Whole home audio

[booboo]

I am looking to upgrade my whole home audio system to something more modern. We do not use surround sound so the receiver is big and bulky for what it does. I would like to add some speakers and running speaker wire is not possible. We have a built in place for the TV and audio equipment. We are going to be getting a new TV and stand. We really want to keep the audio stuff to a minimal size.

Right now I have a STR-DE985 surround sound receiver that I use the 2nd room feature to distribute audio to 4 areas around the home. I am using dual channel ceiling speakers with in wall volume controls. I have a CD player and a squeezebox for sources of audio. I run speaker wire from the surround sound receiver to a distribution box then to the volume controls and then to the speakers.

I have no idea how to begin this project, any suggestions?

 

[pete_c]

More modern would probably include a receiver with multiple zoned amplifiers. That said in second house I put in the infrastructure for zoned audio including the speakers but today still run the additional audio zones from one large old multimedia receiver.

I did once in the 1990's burn up an in wall audio control during a party using this methodology using a very old Pioneer receiver; actually the largest one that Pioneer every made (weighed a bit - the receiver was about 4 times the normal size of a reciever).
The main stereo speakers were the old Altec Lansing Stonehedge with the 15" woofers and horn tweeters.

Initially in the current home (10 years ago) I went with an RS-232 speaker switcher and the old Leviton Digital chopin digital volume controls to take care of the multiple audio zones from one amplifier.

 

[potts.mike]

Have you looked at a Sonos system?

 

[booboo]

The Sanos looks interesting but could be very expensive.

I would like to find a distribution HUD that has a digital input, an amplifier and speaker wired outputs? Anything like this exist?

 

[booboo]

I ended up getting the Sonos. I got a Connect Amp to connect to my existing distribution to 4 location in the home. I got a Connect for my sound bar on my TV, this give us music in the living room. Then a Play3 for the garage. It was a little expensive but well worth the money. I can't imagine it could get any better. Thanks for the advise.