How Can I Connect My Amp to Remote Speakers via Wi Fi?

[exchemist]

I expect this has come up before but I'm having trouble finding an answer. I'm looking for a device to transmit the signal from my existing old stereo system to remote speakers in another room about 12m away. Basically I'm trying to avoid running wires over such a distance as it would be messy, under carpets, round door frames and so on.

I've had a look at wireless streamers but they all seem to do something different, i.e. taking streamed sources, coming in by Wi Fi, and and enabling them to be played back through an existing stereo system. Whereas I'm trying to do more or less the opposite, turning the amp output from my LP and CD collection into Wi Fi (or Bluetooth?) and playing that through wireless speakers elsewhere in the house.

Can this be done and if so what kit do I need?

 

[Al ears]

I expect this has come up before but I'm having trouble finding an answer. I'm looking for a device to transmit the signal from my existing old stereo system to remote speakers in another room about 12m away. Basically I'm trying to avoid running wires over such a distance as it would be messy, under carpets, round door frames and so on.

I've had a look at wireless streamers but they all seem to do something different, i.e. taking streamed sources, coming in by Wi Fi, and and enabling them to be played back through an existing stereo system. Whereas I'm trying to do more or less the opposite, turning the amp output from my LP and CD collection into Wi Fi (or Bluetooth?) and playing that through wireless speakers elsewhere in the house.

Can this be done and if so what kit do I need?

A Bluetooth transmitter connect to the amp may be the only way although whether or not it will work over such a distance I don't know....

 

[exchemist]

A Bluetooth transmitter connect to the amp may be the only way although whether or not it will work over such a distance I don't know....

Hmm thanks, that rather fits with what someone at Richer Sounds thought. But he felt Bluetooth would not work over 12m and through a brick wall. That’s why I was wondering if I could somehow co-opt the wi fi in the house instead.

Maybe it will just have to be cables then. But let’s see if anyone else has a different idea.

P.S. Having just looked up long range bluetooth, all may not be lost. According to the blurb, some of these bluetooth transmitters are available with a range of >50m. I’ll need to check if they can take a phone stereo input from the amp ( there’s an unused “tape” output on the amp which may a suitable voltage to input to a bluetooth transmitter).

 

[Vincent Kars]

You might try WiiM.
One unit converting the analog input to digital and send it over the wifi to the second unit

 

[Al ears]

You might try WiiM.
One unit converting the analog input to digital and send it over the wifi to the second unit

Possible but quite an outlay. However, it's a difficult scenario to achieve.
However Bluetooth still worth a try as my car will try to connect to my son's phone whenever I pull up outside the house......

 

[daytona600]

Multi-Room system

Uni Box S3 – Pro-Ject Audio Systems

www.project-audio.com

 

[daytona600]

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[Gray]

....to remote speakers

What remote speakers?
Have you already got them?
If so, have they got amps built in?
Have they got Bluetooth reception built in?
(I'd be doing it with wires, but I understand why you've said you won't be).
The tape output you mention will indeed be handy for either BT or Wi-fi wireless (and is what I'd personally be using for twin, thin, screened, wired connection to remote amp / speakers).

Depends what you've got and how much you want to spend - the Wiim suggestion is a good one for wi-fi, I think you could do it with a couple of Wiim Minis.

 

[Juzzie Wuzzie]

Multi-Room system

Uni Box S3 – Pro-Ject Audio Systems

www.project-audio.com

View attachment 9749


View attachment 9750

Same approach as the WiiM as don't you need another Project "receiver" at the other end?

Secondly, two WiiM mini's would do the same for a third of the price?

 

[exchemist]

What remote speakers?
Have you already got them?
If so, have they got amps built in?
Have they got Bluetooth reception built in?
(I'd be doing it with wires, but I understand why you've said you won't be).
The tape output you mention will indeed be handy for either BT or Wi-fi wireless (and is what I'd personally be using for twin, thin, screened, wired connection to remote amp / speakers).

Depends what you've got and how much you want to spend - the Wiim suggestion is a good one for wi-fi, I think you could do it with a couple of Wiim Minis.

I've got a pair of old passive speakers, but was more or less reconciled to needing to buy new, active, ones to receive a wifi or bluetooth signal, since obviously the amplification will have to be done at the speaker end.

 

[Juzzie Wuzzie]

WiiM Mini at source; and a WiiM Amp plus existing speakers in the second room might be the "base case"?

 

[exchemist]

Thanks all, some good and interesting suggestions here. I think I will start with the simplest approach and see if I can get a long range stereo bluetooth transmitter powerful enough to do the job - and see about the cost of a pair of active speakers to receive and amplify the bluetooth signal at the other end. I think I need to visit the bloke at Richer Sounds and explore this with him.

 

[Gray]

I've got a pair of old passive speakers, but was more or less reconciled to needing to buy new, active, ones to receive a wifi or bluetooth signal, since obviously the amplification will have to be done at the speaker end.

No need to buy active.

You may well laugh at the following amp suggestion, due to its price.
But I've bought a few for myself and others:

LEPY LP-2020A Amplifier : Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

LEPY LP-2020A Amplifier : Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

www.amazon.co.uk

It's better than you might expect - with its single input, it's all you need to take the line output from the receiving Wiim Mini - and give you control of volume in the remote room.

I gave a couple of passives one each, but a single amp is all you need to drive your pair of passives.

So for around £200 for the amp and 2 Wiim Minis, you get the output of your main amp sent via wi-fi to your remote room.
You can also use the receiving mini to give you different (streamed) music in the remote room.

You may even find you prefer the sound of the remote to the main room 🤪

 

[daytona600]

Secondly, two WiiM mini's would do the same for a third of the price?

A chinese worker would do Your job for a third of the price

You cant compare made in Europe prices with made in china prices

Oscar Wilde — ‘Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.’

 

[Gray]

Oscar Wilde — ‘Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.’

Quite a few people have discovered the value of Wiim 😉

 

[jjbomber]

and see about the cost of a pair of active speakers.

Dynaudio actives may be the way to go. A second hand pair of XEO with a connect box. That sends the signal over wi-fi. That's what I use anyway!