adding-on or starting over?

[1655graff]

I'd like anyone's/everyone's help...

I've got an old stereo component set-up and am finally thinking of moving into the AV-age.

my "design principles" are:

• Reuse as much as possible of the exisiting set-up
• Power the audio only areas (kitchen & enclosed patio) as well as the AV area (family room: 12x18 with one wall only countertop-high that's "in common" with the kitchen).
• Use compatible speakers where appropriate (i.e., family room); use room-appropriate speakers in the other 2 adjoining rooms (patio & kitchen) -- such as: small wall-mounted &/or ceiling speakers in kitchen, and bookshelf ones in the patio.

my exisitng stereo includes:

• processor: Onkyo Integra RS Amp & Pre-Amp (506-306 combo)
• output: Infinity RS Speakers (the original RS5's)
• inputs:
  • Panasonic AM/FM Receiver
  • TEAC Tape
  • Denon Turntable
  • Technics CD Carosel

To date, I've simply included the TV (DVD/VHS/etc.) as another, switchable/selectable audio input. But, I'd like to take advantage of surround sound technology for TV (and possibly gaming) without losing the perceptual value of stereo.

 

[adk highlander]

my "design principles" are:

• Reuse as much as possible of the exisiting set-up
• Power the audio only areas (kitchen & enclosed patio) as well as the AV area (family room: 12x18 with one wall only countertop-high that's "in common" with the kitchen).
• Use compatible speakers where appropriate (i.e., family room); use room-appropriate speakers in the other 2 adjoining rooms (patio & kitchen) -- such as: small wall-mounted &/or ceiling speakers in kitchen, and bookshelf ones in the patio.

Are you going to want these audio only areas to play different sources than your main listening area? Most mid-level and up receivers will offer multizone functions where you can use the surround back outputs to power speakers in another zone. You can get a switch box for all of the speakers in these zones to tie into and allow you to turn on/off sound in any of these areas.

You could also go one step further and have volume controls for each of the areas as well.

 

[1655graff]

Are you going to want these audio only areas to play different sources than your main listening area? Most mid-level and up receivers will offer multizone functions where you can use the surround back outputs to power speakers in another zone.

May be nice. May be unused.

You can get a switch box for all of the speakers in these zones to tie into and allow you to turn on/off sound in any of these areas.

So this would provide a basic/simple on-off of the same music/TV audio, correct? But not selection of independent sources as in the 1st option. Makes sense, I think.

You could also go one step further and have volume controls for each of the areas as well.

May be nice. Likely to be used. I'm presuming something like an in-line "fader-like" knob would be appreciated. It might also bee seen as another "boy's toy" though too.

 

[adk highlander]

I have combined both so mine is setup like this.

I have a prepro so I have an Onkyo 100w x2 amp for my zone 2 which consists of speakers in my dining/kitchen area, in walls in my loft/office and a pair of exterior speakers. All speakers are 8ohms and go to a Niles speaker selector. I have a Niles intellipad next to the selector to control the sources and volume for all the speakers. The Intellipad is just sending IR signals to the prepro like a remote control.

With this setup I can have a movie in the theater and have another source sending music through the house.

 

[1655graff]

Wow! That looks nice. Thank you.

As follow-up... How deep-wide-tall does the box need to be for that?

I ask because I am planning a "hook-up central" box in/on the wall in the family room for the external sources (satellite, CATV, phone line) as well as the output wiring to the wall/ceiling jacks/speakers that come from the processors. And I want to plan space and runs at this point in time.

Thanks again!

 

[adk highlander]

Most of these products fall into standard sizing for light switches or electrical outlets. These two are dual gang boxes and will fit within normal 2 x 4 wall construction.

Check out:

parts express
http://www.partsexpress.com

impact acoustics
http://www.impactacoustics.com/categories.asp?cat_id=1500

or your local big box home center and they will carry all of the necessary hardware.

 

[jcPanny]

Zone 2 speakers

I would recomend VCs in each or the rooms so you can easily adjust the volume level or turn off the speakers. You can get impedance matching volume controls for about $20 each and they fit in a single gang electircal box. You can use your current amp to drive the 2 pairs of speakers in the kitchen and on the patio fed by a line level Zone 2 out from a HT receiver for your main 5.1 or 7.1 system. Using the receiver you can select the different (or the same) ANALOG source for the Zone2/3 speakers.

 

[1655graff]

I would recomend VCs in each or the rooms so you can easily adjust the volume level or turn off the speakers. You can get impedance matching volume controls for about $20 each and they fit in a single gang electircal box. You can use your current amp to drive the 2 pairs of speakers in the kitchen and on the patio fed by a line level Zone 2 out from a HT receiver for your main 5.1 or 7.1 system. Using the receiver you can select the different (or the same) ANALOG source for the Zone2/3 speakers.

Thanks, jcP!

So I'm now looking to include an in-line audio VC (volume control). But, the best location in the kitchen would be right next to the light switches (some with dimmers) and that would mean the audio cable run would have to be placed near and mostly in parallel to the electrical lines for about 6+ feet (2-ways) into and out of the VC.

Here are some ideas on what to do:
-- buy conduit for either the electrical runs or the audio run to cancel/limit the EMI/RFI issues. Concerns: (a) does it work? (b) which one should I run thru the conduit? audio or electrical?
-- buy a run of shielded in-wall audio cable, and hope it cancels this areas' EMI/RFI issues. Concerns: (a) too expensive to buy for all the wiring I'm wanting to do. (b) Is it available somewhere (online, big box, etc.) for this one run? (c) won't it have to be grounded back at the source hub? And if so... How do I do that with a standard HT audio faceplate?
-- buy all (or just a run of) twisted-pair in-wall audio cable, and hope it cancels this areas' EMI/RFI issues. Concerns: (a) does it work? (b) value per cost if I buy enough for the entire wiring job. (c) Is it available somewhere (online, big box, etc.) for this one run?

NOTE: I found some "in-wall" speaker cabling (high strand, OFC) that is not twisted pair. 1 is lableled "concentric" the other has no label. Does concentric help to cancel EMI/RFI?