Which audio setup suits you?


30th May 2018 in Know How

What kind of music system should you choose? What speakers should you use? Should you go for wired or wireless speakers? Do you need a separate sub? Should you have your TV audio linked to the speakers in the ceiling? Do you need a 7.1 surround sound system? Will a 5.1 channel sound system do just fine? Or would the sound of the TV be sufficient?…

With so many options out there, making the right choice on the ideal multimedia solution that would suit you and your family can be a daunting process. So what should you consider when making these choices? One important question we suggest you ask is What role would it play in your Real Smart Home?. That’s a good place to start, and here are a few more suggestions we have…

Multiroom audio in a Real Smart Home

It’s fair to say that music can probably be found in a lot of what you and your family do. From background music playing in the kitchen while you’re getting dinner ready, to a specific playlist that you’ve put together to create an ideal atmosphere at one of your summer BBQs. It’s no wonder, with music playing such a prevalent role in our lives, that we see it as an important element of a Real Smart Home. The Loxone Music Server is specifically designed for use in a smart home. It doesn’t only offer you the choice of being able to play music from a variety of different sources and streaming services in a room, but gives you this level of control and choice in any room of your house.

Which setup suits you?

The Loxone Music Server and Loxone Speakers are a great solution to offer you and your family a fantastic multiroom audio experience.  When it comes to the living room though, one question usually comes up: should you have your home cinema system connected to your Loxone Smart Home system? Here are a few different considerations before deciding to have this level of integration.

Option 1: Keeping it simple

A simple yet effective option would be to have speakers installed in the ceiling – with the quantity determined by the size of the room. In this option, the TV is not linked to the smart home system and the audio from the TV is played through the device’s own built-in speakers. This simple and reliable option still lets you enjoy many smart home features that the Loxone Music Server delivers without worrying about integration with your TV.

Option 2: An elevated sound experience

For all those who would like to enjoy the latest Hollywood blockbuster with a more impressive audio experience, then you’d probably want to look at getting yourself a good quality soundbar which connects directly to your TV for more of a cinema-feeling to go along with your box of popcorn. When it comes to your daily dose of music – such as your favourite radio station or that perfect evening playlist – this would still be handled entirely by the Loxone Music Server and the dedicated Loxone Speakers. This keeps your smart home multiroom audio functionality separate from the soundbar. An advantage of this would be that when you change the soundbar, this won’t impact your smart home configuration – and again, you don’t have to consider compatibility.

Option 2: An elevated sound experience

For all those who would like to enjoy the latest Hollywood blockbuster with a more impressive audio experience, then you’d probably want to look at getting yourself a good quality soundbar which connects directly to your TV for more of a cinema-feeling to go along with your box of popcorn. When it comes to your daily dose of music – such as your favourite radio station or that perfect evening playlist – this would still be handled entirely by the Loxone Music Server and the dedicated Loxone Speakers. This keeps your smart home multiroom audio functionality separate from the soundbar. An advantage of this would be that when you change the soundbar, this won’t impact your smart home configuration – and again, you don’t have to consider compatibility.

Option 3: For the audio connoisseurs

Looking to go a bit more high-end? Then we’ve got another suggestion… For real audiophiles, you’ll probably want to go for the full surround sound experience, complete with a subwoofer for rich bass – not only for when you’re settling in for movie night but also for when you’ve got your go-to playlist on repeat.

Here, we’d recommend an alternative to the Loxone Speakers – opting rather for a 7.1 channel system, for example. That said, it is important to note the requirements of such a system to ensure that you can still benefit from Real Smart Home functionality. For ideal integration, your choice of a surround sound system needs to have a network connection that supports UPnP or DLNA. As long as one of these standards is supported, then the separate surround sound system could be connected to the Loxone Music Server. This means your surround sound speakers can then serve as a multiroom audio zone in your living room and output all related audio such as your favourite radio station, party playlist (or even being notified when someone is at your front door).

It is really important to note though, that if you ever change your surround sound system this may require a visit from your Loxone Partner for some changes to the configuration to ensure you can still enjoy the intended level of smart home functionality.

We don’t advise having your TV audio routed to play through your multiroom audio speakers. Due to an extra step the audio would take to get to the speakers, you would end up getting a slight delay in the audio which would be out of sync with the picture. This is something your Loxone Partner would be able to discuss in more detail with you.

Perfect multiroom audio. Developed specifically for Real Smart Homes.

Your Loxone Partner will be able to work with you to determine which setup would meet the requirements of you and your family. Why not find out more about the feature-rich multiroom audio experience that Loxone offers and see how you can enjoy a fantastic sound experience in your smart home for many years to come.