HTD whole home audio

R

RobWalker

Active Member
I am (still) struggling to decide which hardware to install for whole home audio. The current front runner is the HTD MCA-66.

My first approach was just to use a Russound CAM ... but I ditched that primarily for price and because I didn't need the fancy keypads.

I then assumed that A-Bus would be the cheapest option ... but when I priced out a system using Channel Vision components for 6 zones & 2 subzones it was more expensive than the HTD MCA-66 setup, and the MCA-66 provides RS232 control as well.

From the archives it looks like people are very happy with their speakers, but has anyone installed their controllers or amps?

The MCA-66 looks like it is only a month old, so are there any really early adopters out there?
 
How does the HTD system stack up against the Breathe (rebranded Nuvo, I believe) line, do you happen to know?
 
How I am ever going to decide what to buy if people keep putting other options on the table! :)

From some quick web reading it looks like the HTD and Breathe solutions are very similar. In case it helps anyone else, here are my brief notes.

The Breathe solution has a slightly broader feature set:
  • * Uses an 'All Port' cable to hide the clutter going from the amp to the wall (not a big deal in a mechanical room)
    * Has individual 12V triggers per zone
    * Has an external mute trigger
    * RS232 protocol is published ...not sure if it is compatible with other Nuvo products
    * Keypads support 'source grouping' to keep a group of controllers listening to the same source
    * Up to 2 keypads for zones 1-4 and 1 keypad for 5-6
    * Expandable to 12 zones
The only unique features I can find that the MCA-66 has are:
  • * Support for 3 keypads per zone
    * Software provided for control ... though RS232 protocol doesn't seem to be on the website
    * 'Infinitely' expandable
Neither system supports local inputs as far as I can tell.

The basic package is the same for both $899 for 6x6. Personally I prefer the asthetics of the HTD keypads, but there isn't much in it. Pricing for the Breathe system is all over the map though - the 6x6 kit is advertised as high as $1999 and you can't order online direct from the manufacturer. They claim BestBuy as a retailer, but neither BestBuy.com or BestBuy.ca list any products.

CalypsoCowboy is right, the 2x4 unit doesn't support RS232, which is a shame. I'd like to have 2 subzones downstairs (same source, but independently controlled volume), which I could do with an extra AMP and just volume controls, but then I loose the remote control of them. A 2x4 amp @ $120 with RS232 would be hard to turn down.

The only significant feature (for me) that I can see that the Breathe system has is the external mute trigger, but that could be handled in software by the MCA-66.

Definitely makes it a tough call between the two.
 
I can answer a few questions about the Breathe system. I bought the 6x6 unit a few weeks ago and have begun working to integrate it with CQC.

Just a quick run down, the keypads on the Breathe system do support local inputs. It doesn't seem to be a widely talked about feature but it does mention it in the manual (page 9) and while I haven't actually tried it, the hardware and labels are on the backs of the keypads.

Also, the Breathe 6x6 system uses the same protocol as the NuVo Simplese. The only difference is that the Simplese system is 2x4 (I think) where the Breathe system is 6x6. For CQC, the always gratious Robertmee was able to pump out a working and stable driver in short order without any trouble using the Simplese driver.

Can't speak to the HTD system but I'm pretty darn happy with the Breathe system and really endjoy having whole house audio.
 
RobWalker said:
How I am ever going to decide what to buy if people keep putting other options on the table! :rolleyes:

From some quick web reading it looks like the HTD and Breathe solutions are very similar. In case it helps anyone else, here are my brief notes.
Click to expand...

Hehe...why do you think I mentioned it? I'm having too tough a time deciding, so I'm trying to get others to do it for me. :P
 
Micah said:
...
Just a quick run down, the keypads on the Breathe system do support local inputs. It doesn't seem to be a widely talked about feature but it does mention it in the manual (page 9) and while I haven't actually tried it, the hardware and labels are on the backs of the keypads.
Click to expand...

The local inputs feature would have been a definite deal clincher ... unfortunately it seems that they use an very interesting naming convention for these inputs. When I enquired of Nuvo how to use the local inputs they (promptly) replied:

The local source connection on the back of the keypads is actually a voltage trigger output. It is not a local source input, but a voltage trigger to turn on and off a local component. The 2-pin connection will send 12V when the keypad is on. When the keypad is turned off, it will stop sending the 12V trigger. This could be used with a local source component that will switch on and off based on such a voltage trigger
Click to expand...

Seems like a fairly pointless feature unfortunately, then again maybe I'm just not being imaginative enough.

Can't speak to the HTD system but I'm pretty darn happy with the Breathe system and really endjoy having whole house audio.
Click to expand...

We were finalizing our move from the old (non-automated) to new (slowly-being-automated) house today and I came across a bunch of web pages I had printed out titled 'designing whole house audio systems' ... they were dated 1997, so it is definitely time to make my mind up and actually install something!
 
RobWalker said:
The local source connection on the back of the keypads is actually a voltage trigger output. It is not a local source input, but a voltage trigger to turn on and off a local component. The 2-pin connection will send 12V when the keypad is on. When the keypad is turned off, it will stop sending the 12V trigger. This could be used with a local source component that will switch on and off based on such a voltage trigger
Click to expand...

Seems like a fairly pointless feature unfortunately, then again maybe I'm just not being imaginative enough.nd actually install something!
Click to expand...
Yes, it would be a fairly pointless feature in and of itself. It is used mainly with their LSA (Local Source Amplifier) which is a Decora single gang amp and input. So say your TV or MP3 player or whatever is plugged into the LSA which has the local amp turned on and directing to the speakers, now when you turn the keypad on it triggers the local amp to turn off and redirect the source at the main amp to the speakers. Does that make sense?
 
Steve said:
RobWalker said:
The local source connection on the back of the keypads is actually a voltage trigger output. It is not a local source input, but a voltage trigger to turn on and off a local component. The 2-pin connection will send 12V when the keypad is on. When the keypad is turned off, it will stop sending the 12V trigger. This could be used with a local source component that will switch on and off based on such a voltage trigger
Click to expand...

Seems like a fairly pointless feature unfortunately, then again maybe I'm just not being imaginative enough.nd actually install something!
Click to expand...
Yes, it would be a fairly pointless feature in and of itself. It is used mainly with their LSA (Local Source Amplifier) which is a Decora single gang amp and input. So say your TV or MP3 player or whatever is plugged into the LSA which has the local amp turned on and directing to the speakers, now when you turn the keypad on it triggers the local amp to turn off and redirect the source at the main amp to the speakers. Does that make sense?
Click to expand...

Thanks ... I think I have this straight.
  • * CAT5 goes to the keypad as usually.
    * Speaker cables go from the amp to the LSA and then on to the speakers
    * The local source connector on the keypad is connected to the LSA
Right?

The main downside I see as a way of adding a local source is that the LSA is $120 and requires a wall wart to power it ... plus I didn't prewire for it :huh:
 
FWIW, I installed the advanced system from HTD (and used their speakers) this summer and couldn't be more pleased with the system and the quick response from the guys there discussion options and configurations.
 
I went ahead and ordered the HTD system last week (along with their speakers). Chris @ HTD was very fast to respond to all my questions, and I've been able to find nothing but good reports about them.

Apparently the amplifier specs for the HTD system are better than the Breathe (being a software guy I don't really understand all this analog stuff ...) and given that everything else was more or less a wash feature-wise I felt more comfortable going with HTD.

I'll post an update when I've had a chance to install it.
 
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