[UKC101]

This is for a new build,
After some recommendations for home media system. I was looking at using a structured cabling system all back to a rack. I am hoping to use rack mounted NAS storage all in one location.

Am after more of a hardware based system as appossed to a Windows Media Center.
System should have DVD atleast or HD DVD / Blu Ray distibution, storage based audio and video system with remote control.

Controls can be either by hardwired bus system to each location or via wireless remote to a room based receiver.
The property is large and will have underfloor heating with foil based insulations, so I can't rely on wireless signals.

For the music I've been looking at Sonos but would like something that offers Video as well if possible.

Any Recomendations of kit other than TV's gratefull recieved

Design spec is something like this;

Kitchen, Audio ceiling mount speakers. LCD TV normal DVB and a Sky feed from other Sky box. IR remote control extension, wired.

Libruary, Audio wall mount speakers and seperate audio system. Input from media system to local AV amp. Local SkyHD box and LCD TV. Video linked to home media system

Lounge, Ceiling mount speaker, LCD TV local Sky or Sky+. Audio from local sky also linked to local speakers. Video linked to home media system.

Master Bedroom, Audio ceiling mount speakers. LCD TV with normal DVB and Sky+ Via RF. IR remote control extension wired back to rack to control Sky.

All other Bedrooms; LCD TV and Video feed from Home Media Center.

Dining Room, Audio via ceiling mount speakers.

Tower Room, Audio Via ceiling mount speakers Video.

En-suit Bathroom, Audio Via celing mount speakers.

Garden, Audio to patio, small external wall mount speakers.

[niall campbell]

firstly thats some system

got to be CAT 6 cable nothing less as otherwise cable outdated soon

you need a distribution amp for sky magic link to work and from any room so it has to allow 9 volts to carry on, this will also feed your freeview ............... but that will be outdated soon if your tellys not got compatible inbuilt tuners.................. so best to have good old rf cable going to every room as well ................ CT-100 cable


for living room it has to be THX certified Onkyo tx-sr875 or 805

this will upscale any hdmi signal as well so only one cable needed to telly.


You could get the 405 amp times 2 for each room. It is thx as well hdmi 1.3, just what you need


Now I dont understand if you are having multiroom with 2 HD sky boxes ?

I would , and run a cable from libary to kitchen on rf 2 with magic eye so whatever is on the libary you can watch in kitchen. If the good lady wanted to watch something else she can go to living room

[niall campbell]

you could a hdmi cable from library to kitchen and from living room to bedroom

the rf2 cable would change channels


put a small hi-fi in other rooms which have dab/ fm bilt in and just run the speaker cable to the back of them hidden in the walls

thats what I would do

[UKC101]

As far as sky goes thats sort of what I was thinking. Suppose I should think about two HD boxes.
My only problem is I'm trying to reduce the number of individual remotes per room. Magic Eye means a sky remote for each room as well as a remote for the Audio and the Vidoe system, that I'm not sure exists.

I really want a Sonos system that does video as well I think.

The sonos allows local inputs to then be streamed to other ZonePlayers. Is also has the ability to use NAS storage, but what I can't find is a remote out to control the local device.

It would be great to be able to say, click on the library zone and set the box to record something, then go to the lounge and set that to record something else. All from one remote. Then play back something ripped to the NAS in the kitchen while the Wife plays music while shes out on the patio.

[niall campbell]

well sometimes you have to keep it simple !

if you have sky multiroom as I have suggested then that will be one remote for telly. Your wife can pick up any sky remote and work the telly , no problems how to switch everything on / off that sort of thing

http://www.satelliteonline.co.uk/mil...stribution.htm


this is another solution with dvd / video / sky using CAT 5 and you would simply use CAT 6. However you will note its to scart not HDMI which is great for yesterdays technology not todays or tomorow. I daresay you can get HDMI instead of scart BUT at what price ?


I would keep the video separate and have the multiroom. Will you really watch a film in the kitchen ? and could you not use a £20 dvd player for that ?

with a separate amp in the libary and living room once again its the same remote if you get the 405 amp , keeping it simple . The 405 amp as well will upscale the signal to HDMI , so say you have a bog standard dvd player you would feed the scart signal in to the amp and upscale it automatically ................. its that sort of connection you are looking for . Its HDMI 1.3 as well so a lot of scope for upgrades and you would buy hdmi 1.3 cable


if you keep the audio separate there are loads of products available for zoning areas and with speaker wire it will almost never be outdated

and that leads us back to good old RF cable . You can use it with your tv signal / DAB signal and FM and plenty life left in it


so CAT 6 cable for broadband as well

so CT-100 RF inside, or wf-100 in/ out

half decent speaker cable

sky multi room