How Many Speakers Can I have?

[Chris Stevens]

Hi Folks,

First of all, sorry for the newB question. Here's the deal: I have a Sony STR-DG710 receiver that I'm using to power two speakers for TV output. I want to add two more speakers in the kitchen and two more in the living room for listening to music. Can I do this? I don't understand ohms and such, and it seems that the back of the receiver has only one set of speaker jacks labeled "A Front." Do I need to get another receiver or can I add something that will allow for more speakers and not ruin the amplifier.

Thanks,

Chris

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum, Chris!

Are you wanting to run all three pairs of speakers at once, or use them separately? If separately, then we can point you towards a speaker selector switch. If together, then...I'll have to leave it up to one of the resident electrical gurus.

Adam

 

[Gimpy Ric]

You need an external speaker selector box, such as a niles unit.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=niles+audio+speaker+selector&x=0&y=0

They work great.

 

[jamie2112]

My wife will only let me have 6 pairs and 2 subs and a center.......

 

[Chris Stevens]

Welcome to the forum, Chris!

Are you wanting to run all three pairs of speakers at once, or use them separately? If separately, then we can point you towards a speaker selector switch. If together, then...I'll have to leave it up to one of the resident electrical gurus.

Adam

I'm planning on running all three sets at the same time so I guess I'll need a selector box? Do they (speakers) all have to be the same ohm...er, 8 ohms? Also, can I put a separate volume control in for the kitchen and LV speakers?

 

[Gimpy Ric]

You need an external speaker selector box, such as a niles unit.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=niles+audio+speaker+selector&x=0&y=0

They work great.

Please look at these units.

 

[adwilk]

Your receiver has a built in A/B Switch. Use the mains in your living room on "A" and setup your other rooms on "B". Just put the "B" speakers behind an impedance matching volume control you can get at radio shack and you can run all sets at once. Each "B" set will need its own control.

 

[j_garcia]

Even with an impedance matching switch or volume control, the amp must be stable to a lower impedance in order to handle the load simultaneously. The switch or VC will say what the amp should be capable of, usually 4 Ohms minimum. With Sony's track record for weak amps in their non-ES line, I would not try to run even two pairs of speakers off the same channel, and absolutely not with more than 2 speakers running in the living room. I would use Zone 2 for the "other" speakers with a small external amp powering them. This will allow you to play different sources for those speakers and will eliminate you having to worry about the receiver. I would still use impedance matching volume controls for each set of speakers though.