Best receiver for digital "wired" home w/closet

[mklein]

I have wired my home extensively for automation/security/multimedia. Most room drops have 4xCAT5e, 7xRG6QS, IR, FO, etc.

I have a centralized wiring closet which is where amps/rcvrs and most sources will be placed. It is possible for source to be in remote room as I have enough cable to support 2-way HDMI/DVI/component video...in theory.

My remote sources (currently) include DVI Comcast hd cable box, DVI computer (the automation server), possibly a DVD jukebox and several 'analog' sources like CCTV network on coax, world-band radio, frequency scanner, you name it.

Low-res sources (scanner, etc.) will be modulated onto CATV channel along with cameras. An extra channel on local cctv network seems like best solution for the simple sources.

For high-res sources...is it best to run component video to rooms or dvi? Should 3xRG6QS work for component video or do I need to buy expensive units which modulate over 2xCAT5...like the DVI and HDMI repeater systems out there. For 1080p computer source...will I even like what I see with component video?

I am contemplating the RX-V1700 or 2700. Since I have decent run lengths to rooms I figure the higher the W the better. Both of these units support true 1080p passthru and upconversion (or is it scaling?).

I like the fact that the 2700 supports 3 zones, one with composite video. Since 2 zones in my home will be stereo only (den) and kitchen...I was thinking extra zone with video goes to the flipup dvd/tv under sink.

A high-end multi-zone rcvr seems more appropriate given I can kill 3 rooms of 8 with it.

I'm thinking that because a primary source is 1080p and my tvs are 1080p...I should get a 1080p receiver...correct? Sorry...but I have to ask.

Since I am trying to put a true 1080p source in (the computer)...will component video work? Or should I just stick to DVI? Or do I just need to try it out?

Btw...my televisions are Sceptre 1080p 37" and 42". Only problems have been with occasional blue sparkle and several dead remotes.

 

[Snap]

WOW Nice!

For starters let me say congrats on the cool sounding home.

Second, the 2700 from Yammy is my vote. Also, you will need a second power amp to get the 3 zones out of that receiver. It can power Zone 1 (The HT) and Zone 2 or 3 out of the receiver. But the other zone of audio is line level out. So an Amp one A or some other 50-75 watts x 2 to power the other zone.

I did not remeber if you said that you had volume controls in the other rooms or not?

I am not 100% sure but I think that the 1080P is via HDMI, so component video would not be the way to hook your computer up.

Would love to say more but the boss says break is over.

 

[mklein]

my intent...

My intent was to only have "speakers and screen" in each room...along with IR/RF remote.

But I purposely laid enough cable so if say my Monster speaker runs don't work out...I still have fiber or RG6 to run digital audio to room and put amp there.

I am leaning towards the 2700...didn't notice a multi-zone forum on this site. Otherwise would've posted there.

 

[Snap]

How many rooms of audio are you looking at?

 

[mklein]

8 rooms

There are 8 primary zones in house (mbr, guestbr, livrm, famrm, den, office#1, office#2 and kitchen).

I've since added an "extra" zone in my garage where gym equipment is. This is fortunate as garage is next to wiring closet.

Den and kitchen are stereo only (kitchen has composite video for under-cabinet dvd/tv).

Other rooms support 5.1 audio and 2-way hdmi/component video, IR, etc.

I basically want to monitor/control/switch all data coming into/out of home...and I mean everything.

I've written custom home automation software in Java (JASM) to manage the whole thing. You can find out more at http://www.vxappliance.com/shareware/jasm/

I'm even adding a BOB text-overlay unit so I can put out home status on video channels. Will probably overlay this text onto cctv channels that are audio only (freq. scanner, world-band radio, etc.).

The IR/RF Harmony remote appeals to me as maybe I can ditch local IR control in favor of blasting RF all the way to wiring closet.

It's crazy...I'll admit...but then I am too! So it's a perfect match.

Other than cabling costs...purchases have been relatively minor to this point...but now I've got to start shelling out money for a/v multi-zone equipment...so now I need to do more research...hence my presence here.

 

[mklein]

with assignable amps...

With 2700's assignable amps...I didn't think I would need an extra amp for zone 3? You sure of this?

 

[Snap]

Yes and No.

I have not used the 2700 yet. I have used the 1600, 2500, 659, 459, 559, and the 2600 for surround sound only. With the 1600 and the 2500 you can go into the set up menu and set the amps to what ever zone you want. Having said that here is the results of these changes.

You can have all 3 zones powered by the 2500 (in your case I think is the same for the 2700) BUT...... you will NOT be able to get 5.1 surround in the movie room. You set the "presence channels to 1 of the zones, and you set one of the surrounds to the other zone. That only leaves you 3.1 surround sound in the movie room.

OR

You set Zone 2 to internal power, and zone 3 to external. And that will let you have surround sound in the main room. Now the 2700 may be different but I am 99% sure that this is the problem that you are going to run into.

Have you thought about stepping down your receiver and getting a multi chan dist. audio amp?

The bottom line is your system is getting way to in depth to really talk about in a forum. When you start talking about writting your own programs and stuff dang bro..... the possibilities are endless!

Make sure that you take LOTS of pictures.

 

[mklein]

so...

So 7.1 for zone 1 or 5.1 plus 2 channel for 2 zone or 3.1 and....this makes sense.

Can you point me to any multi-zone amps, etc.?

And yes...I'm taking plenty of pix...some are on web site already (raw drops and closet)...but as I make progress (wired my first outlet today...faceplates and everything!) I'll do updates.

With all I'm trying to do...it's kinda scary...I'm the first to admit...but I've got enough different kinds of cable and time that hopefully I can get something working reliably.

It's gotta be robust and commercial...."wife"-proof....so-to-speak...no slight to the ladies though!

 

[jcPanny]

Whole House Audio

Mklein,
Sounds like your are putting together a great system.
The powered Zone 2 (and Zone 3) feature on the Yamaha RX-V2700 is adequate for driving a single pair of speakers.

For your 8+ zone house system you should consider one of the following configurations:

1. Connect the Zone 2 and Zone 3 line outputs to 2 stereo amps like the Behringer A500 ($180 each). Four pairs of speakers will connect to each amp and you will need Impedance matching Volume Controls in each room ($30 each). One of the limitations is that all 4 rooms on Zone 2 (and Zone 3) will be playing the same source.

2. Buy a couple distrubution amps from Russound, Niles, etc. ($1k each) to allow 8-10 zones and keypads for each room ($100 each). You will need a run of cat 5 to each keypad in addition to the speaker wire. These systems will allow any Room to listen to any source. You might need an installer to setup and program this type of system.

 

[mklein]

I decided...

I decided to go with el-cheapo Yamaha receiver...no digital crap.

It's 110w/ch and has 3 component video inputs. If everything works as I want...then no dvi/hdmi nonsense.

$180 is a killer price point...compared to $800-$1K for multiple hdmi inputs...and no guarantee of higher quality...from what I've been reading.

 

[jcPanny]

Yamaha for house speakers

Don't expect to get 110 Watts out of each channel of the $180 Yamaha receiver. Each amp channel is adequate for driving a single speaker in the house system or 5.1 speakers in an HT room. For the rest of the speakers, you will need a couple Behringer A500s or a distribution amplifier.