960W (60Wx 16) | 8 Streams 8 Zones Multi-Room Streaming Amplifier | Airplay 2, Spotify Connect, DLNA, BT Audio | USB Audio | HoloHome App | GEQ | BLE

I have now owned two HOLO-HWAS for about 3 months now. I came across the device when searching for solutions to play synchronous audio through the built in, hardwired speakers in our home. We moved into our home, which is about 20 years old, and had been built with a Crestron system. Needless to say I wanted a modern, reasonably priced, solution to control the speaker pairs throughout the house. There are about 15 rooms with a pair of speakers in each. I started with purchasing the first HOLO-HWAS and becoming familiar with it. The idea being that it could provide various routing of different input sources to individual or groups of outputs.I found HOLO-HWAS to be a relatively simple and elegant solution for what I wanted. I did all the install and setup myself, however I am an electrical engineer and have a long history of tinkering with gadgets and home / car audio. I suspect many people considering purchasing this kind of device may be professional installers or individuals looking to hire professional installers. In any case, while I could handle complexity, it was very important to me that once it was set up it was VERY EASY to use for my wife and kids.I received the first unit. Initial setup was very simple. I got the HOLO-Home App on my iphone installed. Plugged the unit into power and hardwire network connected it. The app found it immediately. The physical device has not a single button or light on the front, which I found a bit odd. There are a power button and reset button on the back and that is it. The app itself also is pretty limited – essentially you can rename the zones, reroute which input goes to which zones, and tinker with zone volume and EQ control. You can also get device information like network address and firmware version. The app is not very graphically pretty. You can tell it is a young product, but I have NEVER had the app crash on me or lag or do anything weird. I did at a point in time go through the process to get the device on WiFi which involves pressing the reset button. It works fine, but a bit clunky. More complicated when you want to change WiFi networks…After getting through the setup, I wired up some of my speakers to the detachable connectors provided. While this style is not as “fancy” as banana plug terminal, I found it very effective for my setup with lots of 18AWG wires. My devices are rack mounted and being able to wire the plug and then attach it was super helpful. I really had not used Airplay all that much, so my initial go to was to setup a Spotify input. As advertised, I told a few zones to route to the Spotify input in the Holo-Home app, went to Spotify app, it saw the HOLO-HWAS device, selected it, and easy as that I had wireless music synced and playing to three rooms at once. After a bit more tinkering, I realized the power of Airplay 2 and this device.I cannot overstate how EASY this is to use after EASY setup. In fact, I messed with a lot of things to realize later the best setup was default configuration from how they ship it. Essentially HOLO-HWAS presents a Airplay 2 channel (8 per HOLO-HWAS) routed to each zone (speaker pair). I named all my zones (rooms) and when you choose Airplay from control center on a Apple device, all 16 options (across two holo-hwas for me) are presented. With Airplay 2 you can select as many as you would like and control volume for each individually or together as a group. I spent 30 seconds showing my wife and she immediately got it. Another luxury is anyone on your private wireless network can easily access the speakers using their iphone as well. So very cool. I was a bit concerned as this is not a hefty device for a 16-channel amplifier. Sound quality will also be very dependent on speakers used as well. I wouldn’t plan on driving any kind of large, multi speaker unit, but for in-ceiling and bookshelf sized speakers it seems to work well enough. Overall, it has greatly exceeded my expectations given the number of channels and cost.The more I have used my speakers, the more I appreciate how simply elegant it all is. Yes, the app could be more refined and there could be displays on the device to give you more info on what is happening. Yes – initially – I thought why does the device not have the ability to locally play music easily (like MP3s) or login to your streaming accounts directly. But the beauty of the device is I don’t ever even have to think about the device itself or really use the app past the initial setup. I just now can take for granted that if I want to play music through the speakers it just works seamlessly, and you forget that the device is even there to create the bridge between your Apple device and the speakers. And it is so great to just control things on my phone, iPad, or Apple TV as normal and just select what speakers I want to use.All this said, the device does support playback from USB, 3.5MM input via USB, and a few other streaming protocols. All of them are more clunky and complex than Airplay, but I presume can accomplish the functionality. I actually was using mostly FireTV Sticks, but switched to some Apple TVs just to be able to use Airplay because of the technical complexity to use the FireTV Sticks with the HOLO-HWAS.I sent a couple of questions to customer service and received prompt responses. I asked for an alternate compatible 3.5MM to USB input option which they gave me suggestions for. I asked a question regarding how the output routing worked, which very impressively they exchanged emails with me to confirm exactly what I was looking for, and then implemented the change in an update in a few weeks.In summary I am very happy with the product and interested to see what the developers can do with it as they work to refine it further. It does feel like a very young product for now that can do a handful of things very well. It does not have the polish we are used to from Apple and bigger brands, but the functionality and reliability is there. If you are looking for this kind of functionality, have the need for the number of channels, and use the Apple EcoSystem this is definitely a great option!

The HOLO-WHAS Multi-Room Audio Amplifier is a versatile and powerful solution for anyone looking to enjoy high-quality audio throughout their home. Here’s a detailed look at its features and performance:Design and Build Quality:The amplifier boasts a sleek and modern design that fits seamlessly into any home decor or would also be right at home in a rack mount server configuration out of sight. Its robust build ensures durability, with high-quality materials used throughout. The aluminum housing looks very sleek and durable, and the rack mount brackets are very strong.Performance:This amplifier delivers impressive sound quality across all zones. Each of the 8 zones can be independently controlled, allowing for different audio sources to be played in different rooms simultaneously. The sound is clear and powerful, with minimal distortion even at higher volumes. The amplifier handles complex loads well, ensuring consistent performance across various speaker types. In the app I was easily able to set up different zones and change them instantaneously and the sound quality was very good when streaming spotify.Connectivity and Features:I currently only have AirPlay as a source, but the unit allows for other connectivity options based on your needs. Additionally, the system can be controlled via a dedicated app, providing a user-friendly interface for managing your home audio setup. The app is very intuitive, and setup was a breeze.Installation and Setup:Setting up the amplifier is straightforward, thanks to the clear instructions provided. The system is designed for easy installation, whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or prefer professional help. The included mounting hardware and cables are of good quality, ensuring a hassle-free setup process. I had it hooked up to several sets of my speakers within about 30 minutes. THE APP IS NECESSARY FOR USING THIS UNIT. Just a heads up.Value for Money:Priced competitively, the 8-Zone Whole Home Music Player/Amplifier offers excellent value for money. It combines high performance, versatility, and ease of use, making it a great investment for any music lover looking to enhance their home audio experience. Combined with the easy setup, great sounds, and ease of use, I am very happy with this purchase.Pros:High-quality sound across all zonesExtensive connectivity optionsUser-friendly app for easy controlDurable and sleek designCompetitive pricingOverall, the 8-Zone Whole Home Music Player/Amplifier is a fantastic choice for anyone looking to enjoy seamless, high-quality audio throughout their home. Its combination of performance, features, and value makes it a standout option in the market.