Guitartexan01 Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 I have been frustrated in my choice of avenues for whole house sound systems that cost less than $1-5k. I have Echo and I have a Bluetooth setup, but not tied together. Bluetooth has the limitation of connecting to only one device at a time. So here is my question: I have purchased the Dot. I want to know if I can plug into the line out and then SPLIT that line out into two or perhaps three separate signal wires which would go into two or perhaps three Bluetooth transmitters. These transmitters would broadcast to two or perhaps three separate pairs of amplified speakers, but would be sending the same synced music or whatever to ALL the speakers. In effect I would have a pseudo-Sonos at a much more affordable price point using the speakers of my choice, right? Thanks for any feedback. GT Link to comment
Tim McDermott Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 In theory I don't see a problem, but I do anticipate you will have issues with signal attenuation and impedance as you increase the number of devices you connect in parallel. Perhaps someone here can propose a circuit or device to overcome these issues. Link to comment
garybixler Posted June 19, 2016 Share Posted June 19, 2016 You could just use an audio distribution amplifier. Line in and multiple lines out. Usually requires 12v power. Shinybow 1x4 distribution amp. $81.00. Link to comment
Guitartexan01 Posted June 19, 2016 Author Share Posted June 19, 2016 Excellent. I suspected the attenuation might be an issue, but the line out won't go to speakers. Rather, the line out will go to Bluetooth transmitters-1 transmitter per each pair of speakers. Do you think this may mitigate any attenuation issue? Thanks for the replies. GT Link to comment
garybixler Posted June 19, 2016 Share Posted June 19, 2016 After reading up on line level splitting it appears that using Y cables will slightly reduce the strength of the signal maybe 2 dB but sound quality will remain the same. So you could split several times using a multi split adapter. Link to comment
Guitartexan01 Posted June 19, 2016 Author Share Posted June 19, 2016 Thanks garybixler. I'm going to give this a go and report back. I've got some decent quality in-ceiling speakers I've installed and they sound great. The thing I lack is the ability to tie them all together without wires. There is no way to get wires to two pairs without cutting up my walls, and I don't want to do that until I'm ready to run all the Ethernet and POE cables at once. I've purchased the Shinybow amp and some cables and I already have the Bluetooth transmitters and receivers, so I will test and let y'all know how it sounds. GT Link to comment
chrishick Posted June 19, 2016 Share Posted June 19, 2016 Grab some Chromecast audio devices at $35. Add some powered speakers or audio amplifiers and you have a poor mans Sonos system without the limitations of Bluetooth. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment
Guitartexan01 Posted June 22, 2016 Author Share Posted June 22, 2016 chrishick , do you mean the Chromecast dongle? Which Chromecast audio device exactly? GT Link to comment
chrishick Posted June 22, 2016 Share Posted June 22, 2016 Yes, the dongle. They have one that does audio only. It does basically the same thing as Sonos. It allows you to play different audio on each dongle, or you can group dongle together to all play the same thing. If you already have amplifiers or powered speakers it is a great way to get the same functionality as Sonos for $35 each. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment
chrishick Posted June 22, 2016 Share Posted June 22, 2016 The problem with using the dot and BT transmitters is they will all play the same thing and you can't play different music in different zones. Also, I don't think the echo has very many choices for music sources. Amazon prime music and Pandora only I think? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment
G W Posted June 22, 2016 Share Posted June 22, 2016 The problem with using the dot and BT transmitters is they will all play the same thing and you can't play different music in different zones. Also, I don't think the echo has very many choices for music sources. Amazon prime music and Pandora only I think? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk What more do you need? Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk Link to comment
chrishick Posted June 22, 2016 Share Posted June 22, 2016 What more do you need? Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk Spotify?TuneIn Radio? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment
G W Posted June 22, 2016 Share Posted June 22, 2016 Spotify? TuneIn Radio? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I just use Amazon. Is has all my music. I don't need anything else. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk Link to comment
Guitartexan01 Posted June 22, 2016 Author Share Posted June 22, 2016 Lol! Easy to please, eh Gary! I'm kind of that way too. Ok. So I plug a Chromecast into an HDMI audio converter which in turn I plug into my new Shinybox amp. I now have four separate amped feeds or 'zones', correct? But they all have to play the same music, correct? How would I go about having the option to play independent music in the four different zones? I know that could be achieved with desperate Chromecasts and amps, but then how would I synchronize all zones to the same music for a party? I'm thinking I'm trying to do something far too complex without running wires. GT Link to comment
chrishick Posted June 22, 2016 Share Posted June 22, 2016 Anything that has an audio line in. Usually a receiver or powered speakers. Link to comment
Guitartexan01 Posted June 22, 2016 Author Share Posted June 22, 2016 chrishick, please read my edited post! Thanks! GT Link to comment
chrishick Posted June 22, 2016 Share Posted June 22, 2016 I'm not sure why you would need an HDMI converter. Does your amp not have RCA or optical inputs? You control what is playing on each zone (chromecast device) with an app on your phone. This is also how you would group them together so they are synchronized. https://www.google.com/chromecast/audio/explore/?utm_source=en-ha-na-sem&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=audio&gclid=CjwKEAjw7qi7BRCvsr3N58GvsTkSJAA3UzLvpD5tF46AmcsXVnCQf99lflRIMkbwMYkXg8pySE-gaBoCEGTw_wcB Link to comment
Guitartexan01 Posted June 22, 2016 Author Share Posted June 22, 2016 Ah ha. I was looking at a USB type Chromecast. Which app is it and do you think it can be controlled through Echo? Alexa, play the Beatles on zone 1. Alexa, play The Cult on zone 2. GT Link to comment
chrishick Posted June 22, 2016 Share Posted June 22, 2016 I don't have any of these devices, so I'm only guessing. If I didn't already have a lot of money invested in Sonos I would have some chromecast devices for sure. I think you can cast music directly from a supported audio app such as Spotify. If you want to group cast devices together I think you have to open the Google Cast app to do that. I'm not sure if it can be controlled by echo or ISY. Echo probably not. ISY maybe...... Link to comment
Scottmichaelj Posted June 23, 2016 Share Posted June 23, 2016 FWIW Spotify is on the Echo Link to comment
MWareman Posted June 23, 2016 Share Posted June 23, 2016 or you can group dongle together to all play the same thing I didn't know the Audio Chromecast dongles did this.... Is this documented anywhere? Link to comment
chrishick Posted June 23, 2016 Share Posted June 23, 2016 I didn't know the Audio Chromecast dongles did this.... Is this documented anywhere? From the Chromecast Audio web page.... Play music everywhere with Multi-roomMulti-room lets you group Chromecast Audio devices together so you can listen to the same song on multiple speakers. Link to comment
Guitartexan01 Posted June 24, 2016 Author Share Posted June 24, 2016 So how does it fit together exactly? Chromecast plugs into what? I think into the 4way splitter amp? Then what? The way I envisioned my setup was Echo Dot plugged into Chromecast then Chromecast into Bluetooth transmitters to 2-3 sets of speakers with amps. GT Link to comment
chrishick Posted June 24, 2016 Share Posted June 24, 2016 I don't think you've grasped the concept. The Chromecast plugs into any audio device with a line in jack, such as the amplifier in your living room or the powered speakers by the pool. You don't need any Bluetooth transmitters or the dot. You use the app on your phone to tell each Chromecast what to play and you also use the app to group Chromecasts together to play the same thing synchronized. Pretty much the same thing Sonos does. Make sense? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment
Guitartexan01 Posted June 24, 2016 Author Share Posted June 24, 2016 That's what I thought. My original desire was and still is whole house audio with the Dot. So I'm back to the dot plugged into a splitter then into separate BT transmitters sent to 2-3 BT receiver speaker pairs. GT Link to comment
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