Sendspin and an old Android tablet replaced my Sonos multi-room setup

For years, I have utilized Raspberry Pis as standalone music streaming devices. However, creating a whole-home audio system using these units proved challenging due to the lack of a unified standard that ensures lag-free music listening. Recently, I came across Sendspin, an open-source protocol that enables synchronized audio playback across devices.

This intrigued me, and I decided to experiment with it by transforming my Home Assistant wall tablets into music playback targets, with Music Assistant managing playback and distribution. To my surprise, the system performed exceptionally well. The Android tablets, already serving as Home Assistant dashboards around my home, also possess built-in speakers suitable for ambient music playback and podcast listening.

Thus, I believed they would be perfect for a Sendspin-based multi-room audio system. Before delving into the specifics of how I achieved this, it is crucial to understand what Sendspin entails. At its core, Sendspin is an open protocol that facilitates synchronized audio playback across devices. Unlike proprietary systems, Sendspin is not tied to any manufacturer, offering a common language for hardware and software to communicate.

This allows hardware and software from various sources to interact seamlessly. In this setup, Music Assistant functions as the Sendspin server, responsible for playback, audio streams, and connected devices. The beauty of Sendspin lies in its versatility; clients don't necessarily have to be smart speakers. They could be other computers or apps running on existing devices.

This realization led me to the next step: building the project. Surprisingly, the process was straightforward. I opted for Kiosk Satellite, an open-source app designed as a comprehensive all-in-one solution for Home Assistant dashboards. The app can display a Home Assistant dashboard and also act as a Sendspin client. Enabling the feature in the app's settings transforms your Android tablet or phone into an available Sendspin player.

Once registered, you can simply select the target device in Music Assistant and start playing music. One of the standout features of this setup is its ability to handle multi-room synced playback. Compared to other systems like Sonos, WiiM, Google Cast, and Alexa-based multi-room setups, Sendspin stands out for its seamless, fast, and consistent performance.

With Music Assistant, selecting your targets and starting playback is as simple as that. The system supports bit-perfect audio up to FLAC files, allowing for exceptional audio quality as long as your network can handle it. For optimal results, wired speakers are recommended over Bluetooth. This setup enables me to repurpose almost any spare device into a multi-room music streamer, eliminating the need for bespoke hardware or complex setups.

Sendspin provides the protocol, Kiosk Satellite simplifies the setup process, and Music Assistant serves as the backbone for managing all my music sources and media. The best part? This entire setup is platform-agnostic, offering a flexible and hassle-free solution to multi-room audio.