Receiver trips with 18 speaker setup... need equipment advice

[tmman]

Awesome, I think I am getting this figured out! Let me lay this out with a couple more questions and I think I will be able to call this a day!

Source A (Media Player), Source B (small mixer and Microphone)
TO
Preamp (can I use this(?): Amazon.com: Pyle P3001AT 3000W Hybrid Pre Amplifier with AM/FM Tuner: Electronics I can get one real cheap from a friend. Perhaps I could even power 1 channel with it, so it opens up an extra channel on the Sonance? Thoughts? If this is okay then I would add a VC in between the speakers and the inputs on the preamp)
TO
Amplifier (Sonance Sonamp 1250)
TO
VC1, VC2, VC3, ...
TO
Speakers

-Would it be okay to build a small wooden box and insert low voltage boxes and volume control knobs in it... (that way I don't have to mount each knob on the wall?)
-Looking at volume control knobs, do I need them to have impedance matching? (Amazon.com: Pyle Home PVC1 Wall Mount Rotary Volume Control Knob: Electronics OR Amazon.com: AudioSource AE100VC Impedance Matching Volume Control: Electronics) from looking at the impedance matching VC, I would set the switch to 8x on all VC's (http://www.audiosource.net/wp-content/themes/passion/ftp/webmanuals/Distribution/AE100VC manual.pdf)
-I think that is it... appreciate you getting me this far!!

 

[BMXTRIX]

If you don't put more than 2 speakers on each channel of the amp then you won't need any impedance matching in the system.

Worth saying that Pyle is a pretty low-end manufacturer, so any use of their products should be considered along the lines of being able to live with it failing, introducing noise into the system, and not working as expected. I would consider AudioSource over Pyle. Still, their Hybrid Pre Amplifier looks like it would be fine. I would not personally connect speakers to it though.

Yes, you can put volume controls wherever you would like and it shouldn't be an issue. If it makes things easier to not have them in the wall, but in a 6 gang back box in a case of some sort, that should be just fine.

 

[tmman]

BMXTRIX: I used your recommedations and built out the TO-BE schematic. The following link has the AS-IS and TO-BE... would you please make sure I have understood you correctly based on this wiring diagram?

Diagram: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4UrCT385LKlY2ZMakxldG5RNU0/edit?usp=sharing

And based on that schematic... wont I need the impedance matching VC's due to the 2 zones that are utilizing a distributor?

 

[BMXTRIX]

You want to review the manual for the distribution piece as this already has impedance matching built in...

MJ-1 Speaker Distribution Hub

Obviously you've got that link, but review it because that will ensure stability to 4 ohms as it is and you don't need the volume controls to handle it.

Otherwise, things look like they should provide a solid level of audio to the speakers throughout the space without any failures of the system during usage.

 

[tmman]

Sweet, thanks everyone. Last question: Know of a quality preamp with 2 inputs? I was hoping for something not quite as expensive as the USP-1 recommended to me, but with one more input than the TC-780LC.

Would this do the trick? http://www.phonopreamps.com/tc754pp.html

 

[tmman]

Will this work for a preamp? Amazon.com : TCC TC-754 BLACK RIAA Phono Preamp (Pre-amp, Preamplifier) With Three Switchable Aux Inputs and Variable Output Level : Electronics