ᐅ Planning and implementing a home audio system in a renovation project?
Created on: 29 Nov 2017 11:17
D
DerZert
Hello everyone,
We are currently planning and carrying out the renovation of our single-family home. Right now, the focus is on electrical wiring and networking, making sure there are enough power outlets (about 12 per room) and network ports (at least 2 connections per room).
A question about audio systems came up rather spontaneously, and I’m wondering if, with today’s technology, it is still necessary to install large amounts of speaker wire. How have you handled this, or how would you approach it, especially regarding speakers in the kitchen or bathroom?
Does anyone have experience with ceiling speakers?
I would be very grateful for any ideas and suggestions and look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
DerZert
We are currently planning and carrying out the renovation of our single-family home. Right now, the focus is on electrical wiring and networking, making sure there are enough power outlets (about 12 per room) and network ports (at least 2 connections per room).
A question about audio systems came up rather spontaneously, and I’m wondering if, with today’s technology, it is still necessary to install large amounts of speaker wire. How have you handled this, or how would you approach it, especially regarding speakers in the kitchen or bathroom?
Does anyone have experience with ceiling speakers?
I would be very grateful for any ideas and suggestions and look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
DerZert
Hello everyone,
Unfortunately, I have only just now had the chance to revisit this thread and would like to thank you all for your advice.
My idea is as follows:
Speaker boxes are planned to be installed in the ceiling of both the kitchen and bathroom, with the assumption that a “basic” sound setup is sufficient there, so I don’t have to place speakers or similar devices within the rooms. Each system is intended to be controlled via Bluetooth receivers, with the source being the respective smartphone (Spotify).
However, this raises the question of the right receiver and possibly a small amplifier for this setup.
Perhaps someone knows a suitable solution? (maybe a Pi3?)
A solution for the living area around the TV/couch, etc., is a completely different matter and will probably involve a higher-end system.
Unfortunately, I have only just now had the chance to revisit this thread and would like to thank you all for your advice.
My idea is as follows:
Speaker boxes are planned to be installed in the ceiling of both the kitchen and bathroom, with the assumption that a “basic” sound setup is sufficient there, so I don’t have to place speakers or similar devices within the rooms. Each system is intended to be controlled via Bluetooth receivers, with the source being the respective smartphone (Spotify).
However, this raises the question of the right receiver and possibly a small amplifier for this setup.
Perhaps someone knows a suitable solution? (maybe a Pi3?)
A solution for the living area around the TV/couch, etc., is a completely different matter and will probably involve a higher-end system.
DerZert schrieb:
A solution for the living area around the TV/sofa, etc., is a different matter entirely and will probably require a higher-quality setup. I certainly hope so, especially if high-fidelity sound is the goal.
DerZert schrieb:
Loudspeakers in the ceiling are planned for both the kitchen and bathroom, considering that a "simple" sound system is sufficient there I would like to suggest reconsidering whether that is really necessary: a sound carpet isn’t like an oil film—it’s okay if it “breaks” sometimes. Unless you want to risk early burnout, you should allow yourself some quiet moments several times a day. Listening to music while the razor or electric toothbrush is running is acoustic stress. People rarely shower in the middle of a song, but they do spend time in the kitchen more often. For that reason, I would install speakers only in the kitchen—but wired ones, preferably also mounted in the ceiling.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Regarding the speakers in the bathroom, this is mainly my wife’s area of responsibility, and it’s no secret that they tend to stay there for quite some time.
Currently, the music is played through a smartphone speaker, and this definitely needs to change.
Whether and how intensively the sound system in the bathroom will be used is a different matter altogether.
As for the kitchen: wired connection is planned, but the signal still needs to be transmitted from the source (usually a tablet or smartphone) to the receiver.
Currently, the music is played through a smartphone speaker, and this definitely needs to change.
Whether and how intensively the sound system in the bathroom will be used is a different matter altogether.
As for the kitchen: wired connection is planned, but the signal still needs to be transmitted from the source (usually a tablet or smartphone) to the receiver.
DerZert schrieb:
Currently, the music is played through a smartphone speaker, and this definitely needs to change. Anything that could truly be called music (regardless of genre) would refuse to be played through something like that.
DerZert schrieb:
As for the kitchen; wired yes, but the signal has to be transmitted from the source (usually a tablet or smartphone) to the receiver. Why does it have to? Surely you can feed MP3s or other modern digital formats directly into a proper hi-fi amplifier (?),
or do you only listen to songs you downloaded in the last few days, and after your weekly sync between smartphone and USB stick, those tracks are already too old, so they absolutely have to be streamed “live” to the speakers?
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
In this case, it is purely a personal opinion, as we generally only listen to or stream music via Spotify nowadays.
It’s not about always having to download the latest releases, but rather about having much greater flexibility in both variety and depth. You can rediscover “old” songs that have been forgotten, find new (or previously unknown) tracks, and usually have access to the latest releases right from the start. The best part is that you can easily organize everything into different playlists, move, sort, delete, and save them again across all devices simultaneously.
The desired playlist or podcast is available immediately at home, in the car, on the train, on vacation, and so on.
That makes me wonder, why bother storing everything locally?
It’s not about always having to download the latest releases, but rather about having much greater flexibility in both variety and depth. You can rediscover “old” songs that have been forgotten, find new (or previously unknown) tracks, and usually have access to the latest releases right from the start. The best part is that you can easily organize everything into different playlists, move, sort, delete, and save them again across all devices simultaneously.
The desired playlist or podcast is available immediately at home, in the car, on the train, on vacation, and so on.
That makes me wonder, why bother storing everything locally?
If I understand correctly, you only listen to music online? I can imagine that working “inside” the smartphone itself, either through its built-in speakers or connected external speakers. But when it comes to transmitting the audio further via another wireless connection to in-wall or ceiling speakers, that’s where I see the limit. Beyond that, switching to wired connections or maybe using Bluetooth could still be okay since there’s no protocol interruption. But once you move into LAN/WLAN, I could easily see buffering delays at certain points.
Using headphones, this all still works fine since there are no large amplifiers in the signal path. Speakers are a different matter because small dropouts don’t go unnoticed as easily there. Calling such a setup “HiFi” makes me hesitant…
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Using headphones, this all still works fine since there are no large amplifiers in the signal path. Speakers are a different matter because small dropouts don’t go unnoticed as easily there. Calling such a setup “HiFi” makes me hesitant…
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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