what would you do?

[deathfalcon]

I am trying to be a guys audio engineer for his new house he is building; I'm stupid.

After many hours of research i have narrowed down what i think i am going to use.
Here's the deal:
there is to be a total of 40 speakers in 16 locations with 3 listening zones (i just want to clarify, because im not hip to the jargon, that by listening zone i mean separate input).
Two of the locations are outside and have 2 speakers each with specifications as follows: 60Hz-25kHz; 8ohm; 90dB; 10-100 watts per channel.
The remaining 36 speakers are inside and occupy the other 14 locations.
All of the inside speakers are: 40Hz-20kHZ; 8ohm; 89dB; 20-100 watts per channel.

AND THEN CAME AMPLIFIER TIME.....
The bane of my current existence.

Really, to simplify this, what would you do?
I've got to have enough channels and power to make this system work. also, the input thing... i need multiple inputs going to multiple configurable outputs.


Any feedback is appreciated, and i can give more info if needed.

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

A project of this scope is best left to professionals. But if you’re dead set on doing it yourself I’d suggest contacting the folks at Home Theater Direct. They have a whole-house audio division and can probably come up with something for you.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[lsiberian]

get Active speakers or get amps specifically for each room.

 

[markw]

The remaining 36 speakers are inside and occupy the other 14 locations.

also, the input thing... i need multiple inputs going to multiple configurable outputs.

These two "little" issues are going to be your biggest problems. I strongly suggest consulting a local pro.

 

[deathfalcon]

These two "little" issues are going to be your biggest problems. I strongly suggest consulting a local pro.

Would you have any information on a good way to implement multiple inputs going to multiple configurable outputs? is that going to be done in an amp, or is there some other piece of equipment that may help me?

 

[markw]

I'm not even sure exactly what you mean here but if you are thinking each speaker can play a different source, then you've got a massive barrel of worms to untangle. While it may sound simple to you, all that shows is that you have no idea of the complexity of the situation.

Sometimes, the pros expertise is worth paying for. One might think that they have the idea down pat and can do a root canal with a B&W cordless drill, some tiny drill bits, and some ceramic substance but when it gets down to it, one quickly realizes that it's worth it to pay a dentist to do it.

 

[slipperybidness]

To answer the original question, "what would you do?".

I would wash my hands of this and tell the guy to hire a professional.

You're setting yourself up for a hassle and a nightmare. Do you want to be responsible when he spends thousands of dollars and still doesn't have what he wanted? Do you want to be responsible for a house fire?

If you won't hire a pro, at least call up HTD as mentioned previously and get advice from a pro.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Like it was before several times. You have no idea what you doing and you need a pro help.
What you're trying to achieve is a massive and complex multi-zone project. To be honest I wouldn't even try to tackle it myself. Very few members would or did.

It's not just about amps. You would need complex distribution amps, matrix switches, controllers and let not forget MANY various remote controls and miles of wiring.

This is not going to be cheap or easy to do. Find good A/V specialist in your area. We might be able to point you to one (if we knew your location) of find it yourself.

 

[Netlagger]

The OP came on here for advice. Maybe he is in a situation where he is the closest professional around. Did anyone think of that? Would his scenario work with only a 1 listening zone with 16 output zones which would be 32 channels? What would you suggest for that?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

The OP came on here for advice. Maybe he is in a situation where he is the closest professional around. Did anyone think of that? Would his scenario work with only a 1 listening zone with 16 output zones which would be 32 channels? What would you suggest for that?

The first thing I would say - OP needs to back and do homework before asking for specific products.
Like this reading:
http://www.installdr.com/techdocs/999016.pdf

 

[RichB]

I have never used a Zones.
Streaming seems like the way forward.
Wifi to a device that drives speakers in each room.
DLNA, Airplay, or a wireless DAC like this:

http://www.audiostream.com/content/audioengine-d1-wireless-24-bit-dac-usb-spdif-converter

That seems a whole lot easier and more flexible than wiring.
J River can stream the same source to multiple linked DLNA devices.

- Rich

 

[Nestor]

I have never used a Zones.
Streaming seems like the way forward.
Wifi to a device that drives speakers in each room.
DLNA, Airplay, or a wireless DAC like this:

http://www.audiostream.com/content/audioengine-d1-wireless-24-bit-dac-usb-spdif-converter

That seems a whole lot easier and more flexible than wiring.
J River can stream the same source to multiple linked DLNA devices.

- Rich

Wireless streaming is good when it works, but a real headache when it doesn't.

Dlna is clunky. AirPlay can be flaky.

A project of this scope deserves a well designed wired system with wireless as an add on.




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[RichB]

Wireless streaming is good when it works, but a real headache when it doesn't.

Dlna is clunky. AirPlay can be flaky.

A project of this scope deserves a well designed wired system with wireless as an add on.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Too each his or her own. I consider multi-zone receivers clunky and on its way out.

I would definitely run a hard Ethernet connection to each room.
If you spending money, put an inexpensive receiver in each one with DLNA which works well enough for party's.
Get one with airplay, DLNA, Bluetooth. I'll bet it costs less than a consultant.

- Rich

 

[Nestor]

Too each his or her own. I consider multi-zone receivers clunky and on its way out.

I would definitely run a hard Ethernet connection to each room.
If you spending money, put an inexpensive receiver in each one with DLNA which works well enough for party's.
Get one with airplay, DLNA, Bluetooth. I'll bet it costs less than a consultant.

- Rich

I would never consider multi zone receivers for an installation this size. There's too many zones to deal with here. If the wall board hasn't gone up, it's a snap to run speaker cable and cat cable for the controllers.

When I speak of wired systems, I'm referring to HTD, Russound, Niles, NuVo, et al. They're flexible, easy to use, and most of all, reliable.

In whole house audio, you can do it cheap, or you can do it right.




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[Seth=L]

The OP came on here for advice. Maybe he is in a situation where he is the closest professional around. Did anyone think of that? Would his scenario work with only a 1 listening zone with 16 output zones which would be 32 channels? What would you suggest for that?

Suspicious post is suspicious. This isn't the kind of post someone "joins" the forum to make.

 

[slipperybidness]

Lemme throw another wrench. It seems that he already purchased speakers or has them in mind. To even start making a suggestion we need to know what the speakers are!

 

[markw]

Lemme through another wrench. It seems that he already purchased speakers or has them in mind. To even start making a suggestion we need to know what the speakers are!

Actually, he gave all their relevant info in his first post, but it really doesn't help his situation any.

 

[markw]

The OP came on here for advice. Maybe he is in a situation where he is the closest professional around. Did anyone think of that? Would his scenario work with only a 1 listening zone with 16 output zones which would be 32 channels? What would you suggest for that?

Well then YOU advise him if you think it's such a simple situation that the needed expertise could be conveyed is a few simple posts. As for your stupid "what if" scenario, that's already answered in another post.

 

[deathfalcon]

alright, i think ive got this down.
Two Niles SI-1650s
my inside speakers are to be ceiling mount- Polk audio RC60i 6.5 inch 2 way louds
my outside are still to be determined by the owner, but those will be running off of a smaller amp.
the niles amp is IP configurable, so i'll have the freedom to choose where my inputs are going very easily. I've got the rack, got the wiring done. used 14g.
i dont need a multizone receiver.
i have the volume sliders to match the impedance of the speakers.
sourcing is the only thing i have left. but thats no biggie.
thanks people. through all of this, i actually did get some helpful information.