So here we go... 24+ A/V Zones w/10 Sources

[BMXTRIX]

They didn't reframe the attic access. They just cut a hole in the ceiling and put some trim around it. The ORIGINAL framing is sitting there with a air duct in it and no insulation in it at all. Likewise, I'm sure of the basement setup. They short cut the joist because it was aligned with a floor to ceiling support. But, I'm sure it's just standard 2x4s holding it up. The joist is about 12 or 15' long and I don't think it carries much weight. I'm going to have a piece of steel fabricated to replace the 2x4s and it will hook onto the I beam to properly support the joist from underneath. I'm not happy about it, but as I said, it contributed to my lower buying price and a complete unfinished basement that I can ensure is properly finished as I choose is a nice plus. I may PM you and email you with some drawings as things get closer for ideas. I'm still going to be on a budget, but I expect that I will do all the electrical, low voltage, and framing myself as when I control my own stupidity I can't really yell at others. Just hard to find really straight 2x4 lumber... I may build it really slowly over a couple of years and just hand pick all my 2x4s.

Anyway, a bit off topic I guess.

My next project, I think, is going to be putting speakers in my kid's bedrooms and getting the DAC hooked up to my AppleTV so we can Airplay the house whenever we want.

 

[Cygnus]

What does the front side of the rack that has all of the components for the multiple zones look like? We only saw the back, haha.

 

[BMXTRIX]

What does the front side of the rack that has all of the components for the multiple zones look like? We only saw the back, haha.

It was the 6th photo of the first post...

All audio distribution for stereo zones is handled by three Crestron Bipad-8 preamps/matrix switchers. Each unit is two rack spaces, and boring black. They handle up to 16 local analog stereo sources and output up to 8 rooms. The three of them are stacked directly above the amplifiers, but it's hard to tell with my terrible iPhone photo.

The racks are in position for when I happen to finish my basement in a few years. They look very unfinished as they stand right now, but when I finish the basement, they will have drywall and trim similar to what I did with the smaller family room rack.

I will try to take a few better pics in the next week or two and discuss some of the wiring in place, etc. I will go over the equipment in the next post...

 

[BMXTRIX]

Equipment List - RACK - Note that not all items are pictured in the rack because of updates

Left Rack, Top To Bottom
Verizon Fios HD DVR units (2 Units)
2 Space rackshelf with Crestron wiring connections on them for control distribution
Crestron ST-Tune FM tuner
Crestron C2N-TXM - XM tuner
Crestron CP2 - Control Processor (slave unit)
Crestron PRO2 - Control Processor w/ENET-1 Card & expansion cards - Primary Control
Crestron BIPAD-8 (x3) - Preamps/Matrix Switchers for stereo audio distribution
Rotel RMB-1048 (x5) - 40 watts x 8 channel amplifiers

Right Rack, Top To Bottom
Monster Power HTPS 7000 - Power Conditioner
Crestron CNRMAK - Holds 75 watt power supplies for Crestron gear
Extron 88HVA (not shown) - 8 by 8 matrix switcher. This is the component video distribution hub for the entire system, it also switches digital coaxial audio to my A/V receivers
Denon AVR-2112CI (or 2312CI? - can't remember right now) - A/V Receiver for the family room
HDI Dune HD Base 3.0 - Media Server
Panasonic DMP-BD70V - Blu-ray Disc/VCR - yep
HDI Dune Smart H1 - Media Server
Yamaha RX-Z1 (not shown) - A/V Receiver - Part of my overkill/underkill unfinished basement theater
Thecus RAID (x4) - I have four models from Thecus, most are Pro4200 units with about 5TB of RAID storage on each unit

Behind Rack
Apple TV - For Airplay audio distribution from iPhones - Connected to DAC on digital audio output
Cisco 24 port gigabit switch - Rack mounted at the top of the rack for local network connectivity
Multiple power strips, etc.

 

[Bryceo]

more pictures please

 

[Alex2507]

Looking this thread over I realize that I need more stuff.
Right now the only thing we have in common is that Monster speaker wire.

I am curious about how Verizon fits into all this from the remote control aspect.

 

[Rickster71]

It's a smart phone app that just happens to be on a Verizon phone.
5 Apps to Turn Your Phone into a Universal Remote

 

[BMXTRIX]

I am curious about how Verizon fits into all this from the remote control aspect.

Rickster is pretty much on. The app I'm running is the Crestron App from the Apple App store and it's being shown on my Verizon phone. I have it on my iPad as well

I'm not sure how products like iRule and others really handle whole house audio integration, but leveraged with Crestron it allows for my entire home to not just be controlled, but maintained with the same high level of reliability and simplicity. Pick a room, pick a source, everything turns on, switches, and works automatically. So, I'm not switching between sources, I'm not having long macros repeat themselves, it's non-directional, etc. It just works.

I don't like it anywhere near as much as I like using the MX-850 remotes I have everywhere which are tied to rooms directly, but when I'm looking at XM stations or walking the house setting things up for a party, it's a great way to handle things. Also nice when I'm already streaming things through AppleTV.

 

[Rickster71]

Rickster is pretty much on. The app I'm running is the Crestron App from the Apple App store and it's being shown on my Verizon phone. I have it on my iPad as well

I'm not sure how products like iRule and others really handle whole house audio integration, but leveraged with Crestron it allows for my entire home to not just be controlled, but maintained with the same high level of reliability and simplicity. Pick a room, pick a source, everything turns on, switches, and works automatically. So, I'm not switching between sources, I'm not having long macros repeat themselves, it's non-directional, etc. It just works.

I don't like it anywhere near as much as I like using the MX-850 remotes I have everywhere which are tied to rooms directly, but when I'm looking at XM stations or walking the house setting things up for a party, it's a great way to handle things. Also nice when I'm already streaming things through AppleTV.

The only draw back is when I want to throw my phone against the wall, I'll be losing a remote too.

 

[BMXTRIX]

The only draw back is when I want to throw my phone against the wall, I'll be losing a remote too.

Yes, you are correct.

That's the only drawback.

 

[Bryceo]

Better way to control porn joking any updates


Sent from my iPhone 5
using Tapatalk

 

[ParadigmDawg]

That looks nothing like the back of my system so maybe you did it wrong.....

 

[tyhjaarpa]

Mother of.. Your wires most likely cost as much as my whole system! Thats some sick set up out there for sure!

 

[Gmoney]

That’s a Professional looking job you’re doing, I worked in the Oilfield Gulf of Mexico and in the MCC room (Master control room) all the cables coming into the room had to be Labeled and terminated and fitted into the Electrical control centers just like your doing, well done Sir!!