HTD Lync Review

Just installed and configured the 6 zone Lync system from HTD.com.

Summary - Very impressed...works better than I thought.

Installed the system with 6 keypads and seven sets of speakers (one of the zones is pushing 4 speakers--and the amp specifically states it can handle the Ohms). Sounds great....a few comments:

• The remote system where it will route to only to the emitter tied to the source is fantastic for multi DVRs in one closet
• The intercom works great (can turn "party mode" on to call all zones)
• MP3 via USB is a bit weak (plays in order, no real control), but it supports 8GB, and as long as you fill it with music you like, it's a good alternative
• Hooked up a cheap ir-controlled radio so I don't need to tie up a receiver as a source
• The network control unit (forget the name) is basic. allows for control and naming sources/zones.....but it's very utilitarian.

If I were to do it over again:

• I'd put the keypads in more natural remote-pointing spots, rather than natural "light switch on the wall" spots. I thought I'd be pressing buttons on the keypad more than aiming a remote....I was wrong.
• I'd run more IR receiver eyes beside tvs.

Overall quite happy--and excellent value when compared to some of the high end stuff.

The amps are more than enough. We had them cranked up and acoustic issues impacted sound more than the amplifier (speaker's ability, ceiling mounts, hardwood floors & big windows, not all furniture in yet, etc.). At background music levels, they're great.

Outdoors we have a pair of Emotiva UOM-6.2s, and they're mounted more traditionally (L&R about 6 feet off the ground on each side of the deck)......and they rock. Crisp, full sound.... the bylaw officeer will be by before the amp/speakers distort! ;-)

On that note, in general the Emotiva speakers outperformed the monoprice and HTD speakers we bought. We used 7 of the largest Emotiva in-walls in a dedicated theatre (different A/V sources than zones), and when matched with an SVS sub they really impressed me.

The only thing I'm not impressed with is the HTD.com angled speakers (HD-R65AIM). WAF in the great room drove us to use these, and the sound is thin.... Seeing if WAF would allow a sub......

So in my opinion, from best to worst in ceiling/wall/outdoor speakers:
1. Emotiva
2. Monoprice
3. HTD.com

Edit - just wanted to add that with multi amp channels available, you can bi-amp if you happen to want to run some power-hungry towers....just buy a Y-splitter coming off of the controller, and run the same input signal (L) into two of the amp channels....and repeat for (R)...
Edited by Quill - 6/25/12 at 7:46am

LOL - It was new construction, and we pulled many, many feet of Cat6, RG6 and speaker wire through the house...no attic crawling here!

Update: Still working well, but I've run into a roadblock...there is no ir control for the lynx system from within the av closet....can only be ir controlled via keypad. This wouldn't be an issue if the keypads were in plain sight everywhere, but we hid most around corners.

The pro control .z system works great....except I have no way of interacting with the lync system (I have the iPad app connector, but it is proprietary).

There are also no discrete ir codes I.e. source7zone3......just up and down surfing through available sources.

All in all, i Could have mitigated this if I had wired an ir eye into the keypad and mounted the eye near the tv.....but I didn't....