Housewide Sound System with AirPlay

[pmontanarella]

Hi all,
I currently have a very simple, one room, sound system with and iPod dock with audio out to a pair of speakers. I would like to extend the system to multiple rooms and also I'd like to have the options to stream only to some rooms (not all). It would be nice if I could have a centralized system where I currently have the iPod to act as the "brain" of the system. Maybe a computer there? I'm not really on a budget but I don't need really high-end quality audio. I currently own an airport express and Apple TV 2 (If that helps). Please let me know how I can set this up. I'm fine using Apple or non-Apple devices. I was thinking of getting Airport expresses for each room and using airplay but I am not sure if by being connected to one airport (via wifi) I can stream to all of the other ones without switching network? I would use Internet bridging between the routers. Anyone know if it would work? Any other option?

Thanks in advance for the help,
Pietro

 

[warvanov]

You're on the right track. You have a little bit of flexibility when it comes to a set up like this. I'll tell you what I've got set up, it sounds like you're aiming for something similar.

I've got a TV and stereo in the living room with an Apple TV connected. I've got a pair of speakers connected to an AirPort Express in the bathroom. Finally, I've got my MacBook Pro connected directly to a small amp and a pair of speakers in the bedroom.

I usually play music from the MBP. I can play music to just one set of speakers, to all three, or to any combination at any given time. I can bring my MBP with me and sit on the couch and still play to the living room stereo and the speakers in the bathroom.

I also have an iPhone and an iPod Touch that I can use to play airplay music to any one set of those speakers. (I'm not sure if I can use those to play to multiple sets of speakers.) Alternately, I can use the Remote app to control the music playing on the MBP in the other room, saving battery life and having access to my full music collection.

If I needed more ways to play my music, I could use the ATV to browse the shared library on my MBP, or I could use iTunes Match on the ATV to stream my music library even when the MBP is asleep or not present. And the brains of the whole operation, the MBP, doesn't even have to be a Mac, it could be any PC running iTunes.

 

[waw74]

there are a couple different options for airplay speakers.
-airport express + powered speakers
-all in one units
-home theatre stereos + speakers
-TV + Television set (with or without external speakers)

for the all in one units, i have an iHome iW2, there is also the similar but battery powered iW1

i also have a denon receiver/amp in the living room, hooked to the big TV. it has airplay built in, but needs a wired ethernet connection.

the all in ones, home theaters, or TV will also give you basic remote control (play, pause, skip forward or back)

computers can stream to multiple locations simultaneously, iOS only to one at a time.
so if you want to stream to multiple locations you will need a computer somewhere on the network. you can run itunes on your existing computer, and use the remote app to control it from iOS. you also get independent volume control for each location.

you are limited to the bandwidth of your wifi, so if the connection is weak, you might have problems, but with a decent connection, you should be ok with a few sets of speakers. or you can hardwire pretty much any of the options.

check out airplayspeakers.com to see some of the options out there.

 

[pmontanarella]

Hi all,
Thanks for the quick replies.
I think I will use airplay with multiple routers as you mentioned. Unfortunately from a single wifi router won't reach through the whole house. I was wondering if say I'm in the living room (and I'm connected to X airport express) would I still be able to stream to Y airport express if I am using them as "bridged"

Thanks a lot,
Pietro

 

[warvanov]

I think I will use airplay with multiple routers as you mentioned. Unfortunately from a single wifi router won't reach through the whole house. I was wondering if say I'm in the living room (and I'm connected to X airport express) would I still be able to stream to Y airport express if I am using them as "bridged"

Yes, if the two Airports are able to connect to one another, then you can stream to either one regardless of which one you're connected to.

 

[pmontanarella]

Yes, if the two Airports are able to connect to one another, then you can stream to either one regardless of which one you're connected to.

Ok thanks a lot,
I guess I'll use that method then