What Are the Benefits of Multi-Room Audio Video Systems?

The term multi-room audio video simply means having audio and video sources available throughout the home - a whole house audio and video system.

Taking the sources you normally have in your lounge, like DVD player, CD Player and Radio Tuner, and placing them in a central location enables these sources to be distributed around the home. There are many different manufacturers who have ways of getting the audio and video signal to each room, they also allow you to control the source as if you were in the same room. Some systems distribute audio over Cat5e cabling, some do it wirelessly and some run speaker cable from the central location to each room. Our preferred method is to run speaker cable for the simple reason it is more economical to install one good multichannel amplifier in the central location than it is to install a good amplifier in each room, also you have less equipment to house in the room.

Once you have the audio feed in to the room you then need to control it - again different manufacturers have different methods for this - the cheaper systems will give you a pre-engraved keypad which allows you to go up and down channels and change the volume. In contrast the more expensive systems allow you to choose a channel and see two way feedback - you can see things like CD covers and pick your music intuitively and you have access to the full range of controls on Sky remote controls. Installing a music server makes a lot of sense when you are installing a whole house system, you don't want to have to visit a remote cupboard when changing music and they also have the benefit of streaming multiple CD's - different people can listen to different things in different rooms. The same systems are available for DVD's, enabling anyone in the home to watch a film of their choice.

The benefits of multi-room and whole house audio video distribution are that the home owner has access to all their media available throughout the home.

Written by:

Dave Chester

Custom Controls

http://www.CustomControls.co.uk

Custom Control & Entertainment Solutions - Home Cinema, Multi-Room Audio Video, Home Automation & Lighting Control. Premier Dealers for Crestron, Kaleidescape, Lutron and Bowers & Wilkins.

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