February 23, 2012

Multiroom Audio Systems

We’ve heard of audio systems, HiFi audio systems, Stereo Audios systems, and surround sound audio systems and now the logical extension of home audio systems is the multiroom audio system. These consist of a main system placed in one room which can then be wirelessly streamed to further receiver stations placed in other rooms (say 5 or 6 altogether) without cables or wiring snags, and it is  possible to play the same music in all rooms or maybe play different tracks in different rooms depending on the equipment you have. Some modular systems will also use electronic components and cable to connect the equipment which will be able to be self-installed .Depending on its capacity the central unit can store your CDs and PC music files.

Most top of the range systems will have brilliant digital audio and give customised sound for each room : each room with a keypad or control panel to allow settings for the acoustics of different rooms , even in large open living spaces.

Mulitroom audio is a really great idea. But it isn’t cheap. Bottom of the range for starter 2 rooms may be £600 or so, whilst 4/5 multiroom self-install cable kits might go up to £1000 or so. Custom installations become really really pricey. But as the technology finds favour there are cheaper and more ad-hoc versions of multi-room you can put together for, say, around £500.