HEOS vs MusicCast vs BluOS

[Mswans2]

What’s the preferred streamer technology?

Which one has the best app?

Which one works with home automation the best i.e homeseer?

look forward to seeing everyone’s opinion

 

[alvester]

Chromecast Audio works best for our home. I have speakers with Chromecast audio built-in in 1 bathroom, a dining room, 2 bedrooms, the garage, also Google Nest Audio (which is basically Chromecast Audio) in another bathroom and my wife's home office, add-on Chromecast Audio dongles on my home office desk's self powered speakers, on my piano's self powered speakers & attached to my main stereo's preamp. I also have a NAD integrated amp with Chromecast Audio Built-in located in my drum practice room. Our Sony ES Home Theater Receiver also has Chromecast Audio Built-in.

All these devices can be controlled with voice commands using Google Assistant found either on the various Google mini devices throughout our home or on our phones or on our 2 Google Nest Audio devices.

All the various devices can also be controlled via the Google Home app from our phones or Android tablet and/or Chromebook as well as be grouped into various collections of audio device groups for playback in multiple rooms. We can also send audio from the Chrome browser on our desktop and laptops to our home's Chromecast audio devices. I've created 10 different distinct Chromecast Audio groups to cover different playback situations in our home.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

 

[lovinthehd]

Don't use any of the avr (not sure what to call the Bluesound stuff) proprietary systems like that myself. I use just a combination of normal DLNA enabled gear as well as some Chromecast Audios with apps like Foobar2000 and Bubbleupnp. What gear do you have now?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

If you plan on getting a Yamaha AVR, then MusicCast is pretty awesome. It works for me 100% of the time even when my home internet is down.

After setting up MusicCast, I just use the AVController Remote app to control everything on the Yamaha and MusicCast.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Hopefully some of the guys who own Denon/Marantz with HEOS will share their experiences.

 

[Mswans2]

Don't use any of the avr (not sure what to call the Bluesound stuff) proprietary systems like that myself. I use just a combination of normal DLNA enabled gear as well as some Chromecast Audios with apps like Foobar2000 and Bubbleupnp. What gear do you have now?

I’m getting all new gear! I’m building a house and I’m not bringing any equipment. Right now I’m running cat 6 and speaker wire everywhere and anywhere to give myself flexibility.

I’ve looked at the full blown setups from control4 and creston etc but don’t like the price and I’m a DIY guy.

I’ve looked at the HTD lync and Russound multi zone controllers. They seem pretty solid but I don’t have experience with them.

I’ve looked at streamers connected to the controllers then into a multi zone amp or streamers into an amp without the controllers. I like the idea of wall touch pads in the zones which is why I’m considering the controller.

I’ve looked at lithe audio in ceiling wisa & POE enabled speakers. Very interesting but expensive to use throughout the house.

I’d like to be able to integrate with homeseer, hubitat, or similar. This has been one the biggest challenges.

Now, I’m back to thinking about trying to find someone that will sell me the control4 controller, the touchpad interfaces, and do the programming for me. I don’t want to buy the full setup (AVR, lighting, distributed audio, etc) from a dealer. Just the controls and programming services.

Whatever I choose for distributed audio will determine what I choose for my AVR.

 

[panteragstk]

I use Google Home as well and it works great for me. I just yell at google to play whatever and it does. Couldn't be easier.

I haven't used any of the built in AVR stuff on any of mine. They usually get outdated and don't fully support new features. No thanks.

 

[Trebdp83]

Cool stuff. There is no shortage of options to get audio all around the house these days. I've used the MusicCast and Onkyo Controller apps quite a bit and they are both good platform apps but not perfect. My Onkyo and Yamaha both support Airplay 2 and I find myself using it at times depending on the streaming service I am using at the moment. Deezer's iOS app is my favorite of any streaming service. Apple's Apple Music app is actually my least favorite. Would like to hear from HEOS users as well as any Sonos folk as well.

 

[lovinthehd]

I’m getting all new gear! I’m building a house and I’m not bringing any equipment. Right now I’m running cat 6 and speaker wire everywhere and anywhere to give myself flexibility.

I’ve looked at the full blown setups from control4 and creston etc but don’t like the price and I’m a DIY guy.

I’ve looked at the HTD lync and Russound multi zone controllers. They seem pretty solid but I don’t have experience with them.

I’ve looked at streamers connected to the controllers then into a multi zone amp or streamers into an amp without the controllers. I like the idea of wall touch pads in the zones which is why I’m considering the controller.

I’ve looked at lithe audio in ceiling wisa & POE enabled speakers. Very interesting but expensive to use throughout the house.

I’d like to be able to integrate with homeseer, hubitat, or similar. This has been one the biggest challenges.

Now, I’m back to thinking about trying to find someone that will sell me the control4 controller, the touchpad interfaces, and do the programming for me. I don’t want to buy the full setup (AVR, lighting, distributed audio, etc) from a dealer. Just the controls and programming services.

Whatever I choose for distributed audio will determine what I choose for my AVR.

Yeah not into the full blown setups, prefer local systems myself rather than distributed audio (and also the best way to use my older gear, per room for the most part). I don't have much interest in ceiling speakers/whole home audio myself, tho. WISA would be good but not much available there so far from what I've noticed. I don't need central control of pretty much anything thru apps, tho so am not a good person to ask.