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The Short Form
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| $2,000 (as tested) / ELANHOMESYSTEMS.COM / 859-269-7760 |
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Snapshot
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| A highly flexible house-wide system offering a mix of performance and options to satisfy virtually anyone's A/V distribution needs |
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Plus
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| • Options, options, and more options! • Can watch full-motion video on Via! touchpanel controllers • OléXL touchpads are sexy-cool |
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Minus
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| • N800 controller is pricey • Built-in amp might not have enough gas for large rooms |
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Key Features
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• 8-source, 6-zone A/V system expandable to 24 zones • Vast array of control and system configuration options • Two-way feedback when using SS1 System Station • VIA!migo features latest Apple authentication chip • Via 7.0EM touchpanel controller displays full-motion video • OleXL touchpad controller fits in two-gang wallbox • Web browser on N800 4-inch wireless controller |
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System as Tested
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| Elan S8.6AV controller ($2,000) Elan DTNR dual AM/FM tuner ($799) Elan N800 wireless touch screen controller ($1,200) Elan Via 7.0EM 7-inch touch panel controller ($1,400) Elan OleXL film touchpad ($580) (2) Elan SS1 System Station ($750 each) Elan VIA!migo iPod integration dock ($599) Elan SPP system connection panel ($330) Elan PWR4 4-amp, 16-volt power supply ($120) |
Three years ago, I rounded up four different audio-distribution systems and compared them ("Music Around the House"). Of the four, my favorite was Elan's System 6. Beyond its 12-channel amplifier, which was the standout of the bunch, I was most impressed by the various options the system offered.
Since that review, Elan has done anything but rest on its laurels, launching 20 new products at the 2007 CEDIA Expo alone. Of this batch, one of the most exciting was the System 8.6AV, an evolution of the System 6 that I loved so much. The S8.6AV features 8 sources and 6 zones with 12 channels of amplification, adds video distribution and RS-232 communication, and can be stacked to handle even more zones in large homes.
But an audio distribution system is more than just a single component; it also comprises source components and touchscreen or keypad user interfaces. For this reason, I told Elan that I wanted to review the S8.6AV as a system, complete with much of the other stuff that it launched at CEDIA. My goal: to see if the company's newest offerings would deliver performance on par with the first Elan system I tested.
As the heart of Elan's system, the S8.6AV controller can route stereo audio and composite-video signals from up to 8 sources to 6 separate zones. As with any house-wide A/V distribution system, an extensive amount of wiring is needed to fully support everything the S8.6AV has to offer. Beyond the wiring, this system also requires professional programming and system configuration, so user installation isn't possible.
Quite a bit of flexibility can be programmed into the S8.6AV, including zone turn-on and maximum volume, bass, treble, and loudness settings, paging and doorbell levels, "do no disturb" settings, and source input-level adjustment. Generally, each zone gets a controller that both "tells" that zone what source to play and controls the connected sources. Elan calls its touchpanel controllers Via! panels, and it offers them in 4-, 7-, and 10-inch versions. While these are identical in functionality and performance, the 10-inch panel is actually large enough to serve double duty as a TV monitor for viewing in areas like kitchens and bathrooms. Elan sent me a midsize 7-inch Via! 7.0EM for review, a panel that requires both Cat-5 cabling to carry data and control signals, and coax cabling for video signals. In addition to the inputs, the panel also features two outputs: one video and one local IR, which are perfect for connecting to and controlling a TV in that zone. For example, an installer could program the Via! to fire up a bedroom TV and turn it to the appropriate video input and send it the video signal of whatever the panel is receiving — nice!
The second controller I received was the Olé XL touchpad. The XL is the evolution of Elan's original Olé panel and features a 2-inch OLED display, as well as the largest touch-control area of any double-gang-size product currently available. The touchpad requires only a single run of Cat-5 to carry both power and control signals.
My system also included the N800, a 4-inch wireless controller. The N800 is basically a Nokia Internet PDA that Elan has repurposed as a controller, and it looks every bit a Nokia product until you power it up and the Elan splash screen appears. Beyond a Wi-Fi access point, the N800 requires an Elan SS1 system station to communicate with the rest of the system. Currently, every N800 controller requires its own SS1, raising the total cost to just shy of $2,000 — a price that, per inch, makes Sony's XEL-1 OLED TV seem cheap. But Elan informed me that it plans to allow multiple N800s to be "stacked" onto a single SS1.
Performance
So, how does this baby drive? The answer is, "Just fine, thank you very much." Operationally, S8.6AV performed exactly as it should, meaning that it sent the correct audio and video signals to the correct zone whenever I pressed a source button on one of the controllers. Overall, the video quality was good, whether viewed on the Via! panel or on my bedroom's 32-inch TV. Elan claims that video can be sent up to 300 feet without loss, so even the largest homes shouldn't have problems. Granted, it is only composite video, which is fine for things like surveillance cameras and iPod docks, but not for high-quality sources like DVD (let alone HDTV). For that, Elan offers the V883 ($2,400), an 8-source, 8-zone component-video distribution device that can be easily mated with the S8.
I enjoyed being able to tailor the bass, treble, and volume individually for each zone, but I found that I typically ran the volume around 80% or more to satisfy my music jones. While the S8.6 AV's built-in 40-watt per-channel amplifiers can handle moderately loud listening levels in most rooms, the amp might not have quite enough gas for really large rooms or outdoor areas. As much as I appreciated the System 6's amp (which is the same amplifier as in this unit) when I reviewed it, the amps in audio-distribution systems introduced since then from manufacturers like ADA, Request, and Niles have been so outstanding that I've raised my expectations.
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Fortunately, adding additional amplification easily rectifies this possible shortcoming. Elan offers another solution in the form of the S8.AVP ($1,400), a preamplifier-only version that's identical to the S8.6AV in every other way, making it perfect for systems where you prefer to use an outboard power amp.
What makes the S8.6AV really shine is the variety of controllers that can be paired with it. And even though I've auditioned a lot of two-gang-size controllers, I don't think any have looked as slick and contemporary as the Olé XL. Sitting in your wall, it's ultra-sexy, with a 262,000-color display that's incredibly bright and easy to read. While a 2-inch screen doesn't sound like much, it can accommodate a 0–9 key layout with enough room that you can accurately hit each key with your finger. Plus, your installer can add station icons for favorite TV or satellite-radio channels — another great touch.
If you use the Olé XL along with a video display, the S8.6AV's video-distribution capabilities can also give you Via!-like performance at a fraction of the price. In my bedroom, for instance, I could use the Olé XL to navigate my Escient Music Server/DVD Manager's graphical user interface on my TV. As an added bonus, the Olé XL includes a built-in IR receiver so you can operate the system with a handheld remote.
For sheer "Wow!" factor, you can't beat the Via! panels. Budget considerations aside, I'd advocate placing Via!s throughout your installation. They're so cool and easy to use, and their ability to display full-motion video comes in handy for a number of reasons. Whether I was browsing the music stored on my Escient server or checking the program guide on my DVR, being able to access this information on the panel without having to fire up my main TV was a welcome treat. The Via! is also a great platform for viewing any security video cameras connected to the system. And even though it might not seem like a great deal — especially when you can buy a 42-inch high-def plasma TV for the same $1,400 as a 7-inch Via! — that price is actually relatively low by touchpanel standards.
When it comes to the N800 wireless controller, though, I have to say that I'm conflicted. It does an admirable job as a system controller, letting you operate your audio gear while wandering around the house — as long as you stay within range of the Wi-Fi access point. And since the S8.6AV adds the ability to control any zone from any zone — say, switching the sound source on your backyard deck to iPod from the controller located in the kitchen — the N800 is a perfect portable solution. Visually, its interface looks exactly like a Via! panel, so it provides a very consistent user experience. It also includes a Web browser so you can check e-mails or the latest headlines without breaking out the laptop.
What I'm conflicted about is its price: $1,950 ($1,200 for the controller and $750 for the required SS1) is awfully high for a 4-inch controller, especially when you can buy an off-the-shelf Nokia N800 for under $300. I appreciate that Elan adds proprietary software, and even strips out some of the N800's features to improve performance, but at 6[1/2] times the price, it's still a painful pill. However, if you can get over that hurdle and actually pony up for one, I'm sure you'll enjoy using Elan's version of the N800 as much as I did.
Getting metadata feedback on the controllers requires using Elan sources. Along with the DTNR dual AM/FM tuner and Via!migo iPod dock that I tested, Elan also offers an XM satellite tuner and a hard-disc music server that display source metadata information. The DTNR is basically two completely separate AM/FM tuners in a single chassis, allowing different stations to be enjoyed simultaneously in separate zones. The big deal here is that it displays station frequency on the Elan controllers, and allows seek tuning, tuning by preset, or jumping directly to a station by entering its frequency.
But even cooler was the Via!migo iPod integration dock, which iPod users will consider an essential part of the system. The Via!migo features Apple's latest authentication chip and allows full compatibility with all iPods except the iTouch and iPhone. (It should be noted that no current docks are fully iTouch- or iPhone-compatible.) And its ability to browse videos stored on iPods makes it a potential mini house-wide video server as well.
The Via!migo also incorporates a couple of cool features for distributed-audio applications. One is the ability to create a temporary My Jukebox playlist from any of the controllers. The other is a fast-scroll option that's particularly useful for working through a giant library of music to find a specific selection. Being able to browse your iPod's contents from any controller is definitely cool, and I found myself using the Olé XL in my bedroom far more often because of this capability. While the N800 didn't display any information from the Via!migo during my review, I did get a sneak peak at a beta version of an interface that raises the N800's cool factor considerably by letting you use it to wirelessly browse your iPod's contents. (The interface should be available by the time you read this.) But videos and cover art on your iPod won't be able to stream to the N800.
Bottom Line
Elan's System 8.6AV incorporates the best parts of its System 6 multiroom controller and adds terrific improvements, including additional sources, standard-def video distribution, and the ability to stack chassis to accommodate large installations. And you get all this for only $230 more than the original System 6, which keeps it at a price that many entry- and mid-level system buyers will find attractive. Elan has also added some great new controllers to its lineup, making sure that the user interfaces remain not only highly functional but also cool. Together, this adds up to a system that delivers solid performance and does it with élan!