may require wired connections. For example, playing audio from physical media like CDs or vinyl may necessitate a wired setup. Additionally, passive speakers like in-ceiling speakers will require a separate amplifier for power, such as the Sonos Amp. However, for most users, WiFi is the recommended and preferred option due to its ease of use.
- Audio Control: Managing your multiroom audio system requires a reliable method of control. Dedicated apps or controllers allow you to effortlessly customize and manage audio playback across different rooms. Depending on the brand you go for, ensure that the app or controller has controls for grouping and ungrouping speakers, adjusting volume levels, and accessing your favorite music sources.
- Additional Hardware: Depending on the complexity of your setup, you may require additional hardware such as amplifiers or receivers, especially if you're integrating traditional stereo setups or architectural speakers into your multiroom audio system. This may involve setting up an AV closet or dedicated space to house all equipment, which could require additional build-out if not readily available.
Exploring Your Multi-Room Options
Sonos
- Sonos, the earliest pioneers is synonymous with multiroom audio, offering a wide range of speakers, soundbars, and accessories designed to easilyintegrate into any home.
- Known for its user-friendly app, Sonos allows you to effortlessly control and customize your audio experience, from grouping and ungrouping speakers to accessing various music sources.
- With products like wireless speakers, soundbars, subwoofers and more, Sonos caters to different needs, whether you're looking for compact speakers like the Sonos Five for individual rooms or a robust soundbar like the Sonos Arc for your home theater setup.
- Additionally, Sonos supports a wide range of streaming services and voice assistants, such as Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant.
Audio Pro
- Audio Pro specializes in high-quality wireless speakers known for their premium sound performance and stylish design.
- With products like the Addon C5, and C10, Audio Pro offers flexibility and scalability, allowing you to start small and expand your system as needed.
- The Audio Pro Control app provides intuitive control over your multiroom setup, enabling seamless playback synchronization and access to your favorite music services.
- These come with advanced features like room calibration and dynamic EQ, and more.
Denon's HEOS
- Denon's HEOS ecosystem encompasses a diverse range of wireless speakers, soundbars, and AV receivers designed to deliver audio throughout your home.
- HEOS speakers like the HEOS 5, 7, and HomeCinema HS2 offer powerful sound and versatile connectivity options, including WiFi, Bluetooth, and auxiliary inputs.
- With the HEOS app, you can easily manage and control your multiroom audio system, create custom playlists, and access popular streaming services like Spotify, Pandora, and Tidal.
- Denon's HEOS technology seamlessly integrates with compatible Denon and Marantz AV receivers, allowing you to incorporate your existing home theater setup into your multiroom audio ecosystem.
Exploring the Sonos Ecosystem
Sonos was founded by John MacFarlane, Trung Mai, Thomas Cullen, and Craig Shelburne in Santa Barbara, California. The aim was simple: help music lovers play any song from any room in their homes. This was a bold vision at the time. It's no surprise that companies like Amazon, Bose, Audio Pro, Denon, LG, and Google have since got in on the act.
Sonos uses your WiFi to play music from Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music, among other streaming services, but you can also stream radio, podcasts, and audiobooks to your speaker. Sonos also allows for native app control. This means that you will be able to control your speakers through your favorite music app. If you prefer your current music app and don't want to be limited by the Sonos app, this is a neat feature. Native app control is currently available for Spotify, Deezer, Tidal, and Audible, and will soon support more streaming apps.
Sonos also supports Apple Music's Spatial Audio feature. So, if you have an Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, or Tidal subscription, you can listen to Dolby Atmos spatial audio tracks with Sonos speakers if you have a Sonos Era 300, Sonos Arc, or Sonos Beam (Gen 2).
Sonos Product Range:
Soundbars
Sonos Soundbars can significantly improve your audio experience if you like watching movies, TV shows, or streaming content. You can enjoy a clutter free home theater experience without worrying about cables running through your room or any extra speaker components.
If you're in a small space, the Sonos Ray is a good choice. The soundbar offers clear, sharp sound that fills your area easily with booms, quiet conversations, and any other notes you don't want to miss. This compact soundbar fits comfortably on entertainment centers and dressers, or it can be mounted on the wall to free up as much space as possible. To balance out the sound in your room, you can connect the Ray with the Sonos Sub Mini.
Sonos Ray
Entry Level Soundbar
The second-generation Beam boasts a sleek design and exceptional sound. It has a quicker processor, Dolby Atmos support (with compatible TVs and streaming apps), and an HDMI eARC port for higher-definition audio. You'll also get voice control via Alexa and Google Assistant, as well as compatibility with Airplay 2. For surround sound, link it with a Sonos Sub and two other Sonos speakers.
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Mid Range Soundbar
If you're looking for a powerful all in one soundbar, the Sonos Arc is a great option. It supports Dolby Atmos and can bounce sound off your walls and ceiling well enough in many spaces to give you the surround sound effect. It boasts better balance and depth than the Beam thanks to three tweeters and eight mid-woofers.
Sonos Arc
Premium Soundbar
Subwoofers
For those looking to upgrade their Sonos ecosystem with enhanced bass, Sonos offers two options: the Sonos Sub Mini and the Sub Gen 3, catering to varying needs. In smaller spaces, the Sonos Sub Mini delivers a punchy bass response, while the Sub Gen 3 is ideal for larger rooms, providing deep, room-filling bass. Whether for music aficionados or home theater enthusiasts, these subwoofers accomodate the needs of both.
The Sonos Sub (Generation 3) can improve the low-frequency performance of your Sonos system if you love music and want a more immersive audio experience. It gives users who enjoy viewing films or playing video games with surround sound a more immersive and cinematic experience. It works with Sonos soundbars or other speakers to create powerful bass that gives explosions, action scenes, and low-frequency effects a more lifelike impact.
Sonos Sub (Gen 3)
The Sonos Sub Mini delivers big boom within a compact cylinder. This squat cylinder packs a punch, enhancing the bass and dynamism of your speakers while maintaining a balanced sound profile. The Sub Mini is perfect if you're rocking out to your favorite tunes, especially for the rock and rap heads reading this guide. Or, if you have the Sonos Arc and want to save on the subwoofer, you can pair it with this to get that extra thump.
Sonos Sub Mini
Indoor Speakers
Sonos Smart Home Speakers are an excellent choice if you already have a smart home environment and want to smoothly incorporate high-quality audio. If you're trying to automate your house and simplify your daily tasks. You can manage many aspects of your home, including lighting, temperature, and audio, using voice commands or pre-programmed routines.
The Sonos Era 100 comes equipped with both WiFi and Bluetooth® connectivity, the Era 100 allows you to effortlessly stream all your favorite audio content from various devices. Additionally, its compatibility with the Sonos Line-In Adapter enables seamless integration with turntables. You have the ultimate hands-free control with voice commands, allowing you to adjust settings and select tracks with ease. For an enhanced audio experience, you can pair two Era 100 speakers in the same room, creating a dynamic stereo soundstage or immersive home theater surround sound setup.
Sonos Era 100
The Sonos Era 300 is a bold statement from Sonos, with it's immersive soundstage, deep bass, and seamless streaming capabilities. What's truly special about the Era 300 is it's key stand-out feature that Sonos believes is the next generation of sound: spatial audio. The speaker comes equipped with six drivers: four tweeters (one forward-firing, two side-firing, one upward-firing) and two woofers (angled left and right for stereo playback). These are complemented by custom waveguides that help direct sound out forwards, upwards, left and right to surround you with music. Each of the six drivers is also powered by its own class D amplifier.
Sonos Era 300
The Sonos Five is Sonos' largest and most hi-fi standalone speaker. It's unique because it features a 3.5mm line-in connection for connecting it to a record player. And you can connect two Fives vertically, which defines them as right and left channels for excellent stereo sound. It presents a compelling choice for those deeply invested in the Sonos Ecosystem, seeking a sizable and robust addition to their setup, or a high-fidelity speaker. Its Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity options make it particularly attractive for those not placing Bluetooth functionality as their top priority.
Sonos Five
Portable Speakers
If you like to spend time outside, you can take your favorite music with you everywhere you go by using a Sonos portable speaker. For frequent travelers, a portable speaker that delivers excellent sound quality can enhance your experience in a hotel or on your vacation. They are great for hosting events like parties and gatherings. You can set up a multi-room audio system so that you can fill your space with synchronized music.
The Sonos Roam is the company's most compact and portable speaker, with Bluetooth. You can listen to music from Spotify, Apple Music, and other platforms. The speaker has voice command functionality via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It may not have audiophile-quality sound for its size, but it still holds its own
Sonos Roam
The Sonos Move is a larger portable speaker with superior audio over the Sonos Roam. It has Bluetooth connectivity, an 11-hour battery life, inbuilt microphones that adapt to the environment, and water resistance.
Sonos Move
The all-new Sonos Move 2 is based on the Sonos Move, which has been given an all-round upgrade with double the battery life, impressive stereo sound, and new touch controls. While the Move 2 has been out for a while, there's no news or any sign of it touching down in India anytime soon. Keep an eye out for this space for updates on when we can expect the Sonos Move 2 to launch in India.
Miscellaneous
Sonos Amp is a great option if you want to power your current passive speakers. You can enjoy your music and movies thanks to the solid amplification and clear sound reproduction it offers.
Sonos Amp
With Sonos Port, you can use the Sonos app or Apple AirPlay 2 to operate your conventional stereo while streaming music and other content from it. Additionally, it makes it simple to upgrade your audio system by streaming CDs, vinyl, and saved audio files to Sonos speakers placed in different rooms of your home.
Sonos Port
We've also curated custom Sonos packages tailored to your specific needs, requirements, and budget preferences. We understand that choosing the right components for your audio setup can be daunting, so we've simplified the process by assembling packages designed to meet various preferences and usage scenarios.
Exploring the Audio Pro Ecosystem
Audio Pro, headquartered in Helsingborg, Sweden, was established in 1978. Specializing in premium active speakers for home use, the company swiftly adapted to evolving listening trends in the 21st century by introducing innovative wireless speakers and streaming music support.
Today, Audio Pro exclusively produces wireless speakers, holding a formidable market presence in Sweden and the Nordics. Notably, their global reach expanded from 30 to 45 countries between 2013 and 2018. Noteworthy among their recent offerings is the acclaimed Addon series, featuring the pioneering Bluetooth speaker Addon T10 and versatile multiroom speakers Addon C5 and C10, garnering accolades such as the Ljud & Bild magazine's best wireless speaker in 2013 and consistent recognition in the What Hi-Fi? Awards category for wireless speakers from 2015 to 2017.
Audio Pro Product Range:
The Audio Pro C5 Mk II stands out as a stylish multiroom speaker, combining aesthetic appeal with impressive sound quality. Compatible with Audio Pro, Google, or Apple Home setups, it offers seamless wireless connectivity and Bluetooth compatibility. Additionally, its 6 preset buttons enable swift access to preferred playlists and internet radio stations. For those seeking a top-notch mid-sized multiroom speaker that seamlessly integrates into home decor without compromising on performance, the C5 Mk II is an excellent choice. It stands as one of the premier wireless speaker options for contemporary living spaces.
Audio Pro C5 MK II
The Audio Pro Addon C10 MKII offers extensive connectivity options, including AirPlay 2, Google Cast, and Audio Pro multiroom capabilities, alongside Bluetooth and wired alternatives. This comprehensive connectivity ensures versatility for various user preferences. Coupled with its vibrant, dynamic sound output, this home speaker becomes the focal point of any gathering. Despite its relatively higher price point, its compatibility with AirPlay 2, Google Cast, and Audio Pro multiroom systems makes it a standout performer, perfect for contemporary living spaces.
Audio Pro C10 MK II
The Audio Pro A10 MKII stands out as a highly capable speaker, boasting additional connectivity options that solidify its position as an excellent audio choice. Available in sleek dark grey or white finishes, it gives off elements of its Scandinavian roots, making it an ideal complement to minimalist setups while also blending seamlessly into all kinds of spaces.
Audio Pro A10 MK II
For those seeking a stylish and high-performing portable multiroom speaker, the Audio Pro A15 is an excellent pick. While it doesn't overwhelm with a multitude of features, it still offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. Its portability allows effortless movement between rooms or outdoor spaces like gardens or balconies. Moreover, seamless integration with Audio Pro, Google, or Apple multiroom systems enables music playback throughout the entire house, making it a versatile and convenient choice for any setting.
Audio Pro A15
The Drumfire MKII represents a modular upgrade from its predecessor, maintaining its classic design while incorporating significant enhancements. It functions both as a standalone speaker and tweeter, or when combined with the attached subwoofer. In standalone mode, it delivers a full spectrum of sound, from crisp highs to deep lows. When paired with the subwoofer, it seamlessly delegates the low-end frequencies to provide robust bass, while the top unit focuses on midrange and tweeter performance.
Audio Pro Drumfire II
Exploring the HEOS Ecosystem
HEOS is a proprietary wireless ecosystem integrated into Denon products, for seamless music streaming from various services directly with your device.
Through HEOS Built-in, you can effortlessly group devices to share content across multiple rooms wirelessly, supporting up to 64 zones without compromising audio quality. Control is simplified with the HEOS app, available on both the App Store and Google Play. Denon's entire product line, including AV receivers and hi-fi systems, often incorporates HEOS, typically denoted by an "H" in the model number.
With the Denon Home product line, speakers can be wirelessly linked for stereo pairing or combined with a soundbar and subwoofer to create a complete 5.1 surround system, all managed through the intuitive HEOS app interface.
HEOS Product Range:
The Denon Home 150 comes equipped with advanced Wi-Fi capabilities, ensuring seamless music streaming experiences. Notably, it boasts enhanced bass performance, particularly beneficial when integrated into a surround home theater setup. With Alexa voice control compatibility and integration with streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and more, the Home 150 offers plenty of listening options. These features are easily accessible through the HEOS app.
Denon Home 150
The Denon Home 250, is the mid-range option in the Home series lineup, delivers exceptional performance across various audio scenarios, particularly excelling at higher volumes. With commendable dynamics and a well-balanced tonal profile, it ensures an immersive listening experience. Its impressive maximum volume capability adds depth and impact to audio, making it a compelling choice as an audio source for movies and television content, enhancing your cinematic experience with robust bass response that accentuates explosions and other impactful sound effects.
Denon Home 250
The Denon Home 350 is an excellent choice for music enthusiasts, offering a sound profile characterized by a slight emphasis on bass frequencies, which enhances the listening experience across various music genres, especially for you Hip-Hop and EDM fans. For personalized sound adjustments, the companion app provides bass and treble sliders to tailor the audio to individual preferences. Additionally, the top surface of the speaker features user-definable preset buttons, illuminated for easy identification, along with intuitive controls for play/pause and volume adjustment, enhancing user convenience and interaction.
Denon Home 350
The Denon Home Sound Bar 550 offers a compelling mid-range soundbar option without breaking the bank, boasting support for 3D surround sound. Featuring built-in Amazon Alexa support, it seamlessly integrates into smart home ecosystems and allows for convenient voice control alongside traditional remote or app operation. Its compact design ensures compatibility with most TVs, fitting comfortably underneath or in front, particularly suitable for screen sizes ranging from 45 to 65 inches. Additionally, it offers the flexibility of wall-mounting. With no upward-firing speakers, placement options are versatile, and all physical connections, as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth pairing buttons, are discreetly located at the back for a streamlined aesthetic.
Denon Home Soundbar 550
The Denon Home Sub embodies the sleek minimalist design characteristic of the Denon Home series. Compatible not only with Denon AV receivers and hi-fi systems but also with Marantz products. Like its counterparts, it provides access to leading streaming platforms such as Spotify, Amazon Music HD, Deezer, and Tidal. With support for high-resolution audio formats up to 192kHz/24-bit and DSD 2.8/5.6MHz files, it delivers an immersive listening experience with exceptional clarity and detail.
Denon Home Sub
FAQs
