Remote Music in Backyard

Hawkes

We recently moved into a new home and our backyard has a pool and deck we'd like to somehow get music out to.  Previous owners had two speakers installed that go into the basement where an audio receiver would provide the music.  While I can plug a receiver into those same wires, the radio is non-existent at our property and I don't really care to rotate CD's any longer.  What we would like to do is play music from Apple Music, Amazon Music, or Spotify etc.  We have Alexa devices throughout the house, I have some older PC's that I could re-purpose, and I have a couple old Android tablets.  I may even have a couple older Raspberry Pi's.  From a tech perspective I'm very comfortable, but Smart home stuff is out of my wheelhouse at the moment and I think that's what I am looking for.  I don't want my phone to be tied to playing the music, but maybe control the device playing the music.

Would love to hear some thoughts from the experts on what might work for us or at least some of what I'd like to do.

Thanks in advance!

-Hawkes

gg13533

Bluetooth speaker and tablet/phone to stream music?  Battery powered ones are pretty powerful and have good life

neilball

Do you have wifi outside? If so then reuse your external speakers but add something like a Sonos Amp (or a 2nd hand ZP-120/Connect:Amp if you want it a little cheaper) to drive them - you can then access music streaming etc using your phone or tablet to control music source and volume. Not the lowest cost, but simple to set up and deploy.

You could also look at DLNA and a Logitech Media Server setup if you don’t mind building/setting up a server/client approach yourself, using your RPi etc. You’ll need a suitable power amplifier to drive the speakers, but it can be much lower cost at the expense of your time and effort to put it all together and keep it all working.

mushii

The easiest and cheapest way to get all of those features is to buy a cheap AVR like a Denon AVR-X2500H (last years model). I know it sounds like overkill but it will give you everything that you want. It’s what I use and it ticks all of your boxes plus will give you a nice app on your phone to control it all or you can use Alexa, again it’s what I do. I run my outdoor speakers on Zone 2 and my in ceiling kitchen speakers on Zone 1. It’s kinda nice to step out from the kitchen onto the patio and have seamless music (at different volumes) so when I am cooking outdoors and step into the kitchen for a cold one, my music follows me. Mine is also wired to my TV via HDMI and Optical out, so I can listen to sports on the TV outside.

Desmo

I'd go Sonos AMP in to the speakers you've already got set up. Then you can add any of the major streaming services and control them through Sonos. And then you can get hooked on Sonos stuff and rig up the whole house

mushii

Sonos Amp 1 zone £600, AVR-X2500H, 7 channels, 2 Zones £349. Features, very similar.

RMP888

I agree on getting hooked.

Sonos is a good choice. But because I have a Yamaha amp with inbuilt musiccast, I went down the musiccast path, bought a couple to use around the house; then a couple more when outside in the garden. The caveats are that you need power outlets [which I do] and good internet coverage at the speaker location.

Hawkes

I like the Denon receiver idea, but correct if I'm wrong.  Can the Sonos units drive my current speakers that were left behind or am I limited to the Sonos system?  It's pretty looking, but I don't want to have to worry about charging speakers and carrying them outdoors all the time.  Especially if it's my wife going outside.  She'll have zero interest in carrying something back and forth even if it is small like the Sonos.  There is also the possibility she will want to install speakers in the gardens.

mushii

The Sonos system can indeed drive your existing speakers. The Sonos Amps are designed to connect directly to wired speakers. Sonos also has stand alone plug-in speakers that you refer to. All can be integrated into a whole house audio system.

I chose the Denon route, as to achieve what I wanted with Sonos would have cost me £1800 (3 separate amps) against £250 for an AVR that does exactly the same.

Hawkes

That's also a large part of my reasoning.  I think we'd all love a Sonos system, but that's a bit out of reach of my budget at the moment having just bought the house.