Sonos and whole-house audio

[P1]

I'm in the midst of finally setting up my whole-house audio system. This is what I currently have:

1) TV room: 5.1 system
2) Formal dining: two in-ceiling speakers
3) Master bedroom: two in-ceiling speakers
4) Master bathroom: two in-ceiling speakers
5) Deck: two outside speakers

I'm OK on the TV room, as my receiver will drive all that. What is everyone's suggestion on powering the remaining eight speakers? I currently have a small investment in Sonos (I have a bunch of Play:1 speakers, and a Sonos Connect). I suppose I could buy four Sonos amps (or two, if I only want two zones), but before I do that, is there another, perhaps better way?

Thanks in advance...

[gtron]

*subscribed*

[RABAUKE]

I'm old school in some respects as I have a tube amp and ZU Audio speakers in my living room. I spin vinyl and CD's but also have a Sonos system for when I want to use my digital library or steam music. I've installed a couple of Sonos Play1's on my back deck and am thinking about doing a couple more on my covered front porch. For most of my listening the Sonos system is so convenient and fits the bill. But when I really feel like listening to music nothing touches the tubes and vinyl or CDs, especially when I have a fire going and an drinking some fine whisk(e)y. That's a more labour intensive experience, but it's like smoking a good cigar in that it requires a commitment to be fully appreciated. My two cents but I'm old and like to hang on to some of the old ways rather than going full technology.....kind of like driving my naturally aspired straight six with a manual gear box.

[P1]

Originally Posted by RABAUKE

I'm old school in some respects as I have a tube amp and ZU Audio speakers in my living room. I spin vinyl and CD's but also have a Sonos system for when I want to use my digital library or steam music. I've installed a couple of Sonos Play1's on my back deck and am thinking about doing a couple more on my covered front porch. For most of my listening the Sonos system is so convenient and fits the bill. But when I really feel like listening to music nothing touches the tubes and vinyl or CDs, especially when I have a fire going and an drinking some fine whisk(e)y. That's a more labour intensive experience, but it's like smoking a good cigar in that it requires a commitment to be fully appreciated. My two cents but I'm old and like to hang on to some of the old ways rather than going full technology.....kind of like driving my naturally aspired straight six with a manual gear box.

Very much respect that sort of a setup, and I can always build one of those separately, but this is very much for just pumping music to the rooms in my house where we hang out most of the time. What you're describing, I'd probably put that in a listening room. Some B&W 801s, Classe/Rotel amps is in my future, but just not exactly the near future. Appreciate the input though.

[zx10guy]

P1et,

It'll be interesting to see how this project goes. I haven't put much thought into any type of music streaming around my house. I'm still old school with dedicated sound systems and in particular, I have a sound room I built out.

On the topic of vinyl....here's my current setup:

[P1]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

P1et,

It'll be interesting to see how this project goes. I haven't put much thought into any type of music streaming around my house. I'm still old school with dedicated sound systems and in particular, I have a sound room I built out.

On the topic of vinyl....here's my current setup:

Very nice! Which amp is that?

[zx10guy]

It's not an amp amp. It's a phono preamp. Vincent Audio PHO 700. It's a two piece system with the box on the left being the power supply and the box on the right being the tube phono preamp.

Here are the rest of the electronics:

[P1]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

It's not an amp amp. It's a phono preamp. Vincent Audio PHO 700. It's a two piece system with the box on the left being the power supply and the box on the right being the tube phono preamp.

Here are the rest of the electronics:

Do I spy B&W speakers? Let's see those. Lovely choice in components, by the way.

[zx10guy]

Yes. 4x N804 and HTM1. Subs are Velodyne DD18 and HGS15II.

[RABAUKE]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

It's not an amp amp. It's a phono preamp. Vincent Audio PHO 700. It's a two piece system with the box on the left being the power supply and the box on the right being the tube phono preamp.

Here are the rest of the electronics:

Always a big fan of Bryston Amps.

[RABAUKE]

Originally Posted by P1et

Very much respect that sort of a setup, and I can always build one of those separately, but this is very much for just pumping music to the rooms in my house where we hang out most of the time. What you're describing, I'd probably put that in a listening room. Some B&W 801s, Classe/Rotel amps is in my future, but just not exactly the near future. Appreciate the input though.

So the thing I like about the Sonos is that you can integrate it into a Listening room as well as use it to fill the whole home. I haven't been able to shake off the stand alone thing completely. I also have a separate home theatre in my TV/family room.

[RABAUKE]

We've just moved into this place full time now and I recently set up the living room which is primarily where we listen to music. I'm having some challenges with layout so don't have room for the turntable right now, I do love vinyl in the winter time, have a fire, some whisk(e)y and enjoy the glow of the tubes and the sweet sound of the needle dragging across the disc....

[sleepezy]

I'm just looking at the Yamaha Musiccast range. I've no investment in Sonus so starting from scratch - 1st couple of speakers arrived today and 'streaming link' to an existing receiver is on it's way.

From what I've read the system is more flexible - ie it can access any source connected to any product and play it in any room. The WXC50 should allow any existing setup to be used in the 'main' room.

Fingers crossed it goes OK!

[zx10guy]

Close up of the PHO 700 phono preamp:

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by RABAUKE

Always a big fan of Bryston Amps.

I've been happy with the 6B-ST driving the front set of speakers. I like their design philosophy...mainly science and no esoteric voodoo. Their burn in procedure for their amps is insane. Running the amp at full tilt for 24 hours to see if anything breaks. Plus I like that they include the performance check out sheet with the amp. The warranty is the best I've seen in the industry at 20 years (although it starts from the date of manufacture). These things are literally built like tanks.

I also like how their VP, James Tanner, is very active in one of the online forums dedicated to Bryston.

[porshah]

Originally Posted by P1et

I'm in the midst of finally setting up my whole-house audio system. This is what I currently have:

1) TV room: 5.1 system
2) Formal dining: two in-ceiling speakers
3) Master bedroom: two in-ceiling speakers
4) Master bathroom: two in-ceiling speakers
5) Deck: two outside speakers

I'm OK on the TV room, as my receiver will drive all that. What is everyone's suggestion on powering the remaining eight speakers? I currently have a small investment in Sonos (I have a bunch of Play:1 speakers, and a Sonos Connect). I suppose I could buy four Sonos amps (or two, if I only want two zones), but before I do that, is there another, perhaps better way?

Thanks in advance...

Does your current receiver have 2 zone capability? If so, you can use Zone 2 to drive the rest of your house. Do the speakers that are wired for dining/bed/bath/outside terminate near your current receiver? Niles makes a speaker selector switch that can be used to send audio to the rest of the house.

[EyeGuy]

I've never been a fan of in ceiling or wall speakers, but since you already have them built in, might as well use them. I would get a decent multi zone receiver that's Bluetooth capable. Yamaha makes a good receiver plus you can add musiccast speakers down the road if needed.

[P1]

Originally Posted by EyeGuy

I've never been a fan of in ceiling or wall speakers, but since you already have them built in, might as well use them. I would get a decent multi zone receiver that's Bluetooth capable. Yamaha makes a good receiver plus you can add musiccast speakers down the road if needed.

I went and listened to in-wall speakers, and cannot say I was impressed. However, the in-ceiling speakers *did* sound remarkably good. What I have in my house is good enough for background music, which is the only thing I'll be using it for.

[P1]

So after some more research, I think I'll stick with my Sonos Connect and feed that into an 8-channel amp. I have quite a bit of Snap AV stuff in my house now, and it seems like their Episode EA-AMP-8D-70A would fit the bill. Let you know how it's coming along...

[Alfisti]

I use my smartphone to play music in whatever room i am in.

Done.

[fbsm]

subscribed

[KingOfJericho]

Some nice setups in here...

I go in and out of being obsessed with home audio. I try not to even go to the Audiogon website.

Here's what I currently have:
Monitor: Sony 930D 65"
Front towers: Martin Logan EM-ESL
Center: Martin Logan EM-C2
Surrounds: Mirage OM-C3 sats (these need upgrading)
Subwoofer: SVS PB-2000 (I LOVE THIS THING!)
Pre-amp/receiver: Marantz SR6008 (powers the rears and center only)
Amp: B&K Reference 200.2 (ESLs only)

Now that I commute full time and spend 2+ hours on the train each day, I spend the overwhelming majority of my listening time on my Bang & Olufsen H6 headphones, which I absolutely adore.

As far as Sonos goes, I use an Play:Amp to pump music through the Marantz (zone 2) to my outside speakers (DefTech AW6500).