My new hybrid setup (MS4Home @ RPi4 + Loxone Audioserver)

[TomekWaw]

Actually it's just a plan yet, because my Audioserver is still on its way (will arrive in 2 days).
But keeping in mind that Audioserver is not providing Airplay2 speakers support yet, I'm gonna build such setup for now:



I believe Audioserver will have lot of bugs discovered in following months. but hopefully this setup will allow me to adopt it gradually and without major dramas like not having music at all

I think in the future MS4Home will stay with me anyway, at least as secondary / disaster recovery solution. During last year it turned out to be perfectly reliable. And running it on RPi4 costs nothing (I love it).

[MachineMaster]

Hey,

that is about the same setup as I plan to use.
Since I am completly new to MS4H do I need a soundcard on the raspberry if I only have wireless speakers with airplay 2?
If so, what soundcard should I buy?

[TomekWaw]

You don't need one

[TomekWaw]

And actually LMS is streaming to Sonos speakers with Airplay1 (that's what LMS plugin: Airplay Bridge provides currently).
But it doesn't really matter, it works fine.
I used Airplay2 icons on the image hoping to reuse them if Audioserver will eventually support Airplay2

[Gast]

TomekWaw, have you changed the bathroom and bedroom speakers to something better comparing to the initial setup on GGMM's?

[TomekWaw]

TomekWaw, have you changed the bathroom and bedroom speakers to something better comparing to the initial setup on GGMM's?

Yep, to Sonos One speakers shown on my audio schematic diagram. They are much better.

Btw, my setup has already evolved

[t_heinrich]

Thank you for clarification.
This means when Audioserver will support Airplay2, the MS4Home is obsolete for you?

t_heinrich This is also the case for me. Exactly the same

[TomekWaw]

t_heinrich When Audioserver will support Airplay2 I will most likely move my Sonos speakers to Audioserver. Mostly because a better Spotify integration and because wireless speakers might be grouped with wired zones (hopefully). But most probably I will keep MS4Home as a backup solution and as solution for non-Airplay2 speakers (DLNA, Chromecast). I don't use such speakers currently, but I might need that some day.

[hismastersvoice]

Becouse TomekWaw mentioned it, the actual state of the Spotify Integration in the MuiscServerGateway...
The integration is nearly fulfilled.

A short video to that...

[deans]

Hello, I know this post is now a few years old. But can I check if you found a solution that works with Ms4h and the. Loxone Audio Server?

I have a Music Server but it it has never really worked as expected and uses so much power. I too have some Sonos zones, which I can control through Loxone.

I am thinking of replacing the Music Server with an Audio Server, then using Ms4h on a docker for the other Sonos Zones. I may also be able to get BBC radio working on the Ms4h as Loxone no longer supports this service.

So, I end with a setup similar set up to you.

What is your experience with the Audio Server + Ms4h? Does it work OK? Can the two talk / integrate? Can you control your wireless speakers OK via the Ms4h?

[TomekWaw]

Yes it worked well for me. You can't group zones from Audioserver and from MS4H, but both are managed by a native interface in Loxone App and both may be controlled by logic.

Since previous posts I've moved to a new place where I only use wired zones (6 in total, 3 stereo-downmix and 3 full stereo) with Audioserver and Stereo Extensions. I sold almost all my Sonos speakers and I'm happy with inCeiling and inWall speakers that I have now. I still keep MS4H because I still have Sonos Roam speaker for garden use.