Hi all,

I am based in the UK and have been reviewing numerous options for a new install. I have decided that CasaTunes should be a main element of the multiroom system, I lke the functionality & Ipod control. However; I am struggling in a few areas and would appreciate your comments, however basic or obvious…

I am looking to control a 12 Zones system and have 3 options so far..

XLi, 2 x 12 channel Amps & Ipod Touch controller’s (Problem is that 12 channel amp’s are expensive in the UK and the US spec one that I have located are not compatable with our 240V supply, not to mention the shipping costs and support issues are a serious factor).

or

Russound C-Series 5 x 2, MDK-C5 keypad controller & Ipod Touch controller’s, But no wall mounted colour touch screen - See Q6.

or

NuVo GC x 2, Colour Touch Screen controller’s, Ipod Touch Controller’s.

1. Your thoughts & comments on the 3 options above ?
2. Do you loose any functionality of the CasaTune system, when connected to a Russound or NuVo system (wake up for example )?
3. When will CasaTunes have a colour touch screen control ?  Cost ?
4. Does the Nuvo Colour Touch Screen fully integrate with CasaTunes ?
5. Can sub-zones be handled within CasaTunes (eg an en-suite bathroom) I am aware both Russound & Nuvo can handle this?
6. I gather there is a limitation with the CasaTunes control over other equipment connected to the C5 other than a Music Server with the CasaTunes card installed. Thus only 4 out 8 source can be controlled ?
7. Regarding Q6, does the same issue apply to the NuVo GC system ?
8. If I want 4 different outputs off a Music Server, simultaneously, how is this acheived, as I think only 1 copy of WMP can be run ?
9. Can a number of seperate amplifiers be used rather than a 12 channel amp (cost of seperates are very good, but I am concerned about control / functionality) ?
10. If YES to 9,, what would the Amp’s specifically have to have on them to be fully controlable via CasaTunes ?

In advance; I appreciate your help & advice. I am sure a few other queries will follow..

Regards

Martyn

Martyn,
My answers in the order you asked:

1. The CasaTunes hardware option would be an XLe (plus amps, of course), since it includes 12 room outputs. You cannot use two XLi’s together.
2. CasaTunes software works pretty much the same in all three scenarios.
3. iPhone/iPod touch app and Pronto (we have a ProntoScript). And not too far out, Android app. But, we will not have our own panel for a while.
4. I need to check on this one, but I believe so.
5. You can assign any (and many) combinations of zones to zone groups, which act just like a zone. When you control the zone group, all of the zones in the group follow, unless a user sets Do Not Disturb on a zone. We have a very easy ( and cool!) way to create zone groups, where you set up the rooms that you want in a group, balance their volume and then go to Setup and record the group.
6. Not sure, will find out.
7.  I am not aware of any. Since any Windows audio device can be a “CasaTunes Player”, if you plug an audio card in a system that also has on-board 7.1 audio outputs, you can get 8 sources out. Also, if Windows recognizes the front panel headphones as a separate output, you can use that as another source.
8. We do not use the WMP engine. We can play as many streams of music as there are Windows audio devices. In fact, if you plug in an iPod, we can run multiple streams from the one iPod (again, as many as there are Windows audio devices). We can play multiple streams of iTunes music at the same time. And, of course, the XL hardware (or the Russound or NuVo) switches those streams to whatever room(s) want to hear them.
9. Yes. But, we only supply separate “trigger” outputs for each of the first three rooms and one trigger for rooms 1-6 and one for 7-12. Of course, you could split the trigger outs to go to multiple amps, as long as the load is not high. There is no other control going to the amps, since our hardware acts like a preamp. In other words, we control the volume, treble, bass, etc, before the amps.
10. If you decide to let the amps stay on all the time, nothing. Otherwise, you only need a trigger input. When we turn on rooms 1 through 6 we raise the “trigger 1-6” output (12V). Similar for 7 through 12. When we turn those rooms off we remove the respective triggers (0v).

Kim

Just to add to Kim’s post:

4. Yes, the Nuvo color touch pad is supported in the current v2.7
6. There is no limitation on the number of sources CasaTunes can control/provide on the C5.  You can have CasaTunes control all 8 sources.  Not sure where you read this?

DK & Kim

Many thanks for your prompt feedback.

Regarding my 3 options - Are you able to favour any particular one & if so why ?
1. XLe + seperate amps (unfortunately not the XLa due to 120V)
2. C5
3. GC

With regards to my questions & your responses:

Q6 - I was lead to believe by a Multi room specialist, that only the CasaTunes sources that are connected to a Russound or NuVo switch could be controlled. A seperate device connected directly to the Russound or Nuvo switch could not be controlled via CasaTunes. E.G a seperate CD player, Tuner etc.. Obviously controlling all sources attached to the switch is preferable..

I hope they are wrong !!

Regards

Martyn

Martyn,

All 3 are great solutions.  The main issue we currently have with Russound, is that we do not integrate with the ACA-E5/MCA-C5 keypads (which means that you will not be able to view meta data or use the Keypads to select your CasaTunes music).  So, if you decide to go with Russound and you need keypads, we recommend using the Russound CAV/CAM products along with the UNO-S1/S2 keypads, which has tight integration with CasaTunes.  We also support Russound tuners, however we do not support the Russound iPod dock bridge or SMS products, since CasaTunes incorporates this functionality as part of its solution.

The XLe also has the advantage of 5 built in CasaTunes Player sources, and you can use the on-board sound card to add another 4 CasaTunes Player sources for a total of 9 CasaTunes Player sources, and of course 12 zones vs. the 6/8.

Lastly, before investing in a tuner, I would check whether your local stations are available via the built-in RadioTime support in CasaTunes by visiting RadioTime on the web at http://www.RadioTime.com.