Not shipping until the 21st. A comparable Russound system is like $2k:
Looks like it has more features than the Russound also, and you can chain them together to get a 12x12 or 18x18 matrix. Very cool. I may order a couple of these. The serial protocol is well documented in the downloadable user guide also, so it should be possible to make a plugin fairly easily by modifying the one for Russound R-Net.
I didn’t know they were getting into home automation products. I like the bluetooth power strip, but I just sprang for the Aeon Labs z-wave strip… And all of these need to have published APIs, of course, or they won’t be useful to VERA…
Wow, thats pretty expensive and you have to pre-wire for that setup. I do the same thing with 5 zones in my house using AudioSource AMP-100 amps (LINK) which can power up to 8 8Ohm speaker that I have mounted in ceilings and walls and then I use Apple AirPort Expresses to wireless feed them music and can select as few or as many as I like. Then I use a program called AirFoil to send audio from any app on a PC or Mac.
But, you don’t have paging with that, and it doesn’t appear you can have different sources playing in different rooms. This is the way my old Niles stuff is, and it sucks. The kids might want something in one room, my wife in another, and me somewhere else. My current system forces everyone to listen to the same thing. And, I’ve got a mixer and other crap in there to do voice alerts with Vera Alerts right now, and it’s completely half-assed. 
I’ve already got wire in some of the locations for a keypad system hooked into an IR distribution thing. It’s Cat5, but should work fine even though this system says Cat5e or Cat6. For the locations without wire, I can run it. There’s only one location that will be difficult, even though the house is completely finished. If I write a plugin for Vera, I may just choose not to run the keypad and control the zone that way.
But, you don’t have paging with that, and it doesn’t appear you can have different sources playing in different rooms. This is the way my old Niles stuff is, and it sucks. The kids might want something in one room, my wife in another, and me somewhere else. My current system forces everyone to listen to the same thing. And, I’ve got a mixer and other crap in there to do voice alerts with Vera Alerts right now, and it’s completely half-assed.
I’ve already got wire in some of the locations for a keypad system hooked into an IR distribution thing. It’s Cat5, but should work fine even though this system says Cat5e or Cat6. For the locations without wire, I can run it. There’s only one location that will be difficult, even though the house is completely finished. If I write a plugin for Vera, I may just choose not to run the keypad and control the zone that way.[/quote]
Well with multiple amps and multiple AirPort Expresses you can listen to different things in each location from a computer or a smartphone or a tablet, or tie the whole house together so all locations are playing the same thing. The system works wonderfully in my home but its really only used for music. I havent played with any alerting, etc from vera.
Did anyone ever develop a plugin for this yet?
This is a dying technology.
http://www.007systems.com/sonos-audio-distribution.html[/quote]
I don’t think so, at least not for me. I don’t want a bunch of speakers just sitting around in all the rooms. I want in ceiling speakers. I know I could do the Sonos Connect Amps, but then all I’ve done is replace 1 multi-channel amp with multiple ones. I know that Sonos has better connectivity, but that comes at a price (both space and money). Perhaps Sonos should consider doing a multi-channel amp of their own (6 zones/6 channels, daisy chainable, with optional keypads with intercom). 1 unit would be a lot easier to swallow even at say $2-3k for the system.
As to the link you’ve provided, here are my responses to their “cons”:
They are very difficult to install.
Yes, but I feel they are worth the hassle.
The cost of these systems including labor can be in the many thousands of dollars.
Yes, but so can a complete Sonos system!.
The cost of labor alone can be 2 to 5 times that of the hardware.
Not if you do it yourself ;).
They are limited in the amount of rooms and inputs they use. Usually 6 inputs and 6 zones or rooms.
Actually, some of them allow you to daisy chain them. Some allow you to also have a “local” source for each room.
They usually require a keypad in each room, to be mounted on the wall of that room. Not as convenient as using your smartphone or tablet.
I find this a Pro, not a con. I don’t always have my phone on me. I don’t always want to have my phone/tablet on me. If I go to take a shower, I’d much rather have a keypad on the wall to use instead of bringing in my tablet and/or phone.
They are Difficult to upgrade if the technology changes.
I’m pretty sure that once you have the speakers in place and cat5/6 for the keypads (and of course you should loop the speaker connections at the keypads as well), then if the technology changes, I would think that it would be as simple as replacing the hardware and the keypads. Not really all that difficult. Not to mention, the manufacturers have a vested interest in making upgrades as simple as possible (using existing wiring).
They usually require an equipment room or a closet to install the controller.
Yes, you do. I don’t mind this. I have an equipment room already, so it’s not a con at all for me.
I realize that if you are only looking to do a few rooms that Sonos would be better, but if you want a full house setup (outside included) I think a ADS is better than using Pure Sonos (not that you couldn’t incorporate Sonos into your ADS).
Also, understand that I am not necessarily talking about the Monoprice one. I personally am looking at something like the Nuvo Concerto or similar system.
I use my smartphone to control all aspects of my monoprice. The original developer uses Homeseer, but I think I have convinced him to put something together for the Vera.
I absolutely love it, and with the ability to use phones/tablets, Keypads are not a requirement, however, they are nice to have as a backup. I use mine 70% phone, 20% tablet and 10% keypads.
But I would surely miss the keypads if they weren’t there.
The option to use any amplifier and speaker combination is definitely a plus.
You can also add wireless speakers of your choice and have the equivalent of 6 Sonos.
I got mine yesterday and think it’s great. I’ve got speakers wired in every room and will be connecting a few chromecasts to a couple inputs to have whole-home music listening. I’ll also put the PA function to use shortly with voice announcements. My ultimate goal is to tie it into my home automation system, which is using a veralite for most everything. I could write a plugin myself, but wanted to see if anyone else had already done so before investing the time.
How exactly are you using your phone to control the monoprice system?
Using a Windows service accessing through a browser, on my phone (or anywhere really)
Do a search on http://cocoontech.com/ for the monoprice 6 zone especially Posts from MPisano
Random question. Noticed at some point my zones turn off after a period of inactivity. Is this normal? Can that behavior be deactivated?
Never seen that…sorry
Not on mine.
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