Case Study 3: Multiroom Audio & Video part 1

Brief
The client had owned this house for a number of years. It was equipped with a simple multi-room audio system, but they felt they were not using its full potential. We presented options for upgrade which allowed to keep the main ‘brains’ of the system, but bought it up to date by incorporating new audio sources: with updated TV screens and the expansion of the number of zones (both audio and video) connected to the system, more rooms could benefit from the sources centrally located.
By installing a new cable network, we enabled the viewing of multiple satellite systems on any of the home’s screens. Six new flat screens were required and since the client is an interior designer, the emphasis was on style as much as technology. A centrally located DVD player was required as part of the video network, that would allow for multi-zone viewing throughout the house. Control of both new and existing components needed to be possible from one remote control and the whole home entertainment system had to be hidden away out of sight with no visible wires.

Design
Since the house was being stripped back to bare bricks, with some alterations to the distribution of the layout, Future Lifestyle were able to install a tube network to all key areas for the expansion of the new system as well as any likely upgrades the client may want in the future. All levels of the house were connected via the main zones including the garden, where an outdoor TV screen was added to the newly fitted bar and BBQ area.

Knowing the clients would want to make changes to the decor of the rooms every so often, we decided to make the system flexible if they wanted to move or change furniture. We therefore installed additional tubing for iPod docks as well as speaker and TV points to other key locations. The expansion of the audio system included the installation of speakers in the ceiling of the new open plan kitchen/lounge and dining room. The guest bathrooms on the ground and first floor, the entrance hall, guest bedroom and master en-suite were all areas now brought into the multi-room audio system.

By centralizing the satellite systems we could use one of the client’s Sky systems as a source on the multiroom audio system (so that English radio stations could be played throughout the home) whilst the other box could still be used to watch TV channels.
We also brought two iPod docks in the system: the first one in the kitchen’s main central cupboard and the other in the master bedroom, distributing their music to all zones. The system was then reprogrammed to provide full control of the entire house from the existing in-wall touch panel.
The flatscreens, installed on ceiling mounted columns in the lounge, guest bedroom, master bedroom and en-suite, could be swivelled to face the ideal viewing position.
For added functionality and ease of use we programmed two wireless handheld touchpanels: one for the lounge area to control the downstairs and garden zones and one in the master bedroom to control the first floor.