So next August my wife and I, approaching empty nest status, are moving from our house to a being built condo (3 bedrooms with a “study” that will be my exercise space). The main space is a rectangle 17.5 ft wide and 32 ft long that is kitchen to dining area to living room with floor to ceiling windows and a balcony.
There was an upgrade option to prewire for speakers but in today’s world I figured wireless just makes more sense. But then I know little about this.
Could the knowledgable folks here educamacate me some?
Multiroom is less important than ease of use and decent sound for the main room.
I’m guessing a Sonos 5 with an Amazon Echo for the main room will be enough, heavy duty audiophiles we are not, and maybe a 1 on the far end for the kitchen area, but would I be better off with two 3s paired in stereo in the main space?
Is there a better system for me to use? Since multiroom is not so important should I spend more and get one highly rated Devialet Phantom or maybe the less expensive Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin instead?
Any of these will be able to access music stored in my iTunes collection and my podcasts, in addition to XM, internet radio, and any streaming service we spring for, yes?
We have a bunch of old LPs that we have not played in years, some passed on old jazz from my dad, and it would be nice to be able to play them. Any turntables that can connect to a system? Is there any need for a receiver with these systems? Can I adapt an older turntable and receiver to work with these? I embarrass myself I suspect …
Do I need a “NAS” device?
Please help reduce the magnitude of my ignorance! I suspect I’m not even asking the right questions. Thanks.
Almost any turnable will work, but you will usually need a preamp for it to bring the tiny signal up to line level. Back in the day these would be built into the receivers/amps but turntable inputs seems to be rare now.
Since you’re willing to go upmarket a bit, you should take a look at the Apple HomePod. It’s been delayed, but I guess that won’t matter since you’re not moving until August. There isn’t any full review of it yet, but the consensus of the people who heard it demo’d at WWDC said it sounded much better than an Echo and whichever Sonos it was going against. That probably shouldn’t be a shocker to anyone.
It can automatically analyze the makeup of whatever room it’s in and adjust the sound accordingly. So if you place it on table against a wall, for example, it will play the sound differently than if you place it in the center of a room. If ease of use and decent sound in the main room is an important factor, I would guess a tech like that couldn’t hurt. Also, you should be able to link it to any AirPlay 2 compatible speakers. A lot of companies support Airplay, including Devialet and Bowers & Wilkins. Sonos is also expected to be add compatibility sometime this year.
Besides your local music collection in iTunes, the HomePod will only support Apple Music (I think anyway, at the beginning at least). FWIW, I’ve heard that Apple Music has a pretty deep jazz selection, so that could mitigate having to buy or set up special equipment just to play your old records.
It seems like for now Apple is positioning the HomePod more as a high quality speaker than a smart speaker even though it will have the Siri function built in. Considering what you’re looking for, it sounds (sorry) like a good middle ground between a cheap Echo and an expensive Phantom/Zeppelin. Especially since you’re not in a rush to buy yet.
Same here. And while I’d like a stereo pair of Play:5s, I find the combo of a stereo pair of Play:1s and the subwoofer to be really all I need in anything but my open, vaulted ceiling living room/kitchen space. That’s my set up in the den (where I typically listen to music) and in my home office.
I also like my two Sonos 5 players. We recently got the amazon echo, and though it takes a bit of getting used to the commands, it works well with the Sonos players.
If you think you might ever want a home theater system, spring for the pre-wiring for the speakers. And if so, consider wiring for the most speakers that are on the high end systems today (that is, wire for a 9.2 system even if all you think you need is a 5.1 system). Wire is easy to install before the drywall goes on.
Second. Pre-wiring costs virtually nothing, though you will have to decide exactly what wiring system you want to use.
I just got an Echo Dot for Christmas. I paired it to a BT audio receiver with digital (TOSlink) output to my audio system. I’m very disappointed with the quality of the audio streaming from Amazon. (I consider my audio system to be above-average, but not by much.)
Re your albums, I would convert them to digital files one time, rather than having a turntable to play them as needed. This will eliminate the need to have a turntable sitting around. Plus, you can remove some of the noise that they are likely to have. (It takes some time to convert them properly, but no more than what it will take the first time you want to play them on a turntable.)
A NAS would be a good addition, especially since so many of them now have built-in media servers. I stream audio from a lot of sources, but I still hold on to over 26,000 tracks that I have accumulated over the years. There’s still no substitute for having your own FLAC audio files sitting on your home network.
I do not own any Sonos products, but a couple of my friends have complained about registration, upgrades, or other issues. I just don’t know enough to comment beyond that, though the products I’ve heard sounded pretty good.
I haven’t done this, but am thinking about it: get a low-power FM transmitter and hook it up to your main stereo or computer or whatever your music source is. Then any room with an FM tuner can tap into the signal. It won’t be audiophile, but will be cheap and seamless and insanely easy.
You’d think wouldn’t you? But the prewire upgrades for surround sound are priced at $675 for 5:1 and $875 for 7:2. That’s just installing the wires pre-drywall. Still have to buy speakers. Seems steep.
As it is we are not even planning on having a tv in that room and home theatre is not our thing.
Man, that pricing is a rip off. Buy some speaker wire and show up when the electricians are there with a 12 pack.
If you have existing stereo equipment a Chromecast Audio device works well to bring streaming to it, though as I understand it Amazon music and Itunes don’t integrate very well with them. Works great for other services though - I have used it for Napster, Deezer, Tidal, and streaming from my android phone using Rocket Player. Of course, Google Music naturally works. But it sounds like you have an old turntable and receiver (and presumably speakers). For $35, a Chromecast Audio might breath new life into them.
You might also consider the Klipsch Sixes or Three. They have Bluetooth, WiFi, digital and analog inputs AND can also take a signal directly from your turntable without the need for a preamp.
I don’t love the Play:3. The 1 and the 5 have gotten substantial updates and the 3 has been stagnant. I haven’t heard one in my home, but I have at a friend’s place. I didn’t think it was a true middle step between the other two.
I would think about two Play:1s and the subwoofer (wouldn’t need the Echo then either). I’ve really been impressed with the flexibility of that setup. Two Play:5s might be the ‘deluxe’ option. Fun to consider: 4 Play:1s and a subwoofer.
I agree. That’s like getting the special undercoating on a new car.
Let’s pick a speaker: left rear. Wherever it is located, you either need actual speaker cable run to it (from an amplified output) OR a source of power (usually 120 VAC, which means you can use BT, line-level audio, data, etc.) That’s usually the first decision you have to make. At the very least, you need to make sure you have 120 VAC outlets (assuming this is the USA) in the right places. For rear speakers that are mounted on the wall, this usually means a special outlet installation.
When I prewire, I use a combo outlet plate and run (at least) a 16/2 cable, an 18 AWG STP, and a data cable. Sometimes I upsize the 16 AWG cable and sometimes I add additional data cables. Most installers I know will do these drops for about $50 each, plus materials. The materials might add another $25 per drop, but will vary with the size of the dwelling and the location of the amplifier/switch/switching point. Obviously, if the amplifier/sound source is located between your front speakers, prewiring is likely not going to be necessary.
This is just my experience and may have no relation to your dwelling’s layout or your audio requirements.
Assuming going moderately deluxe - Which would you as music fans choose? Pretty dang decent dynamic range and clarity in stereo speakers (e.g. two Sonos Play:5s), or amazing rock your sock off dynamic range and clarity but in a single speaker so no real stereo separation (the Devialet Phantom)?
Neither, but that’s just me. But I’m not sure I really understand your requirements now, as neither of those systems seems to be connected to a turntable without some sort of additional device, but maybe I’m wrong about that. However, based on the prices we now have an idea of your budget.
What is the source of your music going to be: Streamed directly from a phone or tablet, streamed from a computer, streamed directly over wifi? A newer stereo receiver equipped with Apple Airplay and support for streaming services can be had for $300 (and another $100-200 for better amplification is still reasonable) and will connect to your turntable. Spend the rest of your money ($700 - $1,400) on old-school speakers and you should be happy. That kind of money buys great speakers.
The goal at this point is to have all music streamed wifi (probably better than Bluetooth) to the speaker(s) - that will primarily be from music in my computer library and possibly from some internet radio or maybe a streaming source such as Spotify (not a current user), and considering through a turntable that can stream directly to the speaker as well (I’ve found both TRNTBL and Love).
I would prefer good sound in a smallish footprint. The Devialet is pushing the envelope of the aimed budget (I could do two Play:5s for less) but it tempts mightily both by reports of its sound and by its design (both size and aesthetics).
Go with the Sonos. When you are depending on software updates from a manufacturer, Sonos has a much better outlook than a boutique manufacturer such as Devialet to provide updates, patches, and new features. They just have a much bigger customer base that demands it. Companies do abandon their customers now and again, ask people who bought Squeezebox systems (raises hand). Additionally, streaming services will always support popular systems like Sonos, support for the less used systems is usually delayed or non-existent.
And Bluetooth is horrible for music, you are right to stay away.
I will say that have never heard of Devialet before this thread, and looking at their website I walked within a block of two Devialet stores when I was in Paris recently. I certainly would have went in and listened if I had known about them. Since they do have a couple of stores in the Chicago area you should listen for yourself. If you do, please report back on the sound.
I did not realize they have a Chicago store. Going to the site it’s one of those places you need to book a demo at. But given that I am off next Saturday the 13th and the their store is on my path to Wrigleyville (where a ChiDope meet is happening) I put in a request to arrange. If it can be timed right I’ll do it then and report back. Apple stores apparently sell them too.
Yeah the ubiquity of Sonos is a plus. Odds are a single Play:5 would do me fine.