Multichannel amp question

[tmurnin]

I have a question about my whole-house setup. Currently, I have a Speakercraft 12-ch amp connected to a Sonos:Connect for my whole-house audio. This works beautifully most of the time, especially for my wife who values ease-of-use over everything else. However, I'd ideally like to be able to drive the amp either directly from the Sonos OR from the Zone 2 outlet of my AVR (i.e. plug the Sonos inputs into the Bus input and the AVR into the AUX input of the amp), but I want the amp to automatically sense which input is receiving a signal and use that input without me having to flip a switch. The Speakercraft will allow me to connect both sources, but I have to manually flip a switch (which is of course located on the rear of the amp) to tell it which source to use. Ideally, I want the amp to just sense when it has a signal coming in from the source and then switch over to that source without me flipping a switch. Alternatively, finding an amp with the signal switch on the front of the amp (where it could actually be accessed occasionally) would be nice as well.

Any ideas/suggestions?

If you're asking yourself why I don't just connect the Sonos to the AVR and then run the amp always as zone 2, it's because my wife (who is very remote control-challenged) doesn't want to have to go into the family room and turn on the AVR when she wants to hear a song in her office. She loves just using the Sonos app on her phone without any more gizmos (in her words).

 

[mister wiggles]

finding a tech savvy wife replacement seems to be the most direct/economical solution for the issue you presented.

(sorry, i have absolutely nothing of value to offer)

 

[Nestor]

I have a question about my whole-house setup. Currently, I have a Speakercraft 12-ch amp connected to a Sonos:Connect for my whole-house audio. This works beautifully most of the time, especially for my wife who values ease-of-use over everything else. However, I'd ideally like to be able to drive the amp either directly from the Sonos OR from the Zone 2 outlet of my AVR (i.e. plug the Sonos inputs into the Bus input and the AVR into the AUX input of the amp), but I want the amp to automatically sense which input is receiving a signal and use that input without me having to flip a switch. The Speakercraft will allow me to connect both sources, but I have to manually flip a switch (which is of course located on the rear of the amp) to tell it which source to use. Ideally, I want the amp to just sense when it has a signal coming in from the source and then switch over to that source without me flipping a switch. Alternatively, finding an amp with the signal switch on the front of the amp (where it could actually be accessed occasionally) would be nice as well.

Any ideas/suggestions?

If you're asking yourself why I don't just connect the Sonos to the AVR and then run the amp always as zone 2, it's because my wife (who is very remote control-challenged) doesn't want to have to go into the family room and turn on the AVR when she wants to hear a song in her office. She loves just using the Sonos app on her phone without any more gizmos (in her words).

You want this:

Speakercraft Automatic A/B Line Level Switch | LL-ONE (LLONE) | Speakercraft

Default Input–A is selected when no signal is present. When a signal is sensed at Input–B, the selector automatically switches to that input. A separate 12VDC, 100mA signal is also provided to trigger other external devices.

Trigger sensitivity is fully adjustable from 10~100mV. Off delay (from B back to A after absence of signal) is adjustable in eight steps from 0.5 seconds to 10 minutes.

 

[tmurnin]

Thanks! Do you have any experience with how well this works?

 

[Nestor]

No experience with the device, but it seems simple to set up.

You will need to split the signal from the Sonos output and feed it into your AVR and into one input of the switcher, then feed the zone 2 output to the other input.

Feed the output of the switcher to your amp and leave the source switch on the amp accordingly.

I would set the zone 2 output as your "b" input but I don't think it really matters.

Edit: thinking some more, it does matter. If you feed the Sonos directly to B, you will never have zone 2 control when the Sonos is playing.



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[tmurnin]

Thanks - I'll give it a try and let you know how it works!

 

[RichB]

Is there a XLR switch like this?
I will need to switch between two XLR sources into my amplifier.

- Rich

 

[Nestor]

Is there a XLR switch like this?
I will need to switch between two XLR sources into my amplifier.

- Rich

Ya got me there.

Might want to check the pro audio suppliers.


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[RichB]

I found a couple of manual switches.

- Rich