My expectations were was high when I heard that the company was launching SWAN, short for Structured Wiring Audio Network, a new distributed-audio system whose components install inside of structured wiring panels. Not only does this approach make for a slick install, but it also meets guidelines for inclusion in a Fannie Mae home mortgage, meaning that great audio can be had for pennies a day. But I wondered: Would this SWAN be beautiful, or just another ugly duckling?
Setup
When half of a product’s name is "Structured Wiring," it’s easy to guess what the first part of the setup will be. All SWAN system wiring is homerun to the structured panel location, using standard 2-conductor speaker wiring pulled to each speaker and RG6 cabling pulled for an antenna. All other devices in the system — keypads, subwoofers, external amplifiers, and sources — connect via Cat5 cabling.
Key system components include the ZCI-8 Control and Input Module and the ZCA-4 four-zone integrated amp. Up to eight audio sources connect to the ZCI-8, while the ZCA-4 powers up to four keypads and four zones of speakers. The ZCA-4 also features four subwoofer outputs for adding low-end fill via a powered sub. Together, these create the eight-source, four-zone backbone of the SWAN system, which can be expanded to 48 zones by adding additional ZCA-4s. And these modules dock into each other; no interconnect cabling is required.
My review system also included two of ADA’s latest source components. First is the SWAN Dual-Tuner Module (SDTM) that counts as two inputs on the system. The SDTM comes in a variety of configurations, from dual AM/FM/Weather ($1,416) to AM/FM/Weather plus one "premium" tuner ($1,616), which adds Sirius or XM satellite radio or HD Radio. I received the flagship Dual-Premium model ($1,816) configured to receive Sirius and HD Radio.
ADA also sent along its iBase and iBase eXtender kit for iPod integration. The iBase sits in a convenient docking location, while the eXtender mounts into the wiring panel. In addition to charging your iPod, the dock features composite- and S-video outputs for sending photos or videos to a monitor. Multi-Pod families will love that SWAN can support up to eight iBases.
Specifications
Since all audio signals travel over Cat5, ADA offers several RCA-to-Cat5 converters for transforming line-level audio into balanced signals capable of running great distances without degradation. The MIN-4 included with my system handles up to four sources and requires a separate Cat5 wire for each source. ADA also offers the single-source MIN-1 ($69), plus the SWO-1 ($69) for subwoofer output.
SWAN utilizes ADA’s well-established ADA-Bus standard for bidirectional control, so every component and module in the company’s vast arsenal is available. My system included modules that added paging/door chime and clock/alarm functions. And while most audio-distribution systems offer basic bass and treble adjustments, SWAN ups the ante by adding midrange control, and the center frequency and Q (width) of the bass/mid/treble and loudness contours can be adjusted along with subwoofer levels and cutoff frequencies. All these settings can be stored in four user-recallable tone presets.
Performance
Control is one of the most important aspects of a successful audio-distribution system. My system included four controllers ranging from the single-gang MC-6111 to the flagship TS-5000 touchscreen controller. In the middle are the older, multicolored MC-4500 and the brand-new MC-7000. All display metadata from the iBase and the tuner for smart navigation.
The MC-6111 uses OLED technology, and its limited buttons actually simplify operation. The two-line display is sharp and bright, but the type is small, so users might opt for the MC-7000, which functions identically but includes a much larger (2.7-inch) screen for only $100 more.
Not surprisingly, the TS-5000 was my favorite. Its large, 3.6-inch 320 x 240-resolution screen was easy to read, plus it offered direct access to the tuner’s stations and presets. More important, because the buttons were labeled for the source being controlled, it was far more intuitive to use. The TS-5000 also has the ability to display full-motion video with the VSWH-8 video-switching wiring harness ($1,199, capable of supporting eight TS-5000s), which would be perfect for viewing any security cameras placed around the house.
My least favorite controller was the MC-4500. With its numerous arrow buttons, I often had difficulty finding the correct one to navigate sources or system options. However, I did like the direct access to XM and FM radio stations.
Conclusions
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.
