I am planning on a simple distributed audio system, 8 pairs of speakers, volume controls and IR at each pair, homerun to my audio cabinet. I will be using my current surround receivers 2nd source out to a two channel amp.

1. I am assuming to connect all these speakers I would need some form of a speaker switch out of my second source amp correct?

2. Where would the impendance matching take place at the VC or switch.

3. Should I try and terminate all these wires onto a wall plate or just run out of the wall into the switch. Any advice on how to make this function for the optimum results would be appreciated. I am not looking to spend too much money because the home is in a subdivision that has multiples of the same model.

Use a SpeakerCraft, ELAN, or Audioplex Volume control with built in IR receiver. With 8 pairs The first thing I would recommend is a multi-channel amplifier. If that's not in the budget then use a speaker selector box. I know Speakercraft has 1 for 8 Pair of speakers. They also have a very nice wall plate termination kit for it. You run a single multipin cable from the speaker selector to the finished wall plate and plug it in.

1. Yes

2. Let the speaker selector do the impedance matching.

3. Use the SpeakerCraft wall plate termination kit.


Robbie S

I second the use of a multi-channel amplifier. The speaker selector will cut off the frecuency response. Using a combination of the multi-channel amplifier and the VC with IR receiver as Robbie stated will give you more flexibility and you will be able to turn off a zone remotelly.

No, a speaker switcher will not affect the output amplifier's frequency response in any meaningful way. Adding a volume control to the circuit will change the frequency response a bit, depending on the size and build of the transformer in it.

Adding a switcher does affect the damping factor the speaker would see, but then so does inserting the volume control in the circuit.

All that being said, I would also look at an autoformer such as the Niles SMS-10 or Sonance AF-8. Good sonics (better than a speaker switcher), lower cost than a multi-channel amp, and very reliable operation. We use autoformers in large single zone distributed audio systems with great results.

The autoformer is alsoo an excellent option. More than a switch box but still considerably less than a good multi-channel amplifier.

As for the speaker selector affecting frequency output--- Yes, some of the cheap, poorly designed boxes wil affect the frequency (typically they cut all of the low frequencies) BUT the quality built speaker selectors will have very little affect on the output frequency

Robbie S

I have to add something here....

ALthough the Frequency response may not be affected by a Autoformer or speaker selector, that doesnt mean the sound quality wont be affected. on most in-wall/In-ceiling speakers, you wont hear a significant diference, if any at all, but if yur planning on using higher end speakers, (Theil, B&W, Monitor, even the High end Speakercraft/Sonace etc) you WILL hear a disctict diference inthe sound quality. I've A/Bed a SpeakerCraft BB1235 vs. a Speakercraft 2125 w/ SMS-10 (Roughly the same price) and the 1235 sound MUCH better with SpeakerCraft MT8-TWO's and Theil PowerPlanes.

Impaqt

I agree that any time you can use separate amp channels AND preamp controlled volume you will have superior sound assuming similar quality and all other things being equal. Anytime you place other products in the path you stand a good chance of affecting the sound quality.

And I certainly agree that the speaker choice has a lot to do with being able to tell the difference. Most higher end speakers demand higher current amps and quicker response times or they can sound worse than cheaper speakers.

With that said, the original post was looking for the best inexpensive solution. IMHO, a higher quality 2 channel amp with an autoformer will give better sound to typical low to medium quality in-walls than will a cheap multichannel amp or the same amp with a similar priced speaker selector.

Just my opinion....

Randy

I am not sure how much you want to spend but A-bus from Russound is for me best way to go. No expensive and hot making amplifier in the cabinet , IR repeater includet and it will work with 2nd zone of your surr.receiver. For background music just enough. I would wire house with 16/4 and Cat.5 for each volume control in case you want to upgrade in the future. This is cheap and no high-end solution ....

I would definately go for a sonamp 1230 with volume controls. although its twice the cost of a 260, its only a little more than the needed package of an af8 which i think is now an af12. the 12 channel amp is SIGNFICANTLY better

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Really? How cheap are we talking about? All the speaker switchers I've peered inside of (Sonace, Niles & the like) had a large wattage 4 ohm resistor and some switches, nothing more. Nothing there (as far as I know, correct me if I'm wrong) that could alter the frequency response of the amp/switcher/speaker circuit.

How would a speaker switcher cut off low frequencies? An in-line capacitor? Not wanting to argue, just curious to know....

one more thing here...

impedence matching VC's are getting better...and if the budget is REALLY low, this will work, although you'll possibly spend more $$$ down the road on amps and speakers that might malfunction (amps because of impedance issues and speakers because of distortion)

AND...although the nice in wall patch panels from SpeakerCraft, Niles, Sonance, Russound Etc... surely make for a neat termination, you are adding ever so slight MORE resistance to the equation AND detrimenting the sound even if resistance wasn't the issue.

However slight, and it IS VERY SLIGHT, you should ALWAYS connect from AMP to SPEAKER with nothing in-between, whenever possible! The less breaks in the line from A to B, the better!

Theaterworks,

Yes they use caps to kill the low end frequencies. When I say cheap I mean CHEEEEAAAAPPPPP. This has been a couple of years back now and we didn't supply the switchers. In one instance it was a Radio Shack switcher. In another it was a no name box. Both sounded horrible with absolutely no bass response. Opened them up and they were nothing more than a bunch of caps installed.

AVDude,

While I agree with you on the impedance matching VC's Would you recommend using 8 of them on a system? In this guys case he's using the 2nd zone on his receiver. While I'm sure somenone makes VC's that support an 8x capability I haven't seen them yet.

Robbie S

yes...both Niles and Jamo support 8x, and no, not a chance in hell would I recommend using a POWERED zone two for this application, nor would I recommend 8 of them in ANY application, but it can be done.

If you re-read his original post, he references using zone two out with a stereo amp...so depending on the amp, it's a non-preferrable possibility.

My bad, I missed the out to 2 channel amp part.

Robbie S

Thanks for the great advice guys, my original idea of using a two channel amp with a speaker switch connected to volume controls will not function properly? Although the multi channel amp appears to be the best way to acomplish this I am not certain I am willing to spend the money. This home is new but not high end.