Crestron Adagio Entertainment System
October

While Crestron's name is virtually synonymous with ultra-high-end installations, its systems have been beyond the reach of most homeowners. Enter Adagio ($13,600 as reviewed), a far more approachable system that works right out of the box. That's right — Crestron with no programming. When outfitted with AM/FM, XM, or Sirius tuner cards, the CEN-IDOC iPod docking station, and the Adagio audio server, the system is plug-and-play, while still providing the metadata needed to browse your digital sources. iPod users will feel right at home with the APAD controllers, which let you use the scroll wheel to browse music as if the Pod had never left your hand! Eschewing the black-box cosmetics of most audio-distribution products while providing full system control, the six-zone, 10-source AES chassis looks as good as it performs.

Crestron's real trick was packing the Adagio with its Series 2 processor. This gives the Adagio the pedigree to do far more than just music, including the ability to automate your lighting, HVAC, security, and more. And with its new Adagio media system — which combines all of the audio-distribution features with a full-blown home-theater receiver that includes HDMI switching — this is one system that can truly do it all.
crestron.com
— John Sciacca