How to........

[krzywica]

Ok I am doing a simple install of a 5.1 system in my uncles basement. The L/R surrounds are already in the ceiling, but are connected to his integrated home speaker system (throughout the house). How will I connect the av reciever to the rears without giving feedback to the other home stereo reciever? and vice versa?

Is there a circuit designed for this?

 

[krzywica]

cmon guys I'm in a hurry gotta cal this sucker today and drive home from MO tonight.

 

[Ryan_Lilly]

OK if I understand you situation, you want to use the speakers from the whole-house type stereo that are already there, as rear surrounds when you watch movies. The only quick simple idea i have is to use a speaker selector switch for each of your rears. Normaly you are switching on signal between two speakers, but you need to switch two signals with one speaker, so you would hook up a wire going between the speaker and where the "input" is on the switch. Then hook the speaker wire from the whole house system to the "A" connection, and the speaker wire from the suround system to "B"

this is really just a double pole double throw switch (DPDT)

this will work but you will need to run extra speaker wire to get the switch boxes to a convenient place, and you will have to switch manualy.

 

[Ryan_Lilly]

I just had a much better idea. Run a line level signal from the whole house system to an AUX input on the surround receiver, or any open input, then just select that input when not using the home theatre, so the whole-house music plays through the you system down there. then just hook the ceiling speakers up to the surround receiver only.

If you dont have a line out, they make a speaker level to line level converter.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Sonance makes an autoswitching A-B switch. This switch allows you to hook up 2 speaker level outputs to a single pair of speakers. When speaker 'A' is active, then speaker 'B' goes dead automatically. Regardless of power provided by your whole house system, there will be no interference. Then, when you turn your system off, the 'A' line will go dead again and the rears will not be part of the main house audio system once again.

Here is the page and it is called a AS1 (auto selector 1)
http://www.sonance.com/subs/products.php?category_id=36&option=get_category&thread_one_cat_id=29&thread_one_cat_name=Electronics&thread_two_cat_id=&thread_two_cat_name=

www.sonance.com

 

[bigpapa]

AS/1 is a good trick, but...

you might want to consider an AS1/S.

The AS/1 works good if you want the speaker level to switch it, which might be fine. The problem I've had with them is that sometimes the autosensing circuit takes too much energy to switch over. It's been annoying when a client tells me that sometimes the music plays quiet or there's a delay in sound, then the speakers switch back to other source. If he's watching movies, and these are rear channels, this could be a problem. At least make the multiroom amp the sensing pair; this problem is less likely to happen.

If you use an AS1/S, it takes 12 volts to throw to the other speakers. Either get a mid grade reciever with 12v trig out (best solution), or buy a 12V transformer to power the AS/1s and plug into the back of the amp on the switched 120V out.

No sensing involved. I always try to stay away from sensing. Maybe that's why my honey says I'm inSENSE-itive.

 

[BMXTRIX]

That's a great point and was something that was in my head, but I wasn't sure of. The 12v trigger is easy to do with either a A/V receiver w/12 volt output, or a switched outlet w/12 volt transformer on the receiver, or many cable boxes also allow for a switched outlet.

I will keep that info in mind should I come across this again or in my own dealings. I think the one time I have done it was with a AS/1s.

 

[krzywica]

Hey thanks a lot guys. I just got back from Missouri last night at 5 am. Hell of a drive!!! I was'nt however able to get my hands on an AS1/S yet but from the Sonance site and from what you guys say it sounds like excactly what I need. Kinda funny I looked at my uncles gear and he has a Sonance reciever. This is a new house and the home audio system is all new. They probably have 25 8" drivers throughout the house. House is 5500 square ft. Beautiful!!! So he was pretty open to suggestions. I was kind of dissapointed though when my aunt picked up a HTIB for the 50x30 room that they use for entertainment. Pool table, ping pong, air hockey, and office, as well as HT room. I tried to get her to get a good pair of floorstanders/center, and a good mid level reciever. But not everybody has heard a system the way it should be, to get a good bearing on "quality". But after installing the Onkyo setup (not a huge fan of the brand) it actually sounded pretty good, with the sub the most lacking of course. It was nearly impossible to get a smooth frequ response from the sub the room was so huge. But all in all they were very satisfied with the setup.

Thanks again guys and I'm sure he'll pick up some more Sonance gear in no time.

Krazy