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Multi-room systems let you listen to music and, in some cases, watch video in any number of your home’s rooms. Basic systems consist of another set of speakers in a second room with individual control. The most complex systems let you listen and watch any source in any room of the house - even shower proof TVs are available! Full-blown multi-room systems let you use different sources in different rooms - watch TV in one room while listening to music in another.
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There are two types of multi-room system, wired and wireless.
Wired multi-room
Systems such as the Cambridge Audio Incognito use a fully wired network. Components are linked by CAT5 or CAT6 cable and coaxial cable. The CAT5/6 cable is a multi-function, low resistance network cable that carries sound and power. Video is carried by standard co-axial cable. Speakers are wired up with standard speaker cable. Due to the potential complexity of wired multi-room systems we recommend that they are professionally installed.
Pros
* Constant wired connection for no dropouts and consistent performance
* Guaranteed interference free - will not affect other wireless devices such as garage doors, remote controlled toys, home hubs etc.
* Allows good quality video to be routed throughout the home
* Capable of immensely complicated system networks including full home automation
Cons
* Requires professional set-up in most cases
* Restricted remote access - must be in sight of a sensor
* Internet radio/music access and music streaming have to be separately incorporated
* Permanent installation - it’s much harder to take it with you when you move home!
Use a wired network for a high quality home installation when both sound and video are required. Ideal for complex systems with home automation such as curtain closing.
Wireless multi-room
Systems such as the Sonos system use a wireless multi-room design. This creates a wireless network around your home that carries audio, control and, in some cases, video (not currently available on the Sonos). It works in a similar way to a Wi-Fi home hub and, in some cases, this can even be incorporated to the multi-room system. Sonos are more advanced than others in having specified their own ‘mesh network’ called SonosNet. As the name suggests, this uses multiple points of transmission rather than a single hub, thereby giving more reliable network coverage than, say, your wireless home network hub. SonosNet is also less likely to be ‘grounded’ by too many people being in your home or be overloaded by high bandwidth information. A further advantage of this type of system is that connection, either wired or wireless, to your home network hub gives streaming access to music stored on your PC and also Internet music services such as Last.fm.
Pros
* Quick and easy to set-up
* Easy to expand
* Take it with you when you move home
* Built-in control of and access to Internet radio and music
* Easy to stream from computer
* Control with PC, Mac, iPod Touch, iPhone or radio controller
Cons
* Video performance either poor quality or not yet available
* Wireless systems have the potential to dropout
* Potential for interference with other wireless systems
* Bandwidth and, therefore sound quality is usually compromised over a wired system.
Use if you want a quick and easy system set-up and the ability to expand without extra drilling and plastering. Take it with you when you go. Easy access to Internet radio/music sites.
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* Listen to music in other rooms in your home
* Watch video in other rooms in your home - 
* Listen to the same music in all rooms
* Listen to different music sources in different rooms
* Watch the same video in all rooms -
* Watch different video in different rooms -
* Any combination of the above 4 -
* Control the system from any room
* Control the system from anywhere in your home, even when not in sight of sensor - 
* Link to your home network hub and stream music from your computer -
* Listen to Internet radio and music services such as Last.fm -
* Control the music with your iPod Touch or iPhone -
Visit any one of our 52 stores nationwide if you have any further queries on audio visual, flat screen TV or multi-room systems. Richer Sounds stocks a wide range of multi-room products including Cambridge Audio Incognito, Sonos and Logitech Squeezebox. Check www.richersounds.com for further details.
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