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jostim
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| Posted: January 03 2008 at 20:40 | IP Logged
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I installed a low-cost whole-house stereo system that some of you may be interested in.
I use PowerHome to control Winamp. This way I can use a ControLink and Keypads to control the music. I use buttons for "next", "next playlist", "next radio station", etc...
The outputs from the sound card are connected to baluns that send the signal over the cat5 wiring to baluns in the different rooms. Here the signal goes into T-Amp amplifiers.
These amplifiers sound incredible for the cost ($60). They sound better than my $1200 Denon amplifier! . The power is limited (15 W) but I find that it is plenty in most rooms. Only the TV room needs more power for the sound effects of movies. (That's good, otherwise I would have no more use for the Denon...)
I took a few of the T-amps apart and installed the 'internals' in a two-gang electrical box in the wall. All you see is a cover plate and the volume control. With the in-wall speakers this makes for a very clean installation. No wires...
I hope this is useful for someone. It works well for me. Let me know if you have any questions.
The baluns I used:
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=183- 600
or
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=183- 671
T-amp: http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=300- 958
- jos
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nadler1ny
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Joined: February 26 2006
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| Posted: January 04 2008 at 08:52 | IP Logged
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Jos,
I have a slightly different low cost whole house audio solution that I'll also share.
I have the PC sound card connected to a 15 yr old Sony stereo receiver in the basement. The speaker outputs of the SOny and a pair of speaker outputs from my Denon in my living room are connected to a AB8SS speaker switch in the basement. The AB8SS ($159.95) has 2 inputs and 8 pairs of speaker outputs. I have home run speaker wire from 8 rooms to the basement. I control it all through PH and KPLs in each room for volume and stations etc. The Denon and AB8SS are controlled through RS232 and the SOny through IR using USB-UIRT. When I press the Up or Down volume button on a KPL, TSS announces "Volume up" or "Volume Down" and PH knows (through global variables) whether I am listening to the Denon or the PC and raises or lowers the volume on either the Denon or PC appropriately. PH (and the KPLs and Remotelinc) also takes care of turning on or off the set of speakers in each room. PH is so powerful that when I am listening to the Denon and get a phone call it knows to switch to the PC audio card and announce the caller id and then switch back to the Denon.
The down side of this setup are two. I can't have different audio programs in each room which would be a big down side for some but not for me. And, although the volume in each room can be controlled by a device in each room, the volume is changed throughout the whole house, not just the room. SInce I have different speaker types in each room this does cause the occassional annoyance to W who thinks it is too loud in the kitchen when I think it is just right in the office.
Your solutions permits volume control in each room. I like that. For your hidden T-Amps what do you do about power? Also, how do you split the audio from your PC sound card?
Noel
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jostim
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| Posted: January 04 2008 at 16:25 | IP Logged
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Noel,
thanks for your input. I thought about doing something similar, but I decided I needed volume control for each set of speakers.
I used two different solutions for the power supplies. I used a small power supply that I build into the 2-gang box, with a steel plate to separate the amp from the power supply.
Where I had access to the back of the wall, I used a better (much larger) power supply. I plugged the power supply into an outlet and ran wires to the T-amp.
I can't tell the difference in sound quality between the two set-ups, but the speakers I use on the T-amp with build-in-power aren't exactly top quality (MTX HT6253).
I never tested the two power supplies side-by-side on better speakers, but I assume it would make a difference.
- jos
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doctorjerry
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| Posted: January 11 2008 at 13:33 | IP Logged
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Jos,
I have a question on the setup of the baluns. Do you need a pair of baluns for each room setup, or can you use one balun at the source with multiple baluns connected by cat 5 cables.
Jerry
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Jerome
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jostim
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| Posted: January 12 2008 at 11:27 | IP Logged
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Jerry,
I use a separate balun at each end.
But if I had to do it again, I would use a 'Balun Distribution Amplifier" (like the ones here: http://www.intelix.com/products/balun_da.htm) on one end, and individual baluns on the other.
This would reduce the clutter on the side of the computer.
While I am at the subject of things I would do different:
I use coax to distribute video through the house. If I would do it again, I would use baluns and the cat 6 wiring to distribute the video also.
- jos
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traviskleckner
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Joined: February 26 2007
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| Posted: January 18 2008 at 08:49 | IP Logged
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Noel,
I've got a system very similar to yours, only not quite as complicated. PC with PH and WinAmp connected to a pair of old receivers. Keypad controls playlist, mute, next/previous, etc.
To split the audio, 3 sets of speakers are connected to each amp, with impedance matching volume controls attached to each speaker. The volume controls (http://www.russound.com/volume_controls.htm) have jumpers to adjust impedance, allowing you to connect several 8 Ohm speakers and not screw with the amp. It also allows you to control the volume in each room (obviously).
It's no Sonos, but a heck of a lot cheaper...
nadler1ny wrote:
Jos,
I have a slightly different low cost whole house audio solution that I'll also share.
I have the PC sound card connected to a 15 yr old Sony stereo receiver in the basement. The speaker outputs of the SOny and a pair of speaker outputs from my Denon in my living room are connected to a AB8SS speaker switch in the basement. The AB8SS ($159.95) has 2 inputs and 8 pairs of speaker outputs. I have home run speaker wire from 8 rooms to the basement. I control it all through PH and KPLs in each room for volume and stations etc. The Denon and AB8SS are controlled through RS232 and the SOny through IR using USB-UIRT. When I press the Up or Down volume button on a KPL, TSS announces "Volume up" or "Volume Down" and PH knows (through global variables) whether I am listening to the Denon or the PC and raises or lowers the volume on either the Denon or PC appropriately. PH (and the KPLs and Remotelinc) also takes care of turning on or off the set of speakers in each room. PH is so powerful that when I am listening to the Denon and get a phone call it knows to switch to the PC audio card and announce the caller id and then switch back to the Denon.
The down side of this setup are two. I can't have different audio programs in each room which would be a big down side for some but not for me. And, although the volume in each room can be controlled by a device in each room, the volume is changed throughout the whole house, not just the room. SInce I have different speaker types in each room this does cause the occassional annoyance to W who thinks it is too loud in the kitchen when I think it is just right in the office.
Your solutions permits volume control in each room. I like that. For your hidden T-Amps what do you do about power? Also, how do you split the audio from your PC sound card?
Noel |
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Topic: Low cost whole house stereo
