I currently have a linux server that is always on. One of the things it does is leverage existing cat 5 to play music in 2-3 rooms on normal powered computer speakers that plug into the wall jacks.
What I want is a real multizoned audio system. What I have considered:
M&S Intercom system in each room
old android tablets and phones that use shoutcast streaming from my linux server and have the advantage of also being scene controllers
continue on with the speakers in each room and use 10 usb sound cards to manage the zones
Things to consider:
I want it to be pretty (erm wife does)
Ideally I could use the solution to eventually have vera talk to me, perhaps specifically to a zone
possibly do voice commands
Now that I have typed this out, it seems like tablets may be the best way to go.
If so, what would I use to have vera talk to a zone and back to a zone?
I like the idea of Sonos but I think for my needs its overkill. Since I already have MPD playing on my linux server, I enabled shoutcast and was able to stream that to the tablets. I can now mount tablets in each room which play the central sound. I might expand to sonos one day, but this meets my needs now.
I am still experimenting with this and imperihome.
Just working to get voice commands and intercom in next.
Look at squeezebox server or logitech media server now. use some raspberry pis running piCorePlayer and perhaps throw a nice DAC in the pi, get an amp and hook up to speakers … use a tablet to control the picoreplayer. a nice solution plus there is a plugin for vera for squeezecenter (err LMS)
If you don’t mind running wires, you can build a nice wired system for less money. There’s a Russound plugin that’s pretty nice for Vera. You can get Russound units on ebay used if you’re patient. Also monoprice makes a zoned amp that looks nice. You can then plug those amps into a sonos source or whatever you want. Since they have multiple sources you can add as many as you need (usually 4-6 max). Cost really depends on how many zones you want. If you only want a few zones (<3) a sonos may be cheaper than a wired system. I’ve got 12 zones so a hybrid solution turns out to be more affordable.
Hey,
Could you like explain how are you doing this hybrid setup, i’m very much interested in setting up multiroom audio but cant seem to get my head around it.
If you could just show how you have set it up, that should be enough to get me started…
Traditional multi room wired audio systems tend to have one rack mountable amplifier. The amplifier has 4-6 stereo RCA line level inputs. You would connect a sonos connect to one of those sources. That would allow you to listen to that 1 sonos source in one or many rooms of a house. If you like 80’s rock, but your wife likes 70’s disco and you want to listen to music at the same time, you’d need 2 sonos connects. She would listen to the device on input #1 in the kitchen and you could listen to input #2 in the living room. With a good zoned system you can listen to different sources in the same or different rooms. To control the sonos, you’d need to use the sonos app on your phone. There’s a plugin for sonos so you could also do some limited control with Vera. Most wired whole house sound systems also have in wall controllers. A controller is typically installed in each room with speakers. This allows volume, source, and in more advanced systems a screen playlist and currently playing song. These traditional systems also have a serial port or in more modern systems an ethernet port. These interfaces can allow full control of the functions of the unit such as source selection, volume, on/off etc. that’s how a Russound amp can integrate with a Vera, through the serial port.
I’d recommend finding a system you like and looking at an install guide. Installation varies a bit among systems. Also just a warning, many of these systems are dealer systems so sometimes it can be tough to get information. I think this is getting better. Hope this helps.
I use Vera in concert with Sonos in my whole home audio system. I didn’t just want background audio, I wanted a system that would blow out windows or provide soft background music. Below is the back of the rack system that I have in the basement. This rack provides networking, audio indoor and outdoor, video and CCTV for the whole house plus a dedicated home theater. Vera controls power to the amps and processors as well as controlling Sonos through scene’s.
Yes, just one Sonos. Its only me and the wife in the house so one is all that’s needed. I did set the system up for multiple zones if needed in the future but we’ve been using this for 3 years happily.
Forgive me when it comes to the Vera end of things. My house has 55 zwave devices but I am a 1st grade student when it comes to programming Vera. Hell I can’t even figure out how to get the PLEG app to work. What I have is a scene called Home Audio On; it turns on the processors, then the amps one second later (to avoid any POP sounds) it then, under the “advance” tab of the scene I have commands to set the volume of Sonos to 30 and play Pandora.
I have a off scene that does the same in reverse and an additional set of matching scenes for the outdoor system and their own amplifiers.
On a side note, is this forum going to make me go through this insane verification process each time I post? If it is, this may be my 2nd and last post…
[quote=“tcrote5516”]I use Vera in concert with Sonos in my whole home audio system. I didn’t just want background audio, I wanted a system that would blow out windows or provide soft background music. Below is the back of the rack system that I have in the basement. This rack provides networking, audio indoor and outdoor, video and CCTV for the whole house plus a dedicated home theater. Vera controls power to the amps and processors as well as controlling Sonos through scene’s.
[/quote]
Nice installation by the way! Very clean cables!
what would be the process to get polk play-fi stuff integrated?
Their Omni S2 can be had for $150 right now (and I’ve actually got a 50% off everything code I’m not sure what to use on - so I can get them for $90 each…though rumor at slick deals is they won’t let you use it on more than 1 of the same thing).
