I actually wouldn't be too concerned with adjusting volume of each pair independently. The two pairs in the main living area would always be the same volume. It's not that big of a room. The 3rd pair outside on the deck would need to be switched on/off independently of the two pair inside. I think the speaker selector I have would do that no problem. My concern was with running all 3 pairs at one time. I didn't know if I would hurt anything.
I don't know of any Monster speaker selector that will also allow you to change the volume of each pair like the Russound.
As far as HDMI switching, I'm just talking about running one HDMI to the tv, then plugging the bluray, xbox, cable box into the AVR. Then using the AVR to select the component I want to view and having it send the signal to the tv over the one hdmi to the tv. I'll be running the cables through the wall pre-construction so I figure if I could run one HDMI, the AVR would allow me to plug whatever else I wanted into the system without having to run more wires in-wall.
Yup, AVR's do that. Just make sure all the cabling you use is in wall rated, including the HDMI. Also, you'll need an active HDMI cable from the AVR to the TV if the run is anymore than like 15-20 ft.
MarkW: I don't know if I follow. Are the speaker designs that much different? I thought they were the same basic speaker just with different mounting hardware. If a ceiling speaker fires directly at the floor, wouldn't a wall speaker just fire directly at the opposite wall? I'm sure theres something i'm missing with the design differences... Maybe the larger "opening" over the ceiling compared to the small area between the studs in the wall?
In general, in ceiling is worse than in wall which is worse than bookshelf or floorstanding speakers. In ceiling is fine for background music, but in terms of stereo imaging, soundstage, and often overall sound quality, they're not good for anything except general background music or sound distribution.
For instance, when I'm listening to music that was recorded live. I want it to sound like it was recorded. With the singer usually centered between the speakers and all the other instruments where they're supposed to be in relation to the recording mic(s). This is nearly impossible for in ceiling speakers to do because all the sound is coming from above your head.
Futhermore sound comes from the speaker conically and then reflections off of walls, floors and ceilings are added to to the sound that reaches your ear. When the speaker is coming from above, it's like a showerhead coming down. For an in wall or bookshelf, the sound dispersion will be wider in terms of the floor area it will hit compared to many in ceilings, especially because in ceiling speakers are limited by how high the ceiling is.
That tiny sub is great! I think with some 6.5" ceiling speakers that sub would round it out pretty nicely. Again, the ceiling speakers in the main living area aren't for neighbor-hating sound...just music to listen to while I'm eating dinner / sitting in the living room. The volume will be downstairs
Yup, I think jgarcia bought one of those subs for his son or daughter and was impressed by it. Not a bad little sub.
