Does anyone have any info on a multiroom system from a company named Sound Stream. It has single gang keypads with a membrane type pads. In the basement there are flat wall mounted amplifiers, 6 inch square, 2 inches deep black boxes that may be zone modules and they are all daisy chained by RJ-11 terminated cords. Upstairs there is what looks like a preamp controller with CD and tuner source components(these are Denon). The customer got the system from the previous owners and was told that it was about 6 years old. I need some help here.

RUN as fast as you can

I think they are out of business Shoe.

Actually only SoundStream HOME is out of business. Soundstream in general is in pretty decent shape. A Client of mine actually purchased them on the brink of bankruptcy a while back, got them back on their feet and then resold the company.

I installed several SS Home systems about 10 years ago. They keypads all learn right to the keypad and are pretty easy to set up. I probobly still have an owners/instalation manual around if you need to make cahnges. I would worry a bit though. The Backup battery in the keypad is probobly shot by now. A Power failure could wipe them out.

Shoe, I have also done many SoundStream systems...I worked for the largest dealer in the southeast for 6 years,and can troubleshoot it with my eyes closed..I also have many spare parts and peices in my stockroom from switching out systems..They have not had new product for 6 to 7 years..I would be glad to help as well...I can suggest best how to keep it going, and what systems are easiest to replace it with without pulling new wires...I have currently swapped them and have at least 3 I keep going that I have not yet swapped over,( waiting for lightening ) just email or you can call me if you like just look at my website, for the number.

THXRick

Thanks for the response guys. THXRick, the story goes that one day the system just quit working. It powers up, the keypads visually appear to work but no sound. The amps are warm but not hot and the only thing I saw that looked peculiar was a modular cord was plugged into the preamp but not terminated at the other end nor was there a jack around to plug it into. The customer says nothing out of the ordinary happened and no other trades were working in the house. What systems are viable replacements?

Shoe,Love to talk you thru this on the phone, but here is some initial advice..The problem with a SS system is 90% of the time communication..Their is a +5 Volt signal that gets carried between the RA-100's (The Wall Amps) and The SN-1 Simulsource Network..The SN-1 is sorta the processor or brain of the system..It acts as a preamp and communictaes with the Sources VIA an installed eprom..Which in your case is a Denon eprom with tuner and cd ir codes built in..When button presses are made the codes are sent as needed..This is a very quick class...The problems occur when the RA-100's lock-up..They stop sending 5 volts to the SN-1..The older ones were notorious for this..If the amps are only 6 years old hopefully the dealer put in Mark III's..They will have a model on top..This is important to know..What you will need to do is pull out the old Volt meter set it to dc and put you probes on the 8 pin adaptor at the RA-100's ..this adaptor receives audio, video, and comm from the SN-1..Pins 6 and 8 ( also the video bal.) should have 5 volts..Check them all..each amp..This will take some getting use to since they are backwards plugged in..When you find one (which you will) that has less than 5 volts..unplug the 8 pin adaptor..Check the voltage again to insure that the RA-100 is the bad peice..Typically you will have 5 volts from the SN-1..If you do not it will require resetting the SN-1..If we have to go down this road please call me..Again though the RA-100 is most likely at fault..With the 8 pin out of the amp, unplug the RA-100 for about 30 seconds, plug in back in check voltage, again without the 8 pin plugged in..make sure you are on the right pins..If we have 5 volts now your in business..If you do not, unplug the Mod-6 cable which goes to a JB-100 for the keypads, check voltage again (this is to insure we do not have a bad keypad)..If voltage is still not 5, we have a bad RA-100, if it is we have a bad keypad..Most likely if something is out it is the amp..If the amp is bad I would be glad to do a swap out for you, just call..But once this is out of the system, the other ( Zones will work) That was always the inherent problem with SS if one RA-100 is locked up the whole system goes down..You can keep the system up reliably with a few other things just call and I will fill you in..If the customer is willing to swap over and dump a few thousand, it can be done with Audio Access without pulling any new wire's..unless the dealer put the RA-100's in multiple locations..But we can still work it out with only extending speaker and using cat5 for the keypads..I can fill you in on this too just give a call..


THXRick

I just got an email from the customer. He called the original dealer, was told to unplug the system for four hours, plug it back in and voila, it started working. There goes that system, but I don't mind too much. Thanks Rick but we both did a lot of work for nothing. BTW, you sell some nice stuff, nice web site.

Thanks shoe, and don't worry it will go down again...Guarranteed..

THXRick