Hi guys,

I am trying to decide how to best set up a audio system with multiple rooms. I have an extra A/V receiver that I planned on using for the system. It is connected to a digital pre-amp output from my main receiver, so that I can use all the sources from my HT. Currently this extra receiver is just driving my outdoor speakers. I was wondering if I should just get a speaker selector and some wall mount volume controls for each room and hook the output of the extra receiver up to the speaker selector to drive my eight rooms (including my outdoor spkrs).

What do you all think?

Thanks,

Mark

Mark,
We need more information to give you good advice. What is the make and model of both of your receivers and your speakers? Do you already have the speakers you would like to use in the other rooms? What are the other rooms, how big, etc.? Please tell us how many people will be using the whole house music system. What are their uses; background while working on a computer, enhancing their game playing, rocking the house down with parties? Is there a need for multiple source access in any of the rooms?

Both my receivers are JVC. The one in use for my HT is model RX-9010V. The one I would like to use for my Whole House audio is an RX-6008V. I don't know what speakers to use for each room. I haven't really gotten that far. The rooms I want to put speakers in are as follows:

1. Kitchen - 30'X16'
2. Laundry - 14'X10'
3. Garage - 30'X24'
4. Master BR - 23'X15'
5. Master Bath - 26'X14'
6. Dining Rm - 14'X15'
7. Kid's rm1 - 14'X15'
8. Kid's rm2 - 13'X16'
9. Front Porch
10.Back Patio/Pool area
11.Foyer - 11'X9'

Ok, so now that I look at my house floorplan, I realize I need 11 sets of speakers, not just 8.

It will mostly be used for music through out the house. Although, if it is not too difficult, it would be cool if the spkrs could be used for the TV's in each room also. This would be cool, but not overly necessary if difficult. Our main computer is in the HT, so it is using our current surround sound and is displayed on our 56" DLP. Our other computers are fine with their little sound systems.

Thanks for your help.
Mark

You need more power. Add at least one additional amp from your second zone receiver. Y the outputs of your sources, send half to home theater receiver and half to the second zone receiver. Determine by listening whether your receivers shunt inputs to ground when powering down, and buffer as needed.

Is this New Construction or Retro?

Several manufactueres make boxes to redirect TV sound to the rooms speakers. Not too difficult in Pre-wire phase..... As for Retro, Your in "Call a Professional" territory. (Actually either way, you SHOULD be talking to someone who can come out and SEE what needs to happen with what you describe here)

Freds right.. Your JVC will NOT hold up in this enviroment. Definatly need a real amplifier.

Hi Fred,

Why do I want to Y my outputs from my sources and send them to both receivers? And what does it matter if the inputs are shunted to ground on powerdown?

I am an electrical engineer, but I don't have a lot of experience with audio equipment, so I appreciate your help.

Thanks,
Mark

If I get an amplifier, do I need the second receiver at all? It is a retrofit, but I am pretty good at doing things myself. Usually better than anyone I can get to do them for me around this area.

Thanks for your help.

Mark

Does your HT RX-9010V Reciever support zone two?
If so you can you can feed to zone amp and to a speaker selector box.

It does support a second zone. I am currently running the zone 2 pre-out into the other receiver and driving my outdoor speakers with it. Could I just replace my second receiver with a larger amp and a speaker selector and individual vol. controls in each location?
If so, is that the best way to go?

Thanks,
Mark

A good multi-zone amp is in order here. The second zone off the JVC will not allow this many speakers to give you decent sound output, no matter what speakers you use. A multi-zone amp will offer four to six zones and usually four source inputs. If we divide your eleven rooms into six zones and use CD/DVD/FM/TV as your sources, you can enjoy up to four different sources being used at the same time in different zones around your home. For instance, you can be listening to a basketball game from the tv in the garage at the same time someone else is listening to cd music outside, while a third person is listening to a DVD in the Master Bedroom. And so on.

Ok, so how do I do it? What brand of multi zone amp should I use. I don't have any real budget. I can spend what I want, but I don't want to waste money on more than I need.

Thanks,

Mark

Yes then you will need another amp. That current reciever wont push enough juice to do the job, I would recomend an Audio Source amp, single source zone amp to a speker selector preferably...Russound: selector and volume controls which alow for true impedeance matching (dip switch settings in vol cntrl) on speakers to amp, important as this will prevent your amp from frying and will run strong for a long time. Russound are guaranteed for life as long as you own it!

Ok, I may be an idiot, but what is the difference between using my second receiver to drive the system, or using an amplifier?

Thanks,
Mark

Yes I agree with Penny this is good suggestion if money isnt factor multi zone/source is nice most customers dont want to spend that kind of money on equip, but multi zone/source is way to go, gives you freedom of choice were ever you are in or outside of home. This also removes the extra equip (speaker selector box)unless you need more thatn the amp provides.

Mike or Penny,

Please answer my question I posted above Mike's last response. I wrote this reply so it didn't get lost without being answered.

Thanks,
Mark