I want a Wifi speaker. Is this a good buy?
October 13, 2017 11:30 AM Subscribe
Should I buy this Vizio speaker system? I've been wanting a Wifi speaker (not bluetooth) for a while, but every time I try to start researching them I feel confused and exhausted.
Here's the system: Vizio 5.1-Channel SmartCast Home Theater System
My requirements are:
- Is really Wifi, NOT bluetooth
- Sounds reasonably nice with decent base
- Can play audio from my phone, table and laptop
I am really clueless here, so please help. First, I think Sonos is the big thing these days, should I be getting that instead? Second - this 4 speaker set up - it seems like overkill since I was just going to put this in the dining room. Does any one know if it's possible to play one bit of audio on the soundbar and a different bit, in a different part of the house, on the satellite speakers? Please forgive my helplessness; I'm tired and I have a cold and I just want a damn wifi speaker without having to do an hour of research. Also, it doesn't bother me at all that this is a refurb. Thanks metafilter!
Here's the system: Vizio 5.1-Channel SmartCast Home Theater System
My requirements are:
- Is really Wifi, NOT bluetooth
- Sounds reasonably nice with decent base
- Can play audio from my phone, table and laptop
I am really clueless here, so please help. First, I think Sonos is the big thing these days, should I be getting that instead? Second - this 4 speaker set up - it seems like overkill since I was just going to put this in the dining room. Does any one know if it's possible to play one bit of audio on the soundbar and a different bit, in a different part of the house, on the satellite speakers? Please forgive my helplessness; I'm tired and I have a cold and I just want a damn wifi speaker without having to do an hour of research. Also, it doesn't bother me at all that this is a refurb. Thanks metafilter!
I haven't used the Visio product, but I have used Sonos for many years. Sonos Just Works in a way that I think will amaze you. It sounds great. It's expensive though.
posted by gregr at 12:11 PM on October 13, 2017
posted by gregr at 12:11 PM on October 13, 2017
What phone and tablet are you using? What OS on the computer?
posted by advicepig at 12:11 PM on October 13, 2017
posted by advicepig at 12:11 PM on October 13, 2017
If your intention is to play YouTube videos through the speaker from a phone or tablet, be aware that Google blocks that. You can only cast YouTube to the Chromecasts that attach to TVs. And even with the approved apps on all Google devices, the Chromecast Audio can be infuriatingly buggy, refusing to play some tracks with no explanation why.
That aside, the simplest thing to do is get a Chromecast Audio and hook it up to whatever set of speakers you want (anything with an analog aux input or the right type of digital). That gives you a lot more flexibility.
posted by Candleman at 12:32 PM on October 13, 2017
That aside, the simplest thing to do is get a Chromecast Audio and hook it up to whatever set of speakers you want (anything with an analog aux input or the right type of digital). That gives you a lot more flexibility.
posted by Candleman at 12:32 PM on October 13, 2017
Response by poster: I have a Samsung phone and tablet. My laptop is running Windows 8.
I'd like to be able to play stuff from online radio apps and from my iTunes library and maybe Spotify and also podcasts.
posted by kitcat at 12:37 PM on October 13, 2017
I'd like to be able to play stuff from online radio apps and from my iTunes library and maybe Spotify and also podcasts.
posted by kitcat at 12:37 PM on October 13, 2017
I'm pretty certain that Apple will not make iTunes work with Chromecast any time soon, so you'd have to switch to an application that does support it.
posted by Candleman at 12:55 PM on October 13, 2017
posted by Candleman at 12:55 PM on October 13, 2017
I'm a huge fan of Sonos but it may not be the right thing for your goal. Sonos doesn't really take audio input from a PC/phone/tablet. It's designed to play audio from a library of music files and from Internet streaming services. There are various hacks that try to work around this and Sonos gear does have a line-in jack so you can plug in any analog audio source. But it's not really the designed use of the product.
One thing that makes what you want subtle; delay. If you want the sound synchronized with the display on your PC or other device, that is tricky.
posted by Nelson at 1:17 PM on October 13, 2017
One thing that makes what you want subtle; delay. If you want the sound synchronized with the display on your PC or other device, that is tricky.
posted by Nelson at 1:17 PM on October 13, 2017
I bought a chrome audio cast thing and attached it to regular bookcase speakers. It's the best and most cost effective WiFi based solution I've found if you don't need portability. Even old mid range bookcase or stereo speakers that plug in and play true stereo are going to be way better than any of the portable all in ones, no matter how high end. Two speakers are always better than one for music. I can play YouTube through the audio cast, I do it all the time.
For a portable solution I don't think the House of Marley speakers can be beat. I love mine, it has great sound, a ludicrous battery life and it's eco friendly and reasonably priced. Plus it looks sharp. They may have a WiFi option now too.
posted by fshgrl at 1:39 PM on October 13, 2017 [2 favorites]
For a portable solution I don't think the House of Marley speakers can be beat. I love mine, it has great sound, a ludicrous battery life and it's eco friendly and reasonably priced. Plus it looks sharp. They may have a WiFi option now too.
posted by fshgrl at 1:39 PM on October 13, 2017 [2 favorites]
"I can play YouTube through the audio cast, I do it all the time."
Huh. I tried that and couldn't get it to work. Which is why:
"You can only cast YouTube to the Chromecasts that attach to TVs."
I just attach one of those to my stereo instead. Works fine. If I remember correctly, I had to first attach it to a TV for the setup (since that depends on seeing a code displayed on the TV). But:
"Chromecast Audio can be infuriatingly buggy, refusing to play some tracks with no explanation why."
Yeah, mine isn't the most reliable setup ever. I always get it to work eventually, but sometimes some rebooting of the chromecast or restarting of apps is required. It's frustrating. Nevertheless, I've stuck to it for a few years now because it's cheap and it works just well enough.
posted by floppyroofing at 2:16 PM on October 13, 2017
Huh. I tried that and couldn't get it to work. Which is why:
"You can only cast YouTube to the Chromecasts that attach to TVs."
I just attach one of those to my stereo instead. Works fine. If I remember correctly, I had to first attach it to a TV for the setup (since that depends on seeing a code displayed on the TV). But:
"Chromecast Audio can be infuriatingly buggy, refusing to play some tracks with no explanation why."
Yeah, mine isn't the most reliable setup ever. I always get it to work eventually, but sometimes some rebooting of the chromecast or restarting of apps is required. It's frustrating. Nevertheless, I've stuck to it for a few years now because it's cheap and it works just well enough.
posted by floppyroofing at 2:16 PM on October 13, 2017
Best answer: On a semi-related note if you want to stream music from YouTube to a Chromecast Audio you can't use the regular YouTube app but you need to use YouTube Music instead which is a separate app.
online radio apps and from my iTunes library and maybe Spotify and also podcasts.
For online radio most apps support Chromecast from both iOS and Android (and web).
Spotify works again from all platforms.
For podcasts you can use Google Play Music, Spotify or apps like PocketCasts.
But... iTunes. No dice there with Chromecast support. I'd suggest uploading all your iTunes tracks into Google Play Music and then using that to play them back. No subscription required. There's even an app that can sync additions to your iTunes library to Play Music.
posted by GuyZero at 3:04 PM on October 13, 2017
online radio apps and from my iTunes library and maybe Spotify and also podcasts.
For online radio most apps support Chromecast from both iOS and Android (and web).
Spotify works again from all platforms.
For podcasts you can use Google Play Music, Spotify or apps like PocketCasts.
But... iTunes. No dice there with Chromecast support. I'd suggest uploading all your iTunes tracks into Google Play Music and then using that to play them back. No subscription required. There's even an app that can sync additions to your iTunes library to Play Music.
posted by GuyZero at 3:04 PM on October 13, 2017
It works from my HTC phone. Which also lets me tether when my cell plan says I can't. It may be the phone I guess.
posted by fshgrl at 8:44 PM on October 13, 2017
posted by fshgrl at 8:44 PM on October 13, 2017
Nthing Sonos. They have an entry level speaker that's around $200 that sounds really good, and they just announced a version of it that has Alexa and will soon have Google Assistant, if that's something you're interested in. Sonos also lets you group soakers into rooms and play different stuff in different rooms.
It is easiest for streaming. You can set it up so that you can play music from your computer using your phone, but you have to have it up as your music library beforehand and your computer has to be on and awake for it to really work. I don't use it much, but mostly because I don't have much music in my computer.
posted by matildatakesovertheworld at 9:41 AM on October 14, 2017
It is easiest for streaming. You can set it up so that you can play music from your computer using your phone, but you have to have it up as your music library beforehand and your computer has to be on and awake for it to really work. I don't use it much, but mostly because I don't have much music in my computer.
posted by matildatakesovertheworld at 9:41 AM on October 14, 2017
Response by poster: Thanks so much everyone. You helped me realize I was looking at the wrong solution for my needs. The rest of your advice confused me, so I threw my hands up in the air and bought a Google Home Assistant on a whim. It does exactly what I want (play music and podcasts) and entertains us by playing animal sounds on command, spelling words for my daughter, etc. I'll take the advice above and convert my music library over to Google. And now I'm looking into getting a Chromecast to hook up to the TV. Thanks guys!
posted by kitcat at 11:11 AM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by kitcat at 11:11 AM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Does any one know if it's possible to play one bit of audio on the soundbar and a different bit, in a different part of the house, on the satellite speakers?
Nope. It's for the rear surround sound channels.
You might be better off with The Vizio Crave Pro or Crave Go speakers. Or the fancy new Sony speaker with Google Assistant built-in. Those would fit on a shelf or a table better.
posted by GuyZero at 11:57 AM on October 13, 2017