Newsletters
Facebook
RSS Feed
EH Store
Q. I am looking for a speaker selector I can utilize through my computer. I do not want to add a volume knob in each room. I want control over the power and volume via my computer. Any suggestions? - Steven, WI
A. While you don’t specifically mention whether or not you are willing to spend the money on a separate stand-alone music server, I believe that is your best option. There is a system that will do exactly what you want, although it’s much more sophisticated than a speaker selector. It is a music server-based system made by ReQuest. They have several system types available but you could start by installing one of their smaller F.Series servers. The F.Series server is available in a two- and four-zone configuration and features multiple audio outputs from a single unit, allowing anyone in the house to listen to different songs in different rooms.
The system can be controlled from one of their touchscreens, from an iPhone or iPod Touch, or any Internet-connected computer. One of the nicest features of the system is that it automatically synchronizes with your iTunes library and includes Automatic Dual Encoding to store music in both full fidelity WAV for the best sound at home, and also in MP3 for streaming over the Internet or loading to an iPod or portable music player.
You will need to find an authorized dealer in your area to obtain and setup the equipment, but once that’s done you can have complete control of the whole system from any computer in the house. You can find more information on their website, www.request.com.
Various other low-cost PC software solutions (charmedquark, casaworks, etc.) also provide good PC interfaces for Russound and Nuvo multiroom audio systems. Control4 is an affordable multiroom audio solution as well, and offers a PC interface.
Forgot to include this link to our new line of AIO-Touch Series Panels. This single touchscreen would allow you to control every room’s volume in the house via the Russound. Not just the room the Panel is mounted in.
It’s unclear from the question how many sources or zones you need. As well as whether you need to power the speakers or not or if you have your own amplifiers in each room.
But depending upon those answers, you might consider looking at Russound’s multiroom solutions such as the CAV, CAM, CAA or CA4. All of them have serial control, amplification, volume control and matrix switching. Meaning any source to any zone.
Then using software like MainLobby 3/MLServer 3 - you can control each zone and source selection from any windows based PC or even your iPhone.
http://www.cinemarsolutions.com
You have the option to not install/purchase their keypads and just control each rooms volume from any networked computer/tablet/in-wall panel running MainLobby.
We have also recently released our new AIO-Touch Series In-Wall Panels. These are full blown fanless touch panel PCs. So not only can you run MainLobby for whole house control and media management, you can also run other windows applications.
- News
- Cool Homes
- Blogs
- Photo Galleries
Automation System Recreates Fiji In Michigan Home
Home theater, automated lights and a high-tech fish tank.
Automation System Recreates Fiji In Michigan Home
Home theater, automated lights and a high-tech fish tank.
CEA: Home Tech is Helping the Housing Market
A new CEA study says that more builders are offering all types of technology.
A History of TV Remote Controls
It’s hard to imagine life without remote controls, but it’s been a long, strange path to the modern incarnation we know and love today.
SONOS and HomeSeer are a good combination if you want the iTouch and iPhone interface as well as PC or Mac control.
http://www.distinctav.com/new-products/add-whole-house-audio-without-wires/
ATON has a speaker selector for one-source systems. Again, we’ve written drivers to control it via HomeSeer, which would accomplish your iTouch control goal.