I want to create an airplay whole house audio system

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Level 1

4 points

I want to create an airplay whole house audio system

I want to build a multi-zone whole house airplay audio system. I used airplay very successfully at my old house and love the ability to independentaly control different airplay devices with the Remote app on my iphone.

So, here is what I have in my new (old) house. There are 10 pairs of speakers in various rooms throughout the house. I'd like to create 10 different airplay zones utilizing 10 Airport Expresses and a multi channel amp. I'd use the audio out on each express to feed the amp. What I don't know is if I can place 10 airport expresses right next to each other without the wifi going crazy. I thought about running CAT5 to that location and putting in a switch and feeding the extremes via CAT5 and disabling the wifi.

Any suggestions if the above would work in a wifi configuaration? I'm thinking I should go CAT5 though and disable wireless.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

Posted on Jan 22, 2012 5:35 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

cejones

Level 1

121 points

Apr 10, 2012 2:49 PM in response to herringtech

Herringtech,

I have the same situation as you. I am moving into a new house that has 6 rooms each containing a pair of in-ceiling speakers. Two of the rooms will have TVs and a dedicated AppleTV for each. I am planning to route all the speaker wiring to a structured media center that I install in the wall of a closet. From there, I will connect the speakers as output, 4 different Airport Expresses for the rooms without AppleTVs and the 2 AppleTVs to a multi channel amp. From iTunes or iPads or iPhones, we will use the Remote apps to control music in each room. I think due to wifi interference, I will be connecting each Express to my LAN with Cat5 cables.

What multi channel amp are you looking to get? I am still unsure which would be best for this application.

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Answer 2

herringtech Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 11, 2012 9:10 AM in response to cejones

That is exactly the solution I came up with too. I haven't implemented it yet, but have the extreme's ready and the amp on order.

I found an amp at B&H that will do the trick nicely. Here is a link http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/827136-REG/AudioSource_AMP_1200_AMP1200_12 _Channel_Multi_Zone_Amplifier.html

Thanks for responding.

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Answer 3

Feb 20, 2013 11:12 AM in response to herringtech

You guys are ON IT! This is what I did with the Airport Express product:

http://www.inwallblog.com/wp/apple-airport-express/

It's only one zone but it's what got me started.

With that multi-zone amp, the AirPlay feature really starts to shine. 6 Airports plugged into that amp and you've got full control with all your rooms from your iPhone....how cool is that!

The only downside I can see is that you need multiple iTunes libraries running at the same time to listen to something different. Or you could have the music downloaded onto your phone. Or you could use Apple Match. Or....oh meh gosh, I think I'm an AppleFanBoy.

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Answer 4

Feb 28, 2013 2:51 AM in response to Inwallstore

I'm creating a similar solution and am looking at the amp part thanks for the help. I'm using an 8 port switch and six Airport Express wifi off ethernet - new ones are brilliant . House has 3 AirPort Extreme to create wireless wds

Looking at griffin twenty or Dayton audio t 100 although a multichannel amp makes more sense

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Answer 5

herringtech Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 8, 2013 10:47 AM in response to herringtech

Here is what I ended up doing. Instead of the expensive multi-channel amp I elected to go with 4 of these. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/356256-REG/AudioSource_AMP100_AMP100_Stere o_Power_Amplifier.html

I have 4 airport expresses with wifi turned off connected to switch and 2 appleTV's (one in each TV room). The amps are awesome because they are auto sensing for power, so you leave them on all the time and they switch on automaticlly when signal is supplied.

Apart from the occasional network issues the system works great and the family uses it all the time.

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