Hi there,
I've taken on a bit of a large one for my first project. I've hit a wall in my research and would love to be pointed in the right direction.
I'm doing a multiroom setup, 5 zones (3 mono, 2 stereo zones). The 3 mono zones don't need to have amazing sound, they're essentially background noise. and 1 of the stereo zones can be better than the other.
It'll be entirely wired (max cable length of 15m). There's no wifi in the house, and i don't want to mess around with bluetooth.
I'm trying to wrap my head around the amplifier and volume control logistics. Specifically, splitting the signal and being able to control volume both at the source and in the zone.
I think my options are:
A single amp with individually controlled channels
Or is there some way of having the preamp as source and splitting to seperate amps for each zone?
- That way i could use something cheap like a lm1875 for the mono zones
Or maybe powered speakers?
For a volume control, passive attenuation doesn't sound ideal, What other options are there?
TIA
I've taken on a bit of a large one for my first project. I've hit a wall in my research and would love to be pointed in the right direction.
I'm doing a multiroom setup, 5 zones (3 mono, 2 stereo zones). The 3 mono zones don't need to have amazing sound, they're essentially background noise. and 1 of the stereo zones can be better than the other.
It'll be entirely wired (max cable length of 15m). There's no wifi in the house, and i don't want to mess around with bluetooth.
I'm trying to wrap my head around the amplifier and volume control logistics. Specifically, splitting the signal and being able to control volume both at the source and in the zone.
I think my options are:
A single amp with individually controlled channels
Or is there some way of having the preamp as source and splitting to seperate amps for each zone?
- That way i could use something cheap like a lm1875 for the mono zones
Or maybe powered speakers?
For a volume control, passive attenuation doesn't sound ideal, What other options are there?
TIA
Source with master volume and (perhaps balanced) buffer for each room; in the source room.
Active speakers (perhaps balanced in) with volume in each location.
Professional interconnects are available in long lengths at sensible prices.
But are you buying ready made units, boards or full scratch build?
Balanced buffers and cables avoid noise pickup with long cables.
Active speakers (perhaps balanced in) with volume in each location.
Professional interconnects are available in long lengths at sensible prices.
But are you buying ready made units, boards or full scratch build?
Balanced buffers and cables avoid noise pickup with long cables.
In the Pro sound world, where this would be considered a small system, it's normally done using a constant voltage distributed system. The way that works is speaker audio is distributed at a higher voltage and impedance than what would normally drive a speaker voice coil. Each speaker along the way has a step-down transformer with taps that define how much power it can get from the nominal signal. You can tap off as many speakers as you want, and run long runs of fairly small wire, like 16ga, without problems. There are auto-transformer stepped volume controls that work within this system, essentially a tapped transformer and a rotary switch, that let you adjust volume in a room or zone with a knob on the wall. These controls also have an off position, that is really off. Stereo controls track well. The driving amp is either designed for the task with either a "25 volt" or "70 volt" output, or you can use any amp with an external step-up transformer of sufficient power rating. Most decent amps work fine, a rare few don't care for the transformer load.
The idea is, the amp power is the total power available at nominal volume, and each speaker is "tapped" to take a portion of it. So, if you had a 100W amp, and 10 speakers, each could get up to 10 Watts. Or you could drive 20 speakers at 5 watts. You get the idea. The amp sees a controlled load, always, even though that load varies, it's still never unreasonably low (like paralleded speaker) and distribution is very, very simple, low cost and easy. Some examples of available 70V amps, transformers, and volume controls are here, but there are many sources.
Some might argue that the speaker transformers, and the amp transformer degrade the sound. And they might, a little bit, but it's simply a non-issue for background systems. After having installed more of these systems than I can count, sound quality of the transformers has never ever been an issue. This all works WAY better than trying to hang 8 ohm speakers on a consumer amp, then trying to control their volume. One trick is to use the highest power transformer tap at the speaker, then run the amp output lower. Then the transformers loaf.
Alternatively, there are multi-channel amps set up for zones, but these are expensive. There is also a way to build up a zoned system using small, low power T-power amps, like those from Amphony. I've actually done that for a client. I used a stack of something like 5 or 6 of their little amps with their inputs paralleled. Each amp drove a pair of speakers, eitiher mono or stereo. The one caution is that the power ratings on these are done at an obscene amount of distortion. So, where they say 80W mono or 40Wpc stereo...nah. More like 20W mono, 10W stereo, clean. But 10W is more than you need for background music, way more. You'll run most at 1W or less. They are good, cheap, and reliable. And, there are similar devices sold on Amazon. The downside is, you're back to distributing low Z amps and speakers, so bigger wire, and local in-room volume control is a pain. I like the 70V distributed method much better.
The idea is, the amp power is the total power available at nominal volume, and each speaker is "tapped" to take a portion of it. So, if you had a 100W amp, and 10 speakers, each could get up to 10 Watts. Or you could drive 20 speakers at 5 watts. You get the idea. The amp sees a controlled load, always, even though that load varies, it's still never unreasonably low (like paralleded speaker) and distribution is very, very simple, low cost and easy. Some examples of available 70V amps, transformers, and volume controls are here, but there are many sources.
Some might argue that the speaker transformers, and the amp transformer degrade the sound. And they might, a little bit, but it's simply a non-issue for background systems. After having installed more of these systems than I can count, sound quality of the transformers has never ever been an issue. This all works WAY better than trying to hang 8 ohm speakers on a consumer amp, then trying to control their volume. One trick is to use the highest power transformer tap at the speaker, then run the amp output lower. Then the transformers loaf.
Alternatively, there are multi-channel amps set up for zones, but these are expensive. There is also a way to build up a zoned system using small, low power T-power amps, like those from Amphony. I've actually done that for a client. I used a stack of something like 5 or 6 of their little amps with their inputs paralleled. Each amp drove a pair of speakers, eitiher mono or stereo. The one caution is that the power ratings on these are done at an obscene amount of distortion. So, where they say 80W mono or 40Wpc stereo...nah. More like 20W mono, 10W stereo, clean. But 10W is more than you need for background music, way more. You'll run most at 1W or less. They are good, cheap, and reliable. And, there are similar devices sold on Amazon. The downside is, you're back to distributing low Z amps and speakers, so bigger wire, and local in-room volume control is a pain. I like the 70V distributed method much better.
You need something like this.
https://www.avsl.com/brands/adastra...100v-mixer-amplifier-6-x-40w-usbsdfmbluetooth
I Installed one a few weeks in a small hotel along with ceiling speakers.
When there is a band playing at dinner time, I also feed the amp with an audio transmitter (mic / bodypack etc) to distribute the sound.
https://www.hotelquintadesilvalde.pt/pt/quinta-de-silvalde/
Page is under construction since it will open in a few weeks.
Perhaps the audio systems solution from Cloud audio would suit You.
The amps sit in a technical closet / rack and they have wall panels and apps as accessories but also expensive stuff.
There is also a German company which make amps for mounting in DIN switchboard rails. Check Thomman.
https://www.avsl.com/brands/adastra...100v-mixer-amplifier-6-x-40w-usbsdfmbluetooth
I Installed one a few weeks in a small hotel along with ceiling speakers.
When there is a band playing at dinner time, I also feed the amp with an audio transmitter (mic / bodypack etc) to distribute the sound.
https://www.hotelquintadesilvalde.pt/pt/quinta-de-silvalde/
Page is under construction since it will open in a few weeks.
Perhaps the audio systems solution from Cloud audio would suit You.
The amps sit in a technical closet / rack and they have wall panels and apps as accessories but also expensive stuff.
There is also a German company which make amps for mounting in DIN switchboard rails. Check Thomman.
Last edited:
Depending on the location, a 100V system may require special wiring or contuit. That's the point of a 70V system, the voltage falls below what codes require to be treated as power wiring. There are many amps available that will drive a 70V or 25V constant voltage distributed system. 100V is actually a bit unusual.
70V is unusual outside USA and Canada (Mexico?). The majority of the World runs 100V speaker lines.