What is a zone?
A zone is a room or area that can play music on its own. Zones can play different music or group together.
Groups and party mode
Groups let zones play the same song together. Party mode is a group of every zone.
Sources
Music can come from streaming services, a turntable or a TV. A good system lets each zone choose a source.
Control
An app, a keypad or voice control can manage volume and sources. Control4 can tie music into scenes.
Plan the network
Multi-room audio depends on a solid network. Wired connections make everything more reliable.
Two ways to build it
Multi-room systems are built either with streaming speakers and amps in each room, like Sonos, or with speaker wire from every room to a central audio matrix in a rack, like Triad. Many homes combine both. See audio matrix vs Sonos.
Planning zones
- List every space you want music in, including outdoors
- Group open areas that should always play together
- Decide where volume should be controlled on the wall
- Plan the TV rooms that also need surround or soundbars
- Leave a spare zone or two for later
Speakers for each space
Hallways and baths need little; kitchens and family rooms benefit from better speakers; outdoors needs weatherproof or landscape speakers. See choosing in-ceiling speakers.
Common questions
Can each room play something different?
Yes. Each zone chooses its own source and volume.
Can I add rooms later?
With streaming amps, easily. With a matrix, plan spare zones and wiring now.
Do you install it?
Yes. See whole-home audio.