Multiroom might sound like a question of speakers – but in reality, it is a question of the system. Because as soon as you have chosen an ecosystem, you are also deciding which devices you can add 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 system underneath is the real deciding factor.
And that is exactly the crux of the matter: Switching systems later is expensive because it means replacing practically all the hardware. That is why it pays to make this one decision carefully at the outset – and not settle for the first name you come across.
This guide introduces the most important systems, categorizes them, and helps you find out which one is right for you. No winner – but with clear differences, because without them, no overview will help you.
Contents
- What multiroom actually can 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 big reputation
- The specialists and the open options
- The four criteria that really count
- Can I combine systems?
- Who each one is right for
- FAQ
What multiroom actually can do
The basic idea is simple: music in multiple rooms, controlled via a single app. In practice, this means three things.
You can hear the same thing everywhere – the same playlist playing in sync in the kitchen, living room, and bathroom, without any time lag. You can hear something different in every room – the radio in the kitchen, vinyl in the living room, an audiobook in the bedroom. And you can flexibly group rooms together and separate them again, depending on where life is happening at the moment.
Most systems also include: streaming services integrated directly, your own music playable over the network, and often the option to also include TV sound or a turntable. Multiroom is therefore long past being just "music in multiple rooms" – for many, it is the central control for all the 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 is the one that matters most.
Closed systems come from a single manufacturer and only work with their hardware. The advantage: everything is perfectly coordinated, the operation is seamless, and nothing can "not fit together". The price for this: you are tied to the range of this one manufacturer. What they do not make, you do not get.
Open systems include multiple brands or can be combined with third-party hardware. The advantage: more choice, more freedom, more possibilities to go higher in terms of sound. The price: they need to be put together a little more consciously.
The systems in this guide are categorized along exactly 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 that almost everyone knows. Sonos made multiroom for the mass market, and you can tell by the system: it is mature, it is simple, and it covers almost every use case.
The product range covers everything important – from small speakers to soundbars, subwoofers, and even a streamer that makes an existing system Sonos-compatible, and an amplifier that integrates existing passive speakers. If you are looking for an uncomplicated, easy-to-use solution that can be expanded in every room, you are in the right place.
But honestly, Sonos clearly belongs in the consumer range. It sounds decent, brings a lot of joy in everyday use – but it is not audiophile, and it is not designed to be. The amplifier, for example (Sonos Amp), is a practical entry-level solution, not a device for the demanding listener. Anyone who judges Sonos by what it is designed for – convenience, ease of use, music throughout the house without thinking about it –, will be satisfied. Anyone looking for the ultimate in sound or the path to the top will feel the limits.
Sonos is also a closed system: Sonos hardware only, no third-party devices. This makes it wonderfully easy to use, but it also ties you down.
As for the app that has been talked about so much: Sonos was so early on that there are technical worlds between the first multiroom products and today. That some individual older devices could no longer be supported at some point is less about ill will than the flip side of being a pioneer – development in this area is simply enormous. For a new purchase today, this hardly plays a role.
Sonos is right for you if: convenience and ease of use are top priorities, you want a familiar solution, and sound can mean "good enough" instead of "the maximum" for you.
In the range: Sonos System
The audiophiles: MusicCast, HEOS and BluOS
Now it gets interesting for everyone who values sound more than the best-known name. These three systems have something in common: they master standard multiroom, but go significantly higher in terms of sound – all the way into the high-quality and partly high-end range. Hi-Res playback, serious amplifiers and streamers, and the option to connect really good speakers.
They differ mainly in how open they are and how far their universe reaches.
MusicCast (Yamaha)
MusicCast is not just a multiroom system, but Yamaha's entire streaming. And that is its real strength: practically every streaming-capable Yamaha device becomes part of the system – whether AV receiver, soundbar, HiFi amplifier, or the new active speakers. This means MusicCast covers an enormous range, from the kitchen to a full-fledged home cinema, all under one roof.
The catch is the same as with Sonos: it is tied to a brand. That brand is Yamaha, with a huge product world that has grown over decades. Anyone who already leans towards Yamaha or already has Yamaha devices will get a seamlessly integrated system across all areas here.
In the range: MusicCast System
HEOS (Denon and Marantz)
HEOS works similarly comprehensively to MusicCast, but has one decisive advantage: it includes two brands right away, Denon and Marantz. This makes it more broadly positioned – from accessible Denon devices all the way up into the real premium range, which Marantz serves with its top products, such as the 10 series, the Horizon, or the large AV preamp/power amp combinations.
HEOS is in AV receivers, streamers, amplifiers, and speakers from both brands – so you can equip an entire house with it and reach different heights depending on the room and requirements. And there is prospect: With B&W, a third, highly renowned brand is in the same corporate environment, which makes the potential of the system even greater.
In the range: HEOS System
BluOS (Bluesound, NAD, Lyngdorf, Dali, Roksan)
BluOS is the most open of the three – and therefore the most exciting for many sound-conscious listeners. It is not tied to a brand, but can be found in a whole range of respected names: Bluesound provides the classic multiroom building blocks – a wide range of streamers and active speakers –, while NAD, Lyngdorf, Dali, and Roksan take the system far into the high-quality HiFi range.
This means BluOS combines two things that rarely come together: the convenience of a ready-made multiroom system and the freedom to go almost arbitrarily high in terms of sound, while choosing between brands. Hi-Res playback is a matter of course. Anyone who wants multiroom but does not want to make compromises on sound will find the most well-thought-out open system here.
In the range: BluOS System
These three are right for you if: sound is really important to you, you want to hear Hi-Res, and you can imagine expanding upwards over the years. MusicCast, if you are at home in the Yamaha world; HEOS, if the Denon/Marantz range up into the premium range appeals to you; BluOS, if openness and brand selection are most important to you.
WiiM – the newcomer with a big reputation
WiiM is the youngest in the field – and the one that is currently bringing the most movement. The brand started with small, extremely price-aggressive streamers and amplifiers, whose purpose was clear: make an existing system streaming- and multiroom-capable without spending a lot of money.
The remarkable thing about it: despite the low prices, the workmanship 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.
In the meantime, the ecosystem is growing: there are its own small multiroom speakers and a soundbar, and you can assume that several more products and categories will be added in the coming years. Also practically: devices from Audio Pro 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 enter at an affordable price and above all make an existing system streaming-capable – and at the same time choose a system that is visibly growing.
In the range: Wiim System
The specialists and the open options
In addition to the five classic systems, there are two other paths that are just right for certain people.
The specialists: Devialet, Cabasse, Revox
Some manufacturers offer multiroom via their own speakers without building a complete ecosystem around it. Devialet and Cabasse, for example, can certainly play music in several rooms with their speakers – what they lack are the complementary building blocks that the major systems bring: amplifiers, streamers, soundbars, and so on. Revox plays a role mainly in the project area, i.e., in carefully planned installations.
Who this is right for: anyone who loves the sonic or design requirements of these brands and takes multiroom as a nice extra – not as a system that is supposed to grow in every conceivable direction later.
The open protocols: AirPlay, Chromecast, Roon
It does not always have to be a closed system. Many active speakers and streaming devices can also do multiroom via open protocols – via AirPlay (in the Apple world), Chromecast (Google), or Roon (for demanding music management). This allows devices from different manufacturers to be loosely linked together in a multiroom setup.
The appeal: maximum freedom, no brand tie-in, free choice of devices. The price: these options are often a little less seamless and convenient than a complete system, and the range of functions depends on the respective protocol. For anyone who does not want to commit and prefers to put their devices together themselves, this is, however, a very attractive option. Active or passive: Which speakers are right for you? · Active speakers
The four criteria that really count
When you weigh the systems against each other, it mainly comes down to these four points.
Sound. This is where the best is most clearly separated from the rest. Sonos and WiiM are solid, but designed for everyday use. Anyone who wants the maximum will find it with the audiophiles – MusicCast, HEOS, and especially BluOS with its high-quality brand partners – and with the specialists. If sound is your main criterion, look there first.
Longevity. A multiroom system is a long-term decision. It is important that the manufacturer maintains and develops its system over the years. The established systems have proven this over a long time; with a young one like WiiM, the momentum is high, but the history is naturally still short.
Expandability. How far can you expand, and how high can you go? This is where the open and broadly positioned systems play to their strengths: BluOS with its brand diversity, HEOS with the range from Denon to Marantz premium, MusicCast with the entire Yamaha world. Sonos is broad, but clearly capped at the top.
Operation. Decisive in everyday use. Sonos is the benchmark here for simplicity, WiiM surprises for the price, the audiophiles are convenient and more feature-rich. A good app is worth more than an additional feature on the box.
And the voice assistants? Alexa and Co. are integrated into some systems. For most customers, this is more of a side issue than a deciding factor – worth mentioning, but rarely decisive. If it is important to you, check specifically which system supports your preferred assistant.
Can I combine systems?
In short: within a system, yes; across systems, hardly ever. Two different closed systems do not play together in sync – a Sonos speaker and a MusicCast device do not form a common setup.
The bridge is the open protocols: If several of your devices support all AirPlay or Chromecast, they can be loosely coupled via them, even across system boundaries. The convenience of a complete system is not quite the same, however.
That is why the honest advice is: make a conscious decision. That is exactly why the system choice at the beginning is so important – a later switch means replacing the hardware to a large extent, and that is the most expensive way. Better to think properly once at the beginning than to buy twice later.
Who each one is right for
You want maximum convenience and a name you know. → Sonos. Simple, mature, broad – as long as "sonically good" is enough for you and you like to stay in the closed system.
Sound is important to you and you want Hi-Res. → The audiophiles. MusicCast, HEOS, or BluOS – here it goes higher in terms of sound, where Sonos stops.
You want to be able to expand upwards and have freedom of brands. → BluOS. The most open system, from Bluesound to the high-end range with NAD, Lyngdorf, Dali, and Roksan.
You already live in the Yamaha or Denon/Marantz world. → MusicCast or HEOS. Both seamlessly integrate your existing setup and HEOS reaches all the way into the premium range.
You want to enter at an affordable price or make an existing system streaming-capable. → WiiM. Price-aggressive, surprisingly high-quality, growing fast.
You love a certain 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 do not want to commit and want to put it together yourself. → The open protocols. AirPlay, Chromecast, or Roon loosely link devices from different manufacturers – maximum freedom, slightly less convenience.
Best: hear and touch it yourself once
This is how this overview is sorted too – the decision becomes easier if you experience the systems in person: how the app feels, how it sounds, how quickly the rooms are grouped. With us, you can experience the different systems side by side and compare them.
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 play music in, what you listen to, which devices you already have, and how important sound is to you compared to convenience. From that, the right system can be quickly narrowed down.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is 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. A system change later is expensive because it affects almost all the hardware.
Is Sonos not the best multiroom system?
Sonos is the best-known and one of the most convenient – but "best" depends on what you are looking for. For convenience and simplicity, it is excellent. If you are looking for sound, Hi-Res, or expansion into the high-quality range, the audiophile systems like BluOS, HEOS, and MusicCast or the specialists are the more interesting choice.
Can I connect different systems together?
Within a system, yes; between two closed systems, practically not. However, devices from different manufacturers can be loosely coupled via open protocols like AirPlay or Chromecast.
Which system sounds the best?
Tendency towards 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. For its price point, WiiM is surprisingly well-built and ideal for adding streaming and multi-room functionality to an existing audio system. The ecosystem is still young, but it is growing rapidly.
Do I need special speakers for multi-room audio?
Not necessarily. Many systems offer their own active speakers, but with a streamer or amplifier from the respective system, you can often also incorporate existing speakers or an existing audio system.
Can I also use multi-room audio with my existing HiFi system?
Yes. That is exactly what streamers and streaming amplifiers are for—whether from Sonos, WiiM, or audiophile systems. They make your existing system part of the multi-room network.
Author: Fidelity
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