The Audioaccess name is probably unknown to most Sound & Vision readers, so it may come as a surprise that the company is the custom-installation heart of Harman International — home to JBL, Infinity, Lexicon, and yes, Harman Kardon. With all that firepower behind it, you can bet that Audioaccess is capable of some big ideas. The W.H.E.N. system is one of them, and it's so logical that you can't help but wonder why more people haven't done it.
In short, Audioaccess is using a home theater receiver as the nexus for an entire housewide audio/video distribution system. W.H.E.N., a clever acronym for Whole-House Entertainment Network, offers audio and video distribution for as many as 20 independent zones, built-in dual FM/AM tuners, a full two-way intercom, large LCD keypads that display song metadata in remote locations, iPod compatibility, and 50 watts per channel of digital power per stereo audio zone. Combine all of that with programming that's done entirely onscreen through a graphical user interface (GUI), and you've got the makings of a potent workhorse.
SETUP
Taking full advantage of everything W.H.E.N. does practically demands that your home be prewired with the system in mind during construction. It follows current industry standards, meaning Cat5 control wire, 16-gauge/4-conductor speaker cable to each keypad control location, and dual runs of RG-6 to each display. But it's where these wires run that's slightly different from the norm. Instead of home-running all of the audio and video wiring for remote rooms to the A/V electronics, you run A/V signal and keypad power wiring to the AVH21 Audio/Video Distribution Hub and the WPS21 Power-Supply Hub, both of which get mounted inside structured-wiring panels.
These two components power the keypads and distribute audio and video signals to each room. The AVH21 sends control and audio signals to as many as seven keypads, and it handles video distribution chores as well, with inputs for six video sources and up to seven video cameras. Loop-out connections allow daisy-chaining up to three hubs. The WPS21 powers as many as seven keypads as well as the AVH21. Remotely locating both components makes for a super-clean installation that saves the installer from looking at the Medusa's head of RG-6, Cat5, and 16/4 wiring that makes up a 20-room A/V distribution system.
Beyond running the wires, installation of a W.H.E.N. system is a two-part process. The first step: connecting the AVR21EN receiver, the central component of the system. It provides six A/V source inputs (five of which accept component-video signals), an eight-channel analog input for a decoded multichannel source (such as a Blu-ray Disc or HD DVD player), and four digital audio inputs (two optical, two coaxial). I was impressed to find a full complement of front-panel connections, including component video and both optical and coaxial digital audio, making it so much easier to quick-connect things such as videogame systems or camcorders for temporary use. Oddly, while there is an HDMI output for the primary home theater display, there are no HDMI inputs — a big disappointment in a late-generation receiver priced at more than $2,000.
The AVR21EN has several connections that let you know it's no everyday receiver. Seven IR output jacks enable the system to control connected source components. Six Flag-In jacks can detect the power state of connected components using the optional Source Power Flag Kit (SPFKIT). This is key for reliable system control of components that don't offer discrete power commands.
Then there are the three RS-232 ports. These are labeled "DVD Changer Interface," but they're really reserved for advanced control and metadata feedback from special components. Currently, the only such component is Audioaccess's iPod docking station/controller, the aDock. But due shortly are interfaces for Russound's ST2 tuners (both Sirius and XM) and an upcoming Harman Kardon hard-disc server/DVD player. Interestingly, the jacks are device-specific. For example, the aDock control and metadata function only when connected to the Disc 3 input. Although this simplifies programming, it also limits the system to supporting only a single iPod (or XM tuner, etc.) with metadata feedback.
Finally, there are the connections for unleashing the W.H.E.N.'s multiroom functionality, including two RJ45 jacks and six Video Source Out connections. Pull Cat5 and RG-6 cabling from the AVR21EN receiver to the AVH21 distribution hub, all audio, video, and control signals are then routed around your home.
The receiver doesn't have digital-to-analog processing on the multizone outputs, so source components must be connected with analog cabling for audio to be available in other zones. Video distribution is done over composite-video cabling, typically RG-6 coax (the stuff used for cable TV). The receiver transcodes video signals to higher-quality outputs, meaning that composite signals will be available on the S-video, component-video, and HDMI outputs. But sources connected via the component-video inputs are available only on the component and HDMI outputs, requiring that most be connected with dual sets of video cabling to get the best picture in the main zone and still have video available to the rest of the home.
The second step in the installation process: connecting all of the house-distribution gear, which includes not just the AVH21 and WPS21 hubs but, of course, the keypads. Each KP21 keypad includes a digital amp that is powered by 4-conductor speaker wiring running to the WPS21 power supply. Keypads also include line-level inputs and outputs for adding a local source and connecting an external amp or powered sub.
As mentioned previously, all programming is done via an onscreen GUI. For installers, using a PC to create, store, and recall files would be much quicker and, I dare say, preferred. The AVR21EN receiver does have a decent library of built-in IR codes and can learn new ones, but they can't be stored for use on different projects. Audioaccess plans on releasing an upload/download module shortly, but it won't store IR codes, only zone names and group assignments.
|
The Short Form |
| Price $7,019 (as tested) / audioaccess.com / 888-691-4171 |
|
Snapshot
|
| W.H.E.N.'s powerful combination of functions is attractive, but its limitations may make some installers think twice. |
|
Plus
|
| •Complete home theater and distributed A/V solution •Intercom system beats most standalones •Easy-to-use keypads |
|
Minus
|
| •Keypads offer limited source control •iPod control is very slow •Faroudja video adjustments tough to use •No HDMI inputs |
|
Key Features
|
| •System as tested: AVR21EN receiver ($2,199) (6) KP21 keypad controllers ($499 each) AVH21 audio/video distribution hub ($699) WPS21 power-supply hub ($399) SPFKIT source power flag kit ($230) aDock iPod docking station/controller ($498) •8 sources plus local source in each zone •20 zones max •70 watts x 7 (AVR21EN receiver); 50 watts x 2 (KP21 keypad) •Faroudja DCDi video processing/upconversion •iPod integration with aDock controller |
As a home theater receiver, the W.H.E.N.'s AVR21EN was a solid performer, and its 70-watt digital amplifiers should be capable of driving most speakers and filling average-sized listening rooms. My reference receiver, a 125-watt THX Ultra certified model, had more punch, depth, and top end. But with pre-outs available for all of the AVR21EN's channels, adding outboard amplification would be a snap.
The W.H.E.N.'s remote is packed with more than 70 buttons, which will be overwhelming to many users. Because of the unique way that IR signals are sent — proprietary codes from the remote trigger the receiver to transmit the correct IR signals to control source and display components — adding a universal remote is a bit trickier than normal. But it's doable, and recommended for long-term system enjoyment. Also, the keypads don't respond to the supplied remote control but, rather, to the optional KP21R zone remote ($100).
I do have two operational complaints with the receiver. First is its inability to hold certain settings. My monitor's native resolution is 720p, so I wanted the receiver's HDMI output to match. Yet any time a 1080i signal came along, the receiver switched to 1080i and remained there. Likewise, I prefer leaving the surround- back speakers engaged at all times, but the receiver constantly reverted to plain Dolby Digital, kicking out of the Dolby PLIIx mode I had selected. (Audioaccess says that the back-speaker issue will be addressed in a future firmware upgrade.)
My second complaint: Audioaccess touts its use of Faroudja's video-scaling technology, which offers various adjustments for fine-tuning the picture. Sadly, these adjustments are essentially useless because they are accessible only when the receiver's static blue menu is onscreen. That's a real oversight.
Distributing audio and video signals to the four corners of your home is what truly separates the W.H.E.N. system from other A/V receivers, and your primary control interface in other zones will be the keypads. They have a nice large display with blue, green, or aqua backlighting and not too many buttons. This greatly simplifies navigating and making selections, and anyone should master them quickly.
With most sources, control is limited to just eight commands in a preselected template. For example, the Cable page offers buttons for only channel up and down, menu, and select, as well as up, down, left, and right. Unfortunately, not having access to numeric keys or the ability to program macro commands for jumping to favorite channels limits the keypads to basic functions. Each keypad does have a built-in IR receiver, though, so system control is available with the optional zone remote.
The keypads display the station currently selected from the receiver's dual FM/AM tuners — and when controlling your iPod with the aDock, you get full metadata on the keypads, letting you browse tunes by artist, song, genre, playlist, and so forth. The keypads scroll very slowly through your iPod's library, however, and even when I jumped five listings at a time, it took me several minutes to work through my 30 gigabytes of artists. It was so slow, I wound up going directly to the iPod to select my music. Frustratingly, when I returned to a keypad to control the iPod again, I couldn't do anything beyond changing volume without the system kicking me out of the music currently playing and returning me to the main menu. On the upside, W.H.E.N.'s video distribution in combination with the iPod makes it a powerful housewide video server; I sent a photo slideshow of my daughter to three displays around my home, and I distributed some TV shows stored on my Pod as well.
W.H.E.N.'s intercom features are among the best I've used, letting you communicate to a single zone, page to all zones, or create groups — such as bedrooms — to talk to. Plus, if the room contains one of the seven video cameras that the system supports, then you can also see the recipient. And you can monitor a zone to keep tabs on the kids or a sleeping baby. Audioaccess is developing a module for two-way conversations with door stations, as well as door chimes that can play through the system. And the system can be programmed for different wake-up and power-down times for each zone, letting it serve as a terrific housewide alarm clock.
Each zone provides bass and treble adjustments along with several EQ curves specific to Audioaccess speakers. I would classify the 50-watt digital amplifiers in each KP21 keypad as above average, capable of delivering enough volume to fill most rooms satisfactorily. At slightly over half volume, the system provided nice background music. As with most digital amplifiers, I struggled to get enough volume from my outdoor speakers, and distortion became evident as I pushed the volume toward the top of its range. Large rooms would definitely benefit from adding high-efficiency speakers or using the keypad's pre-outs to add a subwoofer, a larger amp, or both.
BOTTOM LINE
W.H.E.N. won't be right for everyone. If you have a complex home theater, you'll lament the receiver's lack of digital inputs and HDMI connectivity. Some homes with multiple users may find the inability to distribute more than a single iPod or satellite-radio feed restrictive. And others will be frustrated by the limited or slow control offered at the keypads.
Still, for many people, combining a home's entertainment, distribution, and intercom systems into one will have major appeal. For those people, the answer to "W.H.E.N.?" is "Now!"
Test Reports RSS Feed
More Test Reports
Back to Homepage
What's New on S&V