10. What you need to know before you start shopping
Don't waste your first consultation with a Custom Installer. Sort out some of the main points they'll ask you now and use the opportunity to get the ball rolling forward quickly. You'll be ready to ask a lot more good questions and get a lot more value out of the time you spend.
Just be prepared to accept changes to your plans. It may not always be possible to do what you're wanting the way that you want to do it.
Be prepared for change
Bear in mind that there's a technical side to it all. If something's not possible for any reason, don't do a war dance, the specialist can probably give you an alternative way of going about it. Quite possibly a more cost effective way too.
The pre-shopping plan
Start by deciding where you want music in your home
1. How many rooms do you want music (and radio) in?
Be specific with numbers and know exactly which rooms you want audio in. Write down each room of your home you want music in and add them up. And think about outdoor areas like gardens and poolside as well – even the garage.
2. Do you want to play different tunes in each room or the same tune?
This will let the Installer work out how many music 'zones' you're going to need. That will determine which components you will be able to choose from.
3. Do you want music outside? On the deck? By the pool?
Outdoor music creates an energising ambience for entertaining. Decide which area or areas you'd like to have music in too. This will affect the number and size that each speaker the Installer will recommend. They Installer will consider the proximity of each outdoor zone and give you some options about how the speakers can be arranged for the best musical effect.
4. Do you want to listen to TV or movies in any of the rooms?
The sound from DVD players, AV Receivers and TVs can be played through a multi-room audio system just as easily as sound from any CD player or music server. The audio connections and cabling are just the same. The installer just needs to account for each connection, that's all.
But if you want to enjoy movies in surround sound in any room, also let the installer know. The types of speaker that'll be used and the way they're set up will be quite different.
5. What type of 'listening' will you be doing in each room?
Will music be background noise or the full focus of your attention? This will help you and your Installer decide which rooms (or outdoor areas) are worth splurging on and which to be a little thriftier with.
The installer will be able to make recommendations based on the quality of sound you expect from the speakers.
6. How do you want to store your music?
If you want to be sending lots of different sounds around your home at the same time, you need to think about storing your music on a hard disk of some sort. A Music Server is a recommended option. It's dedicated to multi-room music and has all the connections you'
7. How much control do you want over the music in each room?
There are lots of different keypads and remotes to choose from. Some keypads for example have one simple volume control and some of them are loaded with enough functions to control music throughout your entire home. What's right for each room?