Opus Octopus
The Octopus system relies on Cat-5 cable to supply audio throughout the home from a central hub, such as a cupboard filled with your hi-fi equipment. In each room, wall mounted keypads and remote controls provide easy access to music from your hi-fi or music server via a main wall control unit. This unit then connects to your stereo and to the control pads and ceiling speakers around your home. The Octopus can supply music to four main rooms, and four sub rooms (a sub-zone is an area like an en suite bathroom which might not need full control, but can access what’s being played in the bedroom next door).
Installation: One of the cheapest multi-room audio solutions available – and it’s suitable for DIY. Cost: Around £1,300. Contact: www.opus-technologies.co.uk
Incognito from Cambridge Audio This is an affordable multi-room audio system perfect for the first time self-builder who wants audio in several rooms (up to four) but can’t quite face tackling a complete wiring solution. It consists of a small network hub that connects to your main stereo and then to up to eight pairs of in-ceiling speakers wired around the house.
Music is controlled in each of the rooms via a wall-mounted panel or remote control, but unlike many systems it only accesses the music on your stereo, not online, or from your PC.
Installation: It can be built in stages and expanded as you need. Cost: Systems starts from £1,300; for a four-room setup expect to pay around £1,700. Contact: Cambridge Audio www.cambridgeaudio.com; distributed through www.richersounds.com.
Sonos The Sonos music system is one of only a few wireless music systems that can rival wired setups for ease of use and real multi-room access. The Sonos Zoneplayer connects to the internet and your computer giving you access to all your stored music, but also online music libraries such as Napster, and for a subscription (£10 a month), you can download from millions of songs direct to your handset.
Because the Sonos doesn’t need wiring in you don’t have to include it as part of a building project, but by incorporating ceiling speakers and intelligently positioned socket panels the compact ZonePlayers can be hidden away leaving you with just the small remote controller on show. You can choose between the ZonePlayer 80 which plugs into an existing stereo or the ZonePlayer 100 which has an amplifier built in (you do still need speakers).
Installation: Does not need wiring in, but is best to plan in at wiring stage. Cost: £699 for one ZonePlayer 80, one ZonePlayer 100 and a controller. Extra ZonePlayers costs from £249. Contact:www.sonos.co.uk
