Well, as always, money comes into play as to what you want to do.
I will list all MSRP prices in US$ and make my recommendations on some things that I would consider to matter. A few items I will give you choices on so you can decide which is the way you want to go with it. Always - based on $$$. Keep in mind that MSRP is more than you (or anyone) should pay.
Processors
AV2 - $2,700.00
CP2/CP2E - $1,400/$1,800.00
The control processor is the heart of your system and is where all programming exists as well as containing the majority of the control ports that you will need for your equipment (IR, serial (rs-232), relays, and versaports).
RECOMMENDED: AV2 - This unit is expandable with 4 card slots. One for an ethernet control card as well as 3 slots that accept additional IR, RS-232 or other cards. There are a bunch of different control cards that Crestron makes. Since you currently have 3 RS-232 devices, any additional 232 devices would require additional purchases with the CP2 processors listed below. So, this box gives you room to grow.
CP2/CP2E - Gives you the same 'brains' as the AV2, but only provides 3 serial COM (rs-232) ports. It would be maxed out immediately by the 2 request units and your 2500 receiver. While Crestron does sell add on COM-2 boxes, they are 700 bucks each so the AV2 makes more sense. The CP2E adds built in e-control which is cool, if you use it. But, an ethernet card is available for the AV2 (or better) processors.
Keypads
C2N-DBF12W - White (Almond/Black available): $260.00 each
This is the only keypad to look at really. It includes about 24 buttons that give you a bunch of pre-printed sources, volume up/down, mute, off, etc. It is Decora sized, so you can gang it together with your light switch if you want (low voltage add-on box) or you can just use a typical Decora faceplate that matches other faceplates in your home already. Programming determines how well these keypads work. Put one of these in any room that is audio only and does not have a touchpanel in it.
Touchpanels
TPS-2000L - $1,900.00
ST-1700C - $2,600.00 (needs 1-way RF receiver - $500.00 for house)
TPMC-10 - $3,800.00 (uses 802.11 a/b home network)
STX-1700CXP - $4,400.00 (requires 2-way RF receiver - $1,400.00 for house)
Recommended: For touchpanels going on each floor, the TPS-2000L is great. Good color, bright, easy to read (make sure it is up at eye level, not down near your light switch!). The panel is just under 6 inches diagonal and is very good for navigating 2-way devices like the Request units and can provide feedback, as available, for station presets, etc. There is also the CT-1000 ($1,250.00) which is just to small to give you all that information nicely. I stopped installing CT-1000s almost as soon as the TPS-2000 came out because it was so much better. The TPS-2000L can also display video and has a microphone in it if you want to add some sort of paging functionality to it or if you want to display a video source (camera/DSS/etc)
I recommend that you don't pick a central location for these panels, but pick an actual room to put them in where they will receive the most use. Upstairs - master bedroom - downstairs... kitchen? family room? A 'central location' forces you to always walk somewhere to use it, instead of having it right at hand in at least ONE room. I have seen this mistake before.
There are larger, more expensive panels, but the system doesn't (in my opinion) warrant the $3,000+ hard wired panels.
For wireless, 3 options.
The ST-1700c is a good touchscreen that offers 1-way control. It's cool, has a lot of flash and controls a theater nicely. But, if you want information from your Request ON the touchpanel - you can't. It only sends out information, it does not receive info. It is also the touchpanel that I have installed in more homes than any other.
The STX-1700cxp is identical to the ST-1700, except it offers 2-way communication. Price is significantly more.
The TPMC-10 was just named as one of Cedia's products of the year and is a 10" wireless b/g (LAN) panel with some Internet capabilities as well as operating as a two-way touchpanel. It's a new product which may mean there could be a few bugs and requires a home network as well as an ethernet card inside your control system. C2-ENET-1 card for AV2 processor = $900.00
If funds allowed, I would go with the TPMC-10 instead of any other wireless panel. Video preview is not possible on the TPMC-10
CONSIDER: I love touchpanels, and they have their place, but hard-button remotes can be used much easier once you are used to the button layout. The Crestron ML-500 remote is a great theater remote for a fair price: $750.00 and a 1-way gateway will be required ($500.00) This product is great because if you end up with a second video zone, you can just add another remote and it doesn't have the same heft or fragile nature as touchpanels do. So, tossing it to a friend is easy and if it falls on the floor, you pick it up and keep using it.
You will definitely need an external power supply: CNPWS-75 - $450.00
The hub of your audio switching comes from the CNX-PAD8a - $1,800.00 - which will allow you to route up to 8 sources to 8 different rooms. It only accepts analog audio, but allows you to loop audio through the unit so that you can add multiple PAD8's (up to 3) for more rooms, then the final loop through can be taken into your RX-V2500 for local audio monitoring.
I would recommend a couple CNTBLOCKs (connection blocks), $170.00, which allow easy connection/disconnection of multiple rooms. Should there be installation issues, this will significantly improve troubleshooting and overall reliability. You can also get the Xantech version for about 100 bucks from a Xantech distributor. Model CB-18
http://www.xantech.com/products/p_folder/p_cb18.htm
I used 22/12 stranded wiring in my home for all Crestron related items - though CAT-5 works, the solid core makes it prone to breaking much easier during install.
Finally, you have several pieces of gear that are not specified - this includes your theater equipment - projector, screen, shades, lights.
Projector - go with almost anything, I use an IR controlled Panasonic - it works fine. The new Sharp Z2000 is 232 controlled. Others work differently, but you really want the projector to offer discrete input selection or have a 232 port on it.
Screen - In a dedicated theater I would use a fixed screen - it gives the best image for the least cost, but if you must go motorized, get a tab tensioned motorized screen with momentary low voltage triggers. DaLite definitely offers this, but I believe Stewart & Draper do as well.
Blinds/Shades: You have a ton of choices here. The screen manufacturers offer some excellent black out shades that are controlled by the relays on the Crestron. There is stuff at
www.smarthome.com for more traditional blinds, and
www.hunterdouglas.com offers motorized IR controlled mini-blinds. In my home I am going to order the Hunter Douglas celular shades in the master bedroom. I used to have some from another company and they worked great. Battery powered means no high voltage to deal with.
Lights - Lutron offers many choices, including RF controlled RadioRA ($$$) the Grafik Eye stuff ($$) or the Spacer System IR dimmers ($). I went with Spacer System because I'm cheap, but it also happens to work reliably. Choice, once again, is yours.
If you are up north of the border, then I am not sure what nuances you may run into with purchasing Crestron, but feel free to do some shopping on eBay and consider some of the older touchpanels (hard wired) as they may provide you some unique solutions.
MY HOME: I am using a CT-3500, VT-3500, and LC-3000 panel in my home for my hard wired panels. They are all 10 inch panels and can provide me 2-way information from my iMerge digital music server as well as station presets info. I am using ML-500s in my bedroom and family room for video control and have about a dozen 12 button keypads hooked up to a couple of Pad-8 audio units.
Okay - I will in about a month when I finally move into the house. I already own all the equipment.
Let me know if there is more info you need.
