High end multi-room sound system (offline/no-cloud)
Goals of the system
- be offline
- be software agnostic
- be remote control free
- accept any relevant audio source (bluetooth, XDJ, chromecast)
- never compromise on audio quality
- allow for low power consumption when idle
- produce "night club grade" sound pressure in the living room (> 100dB)
- produce audio in all rooms of the house
In plain english : It allows me to play music of my Android phone on Spotify, or play a Youtube video on my Debian laptop, or start mixing on my XDJ-XZ, or play a movie on the Chromecast 4K in the movie room and... have the sound automatically get out of each and every speakers of the house, with state of the art quality on each of them.
Keys to reach the goals
- Bluetooth AptX audio streaming
- Automatic digital signal detector/switchbox
- Keeping the signal in the digital realm for as long as possible
- MiniDSP 10x10 HD and DEQ2496 to adjust audio signal for each room
- Crown CT amplifiers (Premium Class-D with deep sleep and auto standby)
Components of the system
- 2x Bluetooth receivers, with digital toslink output
- Chromecast 4K
- HDMI Audio/Video splitter
- Automatic digital source selector
- MiniDSP 10x10 HD
- Berhinger DEQ2496
- Crown CT 8150
- Crown CT 4150
- SMSL DA-8s
- SMSL M300
- JBL SB210 DIY subwoofers
- Cabasse ICD17 DIY spheres
- Focal IC108
- Focal 1008 Be
- Focal Shape 65
- Focal Sopra N°3
- B&W CCM362
- B&W CM9
- B&W 686
- 2x Dante XLR
- Dante AES/EBU
Audio routing
The audio routing goes as follows : [...] writting in progress...
In the meantime, it is explained in this video.
Sidenotes
Regarding the two SB210 subwoofers, those are speakers recycled from my old JBL SB210. I contacted JBL to obtain the datasheet of the speaker and designed enclosures that get down to around 28Hz -3dB instead of the stock 46Hz -10dB. Enclosure are build using 38mm MDF and sound incredible.
Regarding the two Shape 65, they are only connected to the DEQ2496. And the DEQ is connected to the XDJ-XZ's booth output. The DEQ corrects for the position of the DJ in front of the XDJ. Therefore, when the XDJ plays, the main audio is sent to the whole room, and its booth output allow to adjust the return in the Shape65, with an audio correction so that the audio at the DJ's listening point is perfect.
Regarding the Cabasse ICD17, they are in sphere enclosures designed and built myself a long time ago. It's a closed speaker design. Idea came from Cabasse's famous "La Sphere" high end speakers.
The bay
When I renovated the house in 2017 (technically, we only kept the foundational elements), I placed lots of ethernet cables (Category 7) and speaker cables (2.5mm² and 4mm²). This was with the goal of diffusing music in the whole house and not being blocked by the lack of networking ports.
This is why all the house in fed by the following Dante network, DSP, DAC and amplifiers.
The DSP is exclusively fed by a digital signal (AES-EBU) from the Dante network.
8 of its analog output are sent via differentials pairs the CT8150 to different speakers of the house, with some delay and EQ. Including the two DIY JBL subwoofer (filtered from 15Hz to 70Hz).
Its digital output (without any audio processing) goes into the SMSL M300 DAC, which in turns feeds via differential pairs the CT4150, which in turns feeds the B&W CM9 in the music room, and the Focal Sopra 3 in the living room. I'm planning on upgrading to a second CT8150 to bi-amplify the B&W CM9 (and hopefully avoid loosing definition in the mid/high when pushing them hard).
Sadly Focal decided to cheap out on the bi-amplification capability of the Sopra 3, which honestly in unforgivable given the price point.
Speakers list
Blindspots
Currently, only the music production computer, a subcompact Dell Optiplex running MacOS/Hackintosh with an old version of Ableton is not connected to the house's audio system. It has its own monitor speakers and I should connect the whole thing using Dante to leverage the B&W CM9 of the music room instead of the cheap Mackie. But as I almost never get on that computer, it still hasn't been done.
Early 2025 update
I started having issues with my automatic digital input source selector. It's a box produced by an individual, not from a big brand so I'm not going to bother him.
This was the triggering event for a rationalisation of the whole audio routing system.
I decided to ditch :
- the dual bluetooth receivers, in favor of a single, Dante bluetooth receiver (cutting the middle man)
- the Chromecast HDMI audio signal splitter (I don't have time to watch movies with my kid, so I might has well use my laptop directly)
I'm adding a new source : a USB-C Dante digital input. This allows me to stream in lossless from my laptop in the living room, directly to the Dante AES-EBU receiver that feeds the DSP. So I have a bit-perfect option for critical listening in the living room.
Now all sources are using Dante with 3 input devices in total.
- The XDJ-XZ uses a Dante XLR input
- The phone/laptop can use a Dante BT input (aptX)
- The phone/laptop can use a Dante USB-C input (lossless)
The routing to the AES-EBU/DSP is done manually via netaudio, a dante controller "port" for Linux.
Focal Sopra N°3
I ordered a pair of Focal Sopra N°3 to replace the B&W CM9 in the living room.
I've kinda messed up as a pair of B&W 800 D3 became available on the second hand market (altough at a steeper price) just 2 days after I placed my order for the Focal. But I couldn't back up from the transaction...
The CM9 have gone in the music/movie room, and I'm going to bi-amp them.
For that, the Crown CT4150 will be replaced by a CT8150. Giving me 4 more channels. And a total of 16 channels with the two CT8150.
The Electra 1008 Be from the music/movie room are now in the dining room. The spheres are staying here too, but they are not powered anymore, only serving as decorations.