Multiroom sounds like a question of speakers – but in reality, it's a question of the system. Because as soon as you've decided on an ecosystem, you also decide which devices you can buy in the coming years, how good it sounds, how easy it is to use, and how far you can expand it. The individual speakers are interchangeable. The underlying system is the actual decisive factor.
And that's precisely the crux of the matter: changing systems later is expensive because it means practically replacing all the hardware. That's why it's worth making this one decision carefully upfront – and not sticking with the first name you know.
This guide introduces the most important systems, categorizes them, and helps you find out which one suits you. Without a winner – but with clear differences, because without them, no overview will help you.
Table of Contents
- What Multiroom can actually do
- The one question that determines everything: open or closed
- Sonos – the convenient all-rounder
- The Audiophiles: MusicCast, HEOS, and BluOS
- WiiM – the newcomer with a statement
- The Specialists and the Open Paths
- The four criteria that really matter
- Can I combine systems?
- What suits whom
- FAQ
What Multiroom can actually do
The basic idea is simple: music in multiple rooms, controlled via a single app. In practice, this means three things.
You can listen to the same thing everywhere – the same playlist synchronously in the kitchen, living room, and bathroom, without any time delay. You can listen to something different in each room – radio in the kitchen, vinyl in the living room, audiobook in the bedroom. And you can flexibly group and ungroup rooms, depending on where life is happening.
In most systems, streaming services are directly integrated, your own music can be played on the network, and there's often the option to integrate TV sound or a record player. Multiroom is therefore much more than "music in several rooms" – for many, it is the central control of all music in the house.
The one question that determines everything: open or closed
Before we get to the individual systems, the most important distinction of all – it determines most things.
Closed systems come from one manufacturer and only work with their hardware. The advantage: everything is perfectly coordinated, operation is seamless, nothing can "not fit together". The price for this: you are tied to the offerings of this one manufacturer. What they don't build, you don't get.
Open systems include several brands or can be combined with third-party hardware. The advantage: more choice, more freedom, more possibilities to improve sound quality. The price: it needs to be put together a bit more deliberately.
The systems in this guide are positioned along this axis – from very closed to very open. Keep that in mind as we go through them.
Sonos – the convenient all-rounder
Let's start with the name almost everyone knows. Sonos made multiroom for the mass market, and you can tell from the system: it's mature, it's simple, and it covers almost every use case.
The product range covers all the essentials – from small speakers to soundbars, subwoofers, to a streamer that can make an existing system Sonos-compatible, and an amplifier that integrates existing passive speakers. Anyone looking for an uncomplicated, easy-to-use solution that can be supplemented in any room is in the right place here.
However, honestly speaking, Sonos clearly belongs in the consumer sector. It sounds decent, provides a lot of enjoyment in everyday life – but it's not audiophile, nor is it designed to be. The amplifier, for example (Sonos Amp), is a practical entry-level solution, not a device for the demanding listener. Those who judge Sonos by what it's intended for – comfort, operation, music throughout the house without thinking – will be satisfied. Those seeking the ultimate in sound or an upgrade path will feel its limitations.
Sonos is also a closed system: only Sonos hardware, no third-party devices. This makes operation wonderfully simple, but it ties you in.
Regarding the app, much has been said: Sonos was so early in the game that there are worlds of technological difference between the first multiroom products and today. The fact that some older devices could no longer keep up is less malicious intent than the downside of being a pioneer – development in this area is simply enormous. For a new purchase today, this hardly matters.
Sonos is right for you if: convenience and ease of use are paramount, you want a familiar solution, and sound for you can mean "good enough" rather than "the maximum."
In the assortment: Sonos System
The Audiophiles: MusicCast, HEOS, and BluOS
Now it gets interesting for anyone who values sound more than the most famous name. These three systems have something in common: they master standard multiroom but go significantly further up in sound quality – into the high-quality and partly high-end range. Hi-Res playback, serious amplifiers and streamers, and the ability to connect really good speakers.
They differ mainly in how open they are and how far their ecosystem extends.
MusicCast (Yamaha)
MusicCast is not just a multiroom system, but Yamaha's entire streaming platform. And that is its real strength: practically every streaming-capable Yamaha device becomes part of the system – whether an AV receiver, soundbar, HiFi amplifier, or the new active speakers. This allows MusicCast to cover an enormous range, from the kitchen to a full home cinema, all under one roof.
The catch is the same as with Sonos: it's tied to one brand. However, this brand is Yamaha, with a huge product world that has grown over decades. Those who already gravitate towards Yamaha or already own Yamaha devices will get a seamlessly integrated system across all areas here.
In the assortment: MusicCast System
HEOS (Denon and Marantz)
HEOS works as comprehensively as MusicCast, but has a decisive advantage: it includes two brands, Denon and Marantz. This makes it more broadly positioned – from accessible Denon devices up to the genuine premium segment, as served by Marantz with its top products, such as the 10 series, Horizon, or the large AV pre-/power amplifier combinations.
HEOS is found in AV receivers, streamers, amplifiers, and speakers of both brands – so you can equip an entire house with it, escalating in quality depending on the room and demands. And there is perspective: with B&W, a third, very renowned brand is in the same corporate environment, which further increases the system's potential.
In the assortment: HEOS System
BluOS (Bluesound, NAD, Lyngdorf, Dali, Roksan)
BluOS is the most open of the three – and for many sound-conscious listeners, therefore the most exciting. It is not tied to one brand, but is found in a whole range of esteemed names: Bluesound provides the classic multiroom components – a wide range of streamers and active speakers – while NAD, Lyngdorf, Dali, and Roksan carry the system far into the high-end HiFi sector.
BluOS thus combines two things that rarely come together: the convenience of a ready-made multiroom system and the freedom to go almost as high as desired in sound quality, while choosing between brands. Hi-Res playback is a given. Anyone who wants multiroom but doesn't want to compromise on sound will find the most sophisticated open system here.
In the assortment: BluOS System
These three are right for you if: sound is really important to you, you want to listen to Hi-Res, and you can imagine upgrading over the years. MusicCast, if you're at home in the Yamaha world; HEOS, if the Denon/Marantz range up to the premium segment appeals to you; BluOS, if openness and brand choice are most important to you.
WiiM – the newcomer with a statement
WiiM is the youngest in the field – and the one currently creating the most buzz. The brand started with small, extremely aggressively priced streamers and amplifiers, whose purpose was clear: to make an existing system streaming and multiroom capable without spending a lot of money.
The remarkable thing about it: despite the low prices, the craftsmanship is surprisingly high quality, and the app is among the best you can get for the money. WiiM thus provides a very affordable yet solid entry into the topic.
The ecosystem is now growing: there are proprietary small multiroom speakers and a soundbar, and it can be assumed that more products and categories will be added in the coming years. Also practical: Audio Pro devices can also be integrated into the WiiM world, which expands the selection beyond its own brand.
WiiM is right for you if: you want to start cost-consciously and primarily want to make an existing system streaming-capable – and want to choose a system that is noticeably growing.
In the assortment: Wiim System
The Specialists and the Open Paths
In addition to the five classic systems, there are two other paths that are exactly right for certain people.
The Specialists: Devialet, Cabasse, Revox
Some manufacturers offer multiroom through their own speakers, without building a complete ecosystem around them. Devialet and Cabasse, for example, can certainly provide music for several rooms with their speakers – what they lack are the complementary components that large systems offer: amplifiers, streamers, soundbars, and so on. Revox plays a role primarily in the project sector, i.e., in well-planned installations.
Who this suits: for anyone who loves the sound or design aesthetic of these brands and wants multiroom as a nice extra – not as a system that is meant to grow in every conceivable direction later.
The open protocols: AirPlay, Chromecast, Roon
It doesn't always have to be a closed system. Many active speakers and streaming devices can also handle multiroom via open protocols – via AirPlay (in the Apple world), Chromecast (Google), or Roon (for advanced music management). This allows devices from different manufacturers to be linked together in a loose multiroom network.
The appeal: maximum freedom, no ties to a brand, free choice of devices. The price: these methods are often a bit less seamless and comfortable than a continuous system, and the range of functions depends on the respective protocol. For those who don't want to commit and prefer to assemble their own devices, this is a very attractive option. Active or passive: Which speakers are right for you? · Active speakers
The four criteria that really matter
When you weigh the systems against each other, these four points are crucial.
Sound. This is where the wheat is most clearly separated from the chaff. Sonos and WiiM are solid, but designed for everyday use. Those who want the maximum will find it among the audiophiles – MusicCast, HEOS, and especially BluOS with its high-quality brand partners – and among the specialists. If sound is your main criterion, look there first.
Durability. A multiroom system is a long-term decision. It's important that the manufacturer maintains and develops its system over years. Established systems have proven this over a long period; with a young one like WiiM, the dynamics are high, but the history is naturally still short.
Expandability. How far can you expand, and how high can you go? Here, the open and broadly positioned systems show their strength: BluOS with its brand diversity, HEOS with the range from Denon to Marantz-Premium, MusicCast with the overall Yamaha world. Sonos is broad, but clearly capped at the top end.
Operation. Decisive in everyday life. Sonos is the benchmark for simplicity here, WiiM surprises for the price, the audiophiles are comfortable and more functional. A good app is worth more than an additional feature on the box.
And voice assistants? Alexa and Co. are integrated into some systems. For most customers, this is more of a minor aspect than a deciding factor – noteworthy, but rarely crucial. If it's important to you, specifically check which system supports your preferred assistant.
Can I combine systems?
In short: within one system, yes; across systems, hardly. Two different closed systems do not play synchronously together – a Sonos speaker and a MusicCast device do not form a common network.
The bridge is the open protocols: if several of your devices support AirPlay or Chromecast, they can be loosely coupled through them, even across system boundaries. However, this isn't quite the convenience of a continuous system.
Therefore, the honest advice: make a conscious choice. That's why the system choice at the beginning is so important – a later change means largely replacing the hardware, and that's the most expensive path. Better to think it through properly once at the start than to buy twice later.
What suits whom
You want maximum convenience and a name you know. → Sonos. Simple, mature, broad – as long as "good sound" is enough for you and you want to stay within the closed system.
Sound is important to you and you want Hi-Res. → The audiophiles. MusicCast, HEOS or BluOS – here the sound quality goes up where Sonos stops.
You want to be able to expand upwards and have brand freedom. → BluOS. The most open system, from Bluesound up to the high-end sector with NAD, Lyngdorf, Dali, and Roksan.
You're already living in the Yamaha or Denon/Marantz world. → MusicCast or HEOS. Both seamlessly integrate your existing setup and, with HEOS, extend into the premium segment.
You want to get started affordably or make an existing system streaming-capable. → WiiM. Aggressively priced, surprisingly high quality, and growing rapidly.
You love a particular brand and want multiroom as a nice extra. → The specialists like Devialet or Cabasse. Great speakers with multiroom capability, without the full accessory ecosystem.
You don't want to commit and prefer to assemble things yourself. → The open protocols. AirPlay, Chromecast, or Roon connect devices from different manufacturers into a loose network – maximum freedom, slightly less convenience.
Best of all: listen and touch for yourself
As organized as this overview may be, the decision becomes easier when you experience the systems in real life: how the app feels, how it sounds, how quickly rooms are grouped. With us, you can experience and compare the different systems side by side.
And because multiroom is a long-term decision with many possibilities, a conversation here is particularly worthwhile: tell us how many rooms you want to equip, what you listen to, which devices you already have, and how important sound is to you compared to convenience. From this, the right system can be quickly narrowed down.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the most important point when choosing multiroom?
The system, not the individual speaker. It determines what you can buy later, how it sounds, and how far you can expand. Changing systems later is expensive because it affects almost all the hardware.
Isn't Sonos the best multiroom system?
Sonos is the best known and one of the most convenient – but "best" depends on what you're looking for. For comfort and simplicity, it's excellent. If sound, Hi-Res, or expanding into the high-end sector are important to you, the audiophile systems like BluOS, HEOS, and MusicCast, or the specialists, are the more interesting choice.
Can I connect different systems together?
Within one system, yes; between two closed systems, practically no. However, devices from different manufacturers can be loosely coupled via open protocols like AirPlay or Chromecast.
Which system sounds best?
Typically, the audiophile and specialized solutions – BluOS with its high-quality brand partners, HEOS up to the Marantz premium range, MusicCast in the Yamaha world, plus specialists like Devialet or Cabasse. Sonos and WiiM are solid, but designed for everyday use.
Is WiiM worth it despite the low prices?
Yes. WiiM offers surprisingly high-quality workmanship for its price point and is ideal for making an existing system streaming and multiroom-capable. The ecosystem is still young but growing fast.
Do I need special speakers for multiroom?
Not necessarily. Many systems offer their own active speakers, but with a streamer or amplifier from the respective system, you can often integrate existing speakers or an existing system.
Can I use multiroom with my existing hi-fi system?
Yes. That's exactly what streamers and streaming amplifiers are for – in Sonos, WiiM, and audiophile systems alike. They make your existing system part of the multiroom network.
Author: Frank Buck
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