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Google mini in whole home music system (poor man's Sonos)

Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2018 4:19 pm
by Markaisi
I just received your mini mod kit. Thank You.

I was wondering if you could give a thought about how I can better incorporate the Google mini into my whole house speaker system?

Here is where I am at and what I would like to do:
Presently I am using a chromecast to that I have attached an adapter to so I can play music through my amplifier. I then use a simply push button zone controller to play music through my 5 zones in the main part of the house and outdoors. At each zone I have a simple volume knob to change volume. Presently I don't use the knobs for volume that much but rather use the volume control through my phone which controls the chromecast. It is a poor mans Sonos I guess but it works for me.

I am planning to replace the chromecast and use the mini mod kit that you sent me. One of the big issues with the chromecast is that in time the case would heat up and then turn off. Also, for some reason that I am not sure about the chromecast around 2 am in the morning would start creating a terrible noise through the speakers so I would have to get out of bed and turn off the amplifier.

What I am looking for is 1) ideally a wifi volume control that I could setup either to replace the volume control I have in each zone or a volume control that I have near the amplifier and just leave the volume controls I already have in the wall purely for esthetic reasons. 2) use a wifi on/off switch that I locate near the amplifier for each zone and with luck works with google home.

I have used the basic sonoff switch but I am not sure that the current generated through the speaker wire would be sufficient to work. I know that there is a sonoff low voltage switch but really don't know much other than that.

Would you have any ideas that you may suggest for this?

Thanks for any insight you may have and thanks again for your video. Looking forward modifying the mini this weekend.

Cheers.

Mark

Re: Google mini in whole home music system (poor man's Sonos)

Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2018 4:45 pm
by jonathan
Hi Mark thanks for your message.

For the wifi on/off switch, maybe try a wemos with relay attachment.

For the dimmer/volume control, I'm not sure how its connected, do you have more info on that?

Jon.

Re: Google mini in whole home music system (poor man's Sonos)

Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2018 8:56 pm
by Markaisi
My plan as of now is to get a few more minis and put a jack it back of them. I am then going to purchase in wall amplifiers that I can connect directly to. I can then connect the minis as a group and play each of them together with the added benefit of controlling the volume for each room. I have not experienced any latency from my tests so far. I also found some really nice wall brackets for the minis. Here is some links to what I am using. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B078JTK8 ... UTF8&psc=1. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Pyle-Home-In ... 3=&veh=sem

Re: Google mini in whole home music system (poor man's Sonos)

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2018 12:40 am
by jonathan
Those wall brackets are so cool!

Glad it's working out for you.