Live like a star without paying a fortune.

Feb. 28, 2012 - PRLog -- If you have ever watched MTV Cribs and marvelled at the ability to play and control music throughout the house, it may surprise you to learn that unlike the Lamborghini in the driveway or the indoor swimming pool this technology is now within the reach of any home.

At Illustrious Homes our SmartHomes team have been working on ways to make this type of technology available to the average household, and we think we have cracked it. Illustrious SmartHomes have just completed the installation of an integrated SmartHome Audio Visual system in its 5 bedroom ‘Test Home’ located in North West London.

Utilising the ‘Test Homes’ cat5 network it is possible to use cost effective solutions such as the Sonos ‘Connect’ and ‘Play 5’ modules to enable the streaming of music throughout the entire house. The great news is that even though our SmartHomes team will always say ‘Wire is best’ the Sonos system can also be set up over a Wi-Fi network, eliminating the need for expensive cabling works.

The Sonos system is totally modular which means that unlike other solutions which require substantial upfront investment, you can build your system bit by bit based on your needs and budget. The Sonos system allows you to utilise existing equipment so there is no need to throw away your favourite stereo system. An added advantage is that Sonos have also released a free iPhone/iPad app to control their systems, removing the need to purchase controllers for each zone (which cost over £250 each!)

The Sonos system connects directly to your existing PC/Mac music library which is then available to play in any room (zone) that you have set up in the property. The ‘grouping’ function allows you to stream the same music simultaneously to each room, or to play different music in different rooms, the choice is yours. So whether you’re throwing a party or just having a relaxing day at home, the Sonos system allows you to set the scene.

The Sonos system also has a line-in-jack connector that allows you to play music from an alternative source.  At our ‘Test Home’ we have this connected to an old record player, so that all that old vinyl can be put to good use. A clever feature is that on group mode you can actually stream this ‘line in’ input throughout the whole house, it’s pretty nice to be able to play that Miles Davis LP in the lounge and listen to it in the loft.

As this system is connected to the internet you can also access a raft of internet content such as internet radio and applications such as ‘Spotify’ and ‘Napster’, giving you a vast library to choose from.

This solution is a fraction of the cost but not a fraction of the quality, providing great functionality that can be enjoyed by everyone.

For more information on this and our other SmartHomes solutions please contact Smarthomes@illustrioushomes.co.uk

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Illustrious Homes is one of the UK’s leading construction companies and works in both the public and domestic arenas.