[slinkelist] How to hook same audio source to multiple receivers

[Tony Golden]

----- Original Message -----
From: Simon Mason <simon@themasons.net>
To: CPUXA Mailing List (E-mail) <cpuxa@futurestandard.com
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2000 9:43 AM
Subject: [slinkelist] How to hook same audio source to multiple receivers


> I am about to reconfigure my whole house audio system to use several
> identical receivers.  I have done the math and figured that this is
cheaper
> and more flexible than purchasing a dedicated audio controller to do this.
> One thing I am trying to figure out.  How can I route the audio from a
> single source (CD Changer for example) to these multiple receivers.  I am
> looking for some sort of audio splitter.  A professional mixer might do
> this?  Is there anything simpler?


FYI, below is an excerpt from a previous thread in CHA...

----- Original Message -----
From: MrGolden <MrGolden@swbell.net>
Newsgroups: comp.home.automation
Sent: Saturday, August 21, 1999 6:35 PM
Subject: Re: Kustom vs. ??? whole-house audio questions


> While a multiple stereo receiver setup may initially appear to be the
> ultimate value for multi-room audio, it is not as simple as it seems.
There
> are a few unforeseen drawbacks, which may not be a problem for you, but
they
> should at least be considered.
>
> First, is space -- think about how much room 5 or 6 receivers will
require,
> and the heat they'll generate, plus your source equipment.  Second, the
> implementation of such a system is a little more complicated than just
> "hooking 'em up".  The electrical characteristics of some brands of
> receivers (varies from manufacturer and model) will prevent you from just
> "splitting" the output of the CD for instance, and running it directly to
> all of the receivers.  You will probably need a distribution amplifier for
> each source.  In addition, the IR signal routing can get "messy".  There
are
> solutions available to fix these problems, but they add to the cost of a
> seemingly "cheap" system.
>
> I'm not saying you shouldn't do it, just be aware that there is a reason
> that multi-zone preamps/amps from Russond, Kustom, Xantech, and Niles are
> frequently used, even though the cost is greater.
>
> For comparison, let's look at a hypothetical system:
>
> 6 Sony (or whatever) inexpensive stereo receivers @ $135 ea. = $810
> 3 Xantech AV61 Audio/Video distribution amplifiers @ $107 ea. = $321
> 1 Xantech 795-20 4-Zone amplified IR connecting block @ $180 = $180
> 1 Xantech 796-20 6-Zone connecting block expander @ $180 = $180
> 1 Xantech 782-00 High Current power supply @ $45 = $45
> 6 Xantech 283-00 Infrared emitters @ $11 ea = $66
> Total (excluding vol. controls/keypads, speakers, wire, and sources) =
$1602
>
> That's a pretty good system for the money, but for $1650 you could get the
> Russound (or Kustom) C6.4 system, INCLUDING volume controls/source
> selector/IR receivers, in the space normally occupied by only one stereo
> receiver.  Granted, the six stereo receivers would have more power, but in
a
> casual listening environment you may not need it.
>
> My personal favorite, however, would be the Xantech ZPR68 ($1620)
Multi-Zone
> Preamp, paired with the Niles SI-1230 ($1080) 12-channel Amplifier.  It's
a
> more expensive option, but gives you some special features, like global
> commands that let you control all rooms simultaneously from any zone, and
an
> RS-232 port for control by your home automation system.
>
> Anyway, have fun with whatever you choose.
>
>
> Tony Golden
>
>
> Joe Keenan <jkeenan@blkcat.com> wrote in message
> news:37BECB52.59017D14@blkcat.com...
> > Dave Kolb wrote:
> >
> > > My plan, partially implemented, is to put five Sony DE135 receivers in
> the
> > > wire closet to control 10 rooms (two on each receiver) and each room
> will
> > > have RBH MC6 speakers with a volume control with builtin headphone
jack
> and
> > > IR receiver back to a zone block. The receivers are only $135 each and
> have
> > > great sound and 100 watts per channel and four inputs including each
> with
> > > their own FM tuner. WHo needs 8 inputs, i want more outputs and a
> cheaper
> > > price (Hear that Kustom???)...
> >
> > OnSale as Aiwa AV-DV30 units (refurb) for $50-$60 each.  Would these
work
> as
> > well as the Sony?  For this usage,  I wouldn't think the speaker specs
are
> all
> > the relevant, as long as they're not terrible.
> >
> > I assume you're planning on feeding one from from the A outputs and one
> from
> > the B outputs.  That would mean that the two rooms would share input
> selection
> > and main volume control.
> >
> > I'm really thinking the same way you are, I guess.  While I would love
to
> have
> > a system based on the Russound or Xantech fancy switching pre-amp, I
can't
> see
> > how to justify the $2500-$3000 price tag (for preamp + poweramps).  I
can
> buy
> > 7 Sony DE135s or twice that many refurbed Aiwa AV-DV30s for $1000.
Throw
> in a
> > couple hundred worth of Xantech zoned IR connection blocks and what's
the
> real
> > difference?