Amp for Multi Room Audio

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41 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Topic # 88410 15-Aug-2011 20:49

Hi

Our house has 8 in ceiling speakers each with volume control switch. The are all connected back to a single RCA wall plate socket. I have connected it to one speaker output of my Denon receiver. It works ok except the amp needs to have the volume level very high which means I can't use the other set of speakers (which are in the lounge) at the same time. I am thinking of getting a separate amp for the room speakers. What kind of power output should I be looking for. I don't want to spend too much money as the speakers are only little 4 inch units and it's just for back ground music.

Cheers

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Dunnersfella

3363 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 455

Reply # 507012 15-Aug-2011 21:00

Just to clarify...
Exactly what speaker output have you connected the speaker switch box to on your Denon?

41 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Reply # 507093 16-Aug-2011 07:21

Dunnersfella: Just to clarify...
Exactly what speaker output have you connected the speaker switch box to on your Denon?

I have connected one channel of the B speaker pair to an RCA socket on the wall. The RCA is connected to 8 pairs of cables in the wall.

illicit

553 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 15

Reply # 507104 16-Aug-2011 08:09

Have you got a multimeter?

I'd be interested to see what the impedance on that RCA plug is.

41 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Reply # 507509 16-Aug-2011 19:10

illicit: Have you got a multimeter?

I'd be interested to see what the impedance on that RCA plug is.

Resistance is 12ohms

Dunnersfella

3363 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 455

Reply # 507514 16-Aug-2011 19:17

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Dunnersfella: Just to clarify...
Exactly what speaker output have you connected the speaker switch box to on your Denon?

I have connected one channel of the B speaker pair to an RCA socket on the wall. The RCA is connected to 8 pairs of cables in the wall.

Excuse me for being a little thick, but why have you only connecred one channel of the B speaker pair, and not two?

41 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Reply # 507519 16-Aug-2011 19:33

Excuse me for being a little thick, but why have you only connecred one channel of the B speaker pair, and not two?

There is only one speaker per room all connected together in parallel back to one RCA. Effectively a mono system. I guess I could connect 4 speakers to the left 4 to the right channel.

illicit

553 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 15

Reply # 507664 17-Aug-2011 07:43

Do you realise that the sound will fade in/out with stereo audio playing.....?

rphenix

858 posts

Ultimate Geek
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Subscriber

Reply # 513889 30-Aug-2011 12:17

Does your denon not have an A & B Speaker zone? If so you can independently control the volume for each zone, so you could wire up the in wall's with one zone at one audio level (probably the b zone) , and then the other zone can control the speakers your wanting to use.

Otherwise you can get an inline amplifier I guess would be the other option.

Given how you've wired things make sure you've configured the amp to output in mono if possible.

41 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Reply # 513928 30-Aug-2011 14:00

I have gone for a $40 "500w" 12v amp off Trademe. It is just about powerful enough. It has a variable input level but distorts if set too high. I have connected it to the Tape left channel output of the Denon.

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