wiring new house - quick amp & wiring advice needed

[rembuf]

I am new to this and prob waited too long to seek advice on new home wiring and what amp to buy...but need to make a decision right away (at least on wiring). The drywall is not up yet, so i can get in there easily, don't want to forget something, only get 1 chance at this.

Here's what I want to do:
inside house: HT set up - l/c/r & rears (5 speakers)
inside house: in ceiling speakers - 3 sets in different rooms (6 spk)
outside house: in ceiling speakers - 2 sets in different areas (4 spk)
budget: for the amp setup, hoping can find under $1,000
zones: only want 2 zones - inside house and outside house - with the ability to play different sources in each zone
volumn controls: problably wiring in each area if possible

questions:
- can i set this up with a one amp system - i think i need a multichannel amp?
any suggestions on which kind?
- what kind of wire should i run - 16 gauge?
- do i need to run cat 5 to the speakers for future volumn control?
- should i separate the HT from the inside and outside? would that be 3 zones, and would i still be able to play the same source throughout all? more expensive i presume?

I am just looking to play music outside, and maybe something different inside. vc's should take care of volumn, but a hand held remote might me nice!

They are starting the wiring (more of a security guy who's helping me out), so I am in a panic on what to tell them i need! Any quick help is appreciated. Thanks...

 

[TLS Guy]

I am new to this and prob waited too long to seek advice on new home wiring and what amp to buy...but need to make a decision right away (at least on wiring). The drywall is not up yet, so i can get in there easily, don't want to forget something, only get 1 chance at this.

Here's what I want to do:
inside house: HT set up - l/c/r & rears (5 speakers)
inside house: in ceiling speakers - 3 sets in different rooms (6 spk)
outside house: in ceiling speakers - 2 sets in different areas (4 spk)
budget: for the amp setup, hoping can find under $1,000
zones: only want 2 zones - inside house and outside house - with the ability to play different sources in each zone
volumn controls: problably wiring in each area if possible

questions:
- can i set this up with a one amp system - i think i need a multichannel amp?
any suggestions on which kind?
- what kind of wire should i run - 16 gauge?
- do i need to run cat 5 to the speakers for future volumn control?
- should i separate the HT from the inside and outside? would that be 3 zones, and would i still be able to play the same source throughout all? more expensive i presume?

I am just looking to play music outside, and maybe something different inside. vc's should take care of volumn, but a hand held remote might me nice!

They are starting the wiring (more of a security guy who's helping me out), so I am in a panic on what to tell them i need! Any quick help is appreciated. Thanks...

Just make sure you put wiring in conduit so you can change it as technology changes. For instance powered speakers are getting more and more common. These speakers will not connect with speaker wire.

 

[Tech HiFi]

I did this 2 years ago and have been gradually buying the equipment and learning my lessons:

First, due to the number of zones, I would seperate your HT from your distributed audio (DA), 2 systems. You need to determine now what DA you are going to use. From your budget I would run speaker wire to each volume control and then on to your speakers. The more expensive systems run home runs of CAT 5 to the key pads and home runs of speaker wire to the speakers.

Do you want the ability to control the DA via remote control? Then run a seperate wire for that. The proplem is that once you factor the cost of IR sensors you really should do the CAT 5 and the more expensive DA systems. With you budget your going to have to get up and adjust the volume.

If you are doing an alarm too... don't forget the phone line to the "brain".

Subwoofers for the HT require RCA cable.

Use UL listed cable inside walls.

One more thing... It's cheap to run cable now! Expensive later, so you can't over do it. I have at least two plates of 2 CAT-5 and 2 RG-6 in every room.

 

[mazersteven]

I suggested talking to a custom A/V shop.

 

[Haoleb]

I highly reccomend the Xantech multi-zone systems. As an example you would run the speaker wire from your head end where all the equipment will be to each speaker location. And then you would also run a cat5 from the head end to an area in each room for a keypad.

With this system each zone will have its own keypad which can turn it on and off, and adjust volume and source independently of all other zones. With the size system you want I would get the Xantech MRAUDIO8X8 and instead of just having the entire inside as one zone I would turn each bedroom into a seperate zone.

A system like this is more expensive but its quite a bit nicer than the old volume control in the wall and play one source type of deals.

Also you'll want to keep your HT system seperate from the multiroom setup. With the exception of your sources which will be shared.

Here is a writeup I did on the Xantech units if your intersted in them.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44233

Use 14gauge wire if at all possible. Home depot sells some 14 gauge in-wall stuff in a grey jacket that is decent to work with. Its a bit stiffer than some of the other stuff due to the lower strand count but I still didnt have any problems with it.

 

[jcPanny]

Whole house audio

For the wiring run 14/4 speaker wire to each VC location and 14/2 from the VC to the speaker. Also run cat5 from the receiver head end to each VC box. Like you said, you only get one chance on the wiring. Put some thought into the speaker locations for the main HT.

There are several companies that offer systems with distribution amps ($1k) and keypads (>$100 each) but this is out of your budget.

I would recommend a decent receiver in the $4-500 range like the Yamaha RX-V663 or Onkyo 606 to drive you main system. Connect a stereo amplifier (Behringer A500 $200) to the zone 2 line output to power the distributed audio system. You will need impedance matching volume controls in each room ($30 each). The main limitation of this system is that all speakers are on the same "zone" and play the same source. By using a receiver capable of 3 zone control, you could connect 2 stereo amps and allow a seperate "zone" for the inside and outside speakers.

 

[rembuf]

thanks to all of you for your input. i talked with a niles rep today and he suggested, as did a few of you, to run cat5 from the head to the vc area, and 14/4 from the head to the vc then on to the speaker locations. this way, if i do decide to get a more elaborate system the cat5 will be there. so wiring should now we set.

i now have bought some time to decide on components. the niles may be more than i wanna spend, and not sure i need the ability to change sources at each location, but the remote volume control is nice.

i will review the xantech suggestion, looks interesting and not crazy pricewise. saw it for $1385, which includes the lcd ketpads. but can i connect my HT as a zone or do i need a whole other amp?

The Denon AVR-2309CI was recommended as well, with just regular vc's. less expensive option, but again, would it handle all the ceiling speakers and the HT? or would i need an additonal amp like was suggested.

leaning more toward a complete system now like niles or xantech, but will listen to any more suggestions...thanks again

 

[Haoleb]

You must have a seperate A/V reciever for your Home theater system no matter what you end up getting.

The best prices I found for the Xantech MRAudio8x8 was from this AI consolidated place which was really good to deal with. I did see them cheaper other places but they seemed sketchy.

 

[jcPanny]

Distributed audio.

The receiver is the brain of your system. It provides digital audio and video processing and switching and powers the 5-7 speakers in your main HT. It also provides the zone2 or 3 function which you might need for the distributed audio system. You need one, unless you are content with the TV speakers.

If you go with the low tech distrubed audio system, you will need a stereo amp to drive the speakers. Don't expect the 50 watts from the receiver to drive 5-6 pairs of speakers properly, especially the outdoor speakers.

 

[annunaki]

I would suggest something like the Behringer EP2500 or EP1500 to run all the separate zones of you want them all on the same source.

Otherwise you will need a multizone amplifier 6-12 channels. You will need a source distribution system as well. Russound makes some great, affordable multizone multi source distributed audio systems complete with keypads.