Multi Room Audio

D

Duke97

Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2015
Messages
71
Location
USA
Hi, I would appreciate input about multi room audio. I am finishing-up new home construction and need to make some decisions about amplification and control of in ceiling speakers.

So far, the set-up is 12 pairs of Triad Designer Series speakers (6 ohm) with 8 Zones. Home runs of speaker cable (14awg) go to an equipment rack. There is hard-wired connections of Cat 6 and fiber for audio equipment. There is solid WiFi coverage.

Sources will include streaming/Spotify, internet radio, ripped music on a server, etc. Basic controls would be to adjust volume, change a source and group/ungroup zones. We decided against a home automation system, thus no Control-4, Savant, etc.

My initial thinking was to consider one of the two options below:

OPTION #1: connect a SonosAmp to each pair of speakers

OPTION #2: connect SonosPorts (or Blue Sound Nodes) to multi-channel amplifiers like Anthem MDX 16 (65w at 8 ohm), AudioControl 2680EQ (100w at 8ohm) etc. If I go with option #2, does 65 vs. 100w watts matter when driving 6ohm in-ceiling speakers? Is better to turn on/off with 12V triggers or to rely on signal-sensing?

Or should I be considering something else?

Multi-channel is new to me and I would appreciate input from people who have experience with it and/or Sonos/Blue Sound.

Thanks,
Duke
 
I’ve got four Sonos zones with a combination of Connect and Connect Amp hardware, with a Playbar on the upstairs TV and a Play 3 in the office. It all just works and the user interface is better than most.

I’m not sure you’d hear a difference going with a multichannel amp and Ports vs just using the Sonos Amps. For the $200 adder over the port you get a stereo 125 wpc amp. Not a bad deal.

For me the user interface would be the deciding factor. I haven’t used the Bluesound stuff so can’t say how it compares to Sonos.
 
Big B, thank you. How do you find the ease of use and reliability of the Bluesound App?
 
W9TR, thanks. I agree that the user interface really matters so various family members can/will use the system. I'm leaning towards SonosAmps. Best, Duke.
 
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