Hey Smart AVS'rs Help Out A Custom Installer

Is a 2 zone AVR out of the question?

With 4 speakers just keep an amp somwhere else besides below the counter. You just need volume and input control. Some stereo preamplifier in their price range?

As far as splitting the IPOD. I don't know if there is a good way to do what you are thinking. I keep thinking about a y cable and a big long run but I think SQ is going to suck....

You might look into the airport streaming stuff or squeeze box. It is all about what you are trying to do.

Are they beyond a sonos system budget? You could sell them a bundle at $999 with a bridge for $100 and get rid of the ipod 100%, you also don't need the universal for control over the 2nd zone.

Here is what I would do:
1. Place sonos bridge in the office by the router to get music from the computer to the sonos system
2. Place the zp80 with the YSP-4000 as a source
3. Place zp100 in kitchen (its pretty small...), it can power 4 8ohm speakers fairly well.

The only downside I see to this example is that songs they paid for on Itunes won't stream through sonos. However, you have two-way feedback on the screen with sonos that you won't get with a MX810 (or just about anything else that is reasonably priced).

ALso, you don't need to run wires from one room to another at all.

I think streaming should be a generic solution.

Hardware should not be tied to the music you can/cannot hear....

By unusual you mean "is cheap but wants the world"?


Agreed.

Are they against the idea of having the in-ceiling speaker wire run to a central location with the other equipment? From there you could either use a receiver or a pre-amp/amp with the RF basestation to control volume. How about just an amp (central location) and a volume control in the kitchen?

Maybe an Abus type system that could later be expanded through the house?



I'm sure you suggested this already, but I still have to say it:

Personally I would strongly recommend they ditch the YSP-4000 and go with a normal receiver that has zone 2 output. With that they could have better iPod control and sound as well as having the option of devices played in the kitchen also. If someone is watching a movie or TV and the person in the kitchen wants to hear it, they have zone2 w/ 4 speakers instead of turning up the volume on the main listening area. If they enjoy music (which I guess they do since they want the iPod in there) then they would probably also enjoy having the option of playing cable/satallite music stations.

If they like the idea of a soundbar then both Polk and DefTech (that I know of) make soundbars. With those they won't get the simulated surround sound of the YSP-4000, but it will still be a good sound. Going back to my first line in this post, if price is an issue then a receiver and say the DefTech Mythos Solo (xl?) would be cheaper then the soundbar.

pete-p, def tech also has a new soundbar out that is supposed to be a 5.0 setup and supposed to be really good.
I believe its called the SSA-50

OT but might help someone I guess... I have a Sonos system and play quite a bit of music purchased through Itunes. I simply use a program and convert the apple lossless files to WAVs. All my WACs and FLACs are stored on a NAS box. My application of choice is Soundtaxi, quick and easy to use.

I know it can be done, but is it really a "legal" way of doing things that follows apples BS? I'm not saying you will ever get in trouble or anything, i'd just hate to be on the wrong side of a lawsuit for suggesting this sometime in the future to a client (very unlikely of course)