multi-room airplay setup?

[eroxx]

I'm looking for a way to play music from my iPhone (using Apple's own remote app primarily) in ALL of my rooms at ONCE.

I looked at the ihome w1 product, and it's designed that if you have more than 1 of them, they can all play at once. The problem is, the reviews for the actual sound output are not good. Do you know of any other airplay speakers that allow this? Thanks!

 

[waw74]

the iw2 supposedly sounds much better, i have one, it sounds good, but haven't heard the iw1 to compare, they're basically the same thing except the 1 has a battery. the 2 came out about a year after the 1, and they supposedly did a major acoustic re-design.

airplay will let you stream to multiple devices at the same time it's not iw1 specific. (although from iOS, you only get one at a time) (using remote you're really playing the music in iTunes, so the one at a time thing doesn't apply)

i regularly stream to an aTV, a denon avr-1912, an airport express with powered speakers, and an iW2 all at the same time. they're spread out throughout my house.

also check out airfoil, it will let you stream from any one program, or whole system audio, not just from iTunes. I use it with a standalone pandora app.

 

[eroxx]

Thanks so much ... On the box for the w1 ihome advertises that if you have more than one, AirPlay will stream to all of them simultaneously, without you needing to check "multiple" under AirPlay preference. Is this the case for w2? Thanks!!!

 

[Him10000]

AirPlay speakers

This is a great site for AirPlay

www.airplayspeakers.com

 

[waw74]

without you needing to check "multiple" under AirPlay preference.

airplay doesn't work that way. you need to pick each speaker in iTunes.
you are able to label the speakers to tell them apart, so they show up in the list as "kitchen" or whatever.

from the apple remote app or iTunes, its really easy to select multiple speakers, and set the volume for them individually.

 

[coffejor]

I actually just posted a response to a similar question: "Water Proof Wifi Speaker System?" I figured my reply could fit your needs too.

~Jordan

I have these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882339210 throughout my house, including in my bathrooms.

I actually have two sets (eight total speakers, four on my upper level and four on my lower level) set to different transmit frequencies (to cut down on interference) and each with their base station hooked up to their own Airport Express. I use Airfoil on my HTPC (a Mac Mini) to then transmit anything from Pandora, to iTunes, to online sportscasts.

Although the speakers are kind of bulky and ugly, this works great for me. The total setup cost 2x $125 for the speakers (daily deal on NewEgg) + 2x $99 for the Airport Expresses. A little expensive - yes - but I couldn't find a more cost-effective alternative to provider whole-house sound.

Hopefully that helps!

~Jordan