A Thread For Multi-Room Synchronized Audio

[Petrushka]

How good are alternatives to Sonos?
1. How does Bluesound work?
2. Roon?
3. HEOS?
4. Wiim?
5. ??

My personal priorities are:
1. Multi-room synch. Not negotiable
2. Grouping and ungrouping.
3. Local library
4. Ease of use for non-techies.

I would prefer not to discuss sound quality, except where it is really bad.
I’m kind of up to my eyeballs in Sonos app troubles. Either they fix it, or go out of business.

Anyone who has deep technical knowledge is encouraged to contribute.

 

[bachatero]

I don't know if it's what you're looking for, but a classic setup with a receiver wired up to a bunch of speakers in every room fits all your constraints and has approximately zero (0) of the issues associated with Bluetooth and Sonos.

 

[Petrushka]

I don't know if it's what you're looking for, but a classic setup with a receiver wired up to a bunch of speakers in every room fits all your constraints and has approximately zero (0) of the issues associated with Bluetooth and Sonos.

Don’t own the home. Has to be wireless. I forgot to mention that.

But wired doesn’t have sync issues, so I assumed wireless.

 

[Chrispy]

I do like my Audio Chromecasts for that, too bad they're discontinued (or want to take a chance on ebay). Wiim would probably draw my interest more than the others.

 

[DonH56]

I have the same SONOS issue except I read about the troubles so did not upgrade my system yet. They have already sent a couple of "apology" emails with a timeline for all the fixes stretching into Sept timeframe. They'd be better off letting people just revert to the previous OS until they fix their bugs. I assume you have asked them if there's a way to revert? I know they said "no" initially but have not followed up in a couple of months, I've just denied the updates. With a large investment in SONOS I am disinclined to change, hoping they get their act together, but this is the second major FUBAR release in the past few years. Apparently they haven't learned...

Bluesound, Heos, Wiim all have their pros/cons and admirers/detractors. Wiim seems to be the current favorite. I think Roon ia a pricier alternative and requires more HW. There used to be a Python group dedicated to making SONOS code but I've no idea their status. I think SONOS sued them at one point even though they essentially cracked the code in a "clean room". If there are SW drivers out there, and you are savvy enough to deal with them (I doubt I am), that might be another way.

 

[DWPress]

I've been using Roon with several old/new Apple TV and AirPort Express units across 3 buildings on my property and it's been pretty good. The old Express units would occasionally disconnect so I replaced the one we use most a couple weeks ago with a WiiM Pro and it's even better than before + the EQ bit I can apply through the WiiM.

I've only used the grouping through Roon and it seems pretty good even offering the option of delay synch which I use in one overlapping zone.

In the house I use a hybrid approach running 3 pairs on a wifi controlled Audioflow speaker switch which is also awesome. I can sit on my deck and select those speaker pairs and start playing music all from my phone. Maybe you can run some hardwired speakers under the baseboard or similar stealth.

edit: Even though I can initiate contact to any of these devices via Airplay, Roon allows any certified device to be an endpoint so Roon really seems to be the secret sauce + you can EQ individual endpoints in Roon if desired.

 

[Petrushka]

I have the same SONOS issue except I read about the troubles so did not upgrade my system yet. They have already sent a couple of "apology" emails with a timeline for all the fixes stretching into Sept timeframe. They'd be better off letting people just revert to the previous OS until they fix their bugs. I assume you have asked them if there's a way to revert? I know they said "no" initially but have not followed up in a couple of months, I've just denied the updates. With a large investment in SONOS I am disinclined to change, hoping they get their act together, but this is the second major FUBAR release in the past few years. Apparently they haven't learned...

Bluesound, Heos, Wiim all have their pros/cons and admirers/detractors. Wiim seems to be the current favorite. I think Roon ia a pricier alternative and requires more HW. There used to be a Python group dedicated to making SONOS code but I've no idea their status. I think SONOS sued them at one point even though they essentially cracked the code in a "clean room". If there are SW drivers out there, and you are savvy enough to deal with them (I doubt I am), that might be another way.

I like moderate prices, but that isn’t my primary concern. I just want to know if there are WIFI based alternatives worth exploring.

 

[Joachim Herbert]

Roon, as the installation may be multi vendor and it does it all.

 

[pderousse]

This is like Nikon v. Cannon. Most people like the system they’ve bought into, and have very little experience with something* else. Partisanship is often an indication that perspective is lacking.

I’ve used Roon and Chromecast. If I remember correctly, CC let me set micro delays for particular streamers. Now, and for the past 4 years, I use only Roon ready products, and I’ve never felt 5he need to look into the matter. It just sounds fine at the outset. That is my way of giving a positive recommendation for Roon.

 

[Miniyouuuu]

Each Brand is pushing forward their own ecosystem, but unfortunately the only way to survive is by convincing others to adopt “universal” protocols. Otherwise they are condemned to disappear.

Massive protocols are Chromecast (Android) and AirPlay (Apple). As the audiophilia is a rich-men hobby, AirPlay is leading. Other streaming services such as Spotify, Roon, or Tidal are Players, but they always offer AirPlay as their main wireless streaming protocol.

I have Heos, Bluesound, Chromecast and all of them tried to renew their app lately but they all fail. Apple Music integration plays on another league, and every new version of iOS improves.

The lack of integrated EQ is the main issue of AirPlay (Apple Music) and there is where Wiim is leading. Fortunately you can use Wiim through AirPlay and adjust those EQ settings on Wiim app.

 

[Mort]

Wiim functions but is much harder to manage multi room compared to a (functioning) Sonos system.

Heos is a nightmare.

I use Wiim for individual points (3) and Sonos for multi room (7).

 

[Petrushka]

Wiim functions but is much harder to manage multi room compared to a (functioning) Sonos system.

Heos is a nightmare.

I use Wiim for individual points (3) and Sonos for multi room (7).

That’s what I’m planning. I’m using Ports for distribution, and whatever seems right at the destination.

Sonos speakers in the bathroom and kitchen.

It has to sync because the first floor s open plan.

 

[Petrushka]

Each Brand is pushing forward their own ecosystem, but unfortunately the only way to survive is by convincing others to adopt “universal” protocols. Otherwise they are condemned to disappear.

Massive protocols are Chromecast (Android) and AirPlay (Apple). As the audiophilia is a rich-men hobby, AirPlay is leading. Other streaming services such as Spotify, Roon, or Tidal are Players, but they always offer AirPlay as their main wireless streaming protocol.

I have Heos, Bluesound, Chromecast and all of them tried to renew their app lately but they all fail. Apple Music integration plays on another league, and every new version of iOS improves.

The lack of integrated EQ is the main issue of AirPlay (Apple Music) and there is where Wiim is leading. Fortunately you can use Wiim through AirPlay and adjust those EQ settings on Wiim app.

The main issue of airplay is they will not allow non-Apple devices to cast. Wiim tried it and got shot down.

 

[Miniyouuuu]

The main issue of airplay is they will not allow non-Apple devices to cast. Wiim tried it and got shot down.

Yes, but there are some streamers which stream trough Android Apps (Eversolo...).

 

[Petrushka]

Yes, but there are some streamers which stream trough Android Apps (Eversolo...).

What advantage do they have over Sonos Ports? Aside from the currently broken app.

 

[BDWoody]

I'm still happy with my collection of (discontinued) Chromecast Audio Pucks used with Roon.

Been very easy and reliable.

 

[antcollinet]

No one has mentioned amazon alexa. Works fine and has pretty good sound qwality (amazing for the size). You can also hook up the devices to external speakers if you want better

 

[Petrushka]

No one has mentioned amazon alexa. Works fine and has pretty good sound qwality (amazing for the size). You can also hook up the devices to external speakers if you want better

Has to play my local files.

Roon seem ideal, but there’s the subscription, and the server.

 

[FrantzM]

Hi

I have SONOS, have taken to recommend these to my non-audiophiles, but music-lover friends and .. now that (repeat) Software debacle.

I believe they've become to overestimate their success on the marketplace and have become arrogant, similar to Apple "We-do-it-our-ways-you-better-like-it -or -go-somewhere-else" attitude. They are not Apple by any stretch, they may have to be reminded as the mighty have fallen... Blackberry?, XEROX, IBM, Yahoo, Kodak, companies that defined their market, only to become irrelevant or barely existing? By arrogance and ignoring, market and technology?
I hope SONOS are or realize that hey are, at that crossroads where they see a decline in sales and clean their act... Bose is not a competitor to be taken lightly... Caveat emptor.

Yet they still are the gold standard for good sound and functionalities.

I tried HEOS and it is ... a mess.
Airplay is ... well Airplay does what it wants and you accept it or not...
ROON is good but at the end I no longer use it ... It is somewhat resources intensive and on the face of it, expensive.
What else is there? Chromecast?

Peace.

 

[Petrushka]

Hi

I have SONOS, have taken to recommend these to my non-audiophiles, but music-lover friends and .. now that (repeat) Software debacle.

I believe they've become to overestimate their success on the marketplace and have become arrogant, similar to Apple "We-do-it-our-ways-you-better-like-it -or -go-somewhere-else" attitude. They are not Apple by any stretch, they may have to be reminded as the mighty have fallen... Blackberry?, XEROX, IBM, Yahoo, Kodak, companies that defined their market, only to become irrelevant or barely existing? By arrogance and ignoring, market and technology?
I hope SONOS are or realize that hey are, at that crossroads where they see a decline in sales and clean their act... Bose is not a competitor to be taken lightly... Caveat emptor.

Yet they still are the gold standard for good sound and functionalities.

I tried HEOS and it is ... a mess.
Airplay is ... well Airplay does what it wants and you accept it or not...
ROON is good but at the end I no longer use it ... It is somewhat resources intensive and on the face of it, expensive.
What else is there? Chromecast?

Peace.

Thanks. There is one other “wafer thin” thing that Roon doesn’t do and Sonos does.

Audible books.

The screwup is really sad, because they really set the bar for complete solutions. Now they set the standard for self-immolation.

I’m limping along with a third party app, but will delay new purchases.