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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Alarms, Phones, Aerials, CCTV & Datacomms >> Home Entertainment Systems https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1217349015 Message started by sparkyjonny on Jul 29^th, 2008, 5:30pm

Title: Home Entertainment Systems
Post by sparkyjonny on Jul 29^th, 2008, 5:30pm

Does anyone have experience of specifying & installing one of these systems? I'm assuming a central location for amps/CDs/media/PC, speaker cables direct to each speaker, and a data cable to each control panel?

Any advice for the best manufacturers would be much appreciated.

Ta.

Title: Re: Home Entertainment Systems
Post by Lectrician on Jul 29^th, 2008, 5:33pm

Just installed another one of these.

We use a CLOUD zonal mixer or mixer/amp combo and JBL Control range speakers (Ceiling and wall mount).

Cloud zonal source selection and volume control panels to fit single UK back boxes.

Use any Tuner, CD, MP3 player etc with the amp.

Google CLOUD, JBL and our supplier and local contact, JP Liesure.

Title: Re: Home Entertainment Systems
Post by Lectrician on Jul 29^th, 2008, 5:35pm

http://www.jpleisure.co.uk/item413.htm

Speakers:

JBL Control 25 and 28 are the best, 25 being snuggly sized and powerful.

For the ceiling, use Control 26's. Ideal.

http://www.jpleisure.co.uk/cat3_1.htm

Title: Re: Home Entertainment Systems
Post by sparkyjonny on Jul 29^th, 2008, 5:39pm

Thanks for the fast response lec. The cloud kit looks ideal for commercial applications, but I'm looking for something for a high-end domestic project, so I'm thinking touch-screens, track name selection, mp3 jukebox, possible link to local TVs etc - do you know of anything decent in this field?

Title: Re: Home Entertainment Systems
Post by sparkyjonny on Aug 2^nd, 2008, 9:50am

Bump! Any ideas anyone? Cheers.

Title: Re: Home Entertainment Systems
Post by Zambezi on Oct 22^nd, 2008, 12:50pm

If you have the budget then the Rolls Royce is Crestron, which can control just about everything. AV, security, multi room audio, heating, lighting and automatic gates etc. It can be interfaced with Lutron Homeworks, which is a great bit of (expensive) kit for controlling lighting and blinds etc.

There are loads of multi room audio solutions out there, a high end one is AMX. Simple but effective is Sonos. The same applies to "juke box" type server, there are loads of different ones like Naim, look on Ripcaster website for some others. You can integrate iPods etc into the mix as well. For a fairly flash looking yet fairly simple, look at the Logitech Squeezebox.

You could get a media PC, some funky looking ones out there, some reasonable some stoopidly expensive. Most can be used as PVRs and work with most modern AV amps and HDMI etc.

SmartE are pretty good for distributing AV around the house/business and are middle of the road pricewise.

I have seen some speakers that you plaster into the wall or ceiling so they are completely invisible. They supposedly produce a very high quality sound, I have not heard them myself. There are loads of speaker options and prices vary wildly too.

With all the above you can add a Phillips Pronto remote (about £850), which is touch screen and infinitely programmable. You could have a fairly basic system/kit stashed under your stairs or in a cupboard and have a flash Pronto remote on the coffee table. You also get a few other programmable remotes like the Nevo. Crestron also do some but they are many thousands of pounds and they do the same thing as the Pronto.

Basically you need to have a budget in mind and a clear idea of what you want to achieve. There are a lot of options out there and prices vary hugely. I have just finished a job that they have spent over £60k on AV kit and that does not include any TVs! Not my job unfortunately!

Hope that helps?!
Z

Title: Re: Home Entertainment Systems
Post by wozzy on Nov 9^th, 2008, 3:55pm

if you liked the crestron stuff but dont have the money for it like 99% of the population, have a look at the CAME (the electric gate people) home automation stuff, i believe it can control nearly everything in a room. It is no where near as good as the CRESTRON stuff but it is nowhere near the price either, i think its fairly reasonable for something so flash!

Title: Re: Home Entertainment Systems
Post by Twobarrows on Nov 10^th, 2008, 8:50am

There's also a Yahoo Groups forum for Home Automation:
http://www.myhap.org.uk/