A while back someone recommended this receiver for whole house audio for a budget customer. I notice that is provides 100 watts to both the a and b outputs. Would it make more sense to run the indoor (2 rooms + speaker selector) on a, and the outdoor (patio speakers) on b for more power?

In a word?

NO.

Ok. Why not? Here is the link to the receiver:

[Link: sherwoodusa.com]

and here is a blurb from the website:

"And the RX-4105 has at least one unexpected grace: the ability to independently select up to two sets of loudspeakers via the supplied remote control. (Audio purists will be pleased to know that this relay-controlled switching puts the speakers in parallel, maintaining their individual sound qualities.)"

Probably because it is a single 100w amp with relays turning on and off speaker a&b. Thus no matter what combination you use speaker wise putting one pair on B will provide no more power than puting that pair of speakers on the speaker selector. I may be wrong though EBG usually knows the finer details.

On the box it says it is a 200w amp.

OKay already. You can do it. Your "low bucks" client won't like the results, but you can do it.

Why I wouldn't do this?

I haven't done something that "basic", for lack of a better term, in about 10 years or better. Even a lowly Abus will do a better job, and have more functionality......

Functionality.....That's key.

I could go on and on......lol

I called Sherwood. They said just use the A output and a speaker selector or impedance matching volume controls. Using the b output will have no affect on power.

Out of curiosity, does this Sherwood have discrete power? I'm looking for a decent stereo receiver with discretes.

Rotel RX-1052

I have not used it yet, so I am not sure. I'm sure someone on the forum would know, and you can always call sherwood.

You mean discrete power output transistors vs. op amps?

MARANTZ

I agree with trunk, put in a control system, even if it is an A-Bus. Like he said, its all a. bout functionality. Plus you get 3 additional sources.
I am still surprised in this day and age, that people still put in big inefficient amps with speaker selectors. Have not done a configuration like that in over 10 years.
Move into the new millenium.

Buy three of them they are cheap enough. They also automatically turn on when you select a source so they are easy to automate.

Oh yeah, that's it......Buy three of them.....lol

And then buy a line level amp for each source component, and a few good RF remotes with IR routing so you can control that MESS you just put in......

Wow, you just spent MORE money for, and have no more functionality, than a multi-room/multi-zone system would ofter.....

Well duh......

What? Each room will have it's own tuner, you can mix and match sources per room. In order to do that with an automation system it will cost significantly more.