Re: I want to wire my house for speakers but don't know what I'm doing :)
- From: Tomi Holger Engdahl <then@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: 24 Feb 2006 14:05:18 +0200
"The Choker" <chickenchoker@xxxxxxxxx> writes:
OK, I know this is probably the most asked question but after getting
a professional quote of $75/hour to do the wiring I figure I'd give it
a shot myself...
Details:
-I'd like to have my PC as the source of music (mp3's baby!)
-I'd like wire speakers to 3 locations in the house (basement den,
family room, outside deck)
-I'd like individual volume controls for each location
Do you want the volume control to be for all speakers be
at central location or at the location where speakers are ?
For central location control one option is to have separate
amplifiers for all speakers at one place. Every one of them
getting the same signal form sound cards, and each of them
having separate volume controls. Then speaker wires from
the central location to speakers. Volume control from
amplifier fron panels or using suitable multi output sound mixer.
Approach used in restaurants, arena PA etc..
Approaches with local sound level controls:
1. One amplifier on the central location distributing 70V or 100V
audio signals. At the listening location you have 70/100V line
speakers with local volume controls (usually rotatable switches
that switch the different settings on 70/100V to 8 ohm speaker
adapting transformer inside speaker case)
+ can cover easily long ditances with thin wire
+ proven long time used technology on for example to play
background audio on shops and other places
- this kind of systems are not usually "hifi" quality
- expensive ? (price of amplifiers and speakers, electrical installation)
2. One or several amplifiers on one location supplying speaker level
signals to the cables. The speakers on the rooms are wired through
speaker level volume controls. (depending on amplifier and speakers
you could need from one to three amplifiers to drive three speaker sets)
+ can use normal hifi speakers, amplifiers and speaker wire
- long distances need quite thick wire
- suitable potentimeter can be expensive, limited on power handling
and can affect sound quality (adds easily considerable resistance
to speaker wiring that can affect more or less sound quality depending
on speakers used)
3. Active speakers with local volume controls on all locations and
line level audio distribution to them using balanced signals
+ proven and well working technology
+ audio need just this wires (preferably shielded twisted pair
microphone cable or similar, but CAT5 UTP will also usually
work acceptaly)
+ excellent sound quality possible when good speakers are selected
+ distance from central location to speakers can be long
(100-200 meters no problems)
- cost of active speakers with balanced inputs are not cheap
- you will need to invest to audio distribution amplifier with
several balanced outputs (also audio mixer with balanced out will work)
4. Active PC speakers with local volume controls on all locations and
sound distributing using "RCA cables" (unbalanced signals)
+ the speakers are very cheap
+ wiring can be made with normal ready made cables if wanted,
just use an "Y" splitters on soundcard out and feed cables from
it to all places
- sound quality is limited with PC multimedia speakers
- system can be sensitive to to noise pickup (hum, switching
noise from electrical network), at some locations things
work and at some other places not useable (can't know for sure
in advance before installation)
Now what? I'm about a week away from drywalling my house and would
like to wire the walls ASAP.
How about pulling installation electrical wire tubes from the central
location to the places you will need now before the walls are ready.
Intall thick enough tubes, and you can freely pull the needed cable
type there later without touching the drywall construction.
Besides my PC & stereo receiver what do I need?
Depends on the system you choose.
My understanding right now is that I have to wire my PC's sound
card to the stereo receiver. With what kind of wire?
Normal 3.5 mm stereo plug to RCA audio cable is the right cable type
in most cases (when PC soundcard has 3.5 mm jack sound out and
stereo receiver has line level input with RCA connectors).
What's the minimum sound card requirements?
Depdens on your preferences on the sound quality.
Any PC sound card that you are happy with the sound quality should do.
What about from the receiver to the speakers? Will my current receiver
be able to wire 3 sets of speakers?
In most cases normal average stereo hifi amplifier/receiver is not
designed to drive three sets of speakers at the same time.
What kind of wire should I use?
Depends on the system you selected to do this.
(all sets of speakers are under 50 feet away, I've been reading 16
gauge, is this OK?). What about volume control?
I know this is long winded...but my initial search of the internet gave
me so many options! What I'm looking for is a low cost solution that I
can easily install with a friend or two over some beers.
Thanks in advance,
The Choker
--
Tomi Engdahl (http://www.iki.fi/then/)
Take a look at my electronics web links and documents at
http://www.epanorama.net/
.
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