Future Install - Serious Home & Outdoor Setup

[CTSNic]

Hello Everyone,

I am currently pondering some ideas for a home audio system, not just a theater room. In the next couple of years I will be remodeling this house, taking out all the lathe and plaster which will expose walls and ceilings.

This gives opportunity to run speaker and cat5 cable.

I'd like to have a surround sound (probably 4.1) upstairs off of an amp (unaware what to get) I want this amp to power the HTPC, which will stream Pandora or movies. The amp also will need to power 2 office speakers, and 1 or 2 kitchen speakers from the HTPC.

The (2) office speakers will also need to be independent where I can use an office computer and play through those (2) speakers. I understand I will probably have to manually do this, however if there is some switch method that would be nice to know of.
I am looking for any and all suggestions to make this as smooth as possible. What amp, what speakers, and what switch if any are recommended? Is it possible to have surround sound in the living room, but also other random speakers in two other rooms as desired?

Now for part two : Basement / Outdoors. The basement will eventually have a theater room with its own amp, which that amp will have to also power some outside speakers.
6 Outdoor Total, plus the surround sound setup in the theater room.
(2) Outdoor Patio speakers, roughly 25' from the basement AMP.
(2) Indoor Shop speakers, 65' from the basement AMP.
(2) Outdoor mounted speakers, (1) 65' from basement AMP. . (1) 125' from basement AMP.
Here is a rough sketch - ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting

Each x represents a speaker, and the dark maroon line is my idea of the source line which I would T off of for each speaker, where the shop will T off then power those three speakers.

 

[jinjuku]

You may want to just run music streaming devices for around the house and output to an amp at the location. 125' is a long run for the power section but no sweat for CAT5/6.

 

[CTSNic]

What did you have in mind when you say media devices...independent stereos and such? I don't want to be doing that.

I have ran 300' to a building for a friend, as his request, it wasn't even low guage wire but it all seems to be working for a year now. I'm sure resistance is wreaking havoc.

 

[jinjuku]

You are getting into territory of whole house audio. While you could pick up a multi-zone receiver I think you potentially lose flexibility.

So that is why I recommended a streaming device and small amp and point of presence with just CAT5/6 ran.

What are your expectations in ease of use and user interface? What is your budget?

You could start looking at Control4, AMX, Crestron, Extron etc...

 

[slipperybidness]

You are getting into territory of whole house audio. While you could pick up a multi-zone receiver I think you are potentially lose flexibility.

So that is why I recommended a streaming device and small amp and point of presence with just CAT5/6 ran.

What are your expectations in ease of use and user interface? What is your budget?

You could start looking at Control4, AMX, Crestron, Extron etc...

I suppose whole -home audio is nice and clean. But I still prefer separate systems for each room. It just gives much more flexibility and more toys to play with