Hi everyone, I wanted to share my recent experience in setting up a multiroom audio system using a mix of Marantz and Sonos devices. While the journey had its challenges, the end result has been absolutely worth it!
I’ve always been a fan of high-quality audio, and when I decided to upgrade my home audio setup, I knew I wanted something versatile and future-proof. My goal was to create a seamless audio experience across six zones in my house, including the bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, garden, and studio.
I started by researching different brands and systems. Sonos immediately stood out for its ease of use and integration capabilities, but I also wanted to keep my trusty Marantz CDR611 as the backbone of my system. The challenge was figuring out how to integrate these two systems smoothly.
After some trial and error, here’s what worked for me:
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Sonos Amps for Key Areas: I opted for Sonos Amps in the kitchen and bathroom, paired with my best speakers. This setup allows me to enjoy high-quality audio in these zones while keeping things compact and modern.
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Sonos One for Bedrooms and Studio: For the bedroom and studio, I chose the Sonos One speakers. They provide excellent sound quality and are incredibly easy to control via voice commands or the Sonos app.
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Marantz for Outdoor Zones: My Marantz CDR611 handles the garden zones. While it doesn’t have direct Google Home integration, I found a workaround by using a Chromecast Audio connected to the Marantz’s analog input. This allows me to stream music to the garden speakers through Google Home.
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Homey for Central Control: To tie everything together, I use Homey. It acts as the central hub, allowing me to control both the Marantz and Sonos devices seamlessly. I even managed to set up infrared commands to switch inputs on the Marantz, which was a bit of a hack but worked perfectly!
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Grouping Speakers in Google Home: One of the best features I’ve discovered is the ability to group speakers across different zones in Google Home. This means I can play music throughout the house or in specific zones with just a voice command.
The biggest hurdle was getting the Marantz to work with Google Home. After some research, I realized that using the Chromecast Audio as a bridge was the key. It might not be the most elegant solution, but it gets the job done!
I also explored alternative options, like using a smart speaker collector programmable through Homey, but the current setup has proven to be reliable and easy to manage.
Overall, the system is now up and running smoothly. I can control all zones effortlessly, and the sound quality is outstanding. It’s been a fantastic project, and I’m thrilled with the results!
If anyone has questions or suggestions about integrating different audio systems, feel free to reach out. I’d love to hear about others’ experiences and any tips they might have!
Best regards,
Paolo