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I have a Home Automation Inc (HAI) Hi-Fi2, 8 zone sound system that I am interested in replacing as it is working intermittently and the manufacturer has discontinued the product.  Each zone corresponds to a room in the house with 2 speakers mounted in the ceiling and a small control panel.  All the speakers/control panels are wired and run back to the main Hi-Fi2 control box.  The main control box has numerous audio inputs allowing you to select (via the small control panel in each room) from multiple line-in sources (e.g. amplifier, iPhone, CD player, etc.) .  My questions:

  1.  Is there a Sonos product that could be used to replace the HAI Hi-Fi2 box, but still use the existing speakers?  I’m assuming the Sonos App would replace the individual control panels. 
  2. Would I still have the option to connect and select from multiple line-in sources?
  3. Is this a DIY installation or do I need a professional?  (I am comfortable with computers, networks, hand/power tools and can follow instructions).

As you can tell I’m new to Sonos and just trying to understand what my options might be.  So, in advance, thank you for your patience and help in answering my questions.  

  1. No. Each ‘room’ zone/speaker pair would need its own Sonos Amp. Or, if you can keep the old amplifier, each separate stream would need its own Sonos Port.
  2. Yes, each Amp or Port can stream its own source at your intention.
  3. Depends on how your current setup is. In general, hooking up Sonos is pretty easy, but we have no clue about how your speakers are currently wired. 

As ​@Airgetlam has said you’d need a Sonos Amp for each zone which at $800_USD each is $6400 assuming the amps would be compatible with your current speakers. The Port is another option at $500_USD each is $4000 Total. However, there are really too many unknowns to properly advise you. A professional installer would be a better consult (IMHO).

EDIT:

As your current setup appears to be designed for music...do you still need eight (8) zones? Are any of the zones conjoined?


@AjTrek1 and ​@Airgetlam,

Thanks for the replies!  After looking at the cost of replicating my current setup with Sonos hardware, I had ChatGPT do a little more looking for me and it found a video by a gentleman in Australia showing how to replace the power supplies in the HAI system, which is what typically fails.  $50 in parts from Amazon and a little soldering and the system is back up and running.  So, for now I’ll stick with the HAI system as it meets my needs.  In case someone else with an HAI Hi-Fi 2 systems finds this thread, this is the link to the video showing how to replace the power supplies ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk_2i86MJkU).  

Again, thanks for your help!


Each SONOS AMP has a Line-In. If all of your equipment is in a central rack and you have eight or less sources, you don’t need PORT. Line-In can play in any combination of Rooms (Zones in your current lingo). Port is handy in situations where you want to integrate a source that is not near any SONOS Line-In.