Integrating high-end audio with smart home automation means your music system is controlled by the same keypads, app and voice commands that run your lights, shades and climate. You choose speakers that suit each room, run them from amplifiers and streamers in one place, and then tie that system into your home automation so music becomes part of everyday scenes. You get good sound in every room, and anyone in the house can use it without a manual. Here is how to plan it.
What an integrated audio system does
A standalone audio system plays music. An integrated one also responds to the rest of the house.
- One interface. The same app or keypad that dims the lights also picks the music and sets the volume.
- Zones. Each room or area has its own volume and source. You can play one playlist everywhere for a party, or different music in the kitchen and the gym.
- Scenes. A “Good Morning” scene can raise the bedroom shades and start the news at a low volume. A “Dinner” scene can set the dining room lights and play quiet jazz. “Goodnight” can turn off every zone in the house.
- Voice. Ask for an artist or a station by room, without picking up a phone.
Choosing the speakers
Speaker choice depends on how each room is used and how much you want to see the equipment.
- In-ceiling speakers spread background music evenly through kitchens, family rooms and bedrooms.
- In-wall speakers work better where you sit and listen closely, such as a living room or library, and can be placed at ear height for a better stereo image.
- Invisible speakers, such as the Sonance Invisible Series, go behind a thin layer of plaster so there is no grille at all.
- Freestanding speakers are still the best choice for a dedicated listening room.
- Outdoor and landscape speakers extend the system to the patio, the pool and the yard.
When you compare speakers, listen to them if you can. Specs such as frequency range help, but your ears and the room matter more.
Sources and streaming quality
Most high-end systems stream. Services such as Apple Music, Qobuz and Tidal offer lossless and high-resolution music, and Spotify works with nearly every system. Make sure your streamers support the services your family actually uses. Many audiophiles also connect a turntable, which the system can digitize and send to any room.
Wired or wireless?
Wireless speakers are easy to install and easy to move, which makes them a good fit for a few rooms or a rental. Their drawbacks are a power cord for each speaker, dependence on Wi-Fi and less flexibility in placement.
Wired systems run speaker cable from each room to multi-zone amplifiers in a central equipment rack. They are more reliable, the speakers can be built into walls and ceilings, and all the electronics sit in one ventilated place where they are easy to service. For a whole house, wired is the better choice. Most systems end up as a mix, with wired architectural speakers in the main rooms and a few wireless speakers in places that are hard to wire.
Connecting audio to the smart home
How the integration works depends on the platform.
- Savant and Control4 manage the audio system directly. Music appears on the same touchscreens, keypads and remotes as lights, shades and climate, and you can add it to any scene.
- Sonos works well on its own and connects to Savant, Control4 and Lutron. With Lutron, a Pico remote for audio (Caséta, RadioRA 3 or HomeWorks) or a RadioRA 3 or HomeWorks keypad can play, pause and adjust the volume on a Sonos speaker.
- Josh.ai adds natural voice control across the system, including requests by room such as “play jazz in the kitchen.”
- Alexa, Google and Siri can handle simple commands, though they work best as an add-on to a dedicated control system.
Whatever platform you choose, test the system the way you will use it. Check sound in every zone, confirm scenes trigger music at the right volume and make sure voice commands respond without lag.
Setting the speakers up for the best sound
- Place stereo pairs so the speakers and your main seat form an equilateral triangle.
- Put tweeters at about ear height when you are seated, for speakers you listen to closely.
- Keep freestanding speakers a little away from the walls to reduce early reflections.
- Try the subwoofer in a few spots. Corners add bass, but not always even bass.
- Use the room correction your system offers, such as Sonos Trueplay or the calibration in your amplifier or processor, then adjust levels by ear.
Rugs, curtains and upholstered furniture absorb reflections in rooms with hard surfaces, and an acoustic panel or two at the side walls helps a listening room a lot.
Keeping the system running well
Dust the speakers and grilles with a soft dry cloth, keep the rack ventilated and keep firmware up to date. Most problems have simple causes.
| Problem | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| No sound | Muted zone or wrong source | Check the zone volume and source, then the speaker connections |
| Distortion | Volume too high or a damaged speaker | Lower the volume, try another source, inspect the speaker |
| Music drops out | Weak Wi-Fi or interference | Move streamers to a wired connection or add a wireless access point |
| Zones out of sync | Network delays | Restart the streamers and check the network |
If problems keep coming back, look at the network first. Many streaming audio issues turn out to be network issues.
Planning your budget
Cost depends on the number of zones, the speakers you choose and how much wiring the house needs. Our guide to home audio system costs walks through each factor. For outdoor areas, see our guide to high-end outdoor audio systems.
Planning a whole home audio project?
We design and install high-end audio systems that tie into Savant, Control4 and Lutron across Greater Boston, the South Shore and Rhode Island, and our work earned a Sonance Project of the Year award in 2024. Book a free consultation or read more about our home audio and video services.
