Using reciever to play music in two different areas

[Zaradi]

I have a reciever with two 'zones' in that I can hook up another pair of speakers. I would like to do that for the other end of the house. I am assuming I run the wire (appropriately sized for the distance) under the house and then hook it up to the second set of speakers bypassing the other reciever. I think they make a speaker connection to hold two separate inputs. If it matters I will be using Klipsch in the main room and DCM Time Windows in the other location. I want to be able to move around in the house and have the music there too. I have included a picture of how I think it's going to work. I'm asking for validation that I'm on the right track before I have to crawl under the house. I also do not have any box on top in this system. Thanks.

 

[lovinthehd]

I'm not sure what you mean by this: "I think they make a speaker connection to hold two separate inputs" ?

Generally you have two ways to run speakers for zone 2, either using the avr's internal amps, or perhaps by a power amp connected to zone 2 pre-outs, depending if you need the amp channels in your main zone or have them to spare for zone 2. Appropriate gauge speaker wire would be a good idea either way. If your avr (what is it?) can use a wifi-based app you could even control zone 2 from anywhere in the house, too.

 

[Zaradi]

Thanks for the reply. My reciever is an Onkyo and is not WiFi capable. I saw connectors that would allow 2 sets of wires to go to each speaker input. Then I would assume the speaker uses whichever set is receiving a signal. Forgive my ignorance but I have no idea what internal amps etc are. I'm just trying to follow what my Onkyo manual says is possible. Being that I am in no way an expert in all this I am trying to do what makes sense to me and not have to buy another piece of equipment.

 

[lovinthehd]

What model of Onkyo do you have? How do you plan on controlling volume for the speakers in the other room particularly? Setting it where the avr is will work well enough for you?

If you've just got two pairs of speakers then your avr would likely have enough internal amp channels (the usual minimum is 5, altho some come with 7, or 9 or more) to handle your needs....but some avrs have a pre-out (pre-amplifier output) for use of an external amplifier (rather than the avr's built-in, or internal amps) to be used.

Sounds like you've seen bi-wiring speaker cables which are a waste of wire, all you need is appropriate gauge. Do your speakers have one pair of terminals each or two pair to accommodate such silliness? Here's an article on the subject https://www.audioholics.com/frequent-questions/the-difference-between-biamping-vs-biwiring

 

[Zaradi]

Sorry if I'm not giving you enough info all at once, this is not my forte. My Onkyo is model Tx-NR646, the one in the other room is older and has few bells and whistles. Where the TX is, in terms of volume will have to do. I see now that if I bypassed the receiver in the other room I would go with one set of cables directly in to the DCM speakers. However I use the speaker and the receiver for other things and would like to be able to play different things in each of the rooms, if possible by choosing the zone. Hmm...not sure that's workable. I've enclosed a pic of the connectors I may have to use, two of these per each speaker. So one set would go to the old receiver and one to the receiver from the main room. Not sure I really understand bi-amping but the article was interesting. I know I guaged the wire for the distance which will be about 50 feet. From what I read the difference in sound would really not be noticed.

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks for the reply. My reciever is an Onkyo and is not WiFi capable. I saw connectors that would allow 2 sets of wires to go to each speaker input. Then I would assume the speaker uses whichever set is receiving a signal. Forgive my ignorance but I have no idea what internal amps etc are. I'm just trying to follow what my Onkyo manual says is possible. Being that I am in no way an expert in all this I am trying to do what makes sense to me and not have to buy another piece of equipment.

You can not connect two outputs from amps, to one set of speakers. That will blow up two units and be very expensive. You must have a switch that would not allow two units to be connected to one set of speakers.

Generally what you want to do is a bad plan. It is much better, with rooms that far apart, to have separate systems in the two rooms. You will find what you propose not handy at all and just trouble.

 

[Zaradi]

So what you're saying is that I can connect from my zone 2 outputs to my speakers in the other room but I cannot add as additional inputs wires from the speaker that is already in that second room. If I wanted to use that second receiver as well I would have to physically swap out the wires so as to use only one set of wires per speaker at any given time.

 

[TLS Guy]

So what you're saying is that I can connect from my zone 2 outputs to my speakers in the other room but I cannot add as additional inputs wires from the speaker that is already in that second room. If I wanted to use that second receiver as well I would have to physically swap out the wires so as to use only one set of wires per speaker at any given time.

That is correct, and the only way to avoid catastrophic damage, that will occur instantly if you connect the output of amps together.

Swapping wires is another bad plan, and will lead to a mistake and blown equipment.

You need to forget this plan. It is very high risk without absolutely fail safe switching. We have had posts over the years, after implementing disastrous plans like this.

 

[lovinthehd]

Yeah didn't realize you were wanting to connect two different receivers to the one pair of speakers, I'd also pass on that idea and pick one or the other unless you can put an appropriate switch in place to avoid the problems TLS mentioned. Your Onkyo is wi-fi capable, and there are apps available so that could well be a way to control what the zone 2 plays as well as how loud....

 

[Zaradi]

Thank you both. It appears the best thing is to just leave it be. If I need to use other devices I have another set of speakers that I can wire to the receiver in the other room. That should remove all chances of a fatal error. Still have to go under the house though..at least with the cold weather the spiders should not be an issue.

 

[TLS Guy]

Thank you both. It appears the best thing is to just leave it be. If I need to use other devices I have another set of speakers that I can wire to the receiver in the other room. That should remove all chances of a fatal error. Still have to go under the house though..at least with the cold weather the spiders should not be an issue.

Smart decision. You have saved yourself from an expensive mistake.