Re: Whole House/Multi Zone Audio

[bill@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

NetStreams is the only company I have seen so far that claims multiroom
synchronization.  They told me they guarantee 1 ms.  It is a wav file
distribution over IP.  I see that as their key commercial advantage.

-Bill Arkin

On Nov 23, 9:58 am, "Bill Kearney" <wkearne...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Syncing different digital streams is nearly impossible.  Even milliseconds
> make a difference disruptive enough for the human ear to detect.  Even
> multicasting from a single stream is difficult unless the player hardware is
> all exactly the same.  Trust me, I've tried.
>
> The only way to do whole house audio cost-effectively, reliably and without
> complaint is with an analog or RF signal.
>
> Using PCs for in-room control is annoying.  Fans and drives make too much
> noise, seriously.  They're a lot louder than you might think.  Not to
> mention having way too many moving parts prone to failure.  Better to use
> solid state devices like media players.
>
> Then there's the quesiton of control BACK to the head unit.  As in, IR or RF
> remotes in the various rooms sending the appropriate signals back to the
> media distribution gear.
>
> VGA signals only go so far before requiring either expensive cable or signal
> repeaters.
>
> And then there's audio amplification.  Most PC soundcards don't have enough
> oomph to drive speakers.  So then you've got to add some sort of in-room
> amplifier or power to the speakers.
>
> After you factor in all the issues devices like Russound or Sonos really are
> a VERY good deal.  The wife-acceptance-factor should not be ignored.
> There's only so much Rube Goldberg foolishness you should expect your spouse
> to tolerate.  After all, if she's already putting up with our gadgetry, how
> much is left?  Heh.
>
> Get a real whole house setup like a Russound and use a PC running J.River's
> MC11 for digital stream sources.
>
> -Bill Kearney