Browse Forums Home Theatre & Automation 1 Feb 05, 2012 6:03 pm Hi, I'v got a couple of months before cabling goes in and trying to come up with the best solution. Requirements: 1. 4 zone audio, main is media room with 7.1 and two channel in each of zones 2,3,4. 2. Ideally would like 4 zone full HD video with input of PVR/network media player (or htpc), PS3 and possibly a dedicated BD player, and be able to watch the same OR different video in each zone, and be able to control it all from any zone. 3. I need a new receiver. 4. Network all four zones. Here's what I'm thinking of doing: 1. As far as the networking goes, two data points to the media room and office and one each to zone 2,3,4 and two WAP's in the ceiling (Fairly large house ~300m2) 2. As far as the HD video goes, a 4x4 HDMI matrix with 4x IR receivers for each of the zones and four blasters for the devices. The HDMI to travel over 2 x cat 5/6 to each of zones 2,3,4 with HDMI baluns/wall plates at either end, and the IR over cat 5/6 with IR wall plates at either end (probably custom wall plates incorporate the lot). Zones 2,3,4 will each have probably Samsung Smart TV and hopefully wont need any other clutter. I am hoping the playstation wireless controller will extend to zones 2 and maybe 3 depending on the wireless range. If I get the cable guy to do the cabling and wall plates I imagine I could just plug HDMI cable and the included IR extender cable into something like this: http://clink.com.au/hdmi/matrix_switches.htm Does anyone know if these are any good? Or suggestions for a different setup or brand? 3. As far as the audio goes, the media room will have 3.1 regular speakers and 4 ceiling speakers giving 7.1 surround. Each of 2,3,4 will have two ceiling speakers. I was looking at dedicated multiroom audio like leaf or nuvo but its my understanding that they are fairly expensive (and yes have video but I think its composite?), and given that I need a new receiver anyway I was thinking for the money I could get a top of the line receiver that does 4 zone audio without the need for a dedicated system. I had in mind the Yamaha Aventage Rx-A3010. It has 150W x 9.2 channel and expandable to 11.2 with an external amp. It has intelligent amp assign, so would most of the time have 7.1 in the media room, but when playing music in all four zones would reduce the main zone to 5.1 giving two channels for each of the other zones. I assume I could control the receiver in all zones by the IR repeater and also the smart phone app. Finally, would have audio returns from zones 2,3,4 via optical (or analogue?) cable to receiver so that tv sound would go through the ceiling speakers if someone was already using the PVR in another room. I am open to suggestions. I'm fairly satisfied with the data cabling and WAP's. I'm fairly satisfied with the video solution using HDMI over cat 5/6 unless someone can tell me why it's a terrible idea. Can't make up my mind what to do with the multizone audio....need the most advice here. Very grateful for any suggestions. Our building thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=53911 Re: Advice on Multizone video & Audio please 2Feb 06, 2012 10:52 am Looking at the pricing of those matrix's on that site im inclined to be a little bit of a sceptic. $599 for a 2 in 4 out system but only $399 for a 4 in 4 out. And you will need baluns unless your running all your video signals short distances, which will cost you just as much if not more than the price of the matrix unit. I wouldnt really bother to much with implementing a HDMI matrix setup, its a tad overkill these days and with the growing capabilities of what you can do with smart TV network sharing with Nas drives and the like its becoming rather obsolete. If you want to get your PVR/Foxtel around the place just put a 1 in 4 out switch in. Its guaranteed to work. In terms of your Audio Distribution i wouldnt even if i was given it for free use a amp to drive all your secondary zones. There the most clunky annoying devices that are designed to do so much, when really they should just be used to drive dedicated home theatre speakers. Get a proper multi-room music system thats designed just for every day listening/ background music and you won't regret it. Re: Advice on Multizone video & Audio please 3Feb 06, 2012 11:13 am Jezza Looking at the pricing of those matrix's on that site im inclined to be a little bit of a sceptic. $599 for a 2 in 4 out system but only $399 for a 4 in 4 out. Hi The 4x2 includes the Cat-5 baluns, while the 4x4 is pure HDMI only, which is why it is cheaper. I have purchased a very similar 4x4 matrix with the in-built baluns (you can get better pricing than that web site) as I want to have two centrally located Austar HD boxes that I can distribute around the house. The problem I have found is that the IR repeaters built-in to the matrix don't work with the Austar IR signals, so I need to use something else to solve this problem (I need a matrix switching IR solution as the two boxes respond to the same remote signals). At this point I think I will end up building my own IR switcher using an Arduino. For whole-house audio I agree with Jezza, use some sort of distributed digital solution. I have all of my content on a Mac, so I am using Airtunes, Apple TV and a DLNA server on the mac. Paul Re: Advice on Multizone video & Audio please 4Feb 06, 2012 11:41 am Didnt check the website with enough detail! Yes because austar/foxtel use there own ir frequency, which is different so it doesnt clash with any other ir devices. Your best bet is to have a look for some Wireless ir repeaters, they are cheap and work well with cable boxes aslong as your range isnt usually more than about 20 meters to your central hub. Re: Advice on Multizone video & Audio please 5Feb 06, 2012 12:24 pm Jezza Didnt check the website with enough detail! Yes because austar/foxtel use there own ir frequency, which is different so it doesnt clash with any other ir devices. Your best bet is to have a look for some Wireless ir repeaters, they are cheap and work well with cable boxes aslong as your range isnt usually more than about 20 meters to your central hub. Wireless is no good - I need to be able to route the IR signal to the appropriate box, depending on which source is selected for a room. I have some wired IR repeaters that work perfectly with the Austar box, it just seems to be an issue with the matrix. My plan is to use relays to route the wired IR to the appropriate box based on a remote command from the destination room. Paul Re: Advice on Multizone video & Audio please 6Feb 06, 2012 12:26 pm Home file server + Media Players/ PC's = Video distrabution system Multi room audio is easy.. home file server + itunes + either mac airs/ PC's / Multiply Audio service a basic system like ABUS you can have 1 - 2 zone or 1 to 4zone or 4-8 these can also be customeized to cover any set up you have. HDMI Extension/ distabution gets expensize quickly as does multi room foxtel plus that whole same channel to every tv/ having to have multiply foxtel boxes (which gets expensive by itself) Kodiak Data Cabling onFaceBook Consult*, Design and Installation Data, TV, Home Theatre/ AV Cabling, Multi Room Audio, IP CCTV and Door Intercoms Ask for a Quote. *DIY DATA Cabling Is Ilegal Re: Advice on Multizone video & Audio please 7Feb 06, 2012 2:23 pm I have installed speakers in the ceilings/walls but no cables for control pads. Can the Abus system still be installed considering I cant put in control pads. I was looking at Nuvo but it's damn expensive. Re: Advice on Multizone video & Audio please 8Feb 06, 2012 2:25 pm Abus also needs the Signal cables from the main box Kodiak Data Cabling onFaceBook Consult*, Design and Installation Data, TV, Home Theatre/ AV Cabling, Multi Room Audio, IP CCTV and Door Intercoms Ask for a Quote. *DIY DATA Cabling Is Ilegal Re: Advice on Multizone video & Audio please 9Feb 06, 2012 8:54 pm Hi Dream House 82 I've essentially got a very similar set up to what you've outlined. Without advocating one system or another (at the end of the day, you can achieve things a number of ways - it comes down to what you decide is the best option for you - all things considered), I'm using the following for video:
Aten HDMI over Cat 6 baluns Q-Link IR extenders With the following inputs:
Dvico Tvix 6600 PS3 For audio I'm using a NuVo Grand Concerto, with the Tvix, a Logitech Squeezebox Duet and an iPod as inputs. I have a dedicated Pioneer AV receiver for the Home Theatre; video to the projector is still delivered via the HDMI matrix. In terms of cabling, I ran a minimum of 2xCat 6 to each display, along with a coax (for the IR extender) and everything is cabled back to a central equipment closet where all my devices are stored. For me, this was the 'solution' I was most happy with and haven't had any issues with it to date. I agree with the suggestion to separate your audio setup from your video distribution and still think a setup using a HDMI matrix is effective if it meets your needs, but can be 'overkill' depending on what you want to do. Cheers Adam Advice on Multizone video & Audio please 11Feb 08, 2012 6:27 am Thanks Matt, Yes, that is the sort of thing I will use, but I need to add some smarts so that I can selectively route signals from an input to an output, so if room A is watching box X then I want the signals to go from A to X, while if room B is watching box Y then the signals need to go from B to Y. If rooms A and C are watching box X then the signals from both of those rooms need to go to X. Paul Re: Advice on Multizone video & Audio please 12Jun 28, 2012 3:57 pm Something to consider for multiroom audio - I've been thinking about this for a while, and come up with a solution. In short, Linux server + specific alsa config file meakes stereo pairs out of a multichannel audio card. Then run logitech media server, and multiple squeezeslaves (software player, each addresses a single stereo pair from your audio card). End result is 3 or 4 stereo signals controllable remotely from any computer, android or iphone app. You can play separate music signals, or sync any combination. Just put stereo signals into an amp and run wires to ceiling speakers. I got it working at home, waiting to see how I get the wiring in a new build! http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-re ... ?t=1889949 Best of all, if you have a spare old computer with a sound card, it only costs you speakers, amps & wires! Could also go Logitech squeezeboxes for an easier wireless solution. Good luck! Versaloc is a mortarless besser block system that still needs a properly engineered footing. If you just do a 400x200 footing it will fail in time. At 17m long you need it… 1 36821 This is the external unit of an evaporative cooling unit in an apartment block. Wondering if it is the calcium in the water that has caused the damage and if it is… 0 8244 Minimum overhang into gutter must be 50mm, turn down tool should not split the sheet. it seems wrong tool for the profile was used, the flashing cannot slope back. Rib… 2 9111 |