Multiple speaker selector

[JB1962]

Greetings
Looking into installing multiple room speaker selection from a single amplifier, what are the options for controlling two to more (yes more) sets of speakers from a single amplifier? Some use resistors, some transformers? I would want to control volumes separately. Also wondering if using an in-room volume control might be a better option but not sure just how best to confront that question? I would not only like to control whole house sound from a central source, I have a woodshop where listening to music is mandatory. I currently have only 8 ohm speakers, I have at option a Kenwood KR-6030 which is stable @ 4 ohms, all other sources of power are rated @ 8 ohms

My abused Fisher Studio Standard CA-2120 integrated amplifier with the FM-2121 tuner perched atop has been doing duty in the woodshop dust. I do have pretty good dust collection but nothing can stop some dust getting away. Obviously I can't avoid deciding on which set of speakers to return to/introduce to the inevitable dust, what I can avoid is exposing the music source to the dust. Yep, I need to move the tuner and integrated amplifier, or receiver into another room, which is where the in-room volume control comes in. I don't want to loose frequencies whilst adjusting the volume

 

[grochon]

I have an older version of the Niles SSVC-6 speaker selector. It controls up to 6 speakers with individual volume controls. You hook it up to your amplifier/receiver then hook up all of your speakers to the speaker selector box. Easy-peasy. My days of collecting audio related equipment are pretty much over so I'm starting to downsize my collection. That way my wife has less to deal with when I'm 'gone.'

When auditioning some of my speakers to prospective Craigslist buyers, I'm able to have them compare multiple pairs of speakers at pretty much the same volume so they can make a better decision as to what they like. I know Crutchfield sells a number of makes and models. I'm sure there are other sources. Good luck in your endeavors!

 

[JB1962]

I have an older version of the Niles SSVC-6 speaker selector. It controls up to 6 speakers with individual volume controls. You hook it up to your amplifier/receiver then hook up all of your speakers to the speaker selector box. Easy-peasy. My days of collecting audio related equipment are pretty much over so I'm starting to downsize my collection. That way my wife has less to deal with when I'm 'gone.'

When auditioning some of my speakers to prospective Craigslist buyers, I'm able to have them compare multiple pairs of speakers at pretty much the same volume so they can make a better decision as to what they like. I know Crutchfield sells a number of makes and models. I'm sure there are other sources. Good luck in your endeavors!

Something like that would be great for the basement, as there are currently nine sets of speakers therefore two systems. I would like to eventually have separate volume controls in 4-5 rooms in my house upstairs, preferably with the volume controls in each room. Just less fussing around to get the desired sound level in each room

The basement:

IMG_20210822_031921790

• JB1962
• Aug 29, 2021

Here's seven sets, not quite half

 

[JB1962]

I ended up getting a couple of OSD Audio SVC 100 impedance matching rotary volume controls. With these I can get my Fisher Studio Standard out of my wood shop where it's getting dusty and into a safer place whilst still being able to control the volume without leaving the shop. These will also allow me to have multiple sets on one left and right output, as there are three rooms to my shop

 

[RTally]

Greetings
Looking into installing multiple room speaker selection from a single amplifier, what are the options for controlling two to more (yes more) sets of speakers from a single amplifier? Some use resistors, some transformers? I would want to control volumes separately. Also wondering if using an in-room volume control might be a better option but not sure just how best to confront that question? I would not only like to control whole house sound from a central source, I have a woodshop where listening to music is mandatory. I currently have only 8 ohm speakers, I have at option a Kenwood KR-6030 which is stable @ 4 ohms, all other sources of power are rated @ 8 ohms

I tried having speakers in different rooms powered by a receiver in a central location. It sucked because volume control was not easy. The remote did not work because there was not line-of-site between the remote rooms and where the receiver was located.

My solution, which was aided with full adoption of digital, was to put a receiver/amp in the same room as the speakers. I have a music server (1 at home, 1 at work) that sends signals to one or all of the remote systems (4 at home and 4 at my office). I use a combination of ChromeCast Audio, Apple Airport Express, Apple TV, and built-in DLNA. This also makes it easier for my wife to listen to what she wants in her workroom at the same time I listen to something different in the garage. Volume is controlled in each room, either directly with the receiver/preamp or using a portable device (remote, phone, tablet), which also allows me to select the music for that room.

I use Adcom speaker switches for multiple speakers connected to two systems at work (6 speakers in my office, 3 in my workshop).

 

[sberger]

So if sets of 8 ohm speakers are connected to the switch box, and one amp at it's 4 ohm outputs, and only one set of speakers at a time are being used at a time, does each set still see 8 ohms, or are they seeing 4 ohms?

 

[RTally]

So if sets of 8 ohm speakers are connected to the switch box, and one amp at it's 4 ohm outputs, and only one set of speakers at a time are being used at a time, does each set still see 8 ohms, or are they seeing 4 ohms?

The amp sees whatever speaker impedance is connected to the speaker switch. For example, if 8 ohm speakers are playing, the amp sees an 8 ohm load, regardless of the setting on the amp (if there is an ohms setting on the amp). If two 8 ohm speaker pairs are playing, the amp sees a 4 ohm load because the speakers are connected in parallel.

My Adcom speaker switches have a protection switch to prevent low impedance loads from being connected to an amp. The protection switch adds a resistor in series with the connected speakers, so that if three 8 ohm speakers are playing, the amp will still have a load of over 4 ohms, not 2.7 ohms of the three speaker pairs in parallel. I do not use the protection switch because I do not play more than one pair at a time through the switch box.

 

[sberger]

The amp sees whatever speaker impedance is connected to the speaker switch. For example, if 8 ohm speakers are playing, the amp sees an 8 ohm load, regardless of the setting on the amp (if there is an ohms setting on the amp). If two 8 ohm speaker pairs are playing, the amp sees a 4 ohm load because the speakers are connected in parallel.

My Adcom speaker switches have a protection switch to prevent low impedance loads from being connected to an amp. The protection switch adds a resistor in series with the connected speakers, so that if three 8 ohm speakers are playing, the amp will still have a load of over 4 ohms, not 2.7 ohms of the three speaker pairs in parallel. I do not use the protection switch because I do not play more than one pair at a time through the switch box.

Thanks.

I get what the amp see's, but what about the speakers? Does an 8ohm speaker see 8 or 4 ohms if only one pair of speakers is playing with the box connected to the 4ohm taps of the amp?

 

[RTally]

Thanks.

I get what the amp see's, but what about the speakers? Does an 8ohm speaker see 8 or 4 ohms if only one pair of speakers is playing with the box connected to the 4ohm taps of the amp?

Speakers are a passive load. They don't see anything other than an applied voltage. Speaker performance is unaffected by connecting other speakers in parallel, provided that the amp can handle the increased load of multiple speaker pairs.

On the other hand, the amp is an active device. It outputs a voltage with the current determined by the speaker impedance. That is, the amp cares about the load (speaker) impedance.

 

[sberger]

Ok got it. Thanks.