Hello,
I am interested in installing a music distribution system in my condo. I am looking at a Russound CAM6.6X system with five zones. I was going to look at in ceiling speakers for the system.
My questions are as follows:
1. Does anyone have an opinion on the Russound system? I am looking at having access to XM and access to my ipod collection in each room. Does anyone have any other system suggestions?
2. I want to place the speakers in the ceiling, I live in a condo with a neighbor upstairs. If I place the speaker in the ceiling, will my neighbor start complaining of the noise? The beams in the ceiling are about 18 inches tall to the subfloor of the neighbor. Maybe this is paranoid but I don't want to put in the system and then not use it. I don't listen to my music at loud levels, so it is not like I am trying to blow my neighbors out or anything.
3. Are there any ways to insulate the sound from the neighbors with insulation or other means?
Any suggestions would help and I am new at this as you can probably tell.
Thanks for your inputs.
Regards,
matt
You can get ceiling speakers that have a rigid enclosure behind the speakers. Some generic enclosures exist but if you want round speakers for retro-fitting, you'll want to get round back boxes. JBLis one brand that sells these, Atlas is another. Those models aren't really glitzy "high snd" models but they do sound good, just not the same as what most people think they need for distributed audio.
How you want to use the system will determine what you need. If you don't need to select sources, change stations or CD tracks from every location, you don't really need the Russound or anything like that. For selecting from two sources, a volume control with A/B source switching s fine. If you want more control over the equipment, what you're looking at is good. Russound is decent stuff. You could also use a Sanance DAB-1 or Escient. Niles multi-zone receivers aren't bad but I think they're expensive for what they offer and the amplifier sections aren't particularly amazing, although some of the zones have a pair of line outs and they're easy to use. They do have a lot of good ideas when it comes to how they design the receivers, too. If you want a dedicated music server, I would pass on the Russound, because they offer less than some brands, like ReQuest. If you want an easy way to control an iPod with visual info for tracks, playlists, etc, DLO Music dock works from well over 50', even in a large apartment. An iPod Touch can be used to control iTunes over the wireless network and is really easy to connect.
