OTHER TECH

Since all audio signals travel over Cat5, ADA offers several RCA-to-Cat5 converters for transforming line-level audio into balanced signals capable of running great distances without degradation. The MIN-4 included with my system handles up to four sources and requires a separate Cat5 wire for each source. ADA also offers the single-source MIN-1 ($69), plus the SWO-1 ($69) for subwoofer output.

SWAN utilizes ADA's well-established ADA-Bus standard for bidirectional control, so every component and module in the company's vast arsenal is available. My system included modules that added paging/door chime and clock/alarm functions. And while most audio-distribution systems offer basic bass and treble adjustments, SWAN ups the ante by adding midrange control, and the center frequency and Q (width) of the bass/mid/treble and loudness contours can be adjusted along with subwoofer levels and cutoff frequencies. All these settings can be stored in four user-recallable tone presets.

Performance Control is one of the most important aspects of a successful audio-distribution system. My system included four controllers ranging from the single-gang MC-6111 to the flagship TS-5000 touchscreen controller. In the middle are the older, multicolored MC-4500 and the brand-new MC-7000. All display metadata from the iBase and the tuner for smart navigation.

The MC-6111 uses OLED technology, and its limited buttons actually simplify operation. The two-line display is sharp and bright, but the type is small, so users might opt for the MC-7000, which functions identically but includes a much larger (2.7-inch) screen for only $100 more.

Not surprisingly, the TS-5000 was my favorite. Its large, 3.6-inch 320 x 240-resolution screen was easy to read, plus it offered direct access to the tuner's stations and presets. More important, because the buttons were labeled for the source being controlled, it was far more intuitive to use. The TS-5000 also has the ability to display full-motion video with the VSWH-8 video-switching wiring harness ($1,199, capable of supporting eight TS-5000s), which would be perfect for viewing any security cameras placed around the house.

My least favorite controller was the MC-4500. With its numerous arrow buttons, I often had difficulty finding the correct one to navigate sources or system options. However, I did like the direct access to XM and FM radio stations.