Inexpensive 5-zone external-player-only setup

[TomekWaw]

Here's my inexpensive 5-zone multiroom audio setup using external players only.
I've used equipment that I already had home, including Yamaha AVR, Android tablet, Dell soundbar and Foxconn barebone PC that was my XBMC in the past but has not been used anymore since Netflix.
Actually I've only spent 160 EUR on two GGMM WiFi speakers that both present great quality, features and general value.
So I have 2 squeezebox player apps and 3 devices as Airplay target and all 5 zones are able to play in sync (in contrast to Loxone Music Server uPnP/DLNA-based wireless zones).
Cheap, convenient, easy to extend.




Random thoughts: If Loxone was clever on this enough, they'd make a new retrofit-centered product "Loxone Music Server Go" using Intel NUC (or any similar inexpensive platform) and their music software package, but with AirPlay-Bridge plugin allowed/enabled. I think they would easily sell this for 499 EUR with 6-zones included and upsell additional 2-zone packages for 99 EUR.

[hismastersvoice]

Random thoughts: If Loxone was clever on this enough, they'd make a new retrofit-centered product "Loxone Music Server Go" using Intel NUC (or any similar inexpensive platform) and their music software package, but with AirPlay-Bridge plugin allowed/enabled. I think they would easily sell this for 499 EUR with 6-zones included and upsell additional 2-zone packages for 99 EUR.

The idea is good, but unfortunately this does not seem to be Loxone's strategy. Also Loxone will not earn enough money with 499€. Only the Nuc with Ram and SSD would cost already 300€. In addition, Loxone would give their margin to third parties.

Therefore I think that Loxone could not bring such a product under 1000€.

[TomekWaw]

You're probably right, but there are still ways to lower cost of the hardware. They might use different/cheaper barebone computer, use eMMC memory for system storage only and leave music storage device (and its cost) to user decision - some would need none, some would use pendrive, external HDD/SSD or NAS. So there might be ways to make a profit on this and making profit is better then making no profit. Loxone didn't made any profit on my multiroom audio requirments so far. This is not because I can't afford Music Server but because it doesn't fit my (retrofit mostly) needs and I suppose, I'm not the only one.