As for whole house audio and your iPod, you may not need that complicated a system (or at least not right away). I decided that if iPod/iTunes is my exclusive source for music, I don't really need an elaborate multi-source set up. I'm going to set up my iPod/iTunes system myself by going for the Sonance iPort to a multi-zone amp, connecting my PC to a multizone amp and using network storage for my music, or purchasing Onkyo's iPod dock and linking my reciever to a multi-zone amp. I will use basic volume controls in the zones and probably IR in a few places.

Also, check out the Sonos system. It uses its own wireless network to stream music or you can connect the boxes and your PC using your Cat-5 runs. It has received great reveiws, and looks very slick (especially the remote). If your speaker wire and volume control runs are already set up, Sonos MAY not make be cost effective. Also, I don't think Sonos, or most other streaming systems, support AAC's purchased through iTunes Music Store. It may be worth looking into for your needs.

My contractor pre-wired six zones of music (Kitchen, Family Room, LR/DR, Loft, MBR, and Office). They ran speaker wire from the in-ceiling locations to the volume control. From the volume control, cat-5 to the wall panel. If you go with a wall panel/wiring closet, you may want to run additional cat-5s for local inputs into the whole house system. You may also want to wire for a deck/patio and the garage. I can easily run wire to those areas once I move in.

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Smiley

'03 X5 3.0