Help me select a good Whole Home Audio System.

NuVo Grand Concerto and MPS4e music server. With a bundle of speakers, very close to your budget if you DIY...

(bias: I have one...)

Jeff

Do without the Sirus/AM/FM tuner - the server will stream SiriusXM and most radio stations have an Internet stream as well. The iPod dock, same question - with the music server available, will you really want to play a subset of your collection from an iPod?

It probably will be over your stated budget. But it will do everything you asked. You can move to the NuVo Essentia which has the same functionality with smaller keypads and lower wattage per zone to get closer. But IMO the large keypads are what makes the system...

Easy to install, there's a PC-based program to guide you through the minor configuration details. Contact a local dealer(s), explain that you're going to DIY the system and see what price they can offer. Exactly what I did, and was able to approach the gear pricing from non-authorized sources.

Nope, works great, easy to set up with a good manual and installation guide. Only issue I had during install was one bad connection that made all the keypads unresponsive (they are bus-connected), so I did have to make a call to support, and they were very helpful.

Thanks!

Jeff

The MPS4 (or MPS4e Elite) are "servers". Essentially a self-contained Windows-based platform running an application which serves up both digital music files (AAC/MP3) stored on the server's hard drive (or on a network share in the case of the Elite - the lower-priced MPS4 doesn't support network shares), and also streaming from Internet Radio stations and services like Pandora, SiriusXM, etc. The MPS4 gets an Ethernet connection to your network and the Internet. It's also where the iPod / iPad control app gets its connectivity to the system.

Agreed. I also didn't like the fact that the color LCD display is slightly larger than a dual-gang wallplate opening. Which would make future upgrades/changes a patching mess.

No, the EZ IR learning station is not what you need. That's only for learning IR commands for other components, which is unlikely you'll need. The configuration software is downloaded from NuVo's dealer / support website - your dealer should provide the software (free).

I used my homebuilder, who offered these systems as one of their upgrade options, and is an authorized dealer.

The Concerto (not the Grand) had pushbutton keypads, not the OLED display. The "GC" is the Grand Concerto. The previous version was replaced 4-5 years ago.

Separate volume controls would mean two separate zones, unless you're trying to squeeze into the 8-zone max, don't try to combine rooms like that. Regardless, wire it correctly and handle and combinations at the backend.

Jeff

Yes, sorry, that's exactly what I meant. I could have been more direct...

A used Concerto on eBay will likely be the old "Concerto", which is not the same thing and is incompatible in terms of the sources and keypads. Certainly is not a Grand Concerto if it's selling for under $1k used. There was an upgrade path from NuVo for the Concerto (basically a guts swap), but unlikely to be an economical path to the Grand Concerto. The GC kit comes with 6 OLED keypads at the MSRP of $4200. A good price from a dealer would be at least 30% off list.

Budget is always an issue, but I will say this is an area that I was hesitant to spend what I did as well (even though I'm a classic AVS stereotype). But with the functionality and easy-of-use these provide when done right (as opposed to lesser systems without keypads/displays or zone-independence), I don't regret any of the dollars spent, and highly recommend the setup. I use mine every day.

The P2100 is expensive - I used an AudioSource AMP-100 for <$100 and bought an OLED keypad off eBay for $100-125 to reach my 7th zone.

There is a system with similar capabilities and pricing from Russound.

Not sure what you mean, here's my configuration... I have the NuVo Grand Concerto along with with the NuVo MusicPort server (the PC-based version of the MPS4 software, long discontinued) and an T2 XM/AM/FM tuner. Now using all eight GC zones with a few rooms combined (at the back end) to keep within the eight zones. I've really got 10 rooms with keypads - two rooms are sharing zones (and I have the garage pre-wired). I have 3 external amps to get all 10 rooms powered (an AudioSource AMP-100, AMP-6.2, and a NuVo D460 (which I got for cheap!). If I could pick up GC Expansion unit for cheap, I'd use it in place of all the external amps and have a couple of zones left for the garage and, hmmm, I think every room is covered that I can get to...

Jeff

I would only buy a distributed audio system from an authorized dealer.

Read the manual several times, before buying anything. And if you want professional installation, buy from the installer. The local dealer/installer would probably sell the equipment to you for significantly below MSRP, as long as you don't ask him ANYTHING about how to install it.

Nuvo and Russouns make comparable systems, but I bought a Nuvo GC because of the available music server. I have the MPS4E, and it's my only component. I don't use any advanced features of the E, currently. Not sure if the MPS4 has been replaced by the MPS4E, or if both are still offered. I bought the zone expander, and currently have 11 zones. It was a lot of work to retrofit over the last few years, and I still have some work to do on the project - adding a zone, adding advanced control to the TV zones, replacing some speakers, replace the rack.

HTD is another consideration, for the DIYer. Not as advanced as Nuvo and Russound, but owners seem happy with their systems, from what I've read here on AVS.

These systems are primarily for background / ambient music, and have less power/channel than a typical AVR. But through in-ceiling speakers, which is typical, the speakers will generally be the limiting quality factor.

No, you just have to wait for someone else to offer one. I bought 3 or 4 over the course of several months. Set up an eBay 'Saved Search' to alert you when new auctions show up...

Neurorad and I picked the GC for the same reasons - quality/metadata functionality of the keypads, and the availability of a digital music server that utilized the keypad metadata feature. Russound didn't have that at the time we both bought ours. Comparing them today is much easier, but I still prefer the NuVo keypads for their readability.

All in-ceiling for the zones, majority were the NuVo AP2 8" speakers, which I also got a good price on. I'm not thrilled with them, and the zones where I'm using other brands (Boston Acoustics and Definitive Tech) have noticeably better sound. Well, I can tell, no one else notices. My advice on in-ceiling speakers is that, unless you can hear them, stick with known good inexpensive 6.5" models. You can upgrade them to better or larger speakers later. The 8" speakers I used make it difficult to upgrade - as the ~9" hole in the ceiling limits my choices to speakers that are at least that big...

Jeff

You should go with the Russound C-Series and Add the DMS3.1 Media Streamer has built in airplay also.

You can control the system via the "My Russound" App.

There unfortunately are a lot of junk in-ceiling speakers out there... Many good brands, too. A lot of folks around AVS have used the ~$50/pair Monoprice in-ceiling speakers. I haven't heard them, so can't give you any opinion other than the specs look good and they are absolutely dirt cheap!

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10837&cs_id=1083702&p_id=4103&seq=1&format=2


Jeff

I hope you end up liking the in-wall controllers. My first WHA system had them because it seemed like the way to go. After living with then for awhile and thinking about what it would be like to have hand-held controllers I realized I had made a mistake. I replaced the system with another brand that had hand-held controllers and found that they were indeed much more to my liking.

IMO, the correct answer is "both"... With these systems supporting "apps" for control, it's easy to add a handheld controller (aka Android or iOS device) to either of these setups. And the wall-mounted control panels are always where you left them.

Jeff

I had trouble with my MPS4, adding zones piecemeal over the course of a year. At one point, when adding the 11th zone or so, MPS4 stopped working correctly. I spent some time with Nuvo tech support, and they couldn't fix it. Since I bought through an authorized dealer, exchange was a breeze.

Then, I tried to set a static IP on the MPS4. Bricked it. Nuvo TS couldn't fix, so I sent it back. Again, since I bought through an authorized dealer, exchange was easy, and it provided me the opportunity to upgrade to the MPS4E. Each time, unit was back in a week. I have GREAT faith in Nuvo to make things right, when their equipment goes south.

I'd definitely buy Nuvo again, and definitely through an Authorized dealer. Not sure how Nuvo would respond to a problem if purchased through ebay., and I wonder if that MPS4 on eBay has had problems.

My Nuvo is on at least 5 hours every weekday, and all day Saturday and Sunday. It's really outstanding. No problems since I installed the MPS4E, about a year ago. I love it. Haven't attempted the static IP, and won't for a while.

Contact Nuvo to find a complete list of authorized online retailers and distributors.

Try contacting other nearby Nuvo dealers. They don't have to be very close, as the equipment can be drop shipped to you, from Nuvo.

This is the old MusicPort, which is what I'm still using. It's an earlier version of the software that powers the MPS4 server(s), which you run on your own PC hardware and Windows. The hardware device is a NuVoNet adapter, which bridges between the PC (via RS232) and NuVoNet. It's NuVoNet that links all NuVo sources and keypads to the system, and in order to display anything (artist/track/etc.) on the keypads, the source has to be on NuVoNet.

I make do with it, as a single music library / Internet radio source is enough for me. But the software has some bugs, which I deal with by automatically rebooting the host PC every other day. It was, and is, a cheaper way to build a music server, but it's a discontinued software product - so take that into consideration...

Jeff

I think you should strongly consider Russound. It is currently comparable to Nuvo, except the hardware is slightly less 'protected' from internet sales.

The main reason I went with Nuvo was for the music server option - not available from Russound when I was shopping.

Again, read the manuals several times before buying ANYTHING. It will take a lot of time and effort to get up and running.

Price out the MCA-C5 and the DMS 3.1 music server. Those 2 devices are probably all that you need.

Yes, it was essentially the server software, you provided the hardware. The MPS4 provided both as a much-more-reliable bundle. That's not all the fault of the software, but rather the PC/Windows nature of the beast. Building an "appliance", even with Windows as the core, is much easier to contain than a free-for-all general purpose computer... From a dealer / customer service standpoint, the self-contained server fit much better into their product line and sales model.

IP control comes from the NuVo apps, which work on both MPS4 and the Elite. Autonomic has an app that works with the Mirage software (the original MusicPort).

The Cloud sync stuff on the Elite is for multiple servers (think vacation house). The other advantages are the larger storage, and more importantly, the ability to point to NAS storage on your home network. I'd say that is probably the key feature difference...

Jeff

the MPS4E also provides a video output, to run to a touchscreen, to provide cover art to the TS. Haven't tried it myself, but would fits well with most control systems, e.g. Crestron.