YOyoYOhowsDAjello, I need some guidance.

[Cerpin Taxt]

My mother just recently moved into a new house, and the previous owner was a bit of a audiophile from what I can gather. The house was basically wired throughout with speakers, all of which draw their original signals from the theater room. In total, there are sets of speakers in the gazebo, in the jacuzzi room, in the dining room, in the theater room, in the bar, in the garage, and in the master bedroom (I think that's it).

What I need to know is what kind of switching unit is necessary to turn them on and off at each location, or even to run different signals to different sets of speakers simultaneously. So, for example, it would be awesome to watch movie A through the speakers in the theater room while music selection B plays in the jacuzzi room and music selection C plays down in the bar. Basically in the theater room there is a master panel with individual inputs for each set of speakers, so it isn't like there is 1 master signal that is split among all of them. I did take a few pictures of the panels, but I think they're still on my mother's camera.

Anyway. what kind of technology could help me achieve this? Are there multi-channel amplifiers and switches that can do it? At a bare minimum, she'd just like a switching unit so she can put just 1 signal to any and/or all of those places either all at once, 1 at a time, or in groups.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Sorry, not really sure what would be involved with hooking up to that existing system.

Haven't had to deal with setting up... or even thinking about... a whole house system since I'm still a poor apartment dweller

I can point you in a direction to get some better input though
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=36

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Sweet, thanks. I can't imagine that it would be very difficult given the proper switching unit. Hell, with the right components, a nice enclosure and enough solder I could probably build one myself, but I'd rather find one already made.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Garth
Sweet, thanks. I can't imagine that it would be very difficult given the proper switching unit. Hell, with the right components, a nice enclosure and enough solder I could probably build one myself, but I'd rather find one already made.

Yeah, I imagine it wouldn't be too hard, but to get something that looks good and is easy to use might be an issue

 

[EvilYoda]

The switcher will be simple, any local hifi boutique will have a Niles or SpeakerCraft piece that'll do the job. Other than that, most receivers made in the last 5 years (at least) will have 2 zone processing, so you can pick one up used or a new one for cheap. She'll be able to process 5.1 for the theater room and then send zone 2's input (radio, cd player, ipod, etc) to the switcher which will then distribute to the various rooms. How you turn on and off those rooms is up to you...there are obviously IR-based systems, but you can still get an old-school one with physical toggles for each zone. The boutique will have everything you need...and then some.

Not really a difficult job, since you have all the wiring in place...you only concern is that with so many zones, that you have enough power to run all of them at the same time, adequately.

 

[LordMaul]

Holy Use-The-Fvcking-PM-Feature Batman!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: LordMaul
Holy Use-The-Fvcking-PM-Feature Batman!

Well my PM box filled up yesterday, so maybe he's psychic

 

[IntrinsicValue]

You could try using a Speaker Selector.

 

[Conky]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: LordMaul
Holy Use-The-Fvcking-PM-Feature Batman!

Well my PM box filled up yesterday, so maybe he's psychic

Empty it out once in a while. You really need 1,000 messages saved?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Beachboy

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: LordMaul
Holy Use-The-Fvcking-PM-Feature Batman!

Well my PM box filled up yesterday, so maybe he's psychic

Empty it out once in a while. You really need 1,000 messages saved?

I just haven't gotten around to exporting them again yet.

EDIT: There, done (Looks like the last time I did it was about October)

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: LordMaul
Holy Use-The-Fvcking-PM-Feature Batman!

Well my PM box filled up yesterday, so maybe he's psychic

I knew you were going to say that. :evil:

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Originally posted by: EvilYoda
The switcher will be simple, any local hifi boutique will have a Niles or SpeakerCraft piece that'll do the job. Other than that, most receivers made in the last 5 years (at least) will have 2 zone processing, so you can pick one up used or a new one for cheap. She'll be able to process 5.1 for the theater room and then send zone 2's input (radio, cd player, ipod, etc) to the switcher which will then distribute to the various rooms. How you turn on and off those rooms is up to you...there are obviously IR-based systems, but you can still get an old-school one with physical toggles for each zone. The boutique will have everything you need...and then some.

Not really a difficult job, since you have all the wiring in place...you only concern is that with so many zones, that you have enough power to run all of them at the same time, adequately.

:beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer: