OTHER TECH

Other than the times when I used the very straightforward touchpanel, control wasn't always intuitive. For example, the keypads use Up and Down for source selection only, not for any component control. If they were labeled Source Up and Source Down, it would certainly keep you from wanting to use them for other functions. When controlling the iPod, the SEL key takes you back a level instead of selecting what you've scrolled to. Also, the << and >> keys, generally associated with track skip, instead navigate menu selection. But I love that any pad can control any zone, a feature that is surprisingly useful. There are also four "Party Groups" to allow selected rooms to turn on to the same source with one button press.

The iBase is the most solidly constructed and unique-looking iPod dock I've tested. Beyond being sturdy enough to allow you to undock your Pod single-handedly without the dock remaining attached, it has a Plexiglas back plate with selectable lighting color, including different colors whether the Pod is undocked or not. It also has an option that changes the colors in time to the music. However, navigating your Pod from the keypads can take some time. The controllers display only a single line of information while browsing your Pod, and you can advance only one selection at a time. Thus, if your Pod has 500 albums, getting to the end of the list would take 500 button presses. Even browsing by genre can take many presses. A way to skip multiple selections at once, or to rapidly scroll through the list, would be a welcome improvement.

As mentioned, my tuner included Sirius and HD Radio. The Sirius performed flawlessly: It sounded great and gave all the station metadata that you expect from satellite radio. Unfortunately, my area doesn't get any HD Radio signals, so I couldn't test that feature. The tuner did receive AM and FM like a champ, and it outputs any RDS information to the controllers.

When I hear about amplifiers being installed in enclosed spaces - like structured wiring panels - my first thought is: "Danger, Will Robinson! Heat!" Fortunately, all of the heat-producing components here - the ZCA-4 controller/amp, the SDTM tuner, and the ZCP-4 preamp - incorporate fans for forced air circulation. Smartly, the fans turn on only when that component is in use, so they run only as needed. And since they're mounted in an enclosure presumably well away from any listening area, fan noise isn't a concern.

I wasn't expecting too much from the smallish amplifier, but the ZCA-4 is truly proof that great things can come in small packages. This amp sounded and performed wonderfully, providing plenty of sound in every area of my home, including my usually tough-to-drive outdoor pool speakers. I never wanted for volume or needed to drive the amp close to maximum level. Another sign of quality is that the amp is stable with 2-ohm loads, meaning that it can easily and safely drive multiple speakers on each channel.

Bottom Line Like most things, SWAN isn't perfect. And if controlling an iPod is your primary goal, then you'd probably be better served by another system. However, SWAN does many things right. It comes from a company with a terrific pedigree. It's easy to wire and mounts completely out of sight. It can be expanded to handle any size home. It offers a variety of control solutions with two-way feedback that should fit any budget. It includes terrific amplifiers that produce great sound. Plus, SWAN can be rolled into a home's mortgage, making it incredibly affordable to add amazing sound to your house. All told, SWAN should make anyone's heart soar.

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