Soundavo WS66i Whole-Home Audio Streaming Network Controller Amplifier Review

Soundavo’s WS66i8 Controller and Zone amp is a whole home audio distribution controller matrix and streamer with six, on-board Class D Amplifier modules. The WS66i is expandable to 18 independent zones, spots two Airplay controllers, supports most major streaming services with Soundavo’s player app, and gives you total control over each zone via its iOS and Android app. At $1,599 the Soundavo positions itself as a high value contender in the controller and zone amp space.
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[@Juanbomb24]

I have enjoyed my WS66i for a few years now. I use it to stream music throughout my home... using all 6 zones and it was significantly less expensive than the Sonos system the previous homeowner had. I do wish that the streamer app was less clunky so I could use it. Right now I am streaming to an Amazon echo dot connected to the soundavo. For power I use a wifi-enabled wall plug I can turn on with my phone.

[@rrassoc]

Great video. I have to say, I love my WS66i. I have a Bluetooth receiver hooked up as one source, and a tv (great for listening to games while straying away from the tv), as well as my primary Echo device. You can't beat the price for all of the functionality. I'd like to try using USB thumb drives potentially for specific play lists, but I'm still trying to understand how they replace the streamer functionality.

[@TheOliop]

Thank you! Great detail!

[@shinjiikari1989]

Can't help but love the background

[@TheoNicolakis]

😁

[@we6871]

Like your detailed video a lot!! Questions...Can I play my own music collection (MP3's saved on my laptop) using one of the streaming options, or do I have to subscribe to one of the online services? Can you add a service like Plex? Does the 66i also have preamp outs so I can use a zone to feed an external high power amp and speakers? As for keypads - do you find many people foregoing keypads entirely and only controlling their system via the app? Can my wife install the app and control it simultaneously?

[@chunkpeterson242]

In my opinion, the all in one multi-room matrix amplifier like this doesn’t really need the AirPlay 2, because once it received the audio source thru AirPlay, you will still need to make the zone selection for the audio playback via App or zone keypad (the AirPlay 2 might be a good idea for something like 1 zone streaming amplifier product). The 2 built-in streamers on this amplifier supports both IOS/Android devices with many popular online radio stations, for the $1599 price point can cover total 6 zone audio distribution is bargain.

[@TheoNicolakis]

That's a very fair point. The use case I was thinking of with that observation is that more and more households have mixed tech. Therefore it's reasonable to presume someone has one or perhaps two HomePods or other AirPlay devices in conjunction with the Soundavo and may want to initiate pairing of the two. I found the app a bit clunky to combine its two AirPlay zones. The standard AirPlay implementation on an iOS or Mac is so much more intuitive and straightforward. That was the rationale and context for that observation about AirPlay 1 vs. AirPlay 2. No question the price point of $1,599 is a bargain.

[@p.andrewwill3523]

@@TheoNicolakis I have a house with 12 zones pre-installed with Elan gear (17 years old and dying) and existing ELAN ethernet wall keypads, separate volume controls (which the new system selected will replace) in a few rooms where extension speakers are added to the primary zones, etc. I have a mid Atlantic rack in my kitchen pantry where all 12 zones converge. Also, sometimes I like alexa control of music which I find better controlled pairing an alexa device in the zone I am in an Audio Engine B1 bluetooth receiver, and then I have full voice control of spotify, etc. I am IOS phone user as well. I also have oversized Jamo 10.5K4 4 Way 10" 200 Watt In Ceiling Speakers -- 92 db sensitivity -- throughout as well as Jamo IO 3s outdoor speakers. I am between the Soundavo and Dayton Audio DAX-88 to use as my whole home replacement, and I will use their wall pads, and my sources will be Bluetooth Receiver (Streamed audio/music from Echo Devices, Bluetooth enabled TVs, Iphone/Ipad --Using AudioEngine B1 Bluetooth receiver, Old Micro Seki Rosewood Turntable (now in Kitchen Closet Not ideal location -- will move and adapt with phono pre-amp and bluetooth transmitter), Denon Receiver (upgrading to Denon AVR-x6800H when available -- to power my great room speakers), CD Player (don't say it, my wife still uses it), and Firesticks (which I link via bluetooth back to an AudioEngine B1 as a receiving source to play local TV I am watching through the zone of the ceiling speakers I am watching. Given my use case, my speakers, my use of bluetooth (as well as wifi streaming), my use of alexa devices to control audio -- which way should I go? I am less interested in price than performance/functionality, and I need a full 12 zones of control. THANKS!!!

[@TheoNicolakis]

@@p.andrewwill3523 The SoundAVO works well and wants to be the command center of your distributed environment. I found it challenging at times to put my Anthem processor at the nerve center and have the SoundAVO function as second fiddle to the Anthem. If you're planning on having your Denon function as the centerpiece, then the Dayton audio solution, which seems to be designed as a straight zone amp, vs. a controller may be the better fit in your particular setup.

[@TheoNicolakis]

@@p.andrewwill3523 I'm not intimately familiar with the Dayton so I took a quick glance. If you're planning on using this as a controller and zone amp then yes, the SoundAVO is a good way to go. It has all the connectivity and expansion you need and the keypads certainly enrich the experience. However, if you're planning on using your Denon as the central hub then you might find a solution like the Dayton, which functions as a traditional zone amp a better fit with the automated trigger on from the Denon. When I was integrating the SoundAVO with my Anthem, for example, I wanted to use the Anthem as the nerve center of my setup. When I did that, I found it to be challenging with the lack of trigger on or auto-sensing on for the SoundAVO. The SoundAVO really wanted to serve as the controller for everything and when you look at it from that perspective, then it works as designed.

[@SwirlingDragonMist]

Knowing the limitations of Airplay 2.0 and observing Apples’ products and services roadmap. I’m predicting a high res update into Airplay 3.0 in the near future. Likely coinciding with refreshed headphones Apple tv’s and high res streaming. It informs my purchase decisions so much that I have put all my upgrades on pause because I know I’m going to want my entire ecosystem on Airplay 3.0 Which for me are fundamentally driven by a preference for ios over android for my primary device. Ultimately the decision to continue living “Dat Airplay life” is not a forgone conclusion, but a bridge to be crossed when we get to it, as a decision of the future to be informed by yet unforeseen circumstances and potential alternatives. It’s very common for new features like an Airplay update to be exclusive to the latest ios release, and for there to be hardware related limitations to which legacy models can run the new release. Which means a certain iPhone could be excluded from being able to broadcast Airplay 3.0 simply because it’s excluded from running the latest version of iOS. Especially if the new iOS version has more processing overhead which could slow down performance, as in the past Apple was penalized for pushing an update that throttled performance to address an issue they had with the processor crashing from drawing more voltage at higher clocks than the battery could provide. Which resulted in so much bad press that ignorant politicians jumped on board sewing them for engineering obsolescence, when the update which slowed the iphones actually fixed the spontaneous crashing that was afflicting me and many others. So I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple choose to limit the release even more than necessary simply to avoid ignorant backlash. An instance where over zealous consumer advocacy from biased Apple detractors has essentially ensured that Apple will turn down the opportunity to offer legacy support at any risk of an update reducing performance. ( slow clapping )

[@SwirlingDragonMist]

But also, it’s worth noting that many products which shipped with Airplay 1.0 were later software updated to run Airplay 2.0. Even discontinued products like the Airport express which has continued to receive support long after it’s sunset. But if the release of Airplay 3.0 coincides with high res streaming, it may also come at a time when 5G speeds advance with hardware to 5G+ or 6G hardware allowing for mobile high res bandwidth. Apple likes to ship pristine user experiences, and for that reason alone we may see a conjunction of bottlenecks that are resolved with limiting the high res streaming/ Airplay 3.0 to the newest hardware that can deliver the full experience.

[@gregrogers261]

The app looks the same as the OSD SRT-4, any thoughts on OSD?

[@TheOliop]

Do you know if the unit can support airplay 2 via software update?

[@TheoNicolakis]

Alas no. That was a real downer for me.

[@Brian-tu7yn]

If not the Soundavo, Monoprice or Dayton audio equivalent… what else is on the market? Preferably with built-in Bluetooth inputs and AirPlay 2.0?

[@Audioholics]

Sonos Amp and add as many as you need.

[@stevec3537]

@@Audioholics Sonos Amp is a good option, and I've considered it for my new house build because I own a couple of legacy Sonos Amps. The thing is, to run 6 zones on Sonos Amps would cost $4200. Even if I already own 3 of them (20 years old and have to fail at some point) it would cost $2100 to get 3 more zones. Sonos is awesome and I love it. It's been great for 20 years. I just can't justify the extra expense. I think the SoundAvo is going to appear on my porch in the near future.

[@therealtimray]

Having a hard time finding something like this for under $1000