Multi-room wireless speakers

CantGetNoSleep

I'm looking for a multi-room sound system to add to my HTPC and also use to stream music from Spotify / YouTube etc by phone.

It is a small apartment - I need two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a big L-shaped type living room. My initial thoughts were Sonos Play 1 & 3 as I'm copying a friend who works with this type of system.

Any additional thoughts or suggestions? Are there any Chinese or other types of set-ups I should be looking at?

Budget about 1000e

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Sonos all the way. Fantastic speakers that work really well.

johnybean

You could get some cheap portable speakers with 3.5mm jacks in them and use the Google chromecast audio to "cast" music from a local server or Spotify etc. They can also be linked and set up in suck a way as to play the same music on all speakers throughout the house at the same time or just individual speakers. Interesting article here about it

CantGetNoSleep

That actually looks like it would work out much cheaper - I might try it out with some old speakers I have to see how user friendly it is. Can always sell on the chromecasts if it doesn't work?

Any suggestions on speakers you would use with that? It is a newly renovated apartment so part of the attraction of the Sonos set-up is the way it looks.

johnybean

Anything with a headphone jack should work until you get the hang of it and confirm it suits your needs, after that the sky is the limit, maybe some nice 5.1 desktop speakers

CantGetNoSleep

Thanks - now I just need to source two Chromecasts at a good price (I need the EU plug so can't buy the Curry's ones) then I will update back here on how it goes.

CantGetNoSleep

I'm going for the above system in the end - will try with the below speakers in my bathrooms / smaller rooms.

I'm still looking for something which looks as good as the Sonos Play 1 and Play 5 for my downstairs & bigger rooms (e.g. the 360o sound)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/PG735EUK-Universal-Speaker-Adapter-Smartphone/dp/B008YU9G8K/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1462217957&sr=1-1&keywords=gear4+xorb

CantGetNoSleep

To update on this - I did it on the cheap so rather than buying four Sonos Play1 and a Sonos Play5 (at a cost of 1500€), I got five Chromecast audio (97.50€) and four Gear4 Xorb speakers from Amazon for bedrooms & bathrooms (86€ delivered at the time of ordering). Sound-wise it isn't probably not quite as good as the Sonos but difference is not huge, and functionality wise the Google Cast app seems just as good.

I will still add a proper 5.1 surround system with amp in my main living / dining room, but overall it is certainly a good budget option if Sonos is out of your price range - in total it will cost me less than 300€.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Nice job. As you said good for people on a budget, but I can guarantee you it doesn't come close to Sonos in terms of sound quality.

CantGetNoSleep

Curb Your Enthusiasm wrote: »

Nice job. As you said good for people on a budget, but I can guarantee you it doesn't come close to Sonos in terms of sound quality.

Certainly not as good, but same functionality and very decent sound for 20% of the price. Not an option for those who want great sound, but definitely a good option to get started

deremol

CantGetNoSleep.. just wondering where you bought the Chromecast Audio??

CantGetNoSleep

They were 19.50 in PC World & Currys a few weeks ago. According to the website they are still the same - they regularly seem to go on offer at this price

deremol

CantGetNoSleep wrote: »

They were 19.50 in PC World & Currys a few weeks ago. According to the website they are still the same - they regularly seem to go on offer at this price

Thanks for that.. I will give it a go this week

CantGetNoSleep

The other option is that you get Google Cast enabled speakers - LG have some at decent prices, but integrating them into a system with Chromecast Audio seems to have some complications according to reports online

deremol

Think I will stick to what works... you still happy with the set up?

CantGetNoSleep

Yeah syncs great - still need to add a proper system for my living room but the smaller speakers in my smaller rooms are working well