Sound Check: How to Add Music to Every Room

Being able to play music in any room you're in or even throughout the entire house is a goal for many homeowners. With all of the advancements in technology, multi-room audio is now easier than ever before and can be achieved in a variety of ways. Here are a few systems our real estate agents see used most often.

• Sonos
  It used to be that Sonos was the brand of choice for any Albany homes for sale with ceiling or in-wall speakers installed, as there weren't a lot of other options for multi-room sound systems. While more options are available now, Sonos is still one of the best. Sonos doesn't use your wifi but sets up its own mesh wireless network, which keeps your bandwidth clear for other uses. Add a well-designed, intuitive app and the ability to install ceiling and in-wall speakers for a discreet, professional setup, and you'll see why Sonos is still one of the leading choices.
  
  
• Audio Pro
  If you want the most boom for your buck, check out Audio Pro. Like Sonos, Audio Pro features high sound quality on a mesh network, but unlike Sonos, Audio Pro offers some pretty affordable ways to get the same result. If you want an upscale, multi-room sound system but don't necessarily have a big budget, check out Audio Pro, as you'll be surprised by how much you can afford.
  
  
• Amazon Echo
  Smart speakers have revolutionized the idea of having music playing throughout the house. Instead of being an upscale system that's a part of your home, Amazon's Echo is plug-and-play. As an added bonus, each Echo is also a voice assistant, which means you don't have to spend time scrolling through an app. You can connect your phone or play music through a streaming service, such as Amazon Music or Spotify. You'll take a bit of a hit on sound quality if you choose Echo over a dedicated sound system like Sonos or Audio Pro, and installing multiple Echo devices will mean using your wifi to connect the system, but the low cost and ease of use make it worthwhile for many homeowners.
  
  
• Google Home
  Like Amazon's Echo, Google Home offers you the convenience of a voice assistant combined with the ability to have music in every room of the house. However, unlike Amazon Music, Google's Chromecast Audio does support hi-res audio now. This gives you the best of both worlds: The low cost and convenience of a smart speaker, combined with the highest quality music.
  
  
• Apple HomePod
  Of course, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention Apple's version of the smart speaker. The Apple HomePod gives you all the same advantages of a smart speaker, but Apple's AirPlay 2 is also worth mentioning because it automatically turns your phone into a controller like in one of the more expensive systems, enabling you to stream music from your phone to more than one speaker at the same time, even if they're not Apple brand.

With so many options for multi-room music, it's important to consider your goals. If you want something high-end, something that will add to your home's value and appeal, you may want to choose your system especially carefully. For more information on what today's homebuyers are looking for, or to start your own housing search, contact us today.