How to Stream Audio Throughout Your Home

Streaming audio has been increasingly popular over the last few years. Now that technology has evolved to a point where we can carry around entire digital music collections, streaming is the next step. With streaming audio, the music on our smartphones and MP3 players is no longer confined to the tiny built-in speakers that are usually included on the devices.

It’s important to realize that there are multiple ways to stream audio throughout the home. The way that you’ll stream audio will vary based on what kind of device your music is on, such as a laptop or smartphone. It will also depend on how much control you want over your music and how many rooms you want it in. Most options for streaming are dependent on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

One of the most universal methods for streaming involves purchasing a home-streaming system. A number of different manufacturers make this kind of product. Most setups include a handful of speakers, with the addition to purchase more if necessary, and a receiver unit. The receiver uses your home Wi-Fi network to broadcast music from virtually any device to the speakers it’s connected with. A device can be connected as long as it has Wi-Fi, so you can stream music from an iPhone, laptop or anything else.

There are drawbacks to using this method, though. As these systems are built specifically for streaming, they are more expensive than other options that are less specialized. Another disadvantage of this kind of system is that it requires you to have a Wi-Fi network in your home in order to function properly. If this isn’t for you, there are still several other options that you can consider.

If you don’t have a Wi-Fi network or simply want something that will be easier to set up, Bluetooth speakers are another option. If you want to stream audio from a smartphone or an iPod Touch, then chances are very high that it has Bluetooth. If you’re aiming to stream from a computer, you’ll want to double-check that your machine has Bluetooth before investing in speakers.

As long as the device you’re using for streaming has Bluetooth, speakers will be a simple solution to implement. Most models only require that you pair them with you device once, and that’s when you first turn the speakers on. After that, all you’ll have to do to stream audio to the speakers is turn them on and make sure that Bluetooth is enabled on your device. Your smartphone or MP3 player will automatically detect the speakers and start streaming audio to them.

The obvious downside to this, however, is that it requires you to purchase new speakers. That’s fine for most people, but what if you already have a set of nice speakers and only want to stream audio to them? Once again, you’ll need a device that supports Bluetooth. If you do, then a Bluetooth music receiver might be just what you’re looking for. A Bluetooth music receiver is the last solution we’ll look at for streaming throughout the home.

The function of a Bluetooth music receiver is easy enough to understand. They come in many different shapes, but most are portable units with an auxiliary cord built into them. The receiver portion of the unit pairs up with your smartphone, computer or MP3 player and then receives music from the device. From there, all you have to do is leave the receiver connected to your speakers like you would with any other music source. There are almost no drawbacks to speak of with this method, although you’ll want to be careful about the manufacturer you choose. Sound quality can vary immensely between a $10 receiver and a $100 receiver.

Once you’re set up with one of these audio streaming solutions, you’ll be able to enjoy music in your home at any time without restriction. Between complete Wi-Fi solutions, Bluetooth speakers and Bluetooth music receivers, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from. You’ll not only be able to stream your own music, but also music from Internet sources such as Pandora – ensuring that you’ll love your home audio streaming solution for years to come.