Multi-Room Help Needed...

[Got2BTru]

I have an OLDER Pioneer Elite VSX-81TXV that I'd LIKE to use (but can replace if needed).

I had in-ceiling speakers installed during construction by the builder of our new home. What I'd like to accomplish is having 9.1 in the Living Room along with 2 speakers in the Dining Room and 2 in the Kitchen.

I haven't hooked up the Living Room yet (should be the easiest) because the builder screwed up on the labeling of the wires and it got sprayed over by the painters...

In looking at the back of my receiver, I'm not clear how to set these other speakers up (Kitchen/Dining Room)

I purchased a Pyle speaker selector to connect these rooms to, but it looks like it needs to be powered by my receiver.

This is the back of my receiver.

This is the back of the Pyle speaker selector:

Any guidance or help would be GREATLY appreciated!

 

[-Jim-]

Hi Got2BTru & Welcome to the Forum.

The Pioneer Elite VSX-81TXV cannot do 9..1 I pulled down the manual for the Pioneer Elite VSX-81TXV hoping that it would have an all stereo mode but I couldn't find it in the 84 pages I scanned through. Too bad, because that would have allowed you to easily connect it to the 2 speakers in the Dining Room and 2 in the Kitchen, and quickly solved those positions.

My simple (but expensive) solution is to go to a Denon AVR-8500H here for $3K USD. It will drive 13 separate channels 9+2+2= 13 and a couple of Subs. You can configure it in 3 Zones and won't need anything else.

The other extreme would be to buy a Denon AVR-4400H Here or $750 USD as it will be fine for your 9.1 setup (and a steal at that price). It will drive 9 separate channels and a couple of Subs. (I own a Denon AVR-4400H.) Then use your VSX-81TXV for the other two pairs. Feed it Stereo to it from the Denon AVR-4400H Zone 3 RCA outputs for the 2 speakers in the Dining Room, and the 2 in the Kitchen.

Try to return the Pyle speaker selector.

I won't comment on the in-ceiling speakers, but only hope those were just for the Atmos / DTS X speakers and your others are at ear level. I am a realist and the WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) drives a lot of choices in the Home.

I hope you enjoy you new System and your new Home.

 

[Got2BTru]

Thank you for the response!

So, I apologize, I KNOW the older Pioneer can't do 9.1...it'll do 7.1if memory serves.

As for speakers, unfortunately we had little choice and they're all in the ceiling...when I designed the house, we wanted an OPEN floor plan - the RH wall in the Living Room/Dining room is literally a wall of glass (2x12' 4 panel sliding glass doors, so we have a 24' wall of glass). The LH side is no better as the foyer is there and then the kitchen to the back of that.

This is just recreational listening and occasional movie watching. Don't be TOO disappointed though, the plan is to build a proper home theater in the basement...with the WAF dictating the budget...I was already told my Star Trek TNH themed Enterprise Bridge idea is a no-go...

Back to my original post, I can't swing the 3k receiver....but I will look at the Denon AVR-4400H you referenced.

 

[everettT]

Get a better speaker selector, and run a good power amp off zone two. I wouldnt connect anything to that speaker selector that I didnt want damaged.

 

[BMXTRIX]

I'm going to ignore the main zone. You can run 7.1 or get a new receiver and run 9.1 or whatever your setup is as appropriate to the receiver. Yes, that's easy.

Zone 2 & Zone 3...
Those are those spaces that people want to be really convenient and sound decent and think they should just work, but they never understand why it completely blows to get audio there.
Specific to the Pioneer Elite VSX-81TXV, it offers one stereo output for zone 2. It is not amplified. It likely has volume control, but that will adjust volume up and down for all connected speakers.
1. Your receiver sometimes, but not often, has amplified audio outputs for additional zones. You should plan on picking up a dedicated amplifier for additional zones.
2. Your receiver may only offer ONE additional zone of audio. So, you need to consider how many zones you have (2), and how to do separate volume control in those zones.
3. Your sources that you play in zone 2/3 must all be connected to the A/V receiver using analog audio connections. This is a HUGE issue with newer devices that only offer HDMI output. When you buy (or rent) make sure you get stuff with analog audio connections so that you can connect them to the receiver and get audio for zone 2/3 output. This is a HUGE failure on the part of HDMI to not require 2-channel stereo along with surround sound.

My recommendation, with what you have... Assuming you don't have volume controllers in the wall for the two zones.
Get a volume controlling speaker selector and a separate amp off of eBay. These parts rarely go 'bad' and can last for decades.
Niles is a great option here, with their SSVC-4, but if looking on eBay, you have to be aware of whether all the phoenix blocks on the back are included. They can be VERY tough to find if they aren't. For example...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Niles-SSVC-4-Speaker-Selector-Volume-Control/263984052380?hash=item3d76acf89c:g:QtwAAOSwXi9b~aPT:sc:ShippingMethodStandard!20152!US!-1
$65 for the model I linked, but the connectors are gone.

Maybe get the one from Monoprice instead...
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=8232
$65 once again.

This is a GREAT deal! It will handle your two additional stereo speaker zones and provide volume at what may end up being a great price...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Niles-SSVC-2-Speaker-Selector-Original-Owners-Manual-Included/202582024661?hash=item2f2ad461d5:g:wQMAAOSw7HhcRKuO
$25

Anyway, then you need an amplifier to power those speakers. The Pioneer won't do it.
Literally, any stereo amplifier will pretty much work. Cheap garbage to high end units will do the trick. I tend to stick with major players. Sonance, Nles, SpeakerCraft, etc. You can go with more luxury brands (Emotiva), but they have a premium for what may not be needed.
ie:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sonance-275SE-Amplifier/264106188003?epid=117497556&hash=item3d7df49ce3:g:eLMAAOSwtvZcJWZA:rk:18:pf:0
$100.00
This is actually a steal...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sonance-SONAMP-1230-2-Channel-Power-Amplifier/302951144607?epid=66773212&hash=item46894b9c9f:g:6bAAAOSw5Ylb5O9A:rk:26:pf:0
It provides 12 channels (up to 6 rooms) of stereo audio, or 6 channels (3 rooms) bridged, of stereo audio. It is one of my favorites to used with distributed audio. While it can power your zone 2 output to the two rooms off of two channels, should you get a receiver with separate zone 2 and zone 3 outputs, it will provide power to those two additional zones separately. It is also designed, from the ground up, for this kind of work.

Anyway, my links will get your speakers powered and give you volume control using what you have for under $200, and there are cheaper ways to go as well if you look around and that's your goal. But, I would always power zone 2/3 speakers from a dedicated amplifier as it takes the burden off the main A/V receiver to help it last longer and allow for more consistent power consumption.
Just make sure you give these components plenty of air to breathe.

 

[2channel lover]

BMX is a pro on such matters. Helped me with my whole house music.

With the glass walls, etc. the house sounds like it's really nice...congrats!

My cousin built a home sometime ago, and the builder prewired for speakers much like yours did and wife wanted the open concept, (i.e. no clutter...er...speakers on the floor), so his surround sound has all in-ceiling speakers.

To be totally honest, I'd hate to see you put that many in-ceiling speakers in the Living room...an all in-ceiling surround system is not going to deliver...music, not so bad, but dialog for movies, TV coming from overhead just doesn't work well.

That said, you would be as well off with just 2 to 4 speakers and a sub in the living room depending on how large the room...at most...5.1 if you must. The 7.1and 9.1 options are basically the equivalent of putting lipstick on a pig...they should be scrapped, so I hope you haven't cut holes yet.

My set up is slightly different because the pre/pro has no amps, but I have Zone2 ( 2 Living room spkrs, + 2 sunroom) Zone3 (master) for now has one speaker and it might stay that way, as stereo is not important or desired there. So a total of 5 speakers

To power Z2/Z3, I bought a multi-zone amp from Emotiva. It can power 8 speakers. I got a holiday promo price saved $100. They say they don't run sales anymore, I'm not that sure about that, but $500 is not outrageous for this amp.

https://emotiva.com/collections/amps/products/a-800

You can add an amp like that to your AVR to power speakers in the Dining/Kitchen, and have your AVR power the living room speakers.