Receiver/Amp advice needed

[AdamA35]

Looking to be pushed in the right direction. I am looking to power 8 total 8ohm speakers into 4 independent volume controlled zones, two speakers per zone. Each zone will play the same music, I just need to be able to turn on and off and control the volume to each zone individually. For reference, two zones are outside, one facing the pool, one at the fire pit. One is in the pool house and the other is under the covered patio area attached to the pool house. Looking for suggestions on how to do this and what to buy. I thought I knew how to do it, but there are so many different variables and factors I’ve found while searching that I am now totally lost. I’ve found a few 4 zone amps with the volume the control I need but I then need a receiver with Bluetooth. I’d like to try to keep it all in one, but also on the cheaper side seeing that it won’t be used year round as I live in the northeast. I’ve found some all in one, Receiver/Amp with the volume controls I need, but the price range is huge. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[BMXTRIX]

What specifically have you been looking at?

You are aware that Bluetooth has about a 15-20 foot range? If you plan to use your 'phone' as the source, it MUST be within 20' of the Bluetooth receiver to operate.

I am not familiar with what products may be able to support individual volume control for multiple speaker locations without also including multiple source selection as an option.

Be aware that it is rare, and frankly stupid, to include source inside your audio distribution device.
WHY?
Because Bluetooth is on version 5.2, and will be on version 6.0 at some point. Then version 10. Unless you plan to rip down the house in the next ten years, or swap your audio distribution system every few years, why would you want the source built in? No, you want to connect a source of your choosing to the product and then select it from your phone's interface.

I often recommend the HTD solution as it gives you phone control and source select capabilities for a reasonable price, then add whatever source you want to it. Whether that's a generic Bluetooth receiver, or a better quality source like a Sonos Port or a Bluesound Node.

MCA-66 Set (No Keypads)

DetailsCat 5/6 cable NOT requiredIt is possible to control our Mid-Level and Lync whole-house audio systems from any iOS or Android smart phone or tablet using your existing WiFi network and our free apps. If the difficulty of running Cat 5/5e/6 cable to Keypad locations has prevented you from...

www.htd.com

It's about $1,000.

Not sure what else you've looked at, but post links and I can give my assessment of it.

 

[AdamA35]

Thanks for your reply and suggestion. I like the idea of the HTD system and I am actively researching their options. Seeing that I’m really new to this, I’m still a bit clueless on something. The system that I am looking at has the 12 zone amp/controller (MCA-66). The specs say that each channel is 20 watts RMS at 8 ohms. I have 8-8ohm 50 watt speakers…I’m guessing that that wouldn’t work? Or it would work and the speakers just wouldn’t be as loud as they could be? Maybe 4 speakers could be bridged seeing that there would be 4 extra channels?

 

[BMXTRIX]

Amplifiers and power for your speakers have little in common. A speaker rated for UP TO 200 watts of power, will still play fine with only 5 watts of power. It won't blast, but it will fill a room with quality audio just fine. So your 50-watt speakers do not need 50 watts. They can handle, up to, and not to exceed, 50 watts of power.

Each room has two speakers in it. That's how you get to 8 speakers. The MCA-66 is a SIX zone system. Each speaker needs its own channel of amplification. So, it is not a 12-zone system, but a 6-zone system with 12-channels of amplification. Designed to do six stereo areas.