The farmhouse is a “ground up” construction project and gives me the option to rethink how I do music and radio throughout the house. There are two key requirements – stream and control my music from my iPod or computer storage and stream internet radio. The available options coalesced into three categories:

1. high end, centralized audio servers
2. purpose built modular systems
3. networked devices that feed your existing audio systems.

I have only one audio amplifier and I seldom use it as it was connected to my home theater and using it meant a remote for the video projector, a remote to control the amplifier, and a remote to control the video player / source. This was too much busy work and a driving factor in my hunt.

Here are some characteristics of my time at the farmhouse:

• the morning routine spans multiple rooms – kitchen for breakfast, living room to catch the news, then my office to start work
• the weekend morning routine is heavy on the news phase
• in my office, I spend a lot of time of conference calls and researching for papers; occasionally I write code
  • I like to listen to mindless (aka pop / bop) music when writing code
• the bulk of my free time is spend outside, in the work shop, or in the kitchen
  • I don’t listen to radio / music out doors
  • I spend hours at a time in the shop – shop tools are loud but there are lots of hand work too
  • I spend hours at a time in the kitchen – I try to avoid creating loud noises in the kitchen
• I enjoy listening to NPR news
  • the best NPR news is streamed over the internet (not available on a local radio station)
  • it’s annoying to be in the middle of a news story or radio show and miss portions when I move from room to room

The priorities include: simple to control, support music files (MP3s etc) and internet radio, feed multiple rooms, include the necessary components for each rooms (amplifier, volume control, etc.). I will install ceiling speakers for most rooms and run the speaker wire in the walls and ceiling to discrete panels.

I discounted the high-end centralized audio servers because they were mostly designed for audio stored internally and were cost prohibitive when added internet audio sources. These systems also had very expansive hard wired control panels for source selection, volume, and integration. These systems also were “all or nothing” and required I make my full investment up front. There was no good mechanism for growing the installation over time or buying modules as needs and means dictate. The nail in the coffin, so to speak, was that most of these systems are sold only as an “audiofile solution” that starts with an “expect” sitting down and talking about your needs and ended with them proposing a bit ticket solution that they install for you. I concluded this was way way too much money and paying others to do things I was more than happy to do myself.
Example: Audio Control Whole House Audio

I discounted networked devices that feed existing my existing audio systems. This was both an easy and a tough category to review. Most of the offerings in this space compare themselves to purpose built modular systems and most blogs do the same. The deciding factor was that they all were designed and marketed to provide stream of audio files from network storage and internet radio sources. They also are designed to integrate into pre-existing music systems. Since I do not have audio systems in all of the rooms, I would have to either get their “boom box” components or buy amplifiers. The cost of these extra items makes the final solutions no different than purpose built modular systems and adds the annoyance of multiple remotes or programming custom remotes.
Example: Logitech SqueezeBox and Sling Media Slingcatcher and Apple TV

I chose the purpose build modular system. The benefits include each module provides its own integrated amplifier. This means I am limited to the amplifier provided with the system but it also means the amplifier is integrated into the control of each room. Since I don’t have available room amplifiers, I’d have to buy these anyway. The modular nature means I can add rooms as my needs and means dictate. The “purpose built” nature means these devices are meant to connect to a computer network for music files and for streaming internet radio.
Example: SONOS Multi-Room Music System

I chose Sonos because the price was reasonable when I take into account the need for room amplifiers. Sonos provides both amplified and non-amplified modules. I also like the fact I can start with just my office and kitchen and can add the living room, workshop, and even the front porch at some time in the future. All of the “starter bundles” include a proprietary wireless controller. Sonos also supports a computer interface and recently added an iPhone / iTouch interface. I don’t have an iPhone or iTouch and the discount on the bundled controller makes it less than buying one of the Apple devices. Sonos recently updated their modules with improved wireless mesh networking and more efficient amplifiers. I have the luxury of hard-wiring most of my audio solution so the difference between “last generation” and new modules is not as significant. While Sonos rigorously controls the sale price of modules (read that as very little price competition), there are sales to clear out the old stock. I will start my installation with a new starter bundle (BU150) and two prior generation amplified modules (ZP100).