A multi-room audio system is a great way to bring music into additional rooms in your house, while taking advantage of existing audio sources in your main room. In this article, we'll show you how to create a multi-room system using traditional audio components, like a multi-room-capable receiver or amplifier, speakers to produce sound in each listening area, and other multi-room audio accessories. You can also find pre-matched multi-room systems from certain manufacturers — see our article on wireless and wired multi-room options for more info.

What kind of system do you need?

Multi-room systems can range in complexity from a relatively simple two-room setup (like a pair of outdoor speakers connected to a compatible home theater receiver), to much trickier house-wide setups. The way you power your multi-room system depends primarily upon how many rooms will be involved, and the type of listening you plan to do in each room. You might need a different number and type of speakers for background listening in the kitchen than for serious listening in the den, for example.

If you haven't already made firm decisions on how you're going to listen to your music in each room, we recommend that you read our article on placing in-wall, in-ceiling, and in-wall speakers before tackling this article. You should also consider how many people in your household will use the system, and if they'll want the ability to play different sources in different rooms simultaneously.

Now, we'll take a look at some popular options, and discuss the pros and cons of each. You might find that a combination of some of these options works best for you.

Audio in two rooms using one receiver

Audio in three rooms using one receiver

Audio in three rooms using two receivers

Audio in 4-10 rooms using two receivers

Audio in 4-9 rooms using two receivers

Adding an amplifier for more power and flexibility

If you'd like help planning your own multi-room system, you can contact our A/V Designers at 1-800-555-9407. They can give you customized, room-specific system proposals, free of charge.