Wireless Music such as Sonos in a Wired World

• Wi Home Integration
• 7 years ago
• Categories: Home Automation

Many questions from our customers deal with setting up video and audio equipment wirelessly.  Wireless is growing in popularity, because it is cheaper and easier if you don’t already have wires.

Sonos is the leading wireless music system supporting 16-bit music. Its user interface is clean and it has the most music services both free and paid. Sonos or one of its counterparts can accommodate small as well as large spaces inside a home.

Here are some important considerations when thinking about adding high-quality, wireless audio to your home.

• In most large homes clients prefer having higher performing, low profile in-ceiling speakers. Some speakers are small aperture, custom paint matched or even invisible.
• Sonos then becomes a source with 1 or more Sonos Connect Players.
• Amplification, switching and control can be done by more advanced platforms like Control 4, URC, Savant, Lode Audio, Elan G, Crestron and others. 
• There is no need for a player taking up counter or furniture space and an outlet.  Clean & Unseen.
• Sonos can offer a solution to retro-wiring a music zone with few to no holes. Hide a Sonos Connect Amp in a bedroom closet near an outlet and hide an in-ceiling single point stereo speaker.
• In rooms where surround sound is desired one can add Sonos as a Source. When a traditional amplified surround sound is not within budget, then a decent wireless first step 5.1 system can be created via Sonos. The Sonos Bar covers the LCR channels and basic AV processing (but not equal to performance AV Receiver). You can even recess Sonos in a suitable rear wall with power via Thenos back boxes.
• In rooms where there is no wiring and no need to hide a table top unit like kid’s bedrooms a portable Sonos Play 1 is perfect.
• Heos is a versatile wireless alternative that is higher resolution, and embedded in Denon AVRs. BlueSound offers hi-res 24 bit audio. Bose will impress its loyal following. Playfi has a number of speakers it works with including Klipsch, Martin Logan, & Paradigm.In summary, wireless is best when paired with a wired control platform that can amplify for performance landscape speakers, hide speakers in rooms without taking up precious counter space and still have cohesiveness, independence and wireless benefits only where you want it most.

  If you’d like more information about adding a wireless sound system to your home, contact us for a free estimate.