Anyone have a Whole House Audio system?

[Kelemvor]

We're looking into the possibility of putting speakers in all the rooms in our house so we can have music playing as we go about doing things. I already have the software and such but my question sis about speakers themselves.

This will NOT be for movie sounds or anything, just background music so the speakers don't have to be anything major.

What speakers to get?
I'm thinking Ceiling speakers since they're far easier to install since I have a ranch house. However I know nothing about power for speakers, sizes of them, etc to know what I need or don't.

I have a distributor for this company where I can get the speakers here for less than half of what's listed on this site:
http://www.choiceselectonline.com/Ceiling-speakers.aspx

Anyone recommend any of those? Either those specifically or at least which of those would be good specs so I know what I'm looking at?

Where to put them?
How would you lay out speakers in various rooms? Mainly 3 bedrooms, dining area, and the basement.

Would you put 2 in each room for left and right? I was thinking on the wall opposite the door and one in each corner. Or maybe halfway to the far wall and near the other wall?

Basement is a whole different issue so I'll look at that when I get to that point.

Again, just looking for where and why and how you like yours if you have them.

Thanks!!

moved from Off Topic
moderator allisolm

 

[Kaido]

I just got some 6.5" Daytons from Parts Express and I'll be installing them next week, I'll let you know how they sound

What software are you using? I'm currently rocking a Squeezebox Receiver along with my iPhone.

 

[Kelemvor]

I use some software made by a friend of mine. He stopped working on it though. Called Command Cubes. It supports multiple zones so you can have different music in different rooms and things like that. All controller from any PC in the house.

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
I use some software made by a friend of mine. He stopped working on it though. Called Command Cubes. It supports multiple zones so you can have different music in different rooms and things like that. All controller from any PC in the house.

How do you plan on powering the speakers? Also how does Command Cubes output the audio to your receiver ? Multiple sound cards?

Just curious

 

[Kelemvor]

Well see powering the speakers is something I don't know about. hence my post. Do they need to be powered or can the receiver just output through an amp?

I have a sound card that I have configured to act as separate outputs (one headphone jack with a splitter each). I currently use 2 but honestly for now I may not even worry about more than one but that would be something to upgrade to later on.

 

[sdifox]

I just crank up my system...It will fill the house

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
Well see powering the speakers is something I don't know about. hence my post. Do they need to be powered or can the receiver just output through an amp?

I have a sound card that I have configured to act as separate outputs (one headphone jack with a splitter each). I currently use 2 but honestly for now I may not even worry about more than one but that would be something to upgrade to later on.

Each pair of speakers needs an amp (power). They also need a signal (source). Like this:

Speakers -> Amp -> Computer

This is why Sonos and Squeezebox are such great solutions - you just pop a box on each pair of speakers and voila, it works! Squeezebox uses 802.11b/g wireless or Ethernet while Sonos uses a custom wireless solution (creates a mesh network in your home). One Sonos box even comes with a built-in amp. imo Sonos is hands-down the best system you can go with.