One Amp - Multi Zone Audio - How do I do it??

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › One Amp - Multi Zone Audio - How do I do it??

Dawg

233 posts

Master Geek

#36636 29-Jun-2009 16:53

Hi Guys,

The current scenario is this.

One Amp (Living Room) - Want to send audio to 2 extra areas. Outdoor & Kitchen/dining.
I would like the ability to play all areas at once or each area individually.
I have found the following options on Jaycar at two very diferent price points:

http://jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=AC1640&keywords=Speaker+Selecto&form=KEYWORD

or

http://jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=AC1683&keywords=Speaker+Selecto&form=KEYWORD

Ideally I would like to split the sound to the 3 areas - But since currently I do not have any spare speakers the cheap option for the time being is a rather attractive short term solution - More so than outside - Too Dam Cold!!

Any pitfalls/experieces with these types of devices??

Any other suggestions on how I should achieve this?

cheers Shane

Dawg

233 posts

Master Geek

#229259 29-Jun-2009 17:21

Edit:

I have just noticed this similar topic as well
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=34&topicid=36199

Brunzy

2016 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#229298 29-Jun-2009 18:52

Dawg: Hi Guys,

The current scenario is this.

One Amp (Living Room) - Want to send audio to 2 extra areas. Outdoor & Kitchen/dining.
I would like the ability to play all areas at once or each area individually.
I have found the following options on Jaycar at two very diferent price points:

http://jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=AC1640&keywords=Speaker+Selecto&form=KEYWORD

or

http://jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=AC1683&keywords=Speaker+Selecto&form=KEYWORD

Ideally I would like to split the sound to the 3 areas - But since currently I do not have any spare speakers the cheap option for the time being is a rather attractive short term solution - More so than outside - Too Dam Cold!!

Any pitfalls/experieces with these types of devices??

Any other suggestions on how I should achieve this?

cheers Shane

Does the budget allow for an upgrade?

An amp with 3 zones would allow more flexibility,ie different or same source in each zone

Dawg

233 posts

Master Geek

#229308 29-Jun-2009 19:20

Yeah I knew some one would mention to upgrade.

At this stage no - Not too concerned about different source in each zone - but interesting i will definately note that for the future.

Cheers

cldlr76

289 posts

Ultimate Geek

#229318 29-Jun-2009 19:43

Have you seen the clipsal multi room audio?
http://www.clipsal.co.nz/products/clipsal_integrated_systems/multi-room_audio

Jaxson

8042 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#229459 30-Jun-2009 09:44

Dawg, the option you have linked to at Jaycar is what I'll be using as well to do the same thing. You need the impedence matching which is why it's expensive.
If you do go down the new receiver angle, watch out for what sources you can redirect to what outputs. My onkyo for instance only allows analogue inputs for zone two, which is plain stupid as I can't feed it a signal from an hdmi source, so basically I don't use that function at all.

bazzer

3438 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#229476 30-Jun-2009 10:26

I'm not sure any receivers (well, I guess there's some but none I looked at) allow HDMI over the 2nd or 3rd zones. The more expensive ones allow digital (optical/coaxial) over Zone2/3 but not HDMI. It just means running an extra analogue audio for each component, which considering second zone is outside/kitchen is probably OK unless the DAC is really bad (on the deck is hardly critical listening area).

It's exactly the setup I have, but my receiver does 2 Zones so I used that (I used the B speaker output for the 3rd Zone). The only problem is PS3 which only outputs over HDMI or analogue not both at the same time, so I have to keep switching audio settings.

Even with impedance matching, are you sure your amp will have the guts to run 3 pairs of speakers at once?

Jaxson

8042 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#229480 30-Jun-2009 10:31

bazzer: The only problem is PS3 which only outputs over HDMI or analogue not both at the same time, so I have to keep switching audio settings.

Exactly my situation, so if you want the same source in many places a second amp or a speaker selector switch is best bet. Good point about the amps nuts though too.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

Dawg

233 posts

Master Geek

#229481 30-Jun-2009 10:34

Cool thanks Jaxson,

The impedence matching was what I was warned about - So that was where I was leaning.

Thats interesting to know about the inputs for the different zones. I try and remember that for the future.

Even with impedance matching, are you sure your amp will have the guts to run 3 pairs of speakers at once?

Not sure about that, probally not - But I probally won't ever want to run all 3 areas at once any way - at this stage anyway - I think in most scenarios I only want the sound in two zones - & I can always upgrade the amp in the future to allow for the 3rd zone if I find I ever need it or find a cheap option on Trademe

Cheers