Now that I’ve got some basic automation setup (zwave locks, light control, thermostats) I’m starting to think of whole house audio. I’ve read the forums and I love some of the stuff folks are doing with both Squeezbox and Sonos systems. But I’m still having a hard time making a determination of which way to go, so hopefully I can get some advice/tips/pointers/caveats here.
Unfortunately, my walls are closed now and we have NO desire to do any additional wiring (we’re Sandy victims and just want the house done!). So I’m looking to implement a music system where the players can operate via wireless or Ethernet (fortunately I ran CAT6 or 5e everywhere).
Here are my desires/thoughts:
Ability to pull from a central music library, understand a few formats (FLAC, MP3, WMA lossless). Ability to also pull from a central A/V receiver? (for things like local radio, audio from a concert DVD that might be playing, etc)
Sync/no-delay across players in different rooms playing the same music source. Obviously also being able to play different music in different rooms if so desired.
Integration with Vera to do things like voice announcements, like “Someone opened front door”, etc.
Players that can play other Internet sources on their own, like Spotify, Pandora, Shoutcast, etc.
Maybe something else I’m not mentioning that I might like?
I went with using the Squeezebox plugin for the following reasons.
Cheaper than Sonos
Cheaper than Sonos
Cheaper than Sonos.
I have an XBMC machine in every room running on a mini Zotac PC, so I already had everything I needed and didn’t even know it. Plus I had a few older laptops and Android phones that can run as squeezebox clients.
I want to sync video also, which I do through the VLC feature. I can play a video from a “host” and each client can connect to it and video and audio will be in sync. I have not added this to XBMC, MythTV or Vera. I just execute it from the CLI, but I hope to at least put it in XBMC somehow.
Now I am just looking for a voice that matches Jarvis from Iron Man, than get some HAL going…
TC1, you’ll get all those things from Sonos. Not all of the models have line in but if any Sonos unit in your network does then you can feed the signal over the mesh to any and all units.
You will probably want to consider sound quality, post-purchase support quality and file formats supported.
I’m bummed that Logitech gave up on the Squeezebox. I was seriously looking at Sonos for a replacement but they don’t support 24 bit audio
I have found myself using XBMC for a lot of my audio needs (it supports 24 bit) and some of the add-ons make it a nice solution [e.g. lyrics are shown as a song plays]
Some good thoughts here, I’d like to provide some additional feedback.
macrho - why do you say Logitech gave up on the SB? Have they stopped making them? I know there was an uproar over the new UE software replacing the SB software, but it looks like they have re-released the SB software for people who want to go back to it.
futzle - Yes, sound quality does matter to me, but I’m willing to concede anything compact will have its limitations. When you mentioned post-purchase support, was that in reference to SBs being discontinued?
gibby - I like the idea of XBMC PCs in every room, but the preference I have is that the user interface be self-contained on the unit, ie, you can play music without having to have another device on your person. And small footprint, being able to set the unit on a kitchen countertop without having to add external speakers, controller, etc. Again, not a deal breaker, but a preference.
So… if SBs are truly discontinued, is the only other game in town Sonos? Great product, but as others have pointed out, pricey.
Not sure where I’m going to go. I loved my SlimDevices and was disappointed when Logitech bought them. I was looking at Sonos for a while but the lack of 24 bit music is a deal breaker.
Right now, I find myself using only 2 of my SlimDevices boxes: one in the bedroom and the other in a study area. The other rooms that have TVs I find myself using XBMC with the Aeon MQ 5 skin.
Most of my XBMC boxes are running Windows 8.1 64-bit. I have a variety of Intel NUC boxes, they are fantastic and incredibly small. I’ve replaced the cases with metal ones that are fanless, basically the whole case is a heat sync. I’ve also started using VoxCommando as it has the ability to control vera and XBMC via voice. I can say things like: “Play song we will rock you” and it queues up Queen for me.
If of interest, I can describe the setup in more detail
How do you interact with them? For example, you walk up to one in the kitchen and want to play a song from your central music library or listen to a Pandora station.
How do you interact with them? For example, you walk up to one in the kitchen and want to play a song from your central music library or listen to a Pandora station.[/quote]
I understand the software aspect, what I’m asking is the physical aspect. A Logitech SB is a self contained unit with its own LCD display. One can walk up to one and play music by pushing a button or turning a dial.
To reiterate, how do you change the music selection on your XBMC ‘box’ that is sitting on say your kitchen counter?
Exactly. And that’s what i love about the real SBs, small form factor and self contained. You don’t need any other device or interface to interact with it.
Now… if one could make a small XBMC with a built in touch interface…
Or the other alternative, and my ultimate goal, would be to have android or ipad touchscreens on the wall in every room. Simply walk up to it and hit the music icon for that room. That could then control the small media player/speaker setup on the kitchen counter. Basically a poor man’s Sonos system.
But there is no other interface, the screen is not touch though. But I can walk into any room and put it on, just like I would with TV.
You can also use an Android phone with some bluetooth speakers. At $199 a piece for the cheapest sonos… It is a tad much for the limited functionality. I can sync both whole house audio, live tv, movies and web browsers. Plus when I get HAL working, I only need to get mic’s plugged into each. I am not sure sonos has mic in.
[quote=“TC1, post:15, topic:178782”]Hmm… good points gibby and marcho. Maybe I’m going about this all wrong.
I could just as easily get iPad or android docks with speakers and turn them into media players. If I can get the tablets cheap enough…[/quote]
Exactly, then it can be used for more than just this purpose. I have been testing different intercom apps for Android but they are all lacking, might just integrate them in to my PBX system.
No, I did not know that about Squeezebox. It was more a reference to the generally positive support that users get on the Sonos forums, and the fact that there are occasional firmware updates.
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