Crestron is now shipping its Sonnex 24×8 Multiroom Audio System, which transmits 48 channels of uncompressed 24-bit HD audio long distances across a single shielded Cat-5-type cable to up to 74 zones. Featuring single-wire digital bus technology, Sonnex substantially reduces the hardware and cabling requirements of traditional systems while delivering maximum power and sound quality, according to the company.
“The benefits of Sonnex to our custom installers are huge–never having to deal with speaker wire homeruns back to the central closet reduces installation times significantly and allows installers to move on to the next job while their competitors are still pulling cable,” said Crestron director of marketing, Vincent Bruno.
With installations of more than eight zones, integrators simply add a SWAMPE-8 zone expander locally, rather than in the central rack. The only connection required back to the main rack is a single shielded Cat-5-type cable. Pulling bundles of speaker wire through walls and ceilings is virtually eliminated. ESCs can add up to eight eight-zone expanders for a total of 74 zones with 24 sources. All speaker wire is local.
Because the high-efficiency design generates much less heat than traditional amplifiers, Sonnex requires less rack space by eliminating the empty “breathing” space between components. The challenges of overheating components and the hassles of cooling the rack by installing and programming fans are solved.
Sonnex high-efficiency, cool-running design produces low-power consumption while generating 240 watts per-channel at four ohms to up to 74 speaker zones. Installer-friendly software enables quick EQ of a Sonnex system and fine tuning of custom speaker and room profiles to create the best sound based on each room’s natural acoustic qualities.
