We just signed on with SpeakerCraft. Anyone have any tips/insights on programming the multi-zone keypads and zone controller?

It's SO easy. What exactly do you want to know? Here are a couple hints:

Program On/Off in "Events" This will guarantee devices come on when the system turns on and off when the system turns off. Works with discrete and toggle power commands

Any button can do anything that has an IR signal and also close the contact relay or almost anything else you can think of. For example I had a customer with only four sources and programmed the last four buttons (2 source and the bass and treble buttons). I programmed these buttons to do different functions dependent on the source. THe first source was XM radio and these four buttons had 4 different preset channels programmed into them. CD was source 2 and I programmed these 4 buttons to do disc skip + and - and also track skip + and -

There are a LOT more things possible with this system then most others (Nuvo, Russound, etc.) and the amp is stable to 4 ohms easily for each channel.

Post questions you may have. I LOVE these systems.

I have to agree. We have been a speakercraft dealer for many years.

The first mzc-66 I programmed had 6 sources and 6 zones. Programmed the entire thing from start to finish in just under 2 hours. The system is very flexible.

Robbie S

Programmed my first one last week. Knocked it out in about 2 hours. Very easy, works awesome. I just wish they'd hurry up and release the MZC-88.

Thanks for the input!!

The IR database seems to be pretty incomplete. We mainly use Integra, Escient, Parasound and Vidikron. Did you find that you had to add alot of codes?

I also like the performance and easy programming of the keypads. I set most of the stuff up with events so that all of the cheap equipment (TEAC CD changer, Sylvania DVD Player (existing customer piece), TEAC Tuner and Scientific Atlanta Cable Box) that I was using comes on with any zone on and goes off with last zone off. Actually the CD player stays on, and just stops on last zone off. There are also two zones with displays, and they work flawlessly since I had actual discretes for on/off on them. The displays come on if DVD or Cable is selected, and go off with last zone off.

I ran into a little trouble in zones where there was no keypad present (there were two), and I used a remote. You have to set it up like there is a keypad present and just use an IR receiver in that zone. All button presses are separate and distinct IR codes according to input selection. For example, if you are in 'CD' input the volume up IR code is different from the volume up IR code if you are in 'DVD' input; and they are distinct by zone. This makes it hard to program an HTM remote (my preference over Pronto) to run the system in a room where you can't get a keypad to. You would have to program a separate device for each input, in each different room.

What I did was program a Pronto with separate pages for each different device within each zone, with invisible page flips. The input device selected drives the page, and then I replicated the Speakercraft keyapds onto the Pronto so that the interface was as close as possible in each zone, whether it be keypad or remote.

Other than that, I really like the operation and sound of the system, and am looking forward to using it again.

Just my .02

John

I barely use the IR database. Nice thing about it though is that you can add codes that you want via Pronto HEX codes, imported Xantech codes, or learn them into the EZ Tools through the LTM-1.0. (You did get one of these right?) You can also create your own manufacturer, equipment group, model, etc. in the folders. I have installed 4 of these systems so far and am working on the 5th. There is just so much you can do with this system. I'm sure that I've barely scratched the surface even though I've installed multiple systems. We can typically have an MZC system trimmed out (equipment, IR emitters, keypads, programming) finished in a couple hours.

I think that SpeakerCraft had some help designing this system from their sister companies. The telephone interface piece now available is basically a relabeled Elan Z piece.

Their speakers sound great too. I've used the CRS with the Waveplane in every installation I've done since picking up SpeakerCraft. I kind of figured that the Waveplane was just another one of those "gimmicks" but it really does seem to disperse the sound better across the room. Makes my Paradigm CS-60s in my house sound like CRAP in comparison. I've also used AIMs, WeatherCrafts, and the subs. All have sounded great and the lifetime warranty really talks to the customers. For those customers on the fence about the budget, I give them both whole house and CRS quotes. 100% have gone CRS because of the lifetime warranty.

I could go on and on. Good stuff.

I love this system. The software is incredible. The programs can be just as incredible as you can imagine (within reason). I program all of our controll systems including Crestron and for the low budget customer you cannot go wrong with the MZC66. In my experience using anything other than the master keypad is useless. Does any one else have any suggestions for uses for keypads other than the master? My only complaint is the keypad. I would really love the ability to engrave the keypad with what I want it to say, but we can't have it all :)

You can clean the print off the buttons with acetone and have them printed (or reprinted I guess) by someone who does pad printing. Similar to silkscreening but instead of a squeegee (sp?) it's more of a ballon shaped pad that rolls across. I haven't had the printing done yet but have created "blank" buttons.

ATOH thats a great idea, I'll have to rethink some things now. The other thing I don't like though is the "shape/layout" of the keypads, but knowing that I can change the buttons does help.

Hmm? I didn't get the info on that piece yet. Could you clue me in?

BTW, this forum ROCKS!! THX Guys...

The telephone interface module is cool but I have a LOVE/HATE relationship with it.
It is an Elan Z600 communications controller with the speakercraft name on it.

You can have 2 doorbells ring through BG msuic system. Pick up any phone and talk to front door, have paging over BG music system, Use phones as intercom, ulock/open doors/gates. Put source music into phones so that if you put someone on hold the get to listen to music. List goes on and on.

The 2 things I HATE MOST are the nasty sounding dial tone and the fact that the dial tone will not work with the phone companies voice mailbox system. You can bypass the system dialtone and get to a standard tone and then listen for the beeps to see if you have any messages.

Other than that I love it.

Robbie S

You can connect multiple keypads into the same zone at the system. The keypads are addressable and I believe you can have up to 16 in one zone. As long as you can get Cat5 to the room somewhere for a keypad you can put additional keypads anywhere! For example, I put a laundry room and kitchen on one zone and a keypad in each. Connected both to one keypad input.

I may be jumping in over my head but I am one of those customers that likes to know all about the product before I buy. I have been building a home for the past 10 months and last fall decided to include the MZC 66 in the plans. I had a local dealer pre wire all rooms with speaker wire and cat5e the pre wire was almost twice the cost of the unit itself. It is now time to do the final hook up and programing .After reading the replys about the install time I am a bit concerned. My local dealer claims they will need two men and at least two full eight hour days to complete the project. This includes six zones , six sources and four MX 500 universal remotes . The install does not include any speaker hook ups (I will be installing them myself) . Does this sound like a unreasonable amount of labor time to anyone who has installed one? Thanks in advance for any help with this matter.

CBJ03

Unreasonable??
Not at all... In fact, this is probably a conservative estimate of the actual time it will take them, and maybe your quote is just what they think they will actually bill you for, barring major problems, because the slush time for fixing the inevitible unexplained problems is usually not on the initial quote, and is hardly ever fully billable.

I usually do not like to see end users in this forum, because it is supposed to be just pros. But, since you are here... look around at some of the other threads and see the problems we face.
Many of the threads are newer pros asking advice from salty old veterans, but you will easily find the old vets looking in bewilderment for any help on a portion of a job that doesn't work properly for some unexplainable reason.

PVC is cheap, why was your plumbing so expensive??
Plumbing is not a hard science to master, and changes very little from decade to decade, much less month to month like custom A/V...
Imagine what your plumbing contractor would charge in the instance where a certain valve or other common part he has used 100 times before suddenly and unexplainably didn't work... replace it with a backup and it still doesn't work.
The manufacturer's support tells you, after waiting between 3 hrs & 2 days for a callback, that it should be working fine and to "check your connections". This is what we face every day. No matter how well designed the system is, it happens to some degree.

The guy needs to make money, he has a business to run with payroll for neat and reliable installers that don't have any desire to rob your house after the job, insurance payments in case someone drills through your radiant floor heat tubing, vehicle maintenence for the van(s) that come to your house, worker's comp insurance so nobody sues you in case someone falls off a ladder mounting the sat dish or ceiling speakers in the 2 story cathedral ceiling, etc.

BTW, the "rob your house" comment is based on reality...
You know the roofers and siding guys that work for the contractor that always has the lowest bids??
I have seen a vanload of them hauled off a jobsite because the sherriff showed up to serve a warrant on one guy and noticed that most of the crew had outstanding warrants for things like HOME INVASION!!!

In IL, that's home burglary while the home is occupied.

I think I would take a closer look at the higher bids...

You are not being taken advantage of, in fact many of the pros here would not even go near a job where the homeowner wants to do this much of his own labor. Who assumes liability when something fails??

Hire this company, and good luck.