What is a Multi Room System?

When people talk about Multi Room, they really mean sound in many rooms of a home. Today that can be achieved through a variety of options.

1. Fast growing in popularity are the Wireless Speaker Systems, controlled by an app, which does not require wall switches. It is within reach of most people, and it is very easy and convenient to set up and use.

2. A very useful feature on many  Home Theatre receivers is a so called ‘Second Zone’. Here the amplifier is capable of playing music to a set of speakers mounted in another room, giving you the ability to enjoy your music in another area with very little set up fuss and huge convenience. Our  clients usually choose to add speakers in the entertainment area, so that they can enjoy their music while they visit with friends, braai with family, or relax when they get home every day.

Home Theater Receiver expansion

The better Home Theater Receivers tend to come with zone 2 and sometimes even zone 3 outputs which at the cost of some functionality are a viable way of getting music playing throughout the home.

This is very affordable, as it only requires another set of speakers, to add to the existing system.

3. Then there are the dedicated whole home Audio Systems which, as an over simplification is essentially a switch box which allows you to play your music to speakers which are in other rooms. It typically consists of a controller unit located near the users’ source components (hi-fi or home theater), keypads mounted in several rooms (Zones) and discreetly mounted speakers (typically in-ceiling)

The better systems connect to iPod’s, media servers, may have integrated music streaming services, and can be controlled via an app on your smart device..

Meta-data (artist, track title and album) is then displayed on each keypad while that track is playing. Changing source or volume is as easy as pressing a button on the keypad or remote control — And obviously, changing a channel on the DStv from the bedroom is just as easy.

What Does a Proper multi room system do?

The multi room system enables the users to listen to, or watch, their favourite media with full control of source and volume. In other words dad could be listening to the news in the study (zone 1), while mom relaxes with classical music in the den (zone2), while the kids listen to hip-hop in the living room (another zone), all at the same time.

The expense here depends on how many areas you want to add and how much work is involved in fitting the keypads and running the cabling. It is easier to fit during the build, and can become tricky to retro-fit in our brick homes with slabs.

To choose your Multi Room System option, please come visit us at our Menlyn or Sandton stores. To discuss how to make use of your second zone on your amp, speak to one of our friendly salespeople. To work out the details of your multi room system, please set up an appointment, preferably at your home, so we can work through your requirements. Sound and Image Menlyn 0123681440 Sandton 0118845012.