Zektor - Any experience?

[tadr]

Does anyone have any experience with using distributed audio/video equipment from Zektor?
 
I started a thread a while back looking for a replacement for my Niles ZR6 units.  See http://cocoontech.com/forums/topic/22780-multizone-audio-receiver-or-matrix-with-iprs232-control/?hl=+zektor
 
The Zektor Clarity Audio 16x16 seemed to fit the bill perfectly. Built in A-D and D-A conversion, plenty of inputs/outputs, IP and RS-232 control, broad IR command set, doorbell hookup, etc.
 
Well, I got in touch with Zektor shortly after making that thread (back in early January) and was told that the doorbell feature hadn't been implemented yet in firmware (even though there is a physical connection for it on the unit), but that it would be done later in January.  I've been in touch with Zektor and the dealer they recommended periodically since January, but they still haven't implemented the doorbell feature yet.  I was told January, then March, then April... and now it's June.
 
Not having the doorbell functionality is a dealbreaker for me, and I'm starting to wonder if there's something else going on at Zektor and perhaps they're not updating the product anymore.
 
Has anyone else purchased equipment from them?  Any feedback?  I expected a much better experience since they are all American-made.  I think it's crazy that it's so hard to get them to take my money - implementing the doorbell feature should not take that much effort!

 

[tmbrown97]

I think anyone who's ever managed a development project could tell you, it's not easy to keep up all the conflicting queues.  They probably have limited resources that are being pulled in other directions and just haven't gotten there yet - probably understaffed to even maintain their current backlog.  Purely speculation, but that's what I see happen with way too many companies.
 
If you want good integration with other systems, Russound and Nuvo are the most widely integrated that I've seen; if it's just Doorbell that's holding you up, couldn't you rig up a workaround? I know we could help you design something that'd meet whatever your goals are if it's that important.

 

[tadr]

I think anyone who's ever managed a development project could tell you, it's not easy to keep up all the conflicting queues.  They probably have limited resources that are being pulled in other directions and just haven't gotten there yet - probably understaffed to even maintain their current backlog.  Purely speculation, but that's what I see happen with way too many companies.
 
If you want good integration with other systems, Russound and Nuvo are the most widely integrated that I've seen; if it's just Doorbell that's holding you up, couldn't you rig up a workaround? I know we could help you design something that'd meet whatever your goals are if it's that important.

 
Unfortunately neither russound nor Nuvo have a solution that's nearly as elegant as the Zektor Clarity 16x16.  I need an audio matrix switch with at least 10-12 source inputs and 14 zones with IP, RS232, and discrete IR control.  The fact that the Zektor does matrix switching of digital audio is icing on the cake and would be very handy as well.
 
As far as I can tell, both Nuvo and Russound top out at 8 source inputs.
 
Sure, I could rig up a solution with a raspberry pi or arduino to detect contact closure, send a command to the matrix to change all the inputs to a given input, play the audio file, then switch all the inputs back to their original inputs, but that's a big hassle.  And frankly, the last thing I need in my setup is anything else "rigged up" - I have far too much of that already and am already borderline on the WAF.

 

[tmbrown97]

Sure, I could rig up a solution with a raspberry pi or arduino to detect contact closure, send a command to the matrix to change all the inputs to a given input, play the audio file, then switch all the inputs back to their original inputs, but that's a big hassle.  And frankly, the last thing I need in my setup is anything else "rigged up" - I have far too much of that already and am already borderline on the WAF.

Yup - but having nothing at all can be hard on the WAF too... that's your call how long you want to hold out with no solution at all vs. a rigged one.

 

[tadr]

Yup - but having nothing at all can be hard on the WAF too... that's your call how long you want to hold out with no solution at all vs. a rigged one.

 
So true... fortunately (or unfortunately) I still have my niles zr-6 systems hooked up and working (they have a dedicated paging input that we use for the doorbell)... i'm just 2 input sources short right now (so no Roku for us...)

 

[tmbrown97]

Good point - totally forgot about that.  Any chance you can replace any of your existing source zones with something smarter that can provide more options in a single "source"?

 

[Neurorad]

Did you speak with Jeff at Zektor? He gets a lot of praise at remotecentral, as a guy who delivers.Maybe he could be honest about a release date.

 

[tadr]

Did you speak with Jeff at Zektor? He gets a lot of praise at remotecentral, as a guy who delivers.Maybe he could be honest about a release date.

That's who I was speaking with (along with a dealer he recommended).  Last I heard from him was in February - he said they were working on some HDBaseT products and that the doorbell functionality would be done in April.  I emailed him again in April but didn't hear back.  I'm actually going to send him another email now.

 

[Neurorad]

Best of luck.

 

[tadr]

Best of luck.

 
Unfortunately I still haven't had any luck... I've emailed Zektor several times but either don't hear back or don't get any ETA.  I wonder if maybe they've canned the doorbell feature or if perhaps the company is having other troubles.
 
It's really too bad, since I wanted to give them my money.

 

[Neurorad]

He/They will be at CEDIA, if you want to chat with them.

 

[tadr]

He/They will be at CEDIA, if you want to chat with them.

 
Unfortunately, I won't be.  I'm no longer in the industry... now I'm just an over-enthusiastic homeowner.
 
I may still get the Zektor Clarity Audio matrix switch and build my own doorbell module out of a raspberry pi, I'd just rather not deal with the hassle and potential reliability implications...

 

[Neurorad]

I went to CEDIA a few times, not in the industry.  Can't make it this year, though.