What's the best "whole house music solution" for a non-audiophile?
Quite simple: a completely separate stereo in every room you might listen in.
Who in their right mind is going to expect everyone in the "WHOLE HOUSE" to want to listen to the same thing????????
Gary
maybe I didn't catch the joke but this is
exactly what's possible with SONOS . From the same HDD, SONOS is capable of playing different pieces in each zone. Or from the Internet or from any PC or MAC connected to the House Wi-Fi or even from a Line level source if connected to SONOS. The Zones are independent but can be grouped , say for a party.
Let's assume you have an house with 5 Different PC and a NAS with Music. Say three kids and Parents and many rooms.
Well Room 1 listen to Music from the NAS
Room 2 music from the NAS but different music/cut/song
Room 3 listen from the music on its own PC,
Room 4 can listen to Music from PC in Room 3 but not the same piece as person in Room 3 is listening to
Room 5 Listens to Music from the Internet
Room 6 listen to PC in Room 1 and make a playlist that has music from the Internet, Room 2 and the NAS
Room 7 can listen to music on a dad's IPhone
Room 8 is listening to the Internet as well but different song from different station
Room 9 is listening from a Linel Level source, say an SACD player
Al zones can be controlled from a PC , a MAC, an iPhone or iPad or iTouch or Android smartphones or tablet or SONOS own Wireless controller (I don't think they're selling many of these)
.. You get the gist .. All of the above simultaneously ... I don't know the exact maximum number of zones at least 12.. IOW a lot. Man I sound like a SONOS salesperson

, a satisfied user though