Multi Room Point | Your starting point on Multi Room or Whole House music

strong>New systems accommodate musical choice, can control security cams and satellite TV

Whole-house audio can do it all, from background music through the entire home to managing security cameras on the exterior, according to Steve Hooper of Audio Video Design Consultants.

The Nashville firm, which does about 70% of its work in Williamson County, created the outdoor home theater in the recent Parade of Homes in Legends Ridge.

• Read more: Whole house audio has gone far beyond the intercom

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In a recent speech to the Internet Advertising Bureau, Bill Gates referred to the emergence of a ‘digital lifestyle’ and a ‘digital workstyle’. It’s these two ideas that have formed the basis for Life² (Life Squared), a private technology showcase that aims to demonstrate how Microsoft sees its technology being used in business and at home.
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Based in an old converted school in Chelsea Harbour, the Life² exhibition is divided into three areas – ‘at work’, ‘at home’ and ‘on the move’. Each of these is a vision of how Microsoft sees its software and hardware working for its customers. And to emphasise the real-world benefits, Life² features a trio of scripted scenarios played out by actors. It’s less a simple, static showcase and more an odd, interactive ‘show and tell’.

• Read more: Microsoft’s vision of the ‘digital lifestyle’

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Decide exactly which music sources (CD, AM/FM tuner, DAB, etc) you want to listen to and where you want to listen to them.

Unless you’re on a really tight budget go for a wired setup rather than wireless setup. It might be more messy and expensive in the short term but it will be more flexible and reliable.

If you live in a lease/rental property, don’t forget to ask the permission of your freeholder if you are planning to get in-wall or in-ceiling speakers installed.

If necessary get the speakers sprayed to match your decor so they are as discreet as possible.

Check that you are not likely to invalidate your buildings insurance if you install speakers in a party wall.

Visit demonstration rooms to get some idea of how the ceiling speakers may sound before installation. Be prepared for sound to vary according to where they are placed, construction of the wall, etc.

Work with custom installers to make sure that any keypads provided meet your requirements. After all there is no point having a state-of-the-art multiroom audio setup if you don’t know how to use it.

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Choosing the type of speaker you want isn’t the only decision you’ll have to make when putting together an audio setup. Questions you should ask yourself are: “How many rooms do I want to listen to music in?” and, “How many sources do I want to control?” If you only want to listen to two sources in two rooms, then you will need only a very basic system. One system definitely worth considering is the QED MusiQ. One MusiQ controller covers two additional rooms to the one your hi-fi is in, and drives them independently via four channels of built-in power amplification. Not only can you listen to two sources in two different rooms at the same time, it’s also possible to adjust volumes independently. Control of your CD player and tuner is provided via basic, but easy to use, in-wall controls. The keypads also feature infrared control relay so you can, say, flick between digital radio stations on your Sky box.

• Read more: Multi room basics (2)

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