Multi-room ideas (with plans)

T

trouty00

Audiophyte
hey all,
I need some basic advice, I'm looking to set up a relatively simple multiroom home audio set up. My basic requirements are as follows. It’s a long one but I have tried to make sure all my objectives plans are on first post.

4/5 high quality speakers
- possibly some ceiling mounted for batroom and kitchen
1 standard micro system for bedroom with FM tuner alarm function

1 Tuner
1 2 channel amp ie A/B settings

2 * 4 set speaker switch


Now if you look at my plans you will see my ideas, now I am definitely looking at 5 speaker sets and have highlighted the essential in yellow but will install 4 set speaker switch for expansion use.

The main source will be tuner and MP3 server.

I plan to install a simple micro hi-fi in the bedroom and link it to bathroom speakers just so when get woken up by the alarm on the micro hi-fi unit then I have radio when I shower. I will have a speaker switch in the bedroom to turn it of though too.

If you go to http://www.stuarttrout.co.uk/images/audio.jpg then my plans are there.

I am thinking of using a variety of different speaker sets, I am contemplating using the existing out of box 5.1 dvd kit for one room, ceiling speakers in one room and obviously the micro hifi ones in the other and various others, Will this cause an issue?

As for controlling the volumes, I am hoping to be able to control is centrally via the amp, I understand this will restrict me but am not keen on installing inline volume controllers but maybe I have to for other reasons, ive heard about impedance matching but not 100% clued up on what it is all about.

This whole system is very strict on budget and will be controlled all via my pda using the wireless network to control the mp3 system and its in built IR along with a ir extender system to control the amp in the cupboard.

I’m sorry again it’s a long one but it’s a bit tricky and I need re-assurance in my plans before I splash the cash.


Ta
Stu
http://www.stuarttrout.co.uk/images/audio.jpg




just looked at my original plans but they dont make sense becasue ive drawn on three outputs, ive made a couple of changes and revised plans are here but I've left original online too so you can see what i changed.
http://www.stuarttrout.co.uk/images/audio2.jpg

ta
Stu
 
Last edited:
Snap

Snap

Audioholic
Speaker Switches??

Why are you going with the speaker switches? Is there a reason? There is a lots of other ways to do this. Impedence matching volume controls, CAT5E audio, Xantech distibuted audio.....hmmm....

If you use the VC you can just turn the things off and no audio will come out. Much cleaner in stall.....if I get the chance I will see if I can draw the system out for you, that will give you more control, and a cleaner install. No promises though, I am super busy with a huge install that is really sucking right about now...:mad:
 
T

trouty00

Audiophyte
My main concern about the volume controls is that the installation is going in to a property which has been decorated and I dont want to chip away the plaster to fit the speaker cable down to the VC's. I will have overall volume control by controlling the PC's sound card out volume, I'm also thinking I may use my tuner card in comp too to output tuner signals to amp.

I also see speaker switches as the cheap option TBH, its not going to be used all day everyday as I just have the money to install all the wall control systems and many amps. the speaker switches will be in place and most of the time will all be on but if I want to turn one room of then i will do this by just using the speaker switch. I may in the future install a seperate amp for each room but this is just my starter budget project.

Its my first home and I'm only 22 so have other things to spend money on but want a nice first system.

will I have problem with impedenace matching just using speaker switches?
Ta
Stu
 
jcPanny

jcPanny

Audioholic Ninja
Multiroom Plan

I have a couple ideas for your multiroom AV system, but your design requires a few changes.

First, remove the "AMP" and mini hi-fi from your diagram. In its place, put a sourround sound receiver in the location where your TV and other equipment. The receiver has a tuner built in and you can connect the computer and X-box to a couple of the available digital or analog inputs.

Second, in general, you can not connect more than 1 speaker to 1 amp channel unless you have an impedence matching circuit. Without volume controls, try to use the same speakers in each room so that it wont be loud in one room and quiet in another at a given input volume level.

Here are a couple options for using the receiver to control the other speakers in the house:

Option 1:
* High end receiver w/ 100+ watts per channel ($350-500)
* Impedence matching volume controls in each room ($20 each)
OR
Impedence matching speaker selector box like the Phoenix Gold ISM-6 ($50)

Option 2:
* Low end receiver ($200)
* Audio Source stero amp connected to receiver line output ($100+)
* Impedence matching volume controls in each room ($20 each)
OR
Impedence matching speaker selector box like the Phoenix Gold ISM-6 ($50)
 
T

trouty00

Audiophyte
If I was carefull about my speaker selction and made sure that all the speakers coming out of one chanel were the same ohm's then would this work ok with this speaker selector.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=29754&&source=14&doy=15m11

I dont think I want to remove the micro hifi system as I will be using that for my alarm clock and it will save me switching on the whole system for the bathroom speakers when i wake up in the morning.



ta
Stu
 
Snap

Snap

Audioholic
jcPanny said:
Option 1:
* High end receiver w/ 100+ watts per channel ($350-500)
* Impedence matching volume controls in each room ($20 each)
OR
Impedence matching speaker selector box like the Phoenix Gold ISM-6 ($50)

Option 2:
* Low end receiver ($200)
* Audio Source stero amp connected to receiver line output ($100+)
* Impedence matching volume controls in each room ($20 each)
OR
Impedence matching speaker selector box like the Phoenix Gold ISM-6 ($50)
What VC are you getting that are any good for 20 bucks! Please let me know I will buy 50 of them!:D They are not niles that is for sure!

JC Panny is right about option 1 that is for sure. (the VC price I am not sure about but other than that I agree)

And do not worry about messing things up. It is your house, and if you take your time you will do fine. Keep in mind that the wall plate is going to cover all the mess ups in the cutting unless you go crazy.

(Thank God for WALL PLATES! and the abilty to hide all sorts of crazy stuff.)
 
jcPanny

jcPanny

Audioholic Ninja
Speaker switch box

I wouldn't recommend spending hundreds on an audio system and connect it through a $10 POS speaker switch. By they way, connecting 4 ohms to a low end receiver will not work, you need to stay in the 6-8 ohm range. I would go with the $40 one from Phenonix gold that is made of metal and will keep the output at 8 ohms.

Concerning the volume controls, I was referring to the Phenix Gold impedence matching volume controls that are available from several sources for $20-25. Are these junk, or are they worth using in my home system?

Yes, you can still purchase the "Hi-Fi clock radio" for an additional cost. Make sure that it has a line level input so you can connect it to the receiver. The Hi-Fi will only be able to drive a single pair of speaker. You will need a speaker A/B switch that in one position connects the bathroom to receiver and Hi-Fi to Hi-Fi speakers. In another position it will connect the Hi-Fi to the bathroom and disconnect the Hi-Fi speakers from the Hi-Fi.
You can do all this OR purchase a $20 clock radio for next to the bed.
 
T

trouty00

Audiophyte
I understand the VC wall cover can hide some bits but how are you supposed to get the speaker wire down the wall to the VC and then back up to the speakers without making any mess.

The micro hi-hi unit will not be a cheap clock radio but a relativly decent small hi-fi such as http://www.comet.co.uk/comet/html/cache/284_252310.html

will i not be able to drive two pairs of speakers of this through the switch, I will want to play music through both sets of speakers though.

I just want to re-iterate that I have to do this on a major tight budget and I'm not a audiophile by any means, I'm not worried about grade A quality. just want the whole house wired up for music on the cheap.

and the other problem is that the VC's cost £60 ($120) in the UK!!!


Stu
 
Snap

Snap

Audioholic
trouty00 said:
I understand the VC wall cover can hide some bits but how are you supposed to get the speaker wire down the wall to the VC and then back up to the speakers without making any mess.

I just want to re-iterate that I have to do this on a major tight budget and I'm not a audiophile by any means, I'm not worried about grade A quality. just want the whole house wired up for music on the cheap.

and the other problem is that the VC's cost £60 ($120) in the UK!!!


Stu
OK do you have an attic? Crawl space? How are you getting the wires to the speakers? How you are getting the wires to the speakers is the same way tht you can get wires to the VC.
 
T

trouty00

Audiophyte
I have a two storey house with an attic, I plan to install some ceiling speakers in the bathroom and kitchen and install speakers on brackets in the top corners of the rooms downstairs so I will just run the speaker wire under the flooboards for ground floor and drop them down in the corner and obviously for the ceiling speakers just drop them out of the ceiling where i will have the speakers positioned, sorry if i wasnt clear about this.
Ta
Stu
 
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