A/V Matrix Switching

["Julian Stuhler" <julian.stuhler@xxxxxxx>]

Hi Folks.

My current multi-room av setup consists of the following:

- All A/V sources (DVD, LD, VCR, Tivo, CD, etc) connected to Pioneer
VSA-E06
AV amp in cinema room
- Audio from one of the amp's AV outputs fed into two Russound A-Bus units
feeding ceiling speakers in 8 rooms
- Video from one of the amp's AV outputs fed into a 8-way video
distribution
amp and then to composite video sockets in each of the 8 rooms

This allows me to watch/listen to the same source showing in the cinema in
any of the other rooms in the house. However, I'd like the ability to watch
a DVD in the cinema while people elsewhere enjoy a different source (e.g.
Tuner or Tivo). I can see two solutions to this problem:

1. Replace the Pioneer amp with one that can handle multi-zone AV output
(e.g. Denon AVC-A1SR). While this would address the basic issue, there's
really nothing wrong with my Pioneer and the only units I've seen so far
with this capability only offer a single additional zone where 2 additional
zones would be nice.

2. Put some sort of matrix switching device between the AV sources and the
amp/a-bus units. This will allow me to keep my existing amp, and give me a
lot more flexibility (e.g. a matrix switcher with 6 inputs and 4 outputs
would allow any of my sources to be routed to the amp, a-bus unit 1 or
a-bus
unit 2). I've been looking at a Russound unit (the PR-4Zi) which seems to
do
what I want, but is very expensive and can't be fully IR controlled. I've
also found this unit from VPI (http://www.vpi.us/av-switch-cva.html)
which
seems to do exactly what I want but is suspiciously cheap.

I'd really appreciate any comments on the following questions:

1. Does anyone know of an amp that can handle 2 additional AV zones in
addition to the main one?

2. Can someone with some knowledge in this area (where are you Mr Doxey?
;-)
) advise whether the VPI unit looks like it will produce decent quality
signals? There are some specs on the website above, but I can't interpret
them.

3. Does anyone know of any alternative products or solutions to my problem.

Thanks guys - much appreciated as usual.

Regards,

Julian

______________________

Julian Stuhler
DB2 Specialist, IBM Gold Consultant
Triton Consulting - The Database Experts

E-mail:		julian.stuhler@triton.co.uk
Web: 		http://www.triton.co.uk
<http://www.triton.co.uk/>
Mobile: 		+44 (0)7768 446927
Personal Fax: 	+44 (0)870 1243510
Office Tel: 	+44 (0)870 2411550
Office Fax: 	+44 (0)870 2411549



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