Distributed wireless music for insurance office on a budget

[KEW]

A friend asked me if there is a way to do this for about $300 (lets assume 5 speakers).
The idea is that all speakers play the same music, but any person can turn down their local speaker.

I believe Sonos would do the job, but suspect it is well over budget.

Is BT strong enough to get signals to 5 offices? Wifi?
Is their a device that will connect to 5 speakers all at the same time?

For the purpose of background music, something like refurbished JBL Flips would provide speakers for around $30 each, so that would allow $150 for the "server".

I suspect the budget has some flexibility if needed, but this is a situation where the employees are trying to get the owner to spring for (and allow) music in their workplace and he said he would be willing to put $300 into it.

Any ideas?

 

[TheWarrior]

They all have their own office? Why not computer speakers so they can just listen to whatever they like?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Google chromecast audio. $30 each. Just add some pc speakers for under $30 each.
Few models from creative and Logitech fit the bill. I'd make sure it has headphones jacks

 

[KEW]

They all have their own office? Why not computer speakers so they can just listen to whatever they like?

Likely it is actually cubical or they have an open door policy unless meeting with clients.
Not sure, but they decided they wanted the same music so have to assume they don't want clashes in the interfaces between areas.

 

[TheWarrior]

Likely it is actually cubical or they have an open door policy unless meeting with clients.
Not sure, but they decided they wanted the same music so have to assume they don't want clashes in the interfaces between areas.

Ah, well then I'd say BSA has the right idea...

 

[BMXTRIX]

5 Ceiling speakers which are plenum rated are likely to run $300 or more. I think this really needs to be thought of as a 'use computer speakers' setup. Some commercial setups are really cheap in offices, but if you want any quality, someone needs to buy at least the basics and it must meet code.

Wireless remains something of a myth as well. Certainly Chromecast Audio can do it, to one local set, and can be linked together with the other rooms, but that's about it. Very basic.

I will second the recommendation for Chromecast Audio, then a set of $30 computer speakers per room.

https://www.amazon.com/Cyber-Acoustics-Subwoofer-Frustration-CA-3602FFP/dp/B00BXF5HQ8/?tag=aboutcom02lifewire-20&ascsubtag=4061203|google.com||||1|

 

[KEW]

5 Ceiling speakers which are plenum rated are likely to run $300 or more. I think this really needs to be thought of as a 'use computer speakers' setup. Some commercial setups are really cheap in offices, but if you want any quality, someone needs to buy at least the basics and it must meet code.

Wireless remains something of a myth as well. Certainly Chromecast Audio can do it, to one local set, and can be linked together with the other rooms, but that's about it. Very basic.

I will second the recommendation for Chromecast Audio, then a set of $30 computer speakers per room.

https://www.amazon.com/Cyber-Acoustics-Subwoofer-Frustration-CA-3602FFP/dp/B00BXF5HQ8/?tag=aboutcom02lifewire-20&ascsubtag=4061203|google.com||||1|

Do you feel the Cyber Acoustics System you linked represents good sound quality (relative to the price paid)?
Obviously I cannot expect much for $40, but knowing you have listened to a few and this one was comparatively good has worth!

Thanks!

 

[BMXTRIX]

Do you feel the Cyber Acoustics System you linked represents good sound quality (relative to the price paid)?
Obviously I cannot expect much for $40, but knowing you have listened to a few and this one was comparatively good has worth!

Thanks!

I actually googled it and I have no basis for real analysis. I would ask others, and check out review sites. If only one set of speakers were needed, it is no big deal, if you are talking about 5 sets of speakers, then $10 over budget becomes $50 over budget. So, I would ask another very specific question about getting computer speakers in the forums, perhaps in the speakers section. Be specific about their use, and about your budget. Let others know that you don't want suggestions for speakers over $xx.xx dollars because of your budgeting restrictions.

I think most computer speakers sound reasonable for low volume/background listening. You can't crank the cheap ones up, but they certainly sound decent enough. The added woofer is a plus, but takes up a bit more room.

Always keep in mind that if someone ever says "So, how do I page everyone?" - this system is not designed to allow for that. There are some cheap, true commercial systems, but they are still $1,000 or more to get there and will need professional installation.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I have tried to find something half decent 2.0, even a basic 2 way speakers are typically more than $30.
I am curious also to what would the best $30 speakers.

 

[BMXTRIX]

In situations like this, where we are talking about a total of $150 for five rooms, I would just hit up Newegg or Amazon, search on budget and get the best reviewed results with enough numbers to support the rating.

Logitech has a true $30 2.1 setup:
https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-980-000382-Z313-Speaker-System/dp/B002HWRZ2K/ref=sr_1_10?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1497628545&sr=1-10&keywords=computer+speakers&refinements=p_36:2500-3500

Newegg has some models as well:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100160895 600010683 8000&IsNodeId=1&LeftPriceRange=25 35&bop=And&Order=RATING&PageSize=36

This isn't decent in the home theater market, but it likely provides plenty of sound for background audio in a single office space area.

I think the nice thing is that if the audio is weak in one area, then better speaker may be purchased at a later date if necessary. I mean, this whole setup is all about cheap, and quality is going to be sacrificed.

 

[KEW]

I have tried to find something half decent 2.0, even a basic 2 way speakers are typically more than $30.
I am curious also to what would the best $30 speakers.

I should be getting these by Monday and will let you know what I think. The MSRP was in the $70-80 range. I don't know how to pull up Amazon history, but I think they have generally been more.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IVI3JD8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I was fairly impressed by this pair of Philips BT speakers (I paid ~$25 for them) so hope the above speakers might be similar:
https://www.amazon.com/Philips-SPA4270BT-37-Bluetooth-Multimedia/dp/B00I2PFBJ0/ref=pd_sbs_23_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00I2PFBJ0&pd_rd_r=387V4VD2TYTZH82MHH8Z&pd_rd_w=NpkxM&pd_rd_wg=Wzw9T&psc=1&refRID=387V4VD2TYTZH82MHH8Z