Projector and Wireless? Would this home audio & video set-up work?

[bart93]

Hi all,

I'm currently configuring my home audio & video set-up, and I would like to receive some feedback before buying the actual components.

I would like to be able to do three things, with as little wires as possible and with good audio quality:
1) Stream audio from my phone / laptop to a stereo speaker system over wifi (better quality than bluetooth)
2) Play audio from my turntable (= Denon DP300-F, only component I already purchased), ideally wirelessly, again over wifi
3) Stream video wireless from my laptop to a projector, with audio coming from the same stereo system to which my turntable is connected

This is the set-up I currently have in mind:

• 2 battery powered, active speakers (with integrated amp), that can receive bluetooth, wifi and have a analog line input
• Projector + amazon fire stick
• Audio wifi streamer with analog line inputs

This should allow me to do all three of the above as follows:
1) Wifi speakers can receive audio directly from laptop and since they're battery powered, they're completely wire free.
2) Turntable would be connected to audio streamer via RCA cables. These can again stream wireless over wifi to the speakers.
3) My laptop can send audio + video directly to the amazon fire stick that's plugged into the projector. The fire stick can then send the audio - over bluetooth - to the wireless speakers. I can live with the fact that audio during film might be of lesser quality as it is sent over bluetooth.

Now for my questions:

• Do you think this set-up would work? Why / why not?
• If yes, do you have any product suggestions? Budget indication for following (all) three components = +- 1.000€: Active speakers / Audio streamer / Projectors ?

And finally: I might be able to get a sonos connect through a friend pretty much for free. Except for the Sonos Move, Sonos does not support bluetooth. But since these speakers are 400€ a piece, the stereo system alone would pretty much consume my entire budget. So if I decide to work with Sonos my only option would be to add a bluetooth receiver to the sonos connect and buy 2 x Sonos one. This receiver will capture the audio signal from the amazon fire stick when I'm streaming a movie. However, I was wondering if the delay on this connection (fire stick => BT receiver => Sonos Connect => wifi => Sonos one) could cause lipsync issues? Or do you think this is not a real risk?

Looking forward to hearing what some more experienced users think about this set-up..

Thanks in advance for all feedback,

Bart

 

[Trell]

Wireless can be really, really iffy to make working reliably and well for streaming. The best option is to hardwire as much as you can and use wireless for the rest.

Note that you can power some devices over LAN (PoE, Power over Ethernet), like switches and access points, and that will really simplify cabling big time.

Some streaming devices, like Chromecast, can use LAN instead of wireless, if you buy the appropriate power supply, except for UHD that has that included. Possibly Amazon Firestick has similar.

 

[BMXTRIX]

I don't have a solution. This sounds goofy and like a complete pain in the arse. Really.

Batteries will need to be replaced or charged ALL THE TIME - which defeats the purpose. It's more like something to take camping, not for something you put in an actual home.

Do you plan to move out of this home next month? If not... THEN RUN WIRES!!!!

Seriously, you need a place to put your turntable. Put it with a AV receiver. Then plug in some quality speakers to that receiver. You can do stereo, 2.1, 3.1, or more. Whatever suits you, but in the long run, you will be much happier and you will get the best audio quality doing things this way.

Oh, and projectors don't have really solid bluetooth playback solutions that I've seen. Nothing good does for sure. They are ALL designed for integration with AV receivers.

That projector will need a power plug as well.

Unfortunately, I'm not aware of any 18Gb/s wireless HDMI kits, so there's that issue as well if you wanted to use 4K.

Then there's ALL the latency issues involved with going wireless for this stuff.

It's such a bad idea, it's hard to explain.

 

[bart93]

OK, thanks for your swift feedback. Wiring would indeed probably be easier and I guess there's always the possibility to cover up a maximum of wiring to keep the walls somewhat "neat".

If I would go for this wired solution, what products do you recommend (speakers, projector & AV receiver?) that fit in this 1.000€ budget?

Note: I would in any case however like to maintain the option to stream music wirelessly (BT or wifi) from my phone to my audio system

 

[BMXTRIX]

OK, thanks for your swift feedback. Wiring would indeed probably be easier and I guess there's always the possibility to cover up a maximum of wiring to keep the walls somewhat "neat".

If I would go for this wired solution, what products do you recommend (speakers, projector & AV receiver?) that fit in this 1.000€ budget?

Note: I would in any case however like to maintain the option to stream music wirelessly (BT or wifi) from my phone to my audio system

Your budget may not allow for it in Europe as pricing always seems to be a bit higher. It also scraped the absolute bottom of the barrel when it comes to products if that is a total budget for surround sound, screen, and projector.

But, a basic 5.1 audio system with a receiver as a package can be had from places like Accessories 4 Less in the USA...

Accessories4less: High End Audio at Low End Prices!

www.accessories4less.com

That's $400

Add a appropriately sized fixed frame projection screen...

https://www.amazon.com/STR-169110-Silver-Ticket-Cinema-Projector/dp/B00PUQPFLS/ref=sr_1_1_sspa

Another $250

That's $650 and you don't have a projector. If all you have left is $350, you can COMPLETELY FORGET ABOUT 4K!!! That's super important to know as entry level 4K projectors basically start at $1,000 and quality ones cost a bit more.

So, if you are tight on budget, you may want to look for a used projectors, like the BenQ w1070, which can be found online for around $250. They are excellent 1080p projectors with solid contrast, motion handling, and color quality.

If you want 4K support/capability, then you will have to look at the Epson 3200 or BenQ TK810. Both of which will slot in at over $1,000.

You will still need some speaker cabling ($50 for inexpensive but decent), a projector mount ($100 minimum for something decent), and a HDMI cable to run between the receiver and the projector ($40 for 1080p, $130 for 4K).

So, it could be close at 1080p projection, but not at all close at 4K.

 

[Trell]

Your budget may not allow for it in Europe as pricing always seems to be a bit higher.
...

Consumer prices in EU/EES has to include VAT (Value Added Tax) that varies among countries but can be as high as 25%. Even then the price can vary within EU, when accounting for VAT.

 

[bart93]

Ok thanks will definetily look into where I source my products to find the cheapest buys

However, I've also been doing some thinking about what my priorities are, as well as what "flaws" I can live with, so I can optimize my buys within my budget.

Below my wishes listed according to priority

1) Decent audio system for my turntable
2) Being able to stream audio to my audio system wirelessly over wifi and bluetooth
3) Still have a minimum of wires run through my living room (The misses' "only request"..)
4) Being able to watch a movie from time to time on my projector.

This last point is clearly my lowest priority. I want a projector mostly because I don't have space for a TV in my appartment. And the screen of the projector can be neatly tucked away against a support beam on the ceiling, which happens to be right in front of my couch. So, yes the 1080p constraint is definitely something I can live with.

Now, if I want a decent audio set-up and I don't want wires running through my living room, the easiest way to do this (I guess?) would be to install one decent full range active speaker, on a shelf under my turn table - which happens to be just above a wall socket.

This speaker should have:
- Amp integrated + Full range sound (no external subwoofer)
- Inputs: Wifi + Bluetooth + Analog line input (RCA, mini jack,..)
- Decent sound and volume
- Ideally be able to be built out to multi room / surround system at a later time when my budget allows for it
- +- max 500€

After some research on internet I came to a short list of products which match (most of) these criteria:
- Teufel one M ~ 480€ (I even found a new one for 400€)
- Denon Home 350 ~ 569€
- Sonos Play five ~ 557€ (Would require external bluetooth receiver)
- Bluesound pulse mini 2i

Since they all check off my requirements, my first reaction would be to go be to go with the Teufel one M as it is significantly cheaper. (I'm not very experienced to rate sound quality of speakers based on technical specs..)

And now, for my questions:
- How do you think above speakers compare? Especially sound quality feedback is welcome
- Does my list miss any product alternatives that I should definitely look into?
- Finally: One last alternative with somewhat more wires (and convincing of the misses) would be a small stereo set-up (e.g. 2 x Denon home 150 or 2 x Teufel one S). Would you prefer this over 1 full range speaker and if so, why?

Thanks again for your feedback!