Multiple room speaker set up

[Biggun]

I am looking to instal some sort of multiple speaker set up in my new house (for music) and was looking for some advice. Hoping to run music to two rooms and a pair of outdoor speakers. I am not sure weather to load everything we own onto an iPod/pad or run all my music from a PC?
Looking for some suggestions for hardware, programs, diagrams, amps, speakers etc. I am SOOOOO behind with this technology, but I am sure I will pick it up pretty quick with all of your advice!

Thanks in advance

[Philquad]

how about a small media pc, run the movies to a tv
run the music, a 4 way speaker switch would be the go
then you could isolate the rooms or tv
thats a start

[gordon_s1942]

You could always do as my In Laws did one time with their Stereo and put a speaker in each room !!!

It was something to hear Slim Dusty yodeling in the Dining room and the guitar in the Kitchen.......

On a recent US Home Reno show, a couple wanted a piped system and while I think they got the cheapest to do what they wanted, it still cost them $3000.

[SS Dave]

Hi Biggun

Have a look at a SONOS system multiple room and it plays your music via WiFi



SS Dave

[iwacelect]

big gun, whats the budget your thinking?

[Biggun]

I haven't really got a budget at this stage. Maybe $1000?

[Philquad]

maybe just a new stereo with usb input
i used to have my pc hooked to the old technics 3 piece system, great for music & movies, bad for skype ect
thats where a speaker switch comes in
but from memory it halves the ohms or something with extra speakers
a audio expert would help

[Tiny]

Hi Biggun

Have a look at a SONOS system multiple room and it plays your music via WiFi



SS Dave

Hey Dave that looks great, have you experienced it; as I've heard that wireless systems like these do have interference probs, their page says they have solved those probs, rock solid! Have they?? Electric fences, inverters, other wireless devices????

_____________________________________________----

For the OP; I use my PC as the duke box here (love my music BTW) with WMP as the preferred player, iTunes is OK (just prefer WMA for my playlists).
if you are an audiophile; the PC is the best with music files stored in lossless forms such as WMA lossless for WMP or AAC lossless for iTunes.

I have 6000+ tracks on my duke box (occupies 200+ GB) with multiple playlists, star ratings & of course genres, with which I can select what I want & play it or set any group or the whole lot on shuffle, it's excellent.

I currently have the PC connected to my Stereo amp (Sony surround sound receiver), by RCA analogue connections, then wired speakers from there to multiple rooms.
I would prefer to go digital & wireless if I can, however the sound quality I have is excellent until I hear better.
Just my opinion of course so would welcome some more opinions, I'm interested too.

[iwacelect]

yamaha have great amps at the moment that have multiple zones and networkable (eg internet radio) all controlled from an app on your phone, dont even need the remote.

have a squiz



I work for a warranty agent so get to play with the whole range

[OhioTom76]

Do you have to be hearing the music in all three rooms at the same time? I would just pick up something like the Jawbone BigJambox, and take it with you to whatever room you want to listen to your music in. Beyond that, perhaps pick up two of them if there is someone else in your household that will want to be listening to music in another room at the same time. The added benefit is that they can play whatever they want from their device and you can play whatever you want from your device. Even better, when you have friends and family over, they can sync their own phones up to any of your BigJamboxes and play their own music through them too.

I have the original Jambox, which sounds great - but for outdoors especially, the BigJambox is much better suited.