SETUP Just programming an advanced automation system by Crestron or AMX might take days, which can cost thousands of dollars in installation fees. In contrast, even a complex Control 4 system can be up and running in a matter of hours. Even so, Control 4 isn't meant for installation by users, and dealers must go through training before being allowed to sell the system. Control 4 sent a certified installer named Ed to help with my setup.
We installed the Media Controller in my main system. It features an 80-gigabyte hard drive for storing MP3 files and a CD drive for ripping discs. The box has a multitude of connections to hook up almost any component imaginable, including three analog stereo inputs and one optical digital audio port for easy multizone/multisource listening around the house. Component-, composite-, and S-video as well as VGA outputs are on hand to route the controller's display interface to your TV. An Ethernet jack connects to the home network, and there's a trio of USB ports for plugging in iPods and such. Installers will find RS-232, IR, contact-closure, relay, and video-sensing control connections.
If all this is overkill for you, or your budget is tight, Control 4's $599 Home Theater Controller functions identically to the Media Controller but without the CD or hard drive and with fewer connection options. It also includes a remote handset. Once the Media Controller was installed, adding music to my master bedroom was as simple as connecting a compact Speaker Point box to my home network and using its 50-watt-per-channel digital stereo amp to power a pair of small speakers. My guest bedroom, the farthest in the house from my home theater system, got its own audio feed from a wired Mini Touch Screen.
Ed brought along some lighting dimmer switches ($99 each) as well. They installed like regular light switches - in fact, we just replaced three of my existing switches (of course, after taking the usual precautions for working with electricity).
Programming the system is done via a PC using Control 4's Composer software. Though Composer is primarily an installer's tool, a very basic version is supplied that allows you to scan files or edit media file information. A more flexible version that lets you change lighting "scenes" and so on is also available ($199).
Since audio signals are routed from room to room over your home network, and all the components except the controllers are available in both wired and Wi-Fi versions, it's relatively easy to retrofit a full-blown system. Control and status signals travel wirelessly to and from the interfaces using a relatively new communication standard called ZigBee that creates a "mesh network," meaning that it actually gets stronger as more devices are connected.
As someone who has the Control 4 system in their house, I'd just like to say that everything here is true, and they've added new features since then. My Dad's a Control 4 developer, so if we have something that isn't supported (say, a fancy radiant heating circulation system in our floor) he will design the driver to support it himself.
Although, if you ever get a new controller, then be careful. Because it's a mesh network, everything is based around the controller. Making a new network means every device you have needs to be disconnected, and reconnected. That means exactly 34 button presses for every device. But that only happens if your controller needs to be replaced or upgraded, which should never be required for the consumer.
All-in-all, it's a great system. I can even access all the music from any of my computers (it shows up as a network share automatically in Windows, and on my Linux laptop I just have to run a script to mount the Samba share.) It works great, and it's a good price too.
I am a real estate developer and after I put the system in many of our high end homes I then had to follow up by paying programing fees that were outrageous to get the system working as discussed. In our own home system, we would have parties and the radio or music would never work. They hooked us up with Rapsody but as soon as they left, we couldn't get it to work. Then the company that installed the system started having financial problems and I couldn't get the system working and when we tried to get another control 4 dealer involved, they other company wouldn't release the pass codes, and the new company said they would have to start from scratch. It seems the iniatial installers hold you hostage and it is very hard to find support if you loose that dealer. You end up paying service and programing fees for everything. Had one customer that had a power outage, had to by a new controller for $800.00, but then spent $2500 in programing fees to get the lights, Tv, and his music back up. Have now gone to a less expensive system with better results....