1 amp, Multi room, multi zone music. Can anyone recommend?

Starz · Nov 05, 2010 8:11 pm

Forgive me for my ingnorance, I'm not technologically savvy and I really need help to decide what is the right multi room audio system for me.
I am building a 2 storey home, bedrooms upstairs, study & living downstairs. (SE Melourne)
We are at lock up stage at the moment and I am waiting to meet with the sparky but I really need to know what I want first to be prepared.
We have the Theatre room sorted (yay) but now we are looking to have music piped through the rest of the house through ceiling speakers.
Ideally, I want to be able to play music from my playlist on my Mac. I have a sack of cd's and downloaded music and itunes on my computer that I love and want to use this through the house.
My wish list is; 2 speakers each in 7 rooms (Master & landing upstairs), (study, family, rumpus, lounge and pergola downstairs), 5 zones - Upstairs, study, rumpus/family, lounge& pergola. Now, here's the tricky part, I ideally only want 1 amp to handle the the speakers and multiple zones as I do want to play different music in different areas of the house. Can this be done wirelessly?
I dont want the Sonos system because I'm not keen on a box in every zone. I want to keep things simple.
I dont mind hardwiring the speakers to one box .

I may also want to have a central automation system that incorporates with music, lights and security but I think just getting the music part down pact is compicated enough!

I'm not looking for a high-end system. I just want something that works well and that is value for money. I would be looking to go to $6k including speakers. (To incorporate lights & music to an automation system, I would perhaps double this figure?

) Do you think this is possible? Anyone have any suggestions as to brands and systems? I havent been to any professional company as I think they tend to plug their own brans, when what I'm really looking for is options to research before I take the leap!

Any sugestions?

BuildingACT · Nov 07, 2010 4:16 pm

Starz

Forgive me for my ingnorance, I'm not technologically savvy and I really need help to decide what is the right multi room audio system for me.
I am building a 2 storey home, bedrooms upstairs, study & living downstairs. (SE Melourne)
We are at lock up stage at the moment and I am waiting to meet with the sparky but I really need to know what I want first to be prepared.
We have the Theatre room sorted (yay) but now we are looking to have music piped through the rest of the house through ceiling speakers.
Ideally, I want to be able to play music from my playlist on my Mac. I have a sack of cd's and downloaded music and itunes on my computer that I love and want to use this through the house.
My wish list is; 2 speakers each in 7 rooms (Master & landing upstairs), (study, family, rumpus, lounge and pergola downstairs), 5 zones - Upstairs, study, rumpus/family, lounge& pergola. Now, here's the tricky part, I ideally only want 1 amp to handle the the speakers and multiple zones as I do want to play different music in different areas of the house. Can this be done wirelessly?
I dont want the Sonos system because I'm not keen on a box in every zone. I want to keep things simple.
I dont mind hardwiring the speakers to one box .

I may also want to have a central automation system that incorporates with music, lights and security but I think just getting the music part down pact is compicated enough! ::hyst::

I'm not looking for a high-end system. I just want something that works well and that is value for money. I would be looking to go to $6k including speakers. (To incorporate lights & music to an automation system, I would perhaps double this figure? :::

) Do you think this is possible? Anyone have any suggestions as to brands and systems? I havent been to any professional company as I think they tend to plug their own brans, when what I'm really looking for is options to research before I take the leap!

Any sugestions?

Hi!

I would strongly recommend the NuVo system www.nuvotechnologies.com ...I have it set up in my place and couldn't be happier. They have a range of systems allowing for different number of sources/zones, for example the Grand Concerto system I have allows 6 powered zones and is expandable. The system utilises a single amp, controls are fantastic and easy to use and sound quality (obviously also dependant on speakers) is fantastic!

The Australian distributor, as far as I know, is Ambertech.

Anyway, hope that helps...they'd definitely have options within ur budget and I couldn't recommend them more highly! Btw...if you really want to get the perfect setup...have a look at 'Stealth Acoustics' in ceiling speakers...they're amazing

although not cheap!

cheers
Adam

Rodda · Nov 07, 2010 4:40 pm

Another excellent option for 6 powered zones hosted by one box is the Elan S6 (or system 6), and unlike many competing systems it includes the ability to control sources from it's keypads.

You then have options as to how you hear and control your PC base media in those zones.

This is new, plus it also includes AM/FM as well as DAB+ as well as Internet Radio !!

:
http://www.qualifi.com.au/index.jsp?ref ... uct=192325

Or you could go this way:
http://www.logitech.com/en-au/speakers- ... vices/3817

P.S. The reasons why the Sonos system does what it does (and needs a box per zone) is this:
1. Each pair of speakers MUST be powered by an amplifier - each Sonos ZP120 has such an amplifier built in.
2. Each individual Sonos node (eg. ZP120), and therefore each zone, can select and play whatever media file you like, independent of other zones.
3. Each Sonos node wirelessly talks to the source, so in each zone you only need to plug the Sonos node (eg. ZP120) into power and then connect it to a pair of speakers - there is no need to run any wires back to a central location.
So, Sonos may not be the answer for everyone's situation, but it is made for a purpose and fulfills that purpose well.

Starz · Nov 08, 2010 7:50 pm

Thanks Adam,

I hadn't heard of the Nuvo System before and just had a look at it now and it seems pretty good! I did want to invest a little more in the speakers downstairs because of the sound quality in the areas where there's tiled floors. And less impressive speakers upstairs, to keep the budget down.

Did have a look at Stealth and their invisible wall speakers. Very Impressive, but would blow my budget for sure.

This was very helpful

Thank you

Starz · Nov 08, 2010 8:07 pm

Hi Rod,

Yes I have seen the website for the Elan system.
Wow, I didn't realize this system allows you to play PC based audio, that what I am really looking for! ::smile::

What really appealed to me also was that you could integrate lighting with this system, so I could possibly have multi room audio and lighting settings from the same control panel.
I have read in previous threads that this quite a pricey system, I would like all the speakers in the various zones, so may have to compromise in the speaker quality if this is the case.

Will definitely look into this system though

Thank you Rod

BuildingACT · Nov 08, 2010 9:43 pm

Starz

Thanks Adam,

I hadn't heard of the Nuvo System before and just had a look at it now and it seems pretty good! I did want to invest a little more in the speakers downstairs because of the sound quality in the areas where there's tiled floors. And less impressive speakers upstairs, to keep the budget down.

Did have a look at Stealth and their invisible wall speakers. Very Impressive, but would blow my budget for sure.

This was very helpful

Thank you

Hey mate

No problem at all...the NuVo is definitely a great system and, similar to the Elan system, allows you to control all sources from its touch pads (including PC/server based audio) and displays all the metadata (song titles, album info, even cover art) depending on which control pads you use.

If you want to go down the path of using the controls for lighting, etc as well, then I'd agree the Elan looks like a good option! Not sure how the prices of the systems compare...but either way, think you'll get a really good outcome!

What sort of budget are you looking at for the in-ceiling speakers downstairs? I wouldn't completely rule out the Stealths - their single stereo speakers (which can be mounted in-ceiling as well as in wall) are very very effective...but i guess the fact that they're 'invisible' does add a slight premium.

In any case, if you're interested, I have a contact who is a distributor of both NuVo and Stealths and might be able to do a good deal for you...let me know if you'd like details ::wink::

And good luck with the whole project!!

Cheers
Adam