mnotta

I am looking to add a multi room home audio system. I know what speakers I want and how many zones. It will be 5 zones inside running Polk RC80i speakers and 1 zone outside running definitive technology aw6500s. I am having trouble determined what amp I should get to run everything. I don't mind have wall controllers for each zone. Anyone have experience with home audio or have any recommendations on what amp could run this type of system.

Matt

HDRyder999

Are you looking to play a single source in 5 different locations or 5 different sources X 5 different locations. Big difference in equipment and cost.

happyjack92

i know enough about this stuff to be dangerous, and i'd say that 6 zones is getting really complicated. you're going to be dropping a decent amount of money to set up that system, i'd hire a professional to take a look at your rooms and make some recommendations.

are you dead set on in-ceiling speakers? i've never really been too impressed by the "fullness" of their sound.

are you doing sub-woofers in any of the zones? is there a home theater in any of these rooms?

have you considered how you'll synchronize music across the zones? will you want options to play different music in different zones?

crutchfield has some self-help guides, but even they recommend getting a pro involved once you expand beyond 2-3 zones...

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-f7YbEy...oom_power.html

BTW, i use sonos system composed of a combination of sonos "all-in-one" speakers (PLAY3 and PLAY5), as well as sonos amps that drive outdoor speakers, and then a sony 7.1 home theatre receiver that i run through a sonos connect.

RyanL11

I'd take a look at Dennon Heos systems, this is what I'm looking to go with in the future. It's only 4 Zones, but you could get two, or buy two addition zone amps. https://usa.denon.com/us/heos-drive

My parents have thier wireless speakers and they very impressive.

I just put Polk a Audio in ceiling speakers throughout my house, and I'm impressed with them. Make sure you insulate each one when you put them in.

David2

We have the Sonos system and it's pretty damn awesome.

balengar

explain what you mean by "5 zones"

Mjv2744

I would second sonos. Sorry third it

Gmack

Try Home Theater Direct. They will have anything you need.

http://www.htd.com/

Bhall1116

Sonos no question.

westbootie

Stay away from Russound systems.
NOT home owner user friendly.
I suckered into installing it in my house when I built it. I wanted the Sonos, but the stereo guy talked me out of it.

gfretwell

I am running audio all over the house, I run line level to each area (5.1) and have separate amps at each place. It is an assortment of amps. In a small room a good grade of "PC" speaker/amp is plenty.

mnotta

Thanks for all the advice. To clarify a few things, there is already my home theater system wired up and installed. This will be for music in the background throughout the house. I would like the ability to play from at least 2 different sources at the same time. I had previously been looking at the MCA-66 from HTD but I am by no means set on it.

As for the Sonos. I have heard good things however I don't like the idea of having the speakers resting on bookshelves or at one side of the room facing out towards the rest. I have worries of the sound distribution not being great. I also have worries with any wireless speakers not playing in sink with each other across all the rooms. I am going to have to get somewhere Sonos is installed and take a listen.

Matt

jrolin1

I have 4 chromecast audio in the house and one at the dock. Works amazingly well. You can run them all independently or in groups. All controlled from your phone. I have four outdoor speakers on the house and four fake rock speakers in the yard. They connect to your wifi and directly stream music from the internet not your phone so it does not drain your battery. They have rca and optical digital outputs (both on the same 3.5 mm port) to connect to your amp/speakers. You can set a delay on each chromecast audio when in a group to sync the music if needed. At 35 bucks each it is not much risk if you don't like them. One of the cool parts is that you use the native apps (iheartradio, pandora, google music, plex, spotify, etc.) to control the music cast.

https://www.cnet.com/products/chromecast-audio/

doobs41378

We have Sonos as well. Love them.

BACKTOTHESEA

You will need a multi zone/multi source controller to accomplish what you want. It will get pricey for what will be at best background music.

Multi room single source s much cheaper and easier and may already be possible with your current pre amp (I am assuming you are running a separates theater system).

I think your facts are a bit mixed up with your concerns of sound distribution being better from the ceiling.

Bhall1116

You can put in ceiling speakers on a Sonos amp. Give them a call and ask for a local retailer. Go down and talk to them. You will be pleasantly surprised I'm sure.
Dont call an installer out unless you would consider hiring them.

thajeffski

my uncle has 10 zones all running on sonos amps hidden through out the house, three outside... I did all the install work, it was easy as pie as all the built in speakers were already wired... just replaced the old as hell amps and now you have access to every zone, can easily play different music in each zone (or the same across all zones).

If you don't go sono's you're really missing out man, sono's has put home audio installers out of business because they are so good.

uncles system has been running for four years no problems

http://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/connectamp.html

happyjack92

sonos has smaller speakers that can be paired as L-R channels (models PLAY1 and PLAY3). the only thing they require is power. they make wall mounts for each of these models so they don't have to be sitting on a bookshelf of end table.

additionally, as mentioned above, you can buy a sonos connect-amp (http://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/connectamp.html) to drive any pair of speakers that you'd like. my outdoor zone is a connect-amp driving a pair of polk atrium 8s and there's plenty of power to drive clean sound through them.

if being "in sync" is a primary concern, as well as having the ability to play different music in multiple zones, then sonos will easily meet those requirements. sonos is ***flawless*** when it comes to syncing across zones...never even 1/2 a beat off. moreover, within it's current specs you could play up to 32 zones, and have every one playing a different song...and it's all controlled through one app...either on your computer, phone or ipad/tablet. kids can control their own zone while you play music outside near the grill, and the wife can play her music drinking wine in the den.

bose and denon are finally stepping up their games to complete with sonos, but i don't think you'll hear anyone saying that sonos is losing the multi-room race. the best news is their commitment to keeping older hardware up to date. my oldest sonos piece is the "connect" (no amp) that's hooked up to my home theater. that connect is almost 8 years old and it still works flawlessly. i've replaced / upgraded my HT receiver twice in that same time span but the sonos connect just keeps on chugging.

StClairFlats

Sonos. Sonos. Sonos. Sonos.

thajeffski

And apparently soon you'll be able to use an echo/amazon alexa to control it!