If the idea of strolling from room to room with the sound of your favourite album or radio show following you through the house sounds idyllic, then a multi-room music system should be your home’s latest addition. Whilst you may be thinking this sounds like a rather swanky and luxurious accessory, the world of smart home technology has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, meaning that multi-source audio systems are actually more affordable.
So, if you think a multi-room music system could be the perfect new addition, feel free to use this helpful guide to help you plan it all out and make sure it works for your home.
Decide on the number of rooms
Firstly, you’ll need to decide on the number of rooms or ‘zones’ to include in your system. You might just want speakers in two or three of your entertaining spaces, for when you have guests over for parties. Or, you may wish to play music in a whole load of different spaces in your house, from the upstairs bedrooms to the outdoor decking area. Either way, you’ll need to come up with a clear plan of the whereabouts of your speaker system. Remember – you can always add more speakers in the future!
Work out how many sources you’ll have
As well as making a decision on how many speakers you want, you’ll also need to choose the audio sources you wish to stream through your speakers. For example, some homeowners might just want to keep it simple and have one audio source channelling into all speakers. Meanwhile, others might want to simultaneously listen to multiple sources in different zones. Unlike adding more speakers, adding more sources can be complex and expensive, so it’s always best to have an idea of what you want beforehand.
Wired or wireless?
Next up, you need to choose between a wired or wireless system. A wired system is reliable and ideal for rooms where you know the speaker will always be in the same spot – remember, just because it’s fixed to one spot, doesn’t mean you can’t have wireless controls. But, for a truly contemporary system, it’s best to go wireless. Wireless systems like Sonos offer flexibility, meaning you can rearrange the feng shui of your room whenever you like, without having to rewire or add wire extensions.
Choose your speaker designs
Once you’ve made up your mind about functionality, now for the aesthetics. Many homeowners opt to integrate their new speakers into the interior design of their property, rather than having a traditional free-standing set that takes up lots of floor space. You can build them into the walls, bookshelves or even the ceilings, and paint the grilles to match the existing decor.
DIY or professional installation?
If you just want to position your speakers and run wires between rooms, most DIY novices will be able to achieve this themselves. However, if you want a customised system that includes in-wall or ceiling speakers, multiple sources and speaker programming, it’s best to call in the professionals. After all, there’s no point planning the ideal multi-speaker system, only for it to not quite function properly because you’ve installed it wrong.
For expert multi-room speaker system installation in South Wales, call South Wales TV Aerials today. We’ve been installing Sonos systems for over 20 years, allowing our customers to enjoy a high-quality audio experience throughout their entire home.