My problem is that I was planning to have the speaker level output of an elan system 6 power 2 pairs of 8 ohm speakers. I found out that the system 6 can only go down to 8 ohms and this would bring it down to 4. I'm useing the zone preamp output for a fixed subzone that is useing a volume control. I need the 4 speakers in the main zone to be variable but at the same time have a fixed output to an amp for the sub zone. Does anyone know of a way I could do this?

Impedance matched volume controls or a speaker selector w/ volume controls, or a transformer

Mike

Can you switch them around? Use the built in amp (set to fixed) to drive your subzone and you can use a outboard amp with the preamp outputs (set to variable) to drive the amp. I am not sure if the system 6 is that versitile to do this . I have only used the Z series and I have not sold a Sys6.
Otherwise you could add a pair of volume controls at the system 6 and set the impedance jumpers to keep the SYS6 from pushing a less than 8 ohm load.

I have hooked up a number of S6's in this situation for two pairs of speakers in one area. Wire the speakers in series in order to maintain an 8ohm load. Works like a champ!

Or if you are using this in seperate areas, all Elan VC's have impedance matching.

Good Luck

I don't understand. If I hook up 2 pairs of 8 ohm speakers to 2 amp channels,[2 speakers per channel] wouldn't there be a 4 ohm load on each channel?

In series, it would actually be a 16 Ohm load (IF they are 8 ohm speakers)

The flip flop option doesn't work, the s6 is not versitile enough, you can set the rca out to variable, but you cannot set the internal amps off of variable, so your kp would turn all six up and down, and one pair would go through the vc...well that's not gonna work. It's good thinking but the s6 just doesn't do it. The easiest way would be a speaker selector on the variable speaker level output (i suppose wring them in parallel then through a vc all the way up and set to 2x would do the same but sound worse), or series wiring if they don't need too much volume.

Use an external amp and a VSE. You can put the VSE at the head end. Program the keypad's volume buttons with the VSE codes. stick an emitter on the VSE and connect it to the "All Port", or if you are using a Z200/250, or VIA, use their local IR out. VSE's will handle 4ohms,just make sure your amp can.