If he is a Mac person then airplay is the scheme I have settled on at home and in my office "suite" for moving all my music around from one central location.
All you need in each satellite room are speakers and amp ( or powered speakers) and an airplay capable DAC or an Airport Express and any old DAC.
I used to be a Logitech Harmony groupie but using Roomie Remote on my devil made phone and tablet beats the hell out of any Logitech remote I have used. Even with all the in app add-ons it is cheaper than all but the cheapest Harmony remotes.
So after listening to these for a few months with proper XLR cables and a whole variety of music these are much better than the Audioengine 5s. The bass is much better and it has IMO a much more coherent presentation. This is all nearfield listening. These will be staying for a good long while.
Yay for Steve and Susie!
Stayed home and hung out with the Dish technician. When I got home on Sunday our Dish receiver was dead. The fourth one in under two years. Called Dish on Monday. Their initial solution was to replace it with receiver #5. I went all Ditka on their ass. We now have a Hopper and 3 Joeys and are paying $18 less per month. Yay Ditka!