How do they do whole house wiring?

[herbu]

Some of the discussions about ohms got me thinking. How do they usually wire a whole house for "stereo"? I've seen where each room has a switch to turn on/off speakers in that room, and all are connected to the same source.

Do they simply add rooms in series? Parallel? Somehow I don't think these homes are built w/ seperate amps for each room. How could they even do impedence matching, not knowing which rooms would be "on" or "off" at the same time?

Seems like there could be a problem either degrading the signal, (volume), in the main listening area, or potential to burn out the source. Anybody know how it is usually done?

 

[jinjuku]

70v system with transformers at the speaker to step down the distribution voltage and impedance match.

 

[Rickster71]

The better installations use a distribution amp like this in a central location: MCA-66 Multi-Zone Controller/Amplifier

70v systems are mostly used in a commercial environment where sound quality isn't the top priority.
They can be wired hundreds of feet away from the source, using a very thin AWG wire.
Their disadvantage, they sound like poo.
When you hear a muffled public address system in an airport, that's a 70v system.

 

[hunt0035]

What wires thats why they invented the all mighty Sonos....... SARCASM....

Multi Zone Controller and Amps, and in wall controls with/IR or RF pass through.

The higher end Audio Distribution amps allow TCP/IP connections to connect to your network and allow for commands via IP from a system controller.

As for wiring, cat5e to the wall controls, 16g to the speakers from the distribution amp.

Now that is the best way, but the more budget friendly way is :

Speaker connecting block to an extra receiver for power, or amp through a manual zone selector. From the source to the impedance matching in wall volume control with 4 strand speaker, from the control to the speakers with 16g, usually no more than 4 speakers on each zone like this. Each speaker needs to start at the source or volume control and end at the speaker, no daisy chains.

 

[Nestor]

Some of the discussions about ohms got me thinking. How do they usually wire a whole house for "stereo"? I've seen where each room has a switch to turn on/off speakers in that room, and all are connected to the same source.

Do they simply add rooms in series? Parallel? Somehow I don't think these homes are built w/ seperate amps for each room. How could they even do impedence matching, not knowing which rooms would be "on" or "off" at the same time?

Seems like there could be a problem either degrading the signal, (volume), in the main listening area, or potential to burn out the source. Anybody know how it is usually done?

Along with the aforementioned 70v and centralized audio distribution, there is indeed systems with separate amps for each room.

Legrand's On-Q system incorporates audio amps designed to fit in a one-gang box. Audio is distributed and controlled over Cat 5 cable. (A-Bus)

 

[herbu]

Thanks, guys.

 

[Plexmulti9]

Some of the discussions about ohms got me thinking. How do they usually wire a whole house for "stereo"? I've seen where each room has a switch to turn on/off speakers in that room, and all are connected to the same source.

Do they simply add rooms in series? Parallel? Somehow I don't think these homes are built w/ seperate amps for each room. How could they even do impedence matching, not knowing which rooms would be "on" or "off" at the same time?

Seems like there could be a problem either degrading the signal, (volume), in the main listening area, or potential to burn out the source. Anybody know how it is usually done?

There are a tremendous amount of variables in to answering this question. There are many ways to back a cake, so to speak. Rather than go through all of them, maybe we can focus a bit on your ideas/goals in asking this question....

How many different things will you want to listen to at once and in how many rooms?

70v system with transformers at the speaker to step down the distribution voltage and impedance match.

Not for a house. I mean, you CAN do it, but this is not a widely accepted engineering practice. In fact, I can think of no modern product marked/sold for home use intentions that uses 70 volt. A bar, restaurant, office, etc. sure. But not for the home. Unless........

The better installations use a distribution amp like this in a central location: MCA-66 Multi-Zone Controller/Amplifier

70v systems are mostly used in a commercial environment where sound quality isn't the top priority.
They can be wired hundreds of feet away from the source, using a very thin AWG wire.
Their disadvantage, they sound like poo.
When you hear a muffled public address system in an airport, that's a 70v system.

70 Volt mono systems for outdoor/landscape sound can be unbelievable. James Loudspeaker and Sonance both have systems that will sound and look better than some of the finer home audio systems people are familiar with while covering HUGE outside spaces if need be.

What wires thats why they invented the all mighty Sonos....... SARCASM....

Multi Zone Controller and Amps, and in wall controls with/IR or RF pass through.

The higher end Audio Distribution amps allow TCP/IP connections to connect to your network and allow for commands via IP from a system controller.

As for wiring, cat5e to the wall controls, 16g to the speakers from the distribution amp.

Now that is the best way, but the more budget friendly way is :

Speaker connecting block to an extra receiver for power, or amp through a manual zone selector. From the source to the impedance matching in wall volume control with 4 strand speaker, from the control to the speakers with 16g, usually no more than 4 speakers on each zone like this. Each speaker needs to start at the source or volume control and end at the speaker, no daisy chains.

I don't understand the sarcasm towards it. Dollar for dollar Sonos is the most feature rich, best powered system out there for doing multi-room audio. Oh and, BTW, it is also the simplest to use and control while being nearly bullet proof in reliability. In 2014, hardwired keypad based systems are dinosaurs that waste time (running control cable and installing) and money (wire and hardware).

When compared to other systems Sonos is, well, incomparable. If there is something better (on any level) out there I would love to hear about it! One product I am looking forward to trying is from TIO: TiO Home Automation & Control - Home but they have had delays on product launch. So, we'll see what it's like when samples are give out.

 

[Nestor]

There are a tremendous amount of variables in to answering this question. There are many ways to back a cake, so to speak. Rather than go through all of them, maybe we can focus a bit on your ideas/goals in asking this question....

How many different things will you want to listen to at once and in how many rooms?



Not for a house. I mean, you CAN do it, but this is not a widely accepted engineering practice. In fact, I can think of no modern product marked/sold for home use intentions that uses 70 volt. A bar, restaurant, office, etc. sure. But not for the home. Unless........




70 Volt mono systems for outdoor/landscape sound can be unbelievable. James Loudspeaker and Sonance both have systems that will sound and look better than some of the finer home audio systems people are familiar with while covering HUGE outside spaces if need be.



I don't understand the sarcasm towards it. Dollar for dollar Sonos is the most feature rich, best powered system out there for doing multi-room audio. Oh and, BTW, it is also the simplest to use and control while being nearly bullet proof in reliability. In 2014, hardwired keypad based systems are dinosaurs that waste time (running control cable and installing) and money (wire and hardware).

When compared to other systems Sonos is, well, incomparable. If there is something better (on any level) out there I would love to hear about it! One product I am looking forward to trying is from TIO: TiO Home Automation & Control - Home but they have had delays on product launch. So, we'll see what it's like when samples are give out.

The thing about keypads in a well designed whole house audio system is that they are always there in every room that you need them. The novelty of running back to fetch ones phone or tablet, then fiddling with it to open the controller app wears thin. Also, the audio system is better integrated with in wall speakers and centralized distribution and control.

I'm not slamming Sonos. They are easy to set up and easily expandable, but for a new build or extensive reno, the keypads and in wall speakers are the preferred option.





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