You say it's not a big yard, so you can probably make it one zone with one volume control. The beauty of 70V is that you can tap the speakers differently (this allows you to adjust the output of each speaker independently). Placing the speakers in the correct location and using the taps on the speakers should give you enough flexibility to make the entire yard one zone.

You probably don't need amps, just one. Crown CDi 1000, 2000, etc. channel 1 (left) can be 70volt and go to the sats. The sats can be tapped to provide the best output at each location (some loud, some soft). Crown CDi channel 2 (right) can be 70volt or 8ohm and sent to the sub. Level controls on the front of the amp can adjust sat to sub ratio.

Crown amp also allows Y cord input mode to sum the left and right inputs to mono output as well as internal DSP and crossover settings using HiQNet software.

Don't use an autoformer-type volume control for this. Use Sonos or equivalent or a remote control line level adjustment to change volume.

Yup! all done through software.

JBL control series makes some incredible sounding 70v speakers. infact they HAVE a 70v subwoofer so you can tie as many subs in it as possible.

However, the reason we mentioned the sub is because episodes and SLS system has to have it otherwise they sound like poo.

You can make a really good sounding system using just control series speakers.

Your over thinking it, each speaker can be tapped at different levels for optimal levels. If you must just use one VC in a convenient location, however i try to not use VC's infact i couldnt tell you the last time i did.

Use either a sonos connect (make sure there is good wifi) or a remote system like a RTI U2 or URC's outdoor remote. What type of sources does the client plan on listening to? you can use a AVR or stereo receiver and use the preout out into the cleanbox. Since the CDi stays on all the time the programming is stupid simple :)

Don't worry about too much zoning, it will be fine as one zone. As previously mentioned, you can tap individual speakers at different output levels if need be to achieve a little "zoning" action, although every speaker would play the same relative to each other.

The Control speakers are killer, if you are going to go all out with separate subwoofers I would do as many 25T models as you need + 1 or more SB210 woofers.

If you want to have close to full-range sound without subs, I would do the 29AV1 which hold their own without a sub for most music.

 There's no such thing as a convenient VC.  They're inconvenient by their nature.  Sure, it's convenient when I'm standing next to it.  It's not convenient when I'm on the other side of the backyard.  Like 3Pedal and other said.  The perfect formula is

1. Lanscape series speakers. (with or without sub)
2. Crown Amp.
3. Sonos Connect.
4. Quality WAP.

Every one of these things are as easy to install as they can be.  This makes the clients backyard very convenient, which leads them to listen to more music, which means more entertaining, which means more referrals for you.  

VC+ Complicated rigamaroll = no good for anybody.

Hasbeen summed it up perfectly

Lets not forget what volume controls do to the sound.

Also mono is not a bad thing especially in outdoors so dont get caught up on stereo.

Stereo outside wayyyy better than mono IMHO

? There is seriously no point to stereo for outdoors. One minute your listening L&R and you turn around to talk to the hot chick standing behind you and all of a sudden your listening R&L

It is so rare when your outside that you are in an optimum position to hear stereo.

if all your doing is two speakers 10ft away from each other then yeah, maybe it makes sense but not for a yard that requires multiple speakers for proper coverage.

Awesome. Sonos Connect will be the source and I may add a tuner.

Sounds like this will be quite good! I'm looking forward to it.

Craig

Oh, and is it ok to leave the CDi on constantly? I;m used to amps that turn themselves on and off automatically. Won't just be sweating away in the cabinet for years. Especially in the winter months when it's not in use?

Craig

The more I read about these amps, the more I like them.... cross overs, EQ, summing inputs, mmmmmmmmmmm.

Maybe think about setting these clients and your future clients that have outdoor speakers on a service plan. You can remove or cover the speakers  and power down the amp for winter, and set it back up in spring. Nice way to get started in service agreements and it keeps you in front of the client at least twice a year.

Good call Hasbeen. What would a contract like that be worth? To do that would take very little time, but about 2 hours of travel each visit. Say three hours for the whole visit.

Craig

i have a project that is 4 years old, 3 CDI's (6 channels) one of them is a CDi 4000 all left on 24/7 365

That being said these amps are built for a commercial environment and designed to be hard cycled (on/off) meaning you can put a controlled outlet to turn it on/off but i wouldn't bother.

Tell them they can turn it off in the winter or just do service contracts.

BTW: no need for a tuner with sonos, it just streams the local FM/AM stations. just make sure your locals are streaming that is.

these CDis are phenomenal.

Im putting in a very small system on tuesday exactly like what your doing except im using sonance FMS660's. ill take pictures to show you how we do it when sonos is the only source. Please make sure they have good wifi coverage outside though

3PedalMINI, that would be great. Thanks.

Any thoughts on the Sonance Sonaray? I was chatting with one of my suppliers today about the CDi and JBL Control series, and he suggested for suvh a small yard that it would be perfect. Price is right for an entry level way to offer good balanced coverage of the yard.

Thoughts?