New Addition questions

[wraunch]

Ok I've got two final bids. One is a Lennox dealer the other does American Standard. Both calculated the loads at 2.5 tons. The Lennox recommendation is a 15 SEER Xp14-030 Elite Heat Pump with a CBX27UH Air handler and a CS5000 Tstat for $$$ after the local power company rebates. They recommend we zone the new unit, place a return in the theater and a return in the new bedroom. They also recommend increasing the size of the some of the existing ductwork as it is six inch and should have been larger. Also, the Lennox contractor is telling me the variable speed air handler isn't necessary since I will have all ceiling vents. Is that true?

The American standard quote I am getting is as follows: 14 SEER Heat Pump (don't have model #) and the GAM air handler with electronic expansion valve which increases it to 15 SEER (that's what I'm told). That would be $$$ and if I want it zoned it would be another $$$. I think that is probably going to be well worth the money to have it zoned.

Which solution should I go with?