Whole House AV - Niles ICS vs Colorado Vnet vs Elan

The Elan stuff has come a long way in features and abilities over the years. The S12, wireless VIA touchpanels, D series amps, and the new COM2 are all really cool products. You can control anything you want including lights video, etc....the only thing missing is digital audio distribution. You would have to use an outboard switcher and control it and hope there was no delay. I have no experience with the other 2 you mentioned.

It all depends on what you want to do now and in the future. I really like the look of the Colorado vnet Vibe system. I think it's the nicest looking panel on the market today. It is just a audio system that will combine with their own lighting system. You can use a ipod or really any music source but have to use their server. Niles also is just an audio system with no intergration now or in the future for home control.

Colorado vnet is only digital to analog to speakers where a system like the Musica from Netstreams is digital to speakers through out. But again you use their digital amps but it's more of a one box system like the Niles plus you can buy an add-on to use your computer,pda etc as an interface.

Larry

take a look at www.netstreams.com and the digilinx system. It will do all that you want plus ip hd video now. Even the low cost Musica system will do ipod with metadata. That is really a basic functions these days,

larry

OLE' is a hybrid between a Via Panel and a Zpad.

the one way around digital audio in elan systems is either a single Z880 or a V883
it is a coax configuration but it works. but as far as optical we can not do that. you just have the one output of the dj and dvdj to do optical.

the new via tools will support two way feedback and meta data from the amigo on the ole and via panel the new amigo will do the ipod video and audio.

the V883 is a component switcher and will pass 1080p with room to spare!

the OLE' is a very nice keypad for your money! i know i represent ELAN but i have been hammering this unit out for a few months and i really like it much more than a regular Zpad!!!

Not so. Niles now has
rs232 card for integrating with 3rd party subsystems.

Not sure how fully baked their drivers are, but they were starting with Escient, Request and Lutron.

Today, your best prospects for home automation are Elan and Crestron (Adagio). Both allow you to start small with audio, then add lighting, thermostats, whatever later on.

Colorado vnet just does audio and lighting for now, but they have every intention of adding more.

I am beta testing the 232 module now with request and escient.

I agree though that if you want video distribution, lights and other integration you ought to look elsewhere.

I have also heard that ELAN and DLO were going to release an iPOD dock with 232 interface to get feedback at the control locations. Is this coming? I am not familiar with Amigo...can you expand on that? If the DLO product isn't coming, I need to find something to integrate the iPOD since it will be one of my main sources.

Amigo is our version of the DLO!
no solid release date as of yet!
but soon is all i know!
I will post in the board as soon as it is released!

Great..looking forward to it. Thanks for the info.

While the Niles is not a control product, the RS232 gate will let it work with one, just another option, if you want an audio system with meta data (hd radio, ipod, escient, request), even on the remote, that is a low cost entry it is a good choice. You could then have it controlled by something like AMX if you want to go all out.

What it comes down to, everyone seems to want to say they are a control company nowadays, like Netstreams, Niles, Vantage, etc, but if you really want control over everything in your house, stick with AMX, Crestron, Elan, or C4.

Curt

Julie,

My infomation about Niles was coming from an article possibly in Cepro that stated that they had no intention to go full automation. R232 is nice but as you said you need the drivers etc to go with it.

Larry

I pm'd you also, but curious how you liked it.

I'm looking for "keypad" system with easy, useful, and good metadata w/ Request. I love the speakercraft mode keypads, but they only work with their server.

Thanks

Randy

RF1031,

If you like the ReQuest server, you can look at our new iQ system which uses the AudioReQuest server as the brains of a complete whole house audio distribution system. It includes an 8-source, 16 channel (8-zones) of 85 watts per channel power, and 3.5" in wall 2 way color touch screens that only retail $500 each (best price in the industry).

The iQ has all the features found in our new Serious Play OS, including Netsync for iTunes (2 way synchronization of music, edits, and playlists between the audio server and multiple iTunes computers and iPods in the house), multi-location synchronization (for multiple homes), remote streaming, remote monitoring, Automatic Dual Encoding (high-bit rate music form in house listening, low bitrate for streaming and filling your lower capacity iPod), and a bunch more features. You can see more at our website at www.request.com.

Best,
Steven Vasquez
Founder
ReQuest, Inc.

There is a new forum dedicated to just Colorado vNet. www.vnetforums.com

I am the moderator and since it's a brand new site you have me all to yourself I'll be happy to answer any questions your might have...this is a great product!

I'm about to purchase a multiroom house audio system but will only do so if I can easily stream Rhapsody and music from my NAS to touch panels in each zone. I'm aware Niles had that option in the IM-net module but no longer supports this?? I currently use Sonos and like the flexibility it offers but would like better hardwiring for future needs in the home. I can't believe that home automation companies such as Crestron/Niles don't have this option at all??

There is a squeezebox module for Crestron and i assume other control systems. This fellow has an inexpensive module for controlling sonos via Crestron. http://www.sprules.com/