Audio Upgrade Comparison

Multi-Room Audio Options for Airbnb Property

Current Speaker Zones

7 Pembroke Rd, Portsea

Upstairs Living Room 5.1 Surround
Existing Denon amp
Upstairs Deck Stereo (Zone 2)
Existing Denon amp
Downstairs Living Room Stereo
Kitchen Stereo
Pool Stereo
Pool House Stereo (TV audio only)
Existing Nobsound amp - manual volume control

The Situation

The property has an existing Denon amp upstairs, but the Denon/HEOS app isn't great for guest usability. The Control4 audio system that previously managed the other zones is no longer working, and replacing or reprogramming Control4 would be significantly more expensive than either of the options below. We're recommending a simpler, more guest-friendly multi-room audio solution that doesn't rely on Control4.

📦 Materials Cost Comparison

Labour not included

Option A: WiiM

Individual zone amplifiers

WiiM Amp
Materials Total $4,080
Without Pool House zone: $3,330
Pool House stays on Nobsound with manual TV volume control

Advantages

  • No app required for basic streaming
  • Native AirPlay (Apple) built-in
  • Native Chromecast (Android) built-in
  • Spotify Connect built-in
  • Guests connect to WiFi and stream immediately
  • Airbnb-friendly - minimal learning curve
  • WiiM app for multi-zone (no login required)
  • Pool House upgrade adds app volume control for TV
  • WiiM has taken significant market share from Sonos - similar features at lower cost

Considerations

  • WiiM app needed for multi-zone grouping
  • Upstairs Living Room requires manual amp power on

Option B: Denon

Multi-zone AVR approach

Denon AVC-X4800H Denon Home Amp
Materials Total $6,048
Without Pool House zone: $4,725
Pool House stays on Nobsound with manual TV volume control

Advantages

  • 3 zones from single unit
  • Centralised control
  • High-quality audio processing
  • Spotify Connect built-in
  • Pool House upgrade adds app volume control for TV

Considerations

  • Requires HEOS app installation
  • HEOS requires account/login (unlike WiiM)
  • Multi-zone control less intuitive
  • Higher barrier for Airbnb guests

Notes & Considerations