My next step in the audio realm is to set up speakers in the kitchen to run off a Yamaha rxv-765 receiver located in the living room. I was thinking the kitchen speakers would run off Zone 2, and that I'll need set up volume control for the kitchen. I just don't know where to begin with the volume control - help!
Thanks!
If you have a receiver that has the ability to continually vary the Zone 2 volume, just use that command with your remote, or a universal remote with RF, so you don't need to worry about line of sight. If it can only be varied in large increments, I would use a separate volume control in the kitchen and leave the receiver's volume at -0dB. If you don't have more rooms that need speakers and volume controls, you'll be done with just the one control. If you want speakers in a lot more rooms and low power is OK, use an impedance matching device and volume controls in each room.
If you need more power in some zones, like a patio or large outdoor space, a multi-channel , like the Dayton MA-1240 will work well. It has 12 channels/6 zones, separate level control for each channel, 2 separate input channels (if some rooms don't need the same source as others) and each channel is bridgeable. It can be turned on when the signal starts, left on and controlled with a remote controlled outlet or a 5VDC-24VDC trigger voltage. Another benefit is that you can use one speaker per channel and you won't need to worry as much about impedance- it's OK to connect it to a 4 Ohm load.
I like to use muting volume controls, so nobody will be startled when the system turns on- the control has a muting button that illuminates when the system turns on and no sound is produced unless the mute button has been pressed or you want to program the control to allow sound as soon as it turns on (it can be set either way). Niles makes these- MVC-100 or MVC-100IR (IR sensor).
