SET -UP

Which of these systems is the easiest to get going?

Although pedantic, the MusicCast app is the most visual of the bunch

With Panasonic’s All Connected system, set-up proved reasonably painless, thanks to the admirably efficient Music Streaming companion app. All you have to do is connect the AllPlay device over Wi-Fi, name your speaker based on the room it lives in, and you’re done. In just a few minutes, we were browsing our NAS music library – and navigation was satisfyingly quick and buffer-free. All Connected speakers can be grouped or run individually. If you own multiple AllPlay speakers, you can stream everywhere simultaneously.

The Denon system is driven by an equally competent HEOS companion app. Whether you have music on your smartphone, networked on a DLNA NAS or lurking on a laptop, the app will discover it. Unlike rival systems, you initiate Wi-Fi set-up by connecting your HEOS device to your smartphone via a 3.5mm cable (supplied). You can then update the speaker with your network password. Hardwiring HEOS speakers to get them online is simple and effective.

Our Yamaha micro-system proved rather more problematic. To network MusicCast components, you need to pair the Controller app through the Connect button on your MusicCast kit. Once discovered, you can use a Wi-Fi password to connect. However, we experienced repeated failures trying to do this. Perseverance, it seems, is the key. Once linked to the companion app, you can assign your component an identity. Grouping rooms or zones is a case of ticking boxes.

All three control apps are polished affairs. Although pedantic, the MusicCast app is actually the most visual. We particularly liked the way you can assign fabulously aspirational images to each of your home zones when customising them.

Naturally, all three of the multi-room systems on test are Bluetooth-compatible, making it straightforward to stream your favourite tracks to them from a smartphone.