For audio in multiple rooms (2), kitchen and patio, I am planning on using Squeezeslave on the core, piped to some computer speakers I have around, using some additional sound cards.
Have not sorted out as yet how to control the power on the speakers, but thinking of using a zwave plug, and there must be some scenario to turn on and off.
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Squeezeslave_on_the_coreHave not gotten around to this as yet, as my install and I are in a wrestling match,
In connection with DLNA/UPNP, it works for me (UlPNP), as my collection are playable by the renders, WD live and PI running XBMC, not transcoding.