Hi,
I’m currently using a Sonos Play 1 and a Chromecast Audio for audio only, mainly for TTS and Alarm audio files.
I want to add a few more around the house for TTS/Alarms sounds.
While the Chromecast Audio is perfect for this as it’s cheap, you still have to add a speaker and then it looks a bit messy…
Anyone recommend a cheap all-in-one speaker that can be added and controlled under the media_player component?
Specifically I want one for the Garage, hallway and bedside table.
Cheers!
I was in the same boat. I had Airport expresses tied to speakers all around the house. I just recently moved and decided it was time to revamp my whole home audio. I have to say, for years I avoided Sonos because of the price tag but I bit the bullet and invested in a few speakers. It is the most elegant solution by far! Since you already have one Sonos, I’d just keep slowly adding to it. I know it’s not the cheap answer you were looking for but maybe check out some local classifieds and see if someone selling cheaper. There are a few deals around me locally and I’m thinking of picking up a few more used ones. It’s the only product that integrates so well with everything else in my home: Home Assistant, Harmony remotes, and there’s Alexa native integration coming this year! Not to mention all of the streaming services out there. And you won’t have that nervous feeling they will end their product line anytime soon unlike a lot of other wireless speakers out there.
Thanks! Yeah I am keeping an eye out for second hand ones. I have a Harmony and a Echo/Dot and you’re right, Sonos is by far number 1. I’d add another for the bedroom but I definitely don’t want a Sonos for the hallway or garage and these areas will purely be used for TTS.
The garage could handle a Chromecast Audio and a cheap speaker. It’s annoying that I’d need two plug sockets for that but I could deal with it…
For the hallway though I need something that will be compatible with TTS, be small, nest, all-in-one and have one single power supply
Cheers!
There’s always the Google Home; it has Chromecast Audio capabilities (meaning, you can create groups and have them play music in sync - the Chromecast Videos cannot do that).
Yeah as soon as it available in the UK for me I will most probably get one