A/B switch question

[patnshan]

Hello,
I haven't been around in awhile as I have been satisfied with my setup and had no more questions (until now). I have a long, rectangular bar/theater in the basement with a PJ and screen setup on one side. I have a 7.1 system down on that end powered by a Yamaha 661.
I just bought a 37 inch TV to mount on the far wall by the bar. Thankfully, when installing the drywall, I ran two channels of speaker wire from the source all the way to the other side of the basement to where the TV will be. I did not run two channel RCA's, which I now wish I had.
What I want to do is to be able to install another two speakers down on the far end by the TV to serve two purposes:

1. to run an extra two channels of music (or whatever) from the same source as the 7.1 system on the other side via a 2 channel amp
(and)
2. be able to also use those two extra speakers with the cable box/TV setup as the source either with or without an amp

From my limited knowledge, what I describe above would be sort of backwards for a normal A/B speaker switch. Right? A normal speaker switch allows one source to switch speakers but I am wanting to have the same speakers but switch sources. Is this possible with a standard A/B switch? What would you recommend?

Secondly, I am looking for a cheap IR repeater such that I can control the cable box (and possibly a Roku) from outside with the units located inside the storage area

Thanks much!

Pat

 

[MDS]

From my limited knowledge, what I describe above would be sort of backwards for a normal A/B speaker switch. Right? A normal speaker switch allows one source to switch speakers but I am wanting to have the same speakers but switch sources. Is this possible with a standard A/B switch? What would you recommend?

If I understand the setup correctly, an A/B switch is not what you need.

If your receiver has zone 2 pre-outs, then you can do it by adding a small amp to be fed by the zone 2 pre-outs and connected to the additional two speakers at the rear of the room. They could play either the same source as is playing in the main zone or a different source. You could power the additional speakers from the AVR if you are willing to drop down to 5.1 for the main zone while the additional two speakers are active.

Secondly, I am looking for a cheap IR repeater such that I can control the cable box (and possibly a Roku) from outside with the units located inside the storage area.

IR repeaters aren't the best solution. You still need line of sight to the emitter and then will have to run wires everywhere from where you place the emitters to the equipment closet.

RF is much better for your issue and a good solution would be something like the URC R20 remote. It will likely cost less than an IR repeater solution and be far more trouble free.

 

[patnshan]

MDS,
Thanks for the response. Yes, it's actually more of a "source switcher" with the two sources being speaker level inputs. I actually found a switch made by cables to go that actually does just that (switches two speaker level inputs from one or the other to one set of speakers) since I wrote the post. There isn't much out there that does this from my searching.
As for your scenario with the second small amp, that is exactly what I intend to do for the "same source as the rest of the theater" solution (#1 above) making it essentially a 9.1 (I've confirmed with Yamaha that I can indeed play all 9 channels at the same time if using a separate 2 channel amp). The switcher is needed to have the option to use those additional two speakers and be sourced by the cable box down on the other end, either through the TV speaker out or an additional amp from the cable box. Does that make sense? I'd like to be able to do the 9.1 thing with the separate amp or do the 2.0 thing from the TV/cable box setup (one at a time of course) either with another amp or the internal TV amp (I know they suck but are better than using the in TV speakers).

As for the IR repeater, the box would be right behind the TV in a room and I could place a sensor right on the TV next to the TV sensor itself. Would that not work?

Thanks again for the response and look forward to any comments you have.
Thanks,
Pat

 

[MDS]

MDS,
The switcher is needed to have the option to use those additional two speakers and be sourced by the cable box down on the other end, either through the TV speaker out or an additional amp from the cable box. Does that make sense? I'd like to be able to do the 9.1 thing with the separate amp or do the 2.0 thing from the TV/cable box setup (one at a time of course) either with another amp or the internal TV amp (I know they suck but are better than using the in TV speakers).

Ok, I think I understand now. The amp that you'd use for the zone 2 outs from the main receiver would need multiple inputs so you could connect the cable box to it. You wouldn't need a switch/speaker selector because there is only one pair of speakers. Like you said, it's really 'source' switching - either whatever source is being fed from the main receiver via its zone 2 pre-outs and the additional cable box at the back of the room that is directly connected to that amp.

If the amp is set to the input from the zone 2 pre-outs of the receiver those speakers would be playing whatever the main receiver is playing. If set to the input for the cable box, they'd be playing the cable box audio. An old receiver would probably be ideal for the purpose since it can switch between multiple sources and also provides amplification (and would allow you to connect more sources than just the single cable box).

Now if you were willing to go down to 5.1 in the main zone and have the AVR power those additional two speakers then you could have a different source from the main receiver for the two additional speakers and still retain the ability to play whatever source is directly connected to the rear amp/receiver. If the receiver has a menu option to switch between the zone 2 pre-outs and powering them directly then you could switch on the fly. When you turn off zone 2 pre-outs you'd be back to 7.1 in the main zone.

As for the IR repeater, the box would be right behind the TV in a room and I could place a sensor right on the TV next to the TV sensor itself. Would that not work?

Sure it would work, but remember you need line-of-sight to the IR eye. If you wanted to control the equipment from say the patio, you might not be able to point the remote at the IR eye and would have to run additional wires to place IR eyes in a convenient location where you could see it from wherever you are at and want to use the remote. You'll end up with wires and IR eyes all over the place.

I personally would go a different route - an RF remote and basestation. The basestation does need to be somewhat near the equipment and IR emitters from the basestation need to be placed near/on the equipment but the remote itself doesn't need to 'see' any of it and can be used from practically anywhere in the house.