I use the EUFY Genie, echo knock off speaker for playing local audio files. It supports DLNA so you can find it with the media render app and set it as a music player. I hear the Fibaro speakers work just as well and for a tenth the price of Sonos they can't be beat for little noise makers. I have mine playing a jingly bell when the front door opens. The file is hosted on a local PC that stays on. You can also use them for TTS using the native capabilities of HE.
This post links to the media render app : DLNA Player and Media Render warning message - #12 by cybrmage
One of the biggest hurdles for me was figuring out the format to tell HE where the file is hosted.
This is the format :
http://[IP address of PC hosting files]/sounds/Chime.mp3
Seems obvious now, but when you're coming from a Windows world you have to know when to give up the \ and use the / and when to use PC name or drive letters vs http:// and IP addresses.
Update: Fabriq speakers also work great. I have three of the Chorus working as a group, one in the dinning room, one in the family room (kitchen is between) and one in the living room. I can play a sound to them just like the Eufy and it plays synced on all three. But honestly I use them more to play Spotify.
Hosting on a PC is no longer needed, as the local file feature of HE does the trick.
The new file location is now:
One day I'll have a windfall and buy a real whole home audio system, but for now this is getting me by.
