Our Mid-Level and Advanced whole-house audio systems provide the option to install wall-mounted control pads. Control pads offer a convenient point to power on/off a zone, select a source, and adjust volume. You can also quickly mute and unmute the zone as well as globally power off all zones or power on all zones to a common source. For Lync systems, the LyncTouch can also be used for one-to-one and one-to-all intercom. Two built-in microphones provide clear and detailed communication with voices sounding strong and natural through the speakers in your zone.

Our website offers pre-packaged whole-house audio sets both with and without wall-mounted control pads, but all systems can be customized to include the number of control pads you prefer.

While our free HTD Home Audio app can control every zone in your system, we still recommend installing at least one wall-mounted control pad, often in the kitchen or family room, for convenient muting and powering on/off your entire system. A control pad installed in every zone provides ultimate convenience but should be balanced with budget and aesthetic concerns.

The light switch analogy - getting the best of both worlds: Similar to a good whole-house audio control system, many modern home lighting systems can be controlled entirely from an app. But there are times when a wall switch or keypad is simply more convenient. Despite our dependency on smart phones, the fact is you won’t always have yours with you. And sometimes it’s just easier to turn a light on or off with a switch when entering or leaving a room. Other times, it’s more convenient to use an app so you don’t have to get out of bed, up from the dinner table, or off the couch.

The arguments are similarly valid for whole-house audio. Imagine getting a phone call or hearing a knock at the door – it may be quicker to push the mute, off, or all-off button on a nearby control pad than it is to find your phone and open the app.

Other reasons to install a wall-mounted control pad in a zone:

·      Your children and guests can use them. All of our control pads are intuitive to use the first time, so if you don’t want to share the app with someone, they can still control the basics.

·      The app uses your home’s WiFi network. Should your WiFi falter, you can still control a zone with a control pad installed in that zone, as well as issue global commands to power off the entire system, or power on all zones to a common source.

·      One of the advanced features of our Lync system is the ability to add source input panels throughout your home for use with TVs and other sources not installed in the central location. Audio input panels can be connected to a nearby LyncTouch without the need to home-run another cable.

Final thought . . . if you are unsure about adding a wall-mounted control pad into a zone, we recommend running Cat 5 or higher cable behind the wall from the keypad location to your central controller. Cat cable is relatively inexpensive and running it now will give you the option to add a control pad in the future.