In our family room, I ran wires for a 5.1 surround sound system. I also ran speaker wires from the component location to the kitchen as well as out to the back-yard. I'm ready to buy my system, but not sure how I'm going to get music to all these locations.
My preference would be to get a decent 5.1 HTIB system. (This is not the home theater, just a family room next to the kitchen where we watch the news and where the kids watch their DVD's while mom/dad are in the kitchen). I want to be able to play the sound in the kitchen or in the back-yard as well. Do I have to find a HTIB with a "zone 2" speaker setup? Can I use an A/B speaker switch with a regular 5.1 system?
Any other suggestions would be appreciated as well.
2007-09-09 13:36:45 · 5 answers · asked by smithers_lds 2 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Home Theater
I think you need to look at Niles they have just the product you are looking for.
2007-09-10 05:58:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can put an A/B speaker switch on the two main (L, R) speakers; when you use the amp in 2-channel (stereo) mode you shouldn't have any problem. Of course since you are switching the speakers you can't have both the main speakers and the remote speakers running at the same time.
However, be aware that an HTIB amplifier may have problems with the driving the setup you describe, particularly if you plan to try to drive both remote speaker pairs at the same time. To do that properly, you need to use impedance-matching volume controls at each speaker set or impedance protection within the switch.
You can control output to multiple speaker sets centrally with the device linked below; it costs a bit more than a simple A/B switch, but will protect your system from damage.
Other options include boomboxes (best for outdoors in my opinion; I've found permanent backyard speakers are seldom worth the hassle) or looking for a small stereo receiver to dedicate to this purpose and leave the HTIB system dedicated to its job.
Good luck
2007-09-10 03:26:31 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Receivers tend to do that when there is a short in the speaker wiring... Or, which might be likely here, a mismatched impedance. If the speaker is shorted, or the "ohms" rating is too low, the receiver will shut off as a type of circuit protection. That function protects the amp from burning up from not having enough load. Check and make sure your speaker's impedance rating is within the amp's specs. If that's not the problem, I'd run the speakers individually (which you seem to have done). Then if that doesn't lead you anywhere, hook both speakers to the "A" side and see if the receiver shuts off again. If it does, then it's definitely a speaker issue. All that of course assumes that the wires are good and haven't been smashed (causing a short) or anything. Good Luck!
2016-05-20 22:31:21 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simplest approach, use your speaker A/B switch but don't expect surround.
2007-09-12 07:44:45 · answer #4 · answered by len b 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes
2007-09-09 13:41:01 · answer #5 · answered by cellular 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋