Need advice on multiroom audio solution

[mdntblu]

This is what I have:

4 separate rooms that each have 2 14 gauge speaker wires (Red/Black) ran to them. 1 of them has a non-powered sub woofer with 12 gauge cable.
Each room has a separate 14 gauge 1 pair (black/white) cable ran to it for a volume control.

At the main area where we want to put the equipment we have the following:

• 110v Power
• 4 sets of speaker cables
• 1 12 gauge 2 wire to sub woofer
• 4 wires for volume controls
• coax for an antenna - maybe satellite radio

Please give me advice on what I can put here to distribute the sound. Doesn't even have to be multi-zone (all areas can play the same thing at all times - no need for splitting the inputs up)

Would like to have radio, CD, satellite radio. What kind of device will allow me to hook up these speakers, and have at least 4 inputs?

Thanks

 

[Haoleb]

If there is some way for you pull that 14/2 you ran for volume controls back with cat5 in its place I would highly reccomend the Xantech Mraudio4x4

From the sound of things the way its wired you cant use volume controls like you had planned anyway. To do an inline volume control you run wires for the L and R speaker from the head end where the amplifier will be to the volume control and then onto the speakers.

 

[mdntblu]

If there is some way for you pull that 14/2 you ran for volume controls back with cat5 in its place I would highly reccomend the Xantech Mraudio4x4

From the sound of things the way its wired you cant use volume controls like you had planned anyway. To do an inline volume control you run wires for the L and R speaker from the head end where the amplifier will be to the volume control and then onto the speakers.

This house was built in the early 90's and that is the way it's wired. And it's impossible for me to pull the cable out and pull in cat5. I wish I could but I was pulled into this project and am just trying to find a solution. I just talked with the owner and he said the volume controls can be eliminated but wondered if there was some sort of wireless wall mount volume control that can be put in the place and abandon the cable.

 

[unreal.freak]

Do you know for SURE that the speaker wires are secured to the studs in the walls? If you climb up in the attic and check, and they are not, then you could pull cat5 in as you pull out the other wire. All this is assuming they have an attic. Fishing wire down in walls isnt really all that hard. It just takes effort.

Peace,
Tommy

 

[mdntblu]

Do you know for SURE that the speaker wires are secured to the studs in the walls? If you climb up in the attic and check, and they are not, then you could pull cat5 in as you pull out the other wire. All this is assuming they have an attic. Fishing wire down in walls isnt really all that hard. It just takes effort.

Peace,
Tommy

Tommy,

No I don't know but there is no attic being that this is on the first floor. I work for a cabling company and know that fishing wires isn't all that hard but it is if you don't have an attic to work in. And if there are fire blocks that makes it even more difficult.

 

[jcPanny]

Distrubted audio

I have a simple distributed audio system with speakers in 5 rooms, you might consider something similar:

Analog audio sources connect to receiver, TAPE or ZONE2 line out connects to stereo amplifier (100-200 Watts per channel).
Speaker wire (14/4 or 2 x 14/2) connects from amp to Impdance matching volume controls in each room.
Speaker wire (2 x 14/2) connects to in-ceiling speakers in each room.

It doesn't sound like you can re-wire for VCs in each room so you might consider an impedance matching speaker selector box. Some of the more expensive models include VCs for each output.

http://www.rodinaudio.com/pgHome/pdf/distributed_audio.pdf

 

[mdntblu]

Does anyone know if there is a wireless volume control that can be mounted in the same area as the other speaker volume control?
And if so what kind of controller do I need to manage the audio?

 

[mdntblu]

Just an update for everyone. I ended up getting the go ahead from the owner to cut holes anywhere I needed. So I pulled Cat5 to 6 locations and put in Russound speakers and Russound keypads with the 6 zone controller. Worked out great. Thanks for all your help and ideas.