What powered speakers for multiroom airplay ?

Limnotarobot on 13/07/2015 - 12:24

Thoughts on speakers around 150 bucks a pair to be used as multiroom speakers, using a bunch of airport express routers and a rooted galaxy S4 with play music?
I'm going this route instead of sonos or similar as i don't like being locked into such an expensive system… and i'm cheap. Old airports can be had for 40 bucks.

The speakers would be turned on 24/7 so if any have auto standby or similar that would be positive. I plan on having them in a few different rooms and the shed.

Preferably a 2.1 system, or if you think i can get away with 2.0 then i'm all ears!

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • seamus5 on 13/07/2015 - 13:16

    Do you mean multiroom as in synchronized play? I might be out of date but I was under the impression you needed to drive with a PC and itunes to play in sync.

    Someone might be better placed to answer…

    If you don't want sync then Chromecast with audio adapter might be a more stable choice.

    • imnotarobot on 13/07/2015 - 14:45

      Yes. My rooted s4, with the help of an app called allcast or airaudio (i forget what it's called) can stream any audio output into airplay devices. Ive tested it with one airport express and a chromecast and they both recieve the same audio, albeit out of time. I'm pretty sure just using airport expresses will mean they're better synced. I have just picked up another to test when I'm home.
      great thing is i can stream pandora, mixradio, googleplay, or any radio/audio service to them.
      i thought about a whole bunch of chromecasts with adapters but cost would be about the same just more fiddly. So going this route.
      the app allpws for audio timing offsets, too.
      i will post up with my setup and progress later of anyone is interested.

  • DealzEddy123 on 13/07/2015 - 14:32

    I have a Samsung soundbar that does that. from memory it was around 600-900 but im sure some of the cheaper models would have same features.

    • imnotarobot on 13/07/2015 - 14:50

      I'm looking at doing 4 areas (lounge, bedroom, kitchen, outside/shed) for under 800. So far I'm on track. Just need speakers to be around 150 a pair.

  • imnotarobot on 13/07/2015 - 19:22

    Logitech Z263's look promising. Thoughts? Now just to wait for a bargain….

  • imnotarobot on 13/07/2015 - 20:30

    Furthermore, I've just tested my setup with 3x Airport express and it WORKS PERFECTLY.
    So, for those wondering- I am using a rooted Samsung S4, running Cyanogenmod 10.2 with an app called AllCast. I tried the app on Cyanogenmod 11 but it didn't work for some reason. So I downgraded it.
    Coupled with the three Airports connected to my wireless network, with the phone connected to the same network, I am able to stream ANY audio from my phone (excluding calls) into any/all of the routers.

    So essentially I have an wireless audio streaming network all controllable from my phone. I can turn on/off separate rooms and control the volume of all from the phone.

    How you like them apples, Sonos!

    • seamus5 on 14/07/2015 - 06:38

      Can you get the music in sync?

  • imnotarobot on 14/07/2015 - 12:03

    Just picked up 2 pairs of z623 speakers for 110 each. Coupled with my other z something pc speakers i'm looking at $440, having picked up three airports for 140 total, giving streaming audio to three rooms. Add another $150 for outside when i get to it.
    So total 590. Not including the phone.

    I'd say thats a pretty good solution!

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