Whole House Audio Questions

[pdxcoop]

Hello all,

I have some questions about setting up a whole house audio configuration. I currently have SageTV for all my video needs and it goes to either other computers or extenders as well as audio can be played though the extenders. In the greatroom were the receiver is located has an A and B zone. I only am looking to extend audio to the outside from the content on the media server. I am able to wire 2 external speakers and a volume control and/or the use of cat 5e and coax. Along with maybe some speaker rocks. What I am confused about is what software on the server for the audio and how would I control the content from outside? Also the server is located in another room.

Any help would be great.

Thanks.

[BFisher]

Not positive I understand your questions so I'll give you some general information hoping it hits it for you.

If you plan on using the extenders to connect to your amp, then you can use the Sage playlists to play music - nothing else needed. Or you can add JRiver to your server, and use the JRMC plugin for Sage to control it.

Instead, if you want to keep your amp centralized (next to your server), then you would run speaker wire and Cat 5 (for IR control) to your listening location. Run JRiver or something on your server to manage your music and use IR to control the amplifier tucked away.

I'm being very general and high-level here, but hopefully it gives you an idea of what you are looking for.

[CollinR]

Yea you might rephrase your question pdxcoop, both BFisher and I do something like this.

I am more on the lines of using an MVP and inexpensive LCD for audio clients however obviously you can watch video on them as well. Also the option of centralized, distributed or both is still open. In that case I do both, looping wires though a nearby closet on it way to the data closet. This way I can install the amp or any other component in either location.

Also I use wifi and PDAs as a remote quite often now. This allows some added flexibility but much more complicated configuration.

[paulbeers]

My easiest solution was to buy an inexpensive Amplifier, set it next to the server, run my speaker wires to the out door speakers and VNC into my server from my laptop and then I can very easily create a playlist with any music player of choice (usually I just use Winamp). I have contemplated going the route of using an extra MVP I have sitting around....but we will see.

This was a simplified method....I acutally have an audio/vidoe distrbution amp between my Sage server and my amplifier for my outdoor speakers....this way I can actually pipe my audio to as many as 7 amplifiers/receivers throughout my house for true "whole house audio".....I currently only use 4 (two home threater receivers and 2 amplifiers).

[stanger89]

I'd go with a Squeezebox Duet. It's got a handheld controller you can take out side (connects via wifi) and lets you browse your library and control your collection from your hand, anywhere within wifi range.

http://www.slimdevices.com/pi_duet.html

[pdxcoop]

I guess what I am trying to do is only have audio outside as the rest of it is taken care of via computers etc. Where the receiver is located is in the greatroom with the htpc client. Currently they are going to run 2 speaker wire, a volume control and a cat5 cable ( cat 5 to writing closet) to the outside of the house from the greatroom location. But I am not sure if this is the best way? If I were to use the Squeezebox Duet I would have to hook up the speakers some how? And were do I hook up the Squeezebox in the greatroom or where the server is located? As far as accessing the content, it looks like Squeezebox lets you use their remote or a 3rd party remote or an iphone or itouch? I am trying to keep cost down and have the most flexibility.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by pdxcoop

I guess what I am trying to do is only have audio outside as the rest of it is taken care of via computers etc. Where the receiver is located is in the greatroom with the htpc client. Currently they are going to run 2 speaker wire, a volume control and a cat5 cable ( cat 5 to writing closet) to the outside of the house from the greatroom location. But I am not sure if this is the best way? If I were to use the Squeezebox Duet I would have to hook up the speakers some how?

Yeah, you'd need to get some sort of amplifier. There are a number of inexpensive options, like the Sonic Impact T-Amp. Or you could hook it to one of the spare zones on your AVR.

And were do I hook up the Squeezebox in the greatroom or where the server is located?

Wherever there's a network connection (including wireless) and is convenient. Probably close to the amp.

As far as accessing the content, it looks like Squeezebox lets you use their remote or a 3rd party remote or an iphone or itouch? I am trying to keep cost down and have the most flexibility.

There's a webserver you can connect to, so yeah, I think you can use an iPhone/Touch (but I'm not sure). If you did that you could get just the duet box.

[pdxcoop]

Stanger,

Thanks for all the help and information. I think we are going with that solution. We went to bestbuy yesterday and played around with it.

[garmpe]

This looks to me like another reason sage needs to jump on the iphone/itouch bandwagon. A nice controller like to sonos would be sweet.

[stanger89]

I think you could write a Sage plugin for the Squeezebox controller:
http://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.ph...zePlay_Applets