Whole Home Audio controller/amp recommendations

[jallen421]

Hi all,

 

Interested in what others on here have and would recommend in terms of a whole house audio controller and amp.

 

I'm doing a new build and have speaker wire pulled for 21 speakers (12 zones). All rooms are strictly stereo or dual voice coil (not home theater).

 

Will use the ISY as home automation controller, so seems redundant to go with the contractor the builder uses who wants to sell me an entire Control 4 system.

 

Requirements are as follows:

- DIY (something I can procure and install on my own)

- matrix audio switch (don't care about video)

- at least 4 source inputs

- 21 channel or 12 zones and control additional amp(s) for powering larger zones

- Fully controlled via mobile ios or possibly android device (No Keypads required)

- Feedback to the remote app to show soure info (i.e. RDS data for tuner, etc.)

 

I found an installer who will sell me a couple Aton AH66Ts for $1300 each, and I found documentation for controlling it via RS232 or IR, but I haven't seen anyone on here mention using one.

 

Looking for what others are using and if they would recommend them.

 

Thx in advance!

John

[MstrD]

I'm in the middle of setting up a whole house audio system (not all rooms are wired yet)and I'm integrating it with the isy-99i.

 

I'm using a Russound CAV66 x 2. That gives me 6 sources, and 12 zones (6 zones x 2). It also has composite video switching which I won't be using. You could also go with the CAM66 (built-in tuners) or the CAA66. They have a protocol called RNET and each unit has a RS232 port.

 

I've also been using an iphone app called Llama Panel Pro that lets me control the unit (switch sources, zones, etc). It communicates with the same RS232 port/protocol.

 

To connect to the RS232 port you need some kind of network-serial adapter. I was originally using a Global Cache GC-100. I recently got an old Digi Portserver to work.

 

The 2 units are linked together via the Russound RNET protocol. You can connect to one RS232 port and and of the 6 zones on unit 1 or the 6 zones on unit 2. I call also send commands via a Network Resource to the same RS232 port.

 

Since I have 2 units, I'm actually connecting to both RS232 ports. That way, if the app is connecting, I can still ahve commands run through the other port from ths isy-99i.

 

If you do have keypads, you can run cat5 to any room, to control that zone. It also passes back IR from each keypad, so you could control a central source, via IR, if you did have a keypad.

 

I picked up all my equipment through eBay. They won't have any warranty from Russound that way though. One interesting point to note however, is that if a unit is out of warranty, Russound has a flat fee repair service. I originally picked up a CAM6 for $80 that was broken. $300 got it refurned by Russound. I ended up selling it as I went to the CAV66 model. The only reason I'm using the CAV66 is that it has a paging function. It will interupt the audio (on selected zones), and broadcast your audio. I have a thread on this in the Network Rsources section. I'm adding audio/alerts to my isy-99i.

 

Newer Russound's have a built in ethernet port, and more advanced app (for the ipad) right from Russound.

 

I don't have a lot of experience with any other controllers, but so far, this is working for me.