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Linkplay multi-room audio system - good/stable Sonos alternative with Spotify/TuneIn support

anomanom Member
in Devices
I didn't want to invest the amount a Sonos costs for a second location and found an good alternative: http://linkplay.com/
I've purchased it and it really works well. They're a Silicon Valley based cloud audio tech company with strong integration with Spotify/Airplay and other cloud initiatives and who developed a really good implementation for multi-room system available to other vendors like Athom - this system is therefore kind of open and also started via a kickstarter project. It would be so nice if Homey could use their API as you already have the correct physical interfaces and are in many cases in the correct location both physically and in the network. I don't know if there is a license cost though... but as a user I'd be prepared to pay something in addition to get this on my Homey - as that would make one of my Linkplay devices redundant.
Linkplay supports many different types of hardware: http://linkplay.com/featured-products/
I've purchased the Muzohifi Cobblestone (Euro 47 on Amazon.de) for a traditional Stereo and the first set of speakers for in another room I have https://www.energysistem.com/es/products/multiroom/serie_multiroom/42686-energy_multiroom_portable_wi-fi (Euro 70 incl. rechargeable batteries). I'm convinced that any hardware on their 'featured-products' page works great and it would be so nice if Homey would be added, e.g. to replace my Cobblestone.
If Homey would support Linkplay, and you have a Homey add 70-100 Euro per room and I assume (but haven't checked that) pay Homey something for the Linkplay license and off you go, you have your amplifier connected and each room it's own newly purchased audio speakers.

Comments

  • MathijsMathijs Member
    While an interesting system I have stopped using it. Sonos is simply more stable and advanced in any aspect. The biggest issue was that the sound was never fully synced between rooms so when you have a door open the sound is horrible. Most of the compatible speakers are also rather low end.

    Make sure you really want this.
  • anomanom Member
    They must have fixed the sync issue via a software update as I'm honestly not experiencing that at all even with both speakers in the same room, but I should add that I'm using an Ethernet cable for the Cobblestone eliminating 50% of the WiFi connection challenges. Assuming the WiFi connection works most of the quality of my main system is based on my traditional speakers and amplifier which are both of quite decent quality. But I don't expect a Euro 70 speaker can outperform a Euro 478 Play:5 Sonos speaker indeed. Nevertheless I like it that much that I've ordered 3 additional speakers if it proofs to be in-stable or or out of sync while adding components I'll update it here.

    Side-note: But my experience is that some Sonos zone-player components are also only 'good' if they're connected via an Ethernet cable, else they simply have not enough usable reach - in fact I've wired that whole house because of it.
    The Play:5 works well but it's almost double the price of my whole other Multi-Room system for 4 rooms in stereo.
  • anomanom Member
    I'm now running this since a few days. I use an Ethernet wired Cobblestone as 'WiFi hub' as it creates an additional hidden WiFi network for the multiroom speakers. The 4 Energy Sistem speakers connect over WiFi to the Cobblestone and together they form a multiroom system. It works really well, is stable, synchronous audio and for the money decent sound quality. The audio continues to play even if the smartphone/tablet used to pick the cloud music gets disconnected. I'm now kicking out some Airplay speakers which I'd used before with Airfoil running on a Windows PC.
  • MikeRMikeR Member
    A good alternative to Sonos is the Soundtouch wireless speaker range by Bose. They cost less and have similar features but as Mathijs said above nothing quite matches the quality and stability of Sonos. The alternatives can be found here https://www.sonosdirect.com/products/sonos-alternative/
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