When you say as cheap as possible, what is your budget goals? and how easy can you run wires in your walls?
- Josh
- Josh
Quote:
Originally Posted by casolorz /forum/post/16823903
Well its new construction, currently on the framing stage so its as easy as its ever going to be. I am also going to be running cat6 and rg6.
There is not defined budget yet, I just want to keep it cheap, worst case scenario I run the wires right now and buy the equipment later.
Thanks,
--Carlos
Quote:
Originally Posted by sic0048 /forum/post/16823946
Some whole audio systems do allow for a single local source in each zone. The local source is only available in the local room. So if you have an iPod hooked up in the kitchen, it won't play anywhere else.
To be safe, I personally would run precision coaxial cable from each potential local device back to the central wiring closet. Depending on the source, you might want to run as many as 6 wires (3 for component video, 1 for digital audio, and 2 for stereo audio). This would allow you to have the device in a local zone, but actually hook it into the system as if it was located in the central wire closet.
Of course you will need to consider control when you do this. Many whole house a/v systems have IR built into them, so it might be as easy as putting an IR blaster on the device. But you would probably need a three wire run from the keypad to the device (I'd run a cat5e wire just to be safe) If the device can be controlled via a RS-232 serial connection or IP connection, then you'll want to homerun a cat5 wire run to the location as well from the central wiring closet.
Quote:
Originally Posted by umdivx /forum/post/16824026
run dual runs of cat6 and dual runs of coax to each room/location you want. Never know when you'll need it. hell if it was me I'd be running resier gaurd conduit as well for future runs.
There are several ways to tackle this. One is to get an HDMI matrix switch, something like an 4 x 4 or 8 x 8 switch, so it has 8 inputs and 8 outputs and you can mix and match those inputs and outputs to each other. Then the problem is you'd need some way to control it all, like an automation controller like crestron, or control4, or mcontrol or CQC. That is all for video distribution.
If all you want is audio, that is much much easier, and less expensive, but not cheap my any means.
Russound CAA66 is a 6 zone, 6 source audio controller amplifier. So it gets you 6 inputs/sources, and 6 audio zones. Then you have key pads to control each zone and select sources and what not.
For your bedroom you can run a local AV receiver there, and just have the Rusound or any other multi-zone controller feed your bedroom two channel RCA audio into the receiver in your bedroom, that way the receiver can do the audio/video switching between your cable box DVR, the muti-zone audio, and any other devices you have local to your bedroom, and is also your amplifier for the speakers in that room.
For me I am running J River Media Center right now through my HTPC which gets me muti-zone audio on the cheap. I am also playing around with CasaTunes and reviewing that to see what advantages it gives me. For my AV/Media Distribution I am using Windows Media Center with Media Center extenders in each bedroom and my family room as well. So with Media Center and the extenders I have live and recorded tv, movies, backed up dvds (re-enconded to wmv), and music at each tv in my home, but what it doesn't give me is true multi-zone audio and that is where casatunes comes into play and what I am testing out and reviewing.
- Josh
Quote:
Originally Posted by localnet /forum/post/16824105
Call these guys http://www.htd.com
Ask for Chris or Mike and tell them what you are looking to do. Because I am doing the same thing and saved a ton of money on the audio side. Check out their advanced system, as the control pads allow you to use a Harmony IR remote, it simply passes it through to your gear. Just remember to run lots of Cat5e or 6 cable for your network and video. You want at least 4 drops to where your tv's will be and don't forget places that you may want to wall mount a flat panel in the future. Including that kitchen counter or master bathroom. Go nuts with the cabling if you are in the pre drywall stage, and I mean go NUTS! You can never have enough Cat5e or RG6 cable in your walls. Just make sure to label everything you run and drop.
Here are a few sites to look at...
http://www.htd.com/info/faq
http://www.avovercat5.com/product.htm
http://www.techtoolsupply.com/index....n=Custom&ID=10
Hope this helps.
Mike
Quote:
Originally Posted by casolorz /forum/post/16824174
I was looking at HTD, my only concern with their system is that it didn't seem like they accepted digital audio inputs. I'll have to check but I'm not even sure if my appletv has other types of output.
Thanks,
--Carlos
Quote:
Originally Posted by casolorz /forum/post/16826169
Couldn't I just use something like this
http://www.hdtvsupply.com/4x4-hdmi-m...ith-audio.html
and also send video to other rooms?
Quote:
Originally Posted by casolorz /forum/post/16824028
Is "precision coaxial cable" just rg6?
I don't mind the local source only being available on that location.
Also I am planning on using the IR keypads and getting a logitech harmony at least on two of the rooms.
Can you point me at the whole house audio systems that allow local sources? preferably something that won't tie me to just one brand.
Thanks,
--Carlos
Quote:
Originally Posted by sic0048 /forum/post/16828456
While doing a little research to update that comparison thread, I found that the HTD MC2-86 does in fact allow you to connect 1 source to each local zone's keypad (or via a connection plate that is wired back to the keypad). So this is more along the lines of what you are looking for I think.
Just wanted to pass that along.
Quote:
Originally Posted by casolorz /forum/post/16828521
Yeah I am really leaning towards the HTD, its affordable and does most of what I need.
If I want to have a zone have a lot of speakers, not just two, what all would I need? basically I want to have speakers on my deck, and outside patio, but it would all be the same zone.
Thanks,
--Carlos