Greetings everyone! I'm new to this forum, and have so far enjoyed all the information available here.

I just built a new house, and had stuctured wiring put in place in the form of CresCat. I currently have 14 speaker zones. We went a bit over-budget on the house, so had to cut things off there. What I'm trying to do is get my system going in a minimalist manner such that I can complete it as our budget permits. Crestron's website does not provided any tools (for end users anyway) to pick and choose components, and my A/V installer (the guy who did the structured wiring) has not been very responsive lately. This is what brings me here.

From what I could glean about the Adagio line is I could get going with the following for around $5000, not including installation:

AES
APAD
CEN-IDOC

I know, the IPod is not the best long-term solution, but I have a 60GB model, and as I said, I'd like to keep the costs to a minimum for now.

So my questions are:

What would be a similar configuration using Crestron's higher-end equipment? What would it cost? What would I be giving up with Adagio?

My last question will undoubtedly stir up the most debate. I am a 20-year software engineer, and a lifetime audiophile. In other words, there's probably not a whole lot about audio or audio distribution technology that can intimidate me. Is it worth it to become a DYIer? Specifically, would it be cost-effective for me to do it myself? Would training be recommended? If so, where? How much?

I've got other questions as well, but I think that's enough for now. Thanks!

I suggest doing a search in the automation forum on Crestron.

Crestron does not have a DIY option. The software required to do sophisticated Crestron programming is available only to authorized dealers. That being said, the Adagio components that you have chosen are very simple and cost effective for a dealer to program for you. And you will still have a foundation for significant expansion as your budget allows.

Crestron does not have a DIY option.
While true, there are those who have successfully DIY'd. It is not for the faint of heart, but it can be done. To do so, one needs to work with a dealer willing to supply the software if you purchase the hardware from them. Training can indeed be attended - last I looked it ran a couple of thousand but don't take that for anything but ROUGH. For those who attend training software access can be obtained officially.

Call Crestron and tell them what your qualifications are. I would site your interest in learning the software and discuss the possibilities of taking the Crestron programming classes. If you speak with the right person, you might just get lucky. If you come across as, "I want to save money and install Crestron as a DIY" then you'll likely be turned away.