Choosing the Right Multiroom Audio System

Music is a wonderful way to soundtrack everyday life, and multiroom audio makes it easy for your favorite tunes to follow you from room to room. A well-designed system is also an asset when entertaining guests. It lets you create a curated playlist and broadcast it to multiple rooms at the touch of a button on your mobile device, touch screen, remote control or wall-mounted keypad.

Today’s multiroom systems rely on the latest technology to deliver superior sound quality and ease of use. They offer a constellation of wireless or wired speakers that communicate through your home Wi-Fi network or Bluetooth and play from your streaming services, local music files, or your hi-fi equipment like a turntable or CD player. With the right system, you can stream your playlists to different rooms or select specific songs or podcasts for individual listening zones.

Multiroom audio is available in a wide range of configurations, from systems that are simple to install yourself and rely solely on the functionality provided by your smart devices to those that require specialized knowledge of audio equipment and integration with home automation products. Choosing the right system to suit your needs and your budget is critical to achieving a flawless whole-home listening experience.

Traditional multiroom wired audio systems link speakers to a central hub or amplifier via physical connections. They typically have separate outputs for each zone and can be installed in new homes or in existing structures where prewiring is possible. They are a bit more complex to install than wireless systems but may offer superior sound quality and more customization choices.

Most modern multiroom audio systems employ wireless technologies to connect the speakers and provide the control functionality. Some rely on closed mesh networks, while others, like Sonos and Google Home, utilize your home’s wireless connectivity. Regardless of the system you choose, a robust and stable Wi-Fi connection is necessary for optimum performance.

In addition to the ability to control your music via a mobile device, tablet or smart speaker, some multiroom audio systems incorporate voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant to add another level of convenience. You can ask the system to select a song or playlist, change the volume or skip a track.

Many multiroom audio systems integrate with other components in your smart home, like lighting, security, climate and video to transform the ambiance of a space with just one command. A multiroom audio system can automatically dim the lights, lower the shades and set a party playlist before your guests arrive.

Whether you’re looking to upgrade your existing audio system or add multiroom audio to a newly built house, we can help. A smart home professional can identify the best hiding spots for your speakers in the ceiling and walls and can configure your system to match the acoustics of each space. They will also ensure that all the components work seamlessly together to enhance your listening experience. Get started with a free consultation! multiroom audio system