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- Audio
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Back in the day, piped music in hotels was a symbol of luxury. It was a wiring system that made it possible to listen to music synchronously on speakers located in various rooms and halls. In 2021, it is a technology that has evolved a lot. Not only because it is now "wireless piped music" as it does not need cables, but because it allows many more options.
In fact, piped music as such is an endangered species and what is currently used are Multiroom Systems or Multisala.
Bluesound is a wireless speaker and audiophile electronics firm that has made high-quality multi-room audio at the core of its devices. And it is that, using the WiFi network or ethernet connection to access the home network, they manage to transmit sound with 24bits/192kHz quality. Such is their transmission quality that they are compatible with MQA (Master Quality Authenticated). But there is much more.
How is modern piped music - Multiroom System-?
A multiroom system is a sound system that has speakers distributed in different rooms of the home. These can play streaming music. If they have wireless technology, they connect wirelessly, all at the same time or by selecting which ones you want to play.
Multiroom equipment allows you to integrate a large number of speakers. For example, the BluOS interface that allows you to control Bluesound devices, you can manage up to 64 playback zones differences. Thus, it is possible to create a whole set of Home Theater speakers and integrate them with the rest of the multiroom system.
Current multiroom systems can be controlled with an app for mobile devices that facilitates the creation of groups, the selection of speakers, sources and volume.
What does Bluesound offer to Multiroom systems?
Bluesound uses your home network to transmit sound. Thus, you can achieve high-quality music streaming (24bit/192kHz) wirelessly using Wi-Fi. This allows you to provide sound to any room in the house with a wireless speaker of the several available in its catalogue. In fact, it can play files with MQA authentication, guaranteeing that the sound offered is equivalent to that of the master recorded in the studio.
In addition, BluOS is compatible with practically all popular music streaming services. Play directly from Spotify, TIDAL or Qobuz among many others, as well as podcasts and internet radio. It can also connect via your home network to NAS drives where you have stored your digital music collection. Be it ripped CDs or Hi-Res music downloads. Or, if you prefer, send content to the system via Airplay 2 or Bluetooth 5.0 aptX HD.
And although the app is a simple way to control the whole system, it can also be done by the most popular voice assistants. Siri from Apple, Alexa from Amazon and Google Assistant will be happy to play whatever you want on your multiroom equipment.
BluOS integrates several sound brands in addition to Bluesound, such as NAD or DALI. It is also compatible with the main home automation ecosystems such as Control4, Lutron, Crestron, RTI, Crestron or Push among others. In fact, it has Dolby Certification, which certifies Bluesound speakers as a great option to create Home Cinema equipment.
How to convert my sound system into multiroom?
With Bluesound Node 2i you will update your old Hi-Fi equipment. By adding a good DAC and streamer, you will improve the sound quality and you will be able to enjoy the latest musical trends.
Node 2i connects via ethernet LAN cable or WIFi and will provide the equipment with streaming, online music services, multiroom capabilities... And all the Bluesound features. It also has USB type A digital physical inputs and optical Mini-toslink. This allows you to connect to up to two digital devices or play from a flash drive.
If in addition to everything Node 2i offers, you want an integrated amplifier to which you only need to connect two passive speakers, look for Bluesound Powernode 2i. In addition to all the functions of Node 2i, it has Class D hybrid amplification that delivers 60W RMS at 8 ohms.
Can you play CDs in wireless multiroom?
Of course! Bluesound has thought of everything, and for Compact Disc lovers it has created Vault 2i. It has a slot-type CD player that plays with high quality and allows you to "ripe" (make a digital copy of these) easily, to allow you to digitize your collection.
It has a 2 TB hard drive ( equivalent to 2,000 GB) that automatically saves the digital copy of the CDs. Once stored, they can be accessed and played from the BluOS app. Added to which is connectivity to streaming music services as soon as it is connected to the home network via Ethernet.
Vault 2i can work on its own by connecting it to active speakers, or to an amplification and passive boxes.
Integrate the TV into the multiroom audio system
The TV can be a sound source for the multizone equipment, being able to listen to its contents in any room of the house. Bluesound's proposed way of doing this is their new soundbar Bluesound Pulse Soundbar+.
It is a sound bar activates BluOS that will start working as soon as it is connected to the TV with HDMI ARC cable, optical TOSLINK or mini-jack. In addition, if you connect to the home network via cable or WiFi, it will be possible to play the sound of the TV on any speaker in the multiroom system.
Subwoofers for multiroom systems
If the sound of any room in your home lacks bass power, you can solve it without cables or complications by adding the active subwoofer Bluesound Pulse Sub+. This can be connected either by cable to any device with a sub output or wirelessly with any Bluesound device.
Pulse Sub+ has 200W class D self-amplification and its frequency is lower than 22Hz. Thanks to its design and wireless operation it is very easy to place, being able to do it both vertically and horizontally. All this versatility makes it ideal both to complement Home Theater multichannel equipment and for extra acoustic power to stereo equipment.
Can you make a musical thread without works?
Whether it is because you are renting or any other reason that prevents you from installing with works, you can enjoy a modern multiroom system in your home. This situation eliminates ceiling and built-in speakers as an option, but Bluesound has the solution.
Pulse 2i, Pulse Mini 2i and Pulse Flex 2i are the 3 Bluesound wireless speakers . Compatible with BluOS to create multiroom systems at the touch of an app, they have different specifications to adapt to any need.
Bluesound Pulse 2i is the most powerful option. Nothing less than 80W of amplification move 3 drivers to achieve a sound capable of filling large rooms. And although it receives the sound wirelessly, such power requires cable power for this beast that weighs no less than six kilos.
If it is a smaller room, Bluesound Pulse Mini 2i is a perfect solution with 50W power to power two speakers.
But you may be looking for a speaker that, in addition to being part of the BluOS multiroom system, is also portable. Whether to take it to the beach or anywhere in the home without cables, the answer is Bluesound Pulse Flex 2i.< /p>
Your optional battery offers up to 6 hours of autonomy without its 25W power to power your two drivers are not affected at all. It is capable of filling small and medium-sized rooms with sound.
In addition, Bluesound speakers have convenient placement options to anchor them to the wall without problems and without affecting the sound.
iOS and Android app to control multiroom audio
The entire range of Bluesound products is controlled by a simple application for iOs, Android, Windows and Mac, the BluOS Controller App. This allows us to choose which speakers we want to sound at each moment, at what volume, and what we want them to play.
The app has a direct connection with most online streaming music services such as Spotify Connect, TIDAL, Deezer, Qobuz and many others.
In addition, it can be integrated with Roon. Roon is a premium music player for music lovers and audiophiles that brings back all the charm of yesteryear to the listening experience. With Roon you automatically access the artwork, the lyrics and a large amount of information about the songs that are playing.
But, above all, this app will allow you to manage which Bluesound speakers you want to play in your multiroom system at all times, and what you prefer to play. Up to 64 zones to control to your liking at any time, as simple as choosing it on your mobile device or asking your favorite voice assistant: Siri, Alexa or Google Assistant.
Review of Bluesound NODE (2021) in Spanish
We leave you a review so you can see how BlueSound Node works.
Finally, you will feel that your home has a multi-room sound system that makes you feel the same luxury that piped music once evoked.
Enjoy it!
At Concerto Audio we are an official Bluesound point of sale, and we can help you with your purchase, or to select the most suitable multiroom speakers for your needs. If you have questions, contact us.