My wife and I are about to build our dream home.  We will be spending
almost a million dollars on the home.  I have a
software/hardware/networking background but feel completely
overwhelmed with the task of figuring out how to best prepare the
house for the next 20-30 years of technology advances which are
likely.  Most importantly, I want digital audio (e.g. digitized CD
collection to MP3s and XM radio) on demand to every room, and digital
video (e.g. digitized DVD collection and DirecTV HDTV Tivo) with
surround sound to 3 of the rooms.  And I want the ability to upgrade
components over the years as new technologies become available without
having to tear down walls and start all over.

One of the biggest challenges is selecting all of the correct
components.  With so many to choose from I feel like I'm not able to
discern what the best solutions are for the money paid.  I am actually
more interested in functionality and ease of use then I am of having
acoustically perfect commercial grade audio and amazing color depth in
my video.  For example, I like the idea of being able to control audio
on demand from any of my sources (including a digital media server) to
any room in the house, however, the difference to me between $300 B&W
speakers and $6,000 B&W speakers is negligible (so I would just go
with the $300 speakers and I would NEVER pay for high end stuff like
noise dampening walls, etc).  As another example, I want to be able to
play any of my DVDs or recorded Tivo programs on any of the three flat
screen televisions I want to purchase, however the difference to me
between a $3,000 flat screen television and a $20,000 projector is
negligible (so I would just go with the $3,000 flat screen).

Here are my rough requirements.

2 speaker stereo audio for 9 zones in the house (front room, garage,
kitchen, living room, guest room, study, workout room, first child's
bedroom, & second child's bedroom).

7 speaker 7.1 surround audio and component HDTV video for 2 zones in
the house (game room and master bedroom).

As sources for ALL 11 zones I would like to have:
a. Media Server (for digitized copies of all my DVDs and CDs)
b. DVD player
c. CD/DVDAudio/SACD player
d. 2 dual tuner DirecTV HDTV Tivo units
e. XM Radio

In each of the 11 rooms I would like the ability to select and control
the sources from anywhere in the room, either with a touch pad on the
wall AND an RF repeater for a remote, or with some type of wireless
device (like a PocketPC).

In the Game Room I want a 60" Flat Screen HDTV, and in the Master
Bedroom I want a 40" Flat Screen HDTV.

Can you please provide me with:

1.  A detailed list of all recommended components (and options)
including televisions, touch screen or other controls, media servers,
amplifiers, speakers, DVD players, Tivo units, CD players, racks,
routers, repeaters, switches, punch down panels, etc.

2.  A recommended wiring layout (including wiring that needs to go the
room for the DirecTV antennas, wiring for internet access (including
wiring to the wireless access points), telephones, future fiber?,
component video?, digital audio?, speaker wiring?, etc.

3.  Any recommendations for installing conduits or other things which
might help me survive the next 20 years technologically.

BOTTOM LINE IS THAT I WANT A GREAT FUNCTIONAL SYSTEM, WHICH WILL BE
EASY TO USE AND LAST ME A LONG TIME, BUT I AM AFRAID TO COMMIT TO ANY
PARTICULAR COMPONENT BECAUSE I HAVEN'T USED ANY OF THEM AND THEY ALL
SEEM VERY SIMILAR BASED ON THE MARKETING LITERATURE.  I NEED SOMEONE
WHO IS VERY EXPERIENCED IN THIS AREA TO TELL ME WHAT WILL GIVE ME THE
MOST BANG FOR MY BUCK.

---

Clarification of Question by ralstat-ga on 12 Jan 2005 13:08 PST

I might point out that the question here is really two parts:

1.  What equipment should I use (I really don't know, there are too
many choices, and I don't have enough experience to distinguish pyrite
from gold).

and

2.  What can I do to make certain that my implemented solution is
extensible and upgradeable over the coming years as new technologies
become available?

---

Request for Question Clarification by jbf777-ga on 12 Jan 2005 16:38 PST

ralstat -

I would recommend an audio/visual consultant.  These individuals are
typically very well-versed in installing these types of systems and
can best advise you in these areas.

Would you like us to provide you with the names of some consultants as
an alternative answer to your question?

jbf777
Researcher
Google Answers

---

Clarification of Question by ralstat-ga on 12 Jan 2005 17:23 PST

No, I don't want the names of professional A/V consultants.  Instead I
would like a professional A/V consultant (or equivalent) to post an
answer to my questions here.  My reasons include:

1.  I own a company that does high end commercial network wiring.  I
can have them do the wiring portion of this project at little to no
cost to myself.

2.  I feel there is a HUGE conflict of interest to having an A/V
consultant both specify AND sell me the components.  Instead of
providing me with a list of recommended components based on quality
and end price, they are ONLY incentivized to provide components that
increase their profitability.

---

Request for Question Clarification by jbf777-ga on 13 Jan 2005 07:59 PST

Understandable.  

As originally structured and priced, I don't believe it would be
possible to provide that level of detail as an answer to this
question.  We would have to come to an agreed upon scope for an answer
at the $200 price.

I propose researching into the general level components for multi-room
A/V (some of the sources you've outlined), including manifold server,
room (touchpad-type) controllers, and connectivity.  Does this sound
fair?

I would also have to get a better idea of your budget and minimum
threshold of quality, as there are thousands upon thousands of
products available at different quality and price points.  For
example, the difference between $300 B&W speakers and $6000 B&W
speakers will chiefly be in things like size and frequency response. 
Do you want floor-standing ones, or shelf-level ones?  Do you care
about bass response below 65 Hz?  Should I look into components that
are "best value" at "luxury" levels?

Thank you,

jbf777

---

Request for Question Clarification by jbf777-ga on 17 Jan 2005 17:08 PST

Still there?

If you're seriously looking at spending "almost a million dollars" for
your house, you should seriously consider hiring an A/V consultant.
It's not just a matter of spec'ing the equipment, there is the matter
of how the equipment will interact with the room (especially the
speakers).

I understand your concern about consultants recommending equipment
just to boost their own bottom line, but there are consultants that
will just help you to select the components, and allow you to purchase
the equipment on your own.

I'm sure that a Google expert can give you a list of quality
components. However, an A/V professional that can sit down with you,
review your house blueprints and musical/video tastes and build you a
system that will be much greater than the sum of its parts.

And regarding the comment "I would NEVER pay for high end stuff like
noise dampening walls, etc."

If you're actually building the house, you can add things like sound
insulation ("noise dampening") to your house at minimal costs compared
with retrofitting existing walls. Construction techniques like
staggered studs or resilient channels can have a big effect on the
enjoyment of your house for not a lot of additional money.

You may think it's high end now, but when your wife won't let you
watch a movie because the sound is disrupting her nap, you may wish
you spent the incremental money. Also, if you have good credit, some
people are having luck incorporating their home theater into the
mortgage.

Hello Ralstat

Wow this sounds like a fantastic idea, and what a lovely house it will
be. I too am a musician and a building consultant to developers so
empathise with your plight. Acoustics & wiring solutions are very high
on the agenda in the current UK construction boom and I am about to
draw up plans with my architect for my own home (budget £1,750,000)
with similar requirements as yours.

Fortunately the solution really is not a matter of cost or wiring and
is quite simple.

I will be installing a medium spec online server in the basement with
a wireless blue tooth router. The server & router being completely
removable, un-attatched to the building & so changeable at will for
new technology (C2). This server will have also have a car CD changer,
dvd player & a 1963 vinyl jukebox connected (I still like the sound of
vinyl) This will fire all the music, television, film & business
applications that I need up through to the ground floor & out through
to the back yard.

All of the internal walls will be of 6? dense concrete block with a
smart brick/booster built into the top of each partition to allow a
signal in each room & to help fire the signal up through to the next
two floors.

I can then network an unlimited number of terminals, for example: an.
In-built kitchen touch screen unit (I know a bit flash) laptops,
palmtops, desktops, hi fi, Blue tooth headphones, smart vacuum cleaner
and even the house robot (coming soon I?m sure).

There will also be a secondary server in a weatherproof steel ground
bay in the yard for automated wi fi backups & off-site storage of
data, motion sensor cctv security features will also be operated from
this server. I can?t wait it will be like the movie I Robot.

By noting your profession and your mention of the legendary Black &
White speakers you are well equipped to make this work excellently.
With regards to acoustics unless you have a sound engineer working
with the architect as you would with a recording studio or concert
hall you will only know how sound & look if you get an onsite demo. I
will be doing this to decide the loudness, quality & diameter of the
speakers & the power of the amps in the 3 main rooms (Gym, Reception &
Music Room). If you have timber frame drywall partitions & walls then
you could do this before the final finishing work commences to
determine what is what.

You can also have your carpenters or dry-liners easily add an extra
layer of drywall after the demo should it be necessary, (so long as
the door frames have not been ordered). This being for mass based
sound dampening if the demo proves loud, An extra layer of 1? thick 
plasterboard will give substantial dampening so long as the joints are
caulked & compressed and will also be scandalously cost effective.
Make sure you warn your carpenter in advance though, as surprises will
turn a friendly carpenter into the Incredible Hulk.

1. Get your architect to print a copy of the plans & go through it
with you marking exactly what items you need in each room. Keep it
basic, with everything wireless & with your experience it will be very
easy to upgrade. Take your architect (kicking & screaming if
necessary) with you to a main dealer (eg, PC world, Sony centre,
Panasonic etc)(C1) You will need the architect for spatial awareness,
practicalities, human habits & reaping the rewards from the technology
you install. I.e. Anticipating advantages or disadvantages,
suitability & function of a component, positioning etc. It is better
to have your architect leading you to purchase as oppose to a sales
rep as you will be using this equipment to enhance your home. The
dealer will tell you for free what you need in each room & how much it
will cost, you can even kidnap a rep from the dealer and keep him
hostage until the job is finished. Some dealers may offer to install &
oversee the project if you suggest to them that it is cutting edge,
publicity etc. Go with a big brand for something like this because you
will get a better warranty, tech support & less depreciation if you
wish to upgrade. Gadgets will come & go & one thing my architect was
kind enough to point out to me is that it really is a matter of
perception. There is no need to rip down walls to rewire for
communications  & domestic entertainment purposes, the trick is to
know the cut of point where one technology has successfully overtaken
it?s predecessor. However real estate resale value is another matter
so wire the house as comprehensively as you can afford to.
2. TV Antennae/Cable again install these points in every room if you
can. I always recommend installing internet connections from the two
main suppliers, as they continuously compete for customers with
promotions, people tend change their providers at least once in each
residence, so again if you can afford to, install both & use 1. This
gives additional real estate value because some people like to use the
same provider when they move to a new home without the hassle of
getting re-connected. Re: Speaker wiring etc. There really is no need,
use infra red (cheap) or blue tooth plug-ins.
3. Re Surviving The Next 20 Years & Conduits: As for surviving the
next 20 years I would recommend a healthy balanced diet, vitamins &
fish oil, plenty of fresh air & exercise & a good woman. Building your
a home is as demanding as it exciting and is the essence of human
nature & survival in action. I have built many homes and it is the
most natural & balancing act that a person can perform. The only thing
that can unbalance this state is if an electrician or cable guy comes
in and starts ripping down the drywall or plaster to put in a new
line. For this I recommend installing an extra 3 empty conduits to run
with the main lines so that additional wiring can be fed from under
the floor or through the attic for upgrades with minimal disruption.

The most bang for your buck really is as above, good luck! I am sure
it will all go fine whatever you decide, please let me know how it all
goes & let me know if I can be any further help.

Best Regards
Lew Cropley

Email: britishbuilding@yahoo.co.uk
Website: http:www.britishbuilding.com