-
17th October 2006, 10:24 AM
#1
Automated Home Jr Member
Double Wiring Speakers
Hi,
A question about speakers....
I have a lounge with in-ceiling speakers setup for 5.1
I have decided I would like to either feed the speakers from a local source in the room or from a Sonos box in a comms cabinet.
So, the idea that occurs to me is "double wiring" the speakers. A speaker will therefore have 2 feeds. 1 from the local 5.1 system and 1 from the sonos box.
What are the pitfalls that may arise from this?
The one's I can think of are:
1. It will be possible to have music from 2 sources playing at the same time.
2. It might be possible to exceed the power of the speaker when both sources are feeding the speaker at the same time at full volume.
Are there any more, or even a better way to do it please??
Thanks
Trev
-
17th October 2006, 01:34 PM
#2
Automated Home Sr Member
Re: Double Wiring Speakers
One main problem will be having 2 outputs driving one load ... this is a big no-no in electronics. You would likely damage one of the driving units.
This can be done if some form of switchover is added, such that only one unit drives the speaker at any one time.
Cheers,
n.
-
17th October 2006, 02:30 PM
#3
Moderator
Re: Double Wiring Speakers
The sonos box allows you to connect an external sound source, so this would be the best way to go. Also you can stream this external sound source to any other sonos unit on the network.
NEVER EVER, wire 2 sources directly to your speakers. You can by remotely controlled switchover boxes. But if you are thinking of getting a Sonos then use this.
-
17th October 2006, 05:04 PM
#4
Automated Home Jr Member
Re: Double Wiring Speakers
Hello Chaps,
Thanks for the advice. So it looks like i need somekind of switch.
Can anyone suggest one for me?
Thanks
Trev
-
17th October 2006, 07:16 PM
#5
Automated Home Legend
Re: Double Wiring Speakers
Lets Automate have a couple of X10 modules that could form the basis of a home-brew box. There's this one:
http://www.letsautomate.com/10223.cfm
Which provides a contact closure on receipt of an X10 signal, or this one:
http://www.letsautomate.com/10681.cfm
which will turn on an integral power supply.
You'd feed the power supply to the coils of a bank of relays and connect the speaker cables to the contact sides.
When the system is "off" all the relays are in one state (either home cinema or Sonos), and when energised the relays switch the other source over to the speakers.
I may not have described that too well, but I hope you got the gist. Let me know if you'd like a sketch and I'll knock one up :-)
HTH,
Tim.
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
-
Forum Rules