Audio in multiple rooms

[Valkyries]

OK, I haven't found any threads on this so here goes. Our new house is almost done being framed in. I'm going to run speaker wire to at least four rooms in the house. My goal is to have the ability to control the sound to each room from a central location.

My ultimate goal is to have all audio originate from my computer. I have some ideas on the output from the computer from other threads, but what is the best way to control the signal to each room? At times I may want the audio to all rooms and other time just one or two rooms. My reciever fried itself a couple years ago, but it only had A/B speaker control anyway. I'll be honest right now all I have is a computer loaded with songs and an old DVD player (soon to be in the trash). I don't want a DVD player or an AM/FM receiver in the mix since I want to use my computer song library and internet radio for all my audio. Any suggestions on a basic unit to control and power the speakers? I know there is a computer thread, but my main concern is controlling the audio to different rooms.

[ToddL]

Check out NUVO systems, anything can be integrated. There are control keypads that will go into your rooms and they have separate volume/source controls. They run about $1000 and up but are very convenient.

[hermann_giron]

If you want to listen to one source (ex. computer audio) in up to two rooms at the same time, you can use the A/B switch on your amplifier/Receiver to switch speakers.

If you want the same source in 2 or more rooms at the same time, you will need to include some kind of switching device (options include anything from cheap radio shack equipment to high end professional types that are available at specialized shops).

Depending on how many rooms you want to listen to at the same time, you may have to have aditional amplification for additional rooms, as setting up more than one pair of speakers on the same speaker posts on your amplifier/receiver may cause damage to the amp. Simple switching devices will only let you switch one alternate room at a time to avoid this problem.

If you want more than one source to be played at the same time in different rooms (ex. radio in one room, CD in another) you can consider receivers that have a multiple zone function, such as Marantz SR5500 (first option on my mind, i am sure you can find many others with the same or better functionality)

Finally, if you want to be able to control different sources, playing in different rooms, from each of those rooms you can consider different options, from a remote control extender to complex custom instalations. I would reccomend going to a specialist for this last option, as the equipment is expensive and may require professional instalation.

hope this helps.

[hermann_giron]

Here is a link you may find useful. In a box solution to your problem:

http://www.sonos.com/us/landing/all_lp4.htm?

[pelly3s]

Jamo has the A-bus system which allows you to run cat 5 to rooms and has small single gang control pads which have a small amplifier in them

[Oregonian]

Valkyries
I'm in the same boat as you are (building a house, getting it pre-wired for speakers and want to connect my computer for music) and researching for the configuration. Till now, I have been told to connect my computer to receiver. Receiver connects to the Speaker selector box and that connects to the volume control and that connects to the speakers.

Let me know what you are doing once you finalize your plan.

[StateDJ85]

I'm in the same boat too. I chose a Russound CAM system for my setup. It ended up being a little pricey, but I really liked the independent source and volume controls for each room. Also, all the speakers can be turned on/turned off/adjusted from each controller. I initially wanted to do volume controls all running off of 1 or 2 amps, but this setup for me ended up being much more user friendly. I didnt like the idea of having to run around turning off sets of speakers if I forgot. They make an a-bus system that I also really liked. Check out www.homecontrols.com for some audio distribution systems. I would recommend doing something that's one step above just volume controls and speaker wire. I saw an interesting system that was essentially volume controls all wired to 1 amp, but they had an all on/all off button on each volume control for convenience. I'd say check out russound and nuvo for distribution systems. Nuvo's simplese system or Essentia are both great starter systems for simple setups. Also check out a russound a-bus or jamo a-bus system. These give cool IR features to let you control the music from where you're listening to it. Good luck, hope this helped!