The multiroom system is the whole concept of distribution of video and audio signals in the house. It is popular and in demand among active users of the “smart home” along with the systems of “intelligent” heating and lighting. Today, the multiroom system is used in many entertainment shopping centers, offices, museums, and public places. In an apartment or private house, multiroom acts as one of the elements associated with the global smart home system, but it can also work autonomously. For example, using multiroom, you can distribute one signal source (audio or video) to all speakers, smart TVs and monitors located in different rooms.
Currently, this system is offered by at least hundreds of different manufacturers. Of the most successful, we note Sonos, Philips, Samsung, Cabasse, Bluesound, Denon, Axium, Marantz, Yamaha, URC and MT-Power. Among such diversity, it is quite difficult to determine the clear leaders, but it is quite possible to choose the five most worthy multi-room systems. So, we proceed to the review.
Here the honest review of the Top 5 multiroom system for smart homes
Multiroom Sonos
The Sonos Multi-Room system provides the ability to listen to music in any room without programming the equipment and laying a special cable. The role of a music source can be your personal computer, radio or any server with your playlist. You can connect any external sources to this system, for example, CD players, tuners, MP3 players.
In just a couple of minutes, using Sonos multiroom, you can easily manage all audio or video sources from anywhere in the house (the maximum system coverage is 32 rooms). To control you need only one remote (controller) or application on your phone.
The system allows you to listen to all possible modern audio file formats. Using Sonos multiroom, you can create a compilation of your favorite tracks on your own, or you can activate the party mode, which allows you to play the same track in all rooms of an apartment or house.
The Sonos multiroom system has huge advantages over many wireless and wired counterparts. The main advantages are the ability to remotely control the entire acoustics using a single remote control, which allows you to select songs, adjust the volume, switch radio stations, etc. As we have already noted, Sonos can also be controlled using a smartphone. The free program is available for all devices running on the IOS platform.
The multimedia system can be gradually expanded by integrating various smart equipment into it. There should be no difficulties with the installation and connection of the new device because the interface is fully adapted to the Russian-speaking user. All Sonos multiroom devices support Cyrillic.
With the help of Sonos Connect, it is possible to play music on all devices (stereo, home theater) in the house. The sound output is clear and loud.
The BRIDGE network repeater is able to organize a multi-room system in the house, even if the Internet is not available on the premises. Sonos BRIDGE wireless technology can also serve as a coverage extender.
The CR200 wireless controller with a highly sensitive screen and a full-color VGA display allow you to control smart equipment using the touch screen and special buttons.
All devices work at the expense of a special free application – Sonos Controller. That it provides the full functionality of this multiroom. In addition, you can manage this system through services that are installed on other devices running on Android or Amazon Echo.
Multiroom Philips BM90 / 12
This version of the Phillips multiroom system is presented as a separate device, which ideally combines ease of use and high technical performance. The set includes basic components, namely, a remote control, an antenna for the FM signal, a power cable and detailed instructions.
The compactness of the device allows you to perfectly fit into the room, because it does not take up much space, and its height will ensure comfortable operation on the control panel. The panel itself is located on top of the device along with a special built-in VFD-display. On the case of the device we also find a USB port and a separate 3.5 mm audio jack.
The Philips BM90 / 12 feature high-quality sound and a wide range of options. Philips engineers have added innovative PureDigital technology to the system, which is fully responsible for processing audio signals, which makes it possible to remove excess noise and increase the clarity of sound reproduction. As a result, regardless of the chosen genre of music, the user will be able to enjoy a perfectly clear sound panorama.
The Philips BM90 / 12 Multiroom systems incorporate the patented Living Sound technology, which significantly increases the coverage of sound reproduction, which significantly increases the sound quality. This is achieved by simultaneous recombination of several playback streams, which allows for maximum detailing of the stereo panorama.
The Philips BM90 / 12 has four built-in high-quality speakers. The main one (with a diagonal of 5 inches) belongs to the class Bass Reflex. As a nice addition to the system built-in digital tuner with FM radio settings.
Before the user is open wide functionality. The system reads music in any format from almost any medium, be it a CD-ROM or an external USB-drive. In addition, the system supports wireless connection and control via Bluetooth. Thus, the soundtrack can be played from a tablet, computer or smartphone. This will require the presence of Bluetooth.
A few words about the pleasant know-how of the multi-room system Philips BM90 / 12, namely, the support of the specialized technology izzylink, which allows simultaneous connection of several acoustic systems located in different parts of the house. To activate this option, it is necessary to press and hold the “GROUP” button on all the proposed systems to be combined for several seconds. In this case, you can set the leading source from which signals will be emitted and transmitted to all connected devices.
For owners of this system, the Digital Sound Control option is available, allowing you to select the desired mode. Here the user can balance the sound within the desired characteristics. This is a general volume, bass power, etc.
The system is fully compatible with mobile gadgets running on an IOS platform of standard 3 or higher. Owners of gadgets on Android can use the system, in case their devices support version 2.1 and higher.
Samsung Multiroom M7 system
Samsung has introduced its version of the multiroom – Multiroom M7 system. It includes the main hub and a pair of M7 speakers. The main work falls on the shoulders of the hub, which connects the speakers through the local Internet. In this case, you can connect only one column, or configure each separately.
The system can be easily expanded. The M5 speaker with an identical structure and capabilities is perfect for this. As Samsung developers claim, the Multiroom M7 is compatible with most smart devices. One of the most effective options is to connect the Samsung SoundBar. Such a format will provide the whole house with crystal clear quality sound, while the system can be controlled remotely via a mobile application.
The M7 speaker itself looks quite unusual, namely, in the form of a triangle made of high-quality plastic. The device will fit perfectly into the corner of the room, from where it will distribute sound evenly throughout the room. The sound is not just good, but really at the highest level.
To control the M7, you need to connect the multiroom to a wi-fi network, and then all control will be exercised from any mobile device that supports Android or iOS operating systems.
In a special application, you can find support services for TuneIn, Deezera, and Spotify. The interface is dynamic and practical but is still being finalized. The integration function of multiple speakers works well, as well as their joint management.
Using the Multiroom Link function, you can transmit a signal from a single device to acoustic equipment located in all rooms in a house or apartment. You can connect a home theater, TV, audio player or any other audio device.
Cabasse Alcyone 2 5.1
Cabasse Alcyone 2 5.1 – home theater with a whole set of various acoustic equipment. It includes a miniature Santorin subwoofer and five compact Alcyone “balls”. The kit contains all the necessary cables to connect the system.
Alcyone devices act as speakers. Despite their diminutiveness, they create a truly crystal clear, stable sound. These “balls” – satellites are rotated in any direction with their magnetic fasteners to the base in the form of a step. This will allow you to fill the room with a full sound with a uniform load.
The design of the speakers contains three speakers, including bass, mid-frequency and so-called tweeter, which has an excellent load capacity and smooth response.
To combine the speakers, you must have a normal Wi-Fi channel. Alternatively, you can use the built-in Bluetooth adapter. There are also analog and digital connectors for connecting various gadgets.
The system supports the mobile application Cabasse Stream CONTROL. Work can also be performed using the Google Assistant voice assistant. In the near future, the support of the assistant from Amazon – Alexa will be added.
Multiroom Yamaha MusicCast
The Yamaha wireless multi-room system has appeared relatively recently, but it has already managed to enter the top five systems for the smart home. Yamaha MusicCast uses a standard Wi-Fi and cable connection for transferring and exchanging data between acoustic equipment. Using the MusicCast application, you can control 10 different devices simultaneously using a smartphone.
This model is sharpened exclusively for their native products. Most likely, Yamaha engineers in this way decided to ensure against system failures. Note that the entire range of audio equipment offered by the company is aimed at ensuring a high level and sound quality. The integration capabilities of the Yamaha MusicCast multiroom are not limited to wireless speakers alone; in addition to them, you can connect receivers (AV and AC), soundbar, stereo amplifiers and more to the system.
This system allows you to fill with impressive high-quality stereo sound. Thus, the Yamaha MusicCast multiroom is one of the best solutions for cottages and spacious apartments. To optimize performance, you can group several devices at once into a group that will broadcast the same signal. In the capabilities of the system, there is support for multichannel sources, where there will be multichannel in the main coverage area, and in all others – a two-channel stream.
All MusicCast multiroom devices support both Airplay and familiar Bluetooth. At the same time work can occur with any sources, including analog and digital. The system can additionally be tied to any music and video services via a local network, and with the help of vTuner and SiriusXM applications, it is easy to listen to radio stations.
Music is projected onto a smartphone through the MusicCast application, which allows you to control the sound and control all acoustic equipment. Instead of a smartphone, you can use a computer or DLNA-servers in the local network.
There are several control options to choose from: voice, touch screen or via mobile application. To manage the voice commands comes to the aid of a virtual assistant – Alexa.