One of my friends wants me to hook up a stereo system in his hoop barn. We were thinking of having 5 sets of speakers. I'm just wondering how to hook them up to a receiver. I'm also wondering what receiver would be best for this. I have about 300 to spend on a receiver.
Thanks
Thanks
Look up 70V (or 25V) audio distribution systems.
Or get 5 small class D amps ~20W ea...might be easier.
Or get 5 small class D amps ~20W ea...might be easier.
Or just wire up the speakers in a fashion to achieve the impedance of the amplifier.
4 x 8ohm speakers could be wired in series parallel pairs and still be 8ohms. You might even be able to squeeze the 5th speaker in there depending on the final measured value.
4 x 8ohm speakers could be wired in series parallel pairs and still be 8ohms. You might even be able to squeeze the 5th speaker in there depending on the final measured value.
Hi,
If you're considering a traditional stereo receiver, look for one that has support for two speaker pairs. Many had that, and they could typically be both engaged simultaneously: "A+B" on a rotary switch, or individual "A" and "B" pushbutton switches. Of these, I would venture a guess that most commonly the two speaker outputs would be paralleled at the amplifier output, although allegedly there were some that connected them in series. Check the allowable minimum speaker impedance noted on the receiver at the speaker terminals.
You could then wire 2 or 3 speakers in series, connected to each of the 4 speaker outputs.
Driving 5 pairs of speakers, you'll likely run out of amplifier power before putting the speakers at risk, so look for something with adequate "real" output power, and sturdily built for long-term continuous use (good cooling, etc.) Power metering (and/or clipping indicators), plus some form of built-in amplifier protection (thermal shutdown, DC protection) could be very helpful.
All of the above assumes (perhaps incorrectly?) that your friend is looking for more than background music for the livestock! May we ask for more details about the application?
Wilf
If you're considering a traditional stereo receiver, look for one that has support for two speaker pairs. Many had that, and they could typically be both engaged simultaneously: "A+B" on a rotary switch, or individual "A" and "B" pushbutton switches. Of these, I would venture a guess that most commonly the two speaker outputs would be paralleled at the amplifier output, although allegedly there were some that connected them in series. Check the allowable minimum speaker impedance noted on the receiver at the speaker terminals.
You could then wire 2 or 3 speakers in series, connected to each of the 4 speaker outputs.
Driving 5 pairs of speakers, you'll likely run out of amplifier power before putting the speakers at risk, so look for something with adequate "real" output power, and sturdily built for long-term continuous use (good cooling, etc.) Power metering (and/or clipping indicators), plus some form of built-in amplifier protection (thermal shutdown, DC protection) could be very helpful.
All of the above assumes (perhaps incorrectly?) that your friend is looking for more than background music for the livestock! May we ask for more details about the application?
Wilf
You will not run out of power driving 5 pairs of speakers, you still have the same amount of power.
You will gain extra volume just by having multiple speakers (cone surface area). Some more experienced members could tell you how much.
You will gain extra volume just by having multiple speakers (cone surface area). Some more experienced members could tell you how much.
Easy, just get a 5 channel speaker connecting switch box, google it or Ebay it, the low input/output power handling ones are relatively cheap, the more power you want to put through it the more you have to pay.
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A 5.1 receiver can power 5 speakers, and a sub if needed.
Most have an 'All channel stereo' option.
I did the same thing, and opted for Marantz, £750 reduced to £350, has airplay and other cool features (just remember you need an HDMI tv to set these up)
Marantz and Yamaha are meant to be the best sonically and for music, and above £300+ range are often built with proper amplifier components.
Hope that a little
Most have an 'All channel stereo' option.
I did the same thing, and opted for Marantz, £750 reduced to £350, has airplay and other cool features (just remember you need an HDMI tv to set these up)
Marantz and Yamaha are meant to be the best sonically and for music, and above £300+ range are often built with proper amplifier components.
Hope that a little
ok i was thinking i would get a onkyo tx-8050 to power everything. Now im wondering how i need to wire the 10 speakers to it. Could i use something like this? NXG Technology NX-VCH8 150-Watt Volume Control Distribution Hub at TigerDirect.com
thanks
thanks
Oh geez.
1) you can not run 5 pairs of speakers in *parallel*.
why? the impedance will drop too low (below 4 ohms) and cause
excessive power draw, likely blowing the fuses or worse, smoking the amplifier(s).
2) if you run them in series the impedance will be too high, and the level per speaker too low.
3) also, if all speakers are not *identical* then you are likely to get "power hogging" and strange loads which can either blow speakers or amplifiers.
In terms of possible wiring and connections, an even number is generally easier to use assuming some sort of series/parallel wiring combination. This permits the sharing of power evenly and at the same time maintaining the impedance the amplifier sees above some reasonable value.
An example of series parallel, for 4 speakers would be (speakers E, F, G, H) E & F wired in series, G and H wired in series, now both sets E-F & G-H then wired in parallel. The original impedance is maintained. You do get some acoustical power gain too (it plays louder for the same power input).
Clearly, this is not possible with an odd number of speakers.
The other alternative of Class D amplifiers per speaker(s) is also viable, Parts Express sells some powerful but inexpensive modules - you do need a power supply though.
The "hub" thing can not possible work without attenuating all speakers and eating power, or else causing a very low Z load to be seen by the amplifier.
_-_-
1) you can not run 5 pairs of speakers in *parallel*.
why? the impedance will drop too low (below 4 ohms) and cause
excessive power draw, likely blowing the fuses or worse, smoking the amplifier(s).
2) if you run them in series the impedance will be too high, and the level per speaker too low.
3) also, if all speakers are not *identical* then you are likely to get "power hogging" and strange loads which can either blow speakers or amplifiers.
In terms of possible wiring and connections, an even number is generally easier to use assuming some sort of series/parallel wiring combination. This permits the sharing of power evenly and at the same time maintaining the impedance the amplifier sees above some reasonable value.
An example of series parallel, for 4 speakers would be (speakers E, F, G, H) E & F wired in series, G and H wired in series, now both sets E-F & G-H then wired in parallel. The original impedance is maintained. You do get some acoustical power gain too (it plays louder for the same power input).
Clearly, this is not possible with an odd number of speakers.
The other alternative of Class D amplifiers per speaker(s) is also viable, Parts Express sells some powerful but inexpensive modules - you do need a power supply though.
The "hub" thing can not possible work without attenuating all speakers and eating power, or else causing a very low Z load to be seen by the amplifier.
_-_-
As far as running a 5.1 receiver, even assuming you could manage the impedance of a pair of speakers in parallel (possible with two 8 ohm or higher impedance speakers in parallel - possible, not certain), your poor little 5.1 receiver would be pushed to its limits. They're designed for low average levels found in a typical small home room.
Any large room is going to require much higher *average* power levels.
Home receivers are generally not designed for high *average* power levels. They blow up when they get too hot.
If used very judiciously with perhaps external fan cooling one might manage - but unless you know where the limits are and don't exceed them, ur asking for a failure right in the middle of a show/event.
Also typical home speakers are also not designed for high SPLs or high *average* power. They blow up - especially tweeters.
Best to think this through carefully, maybe post the size of the room and how many people will be in there, and what sort of SPL levels you expect to need?
There's good reasons that real PA/SR gear costs money.
😀
_-_-
Any large room is going to require much higher *average* power levels.
Home receivers are generally not designed for high *average* power levels. They blow up when they get too hot.
If used very judiciously with perhaps external fan cooling one might manage - but unless you know where the limits are and don't exceed them, ur asking for a failure right in the middle of a show/event.
Also typical home speakers are also not designed for high SPLs or high *average* power. They blow up - especially tweeters.
Best to think this through carefully, maybe post the size of the room and how many people will be in there, and what sort of SPL levels you expect to need?
There's good reasons that real PA/SR gear costs money.
😀
_-_-
pat99:
Read bear's last two posts very carefully - as pointed out, the question hasn't really been answered as to how large the venue and what volume levels you're hoping to maintain. Those are two very important data points in the calculus here, not only in terms of the mechanics of how to wire such a system, but in the selection of number of / power level etc of components.
Read bear's last two posts very carefully - as pointed out, the question hasn't really been answered as to how large the venue and what volume levels you're hoping to maintain. Those are two very important data points in the calculus here, not only in terms of the mechanics of how to wire such a system, but in the selection of number of / power level etc of components.
ok so if i just use 4 pairs of speakers would it work to wire 4 speakers in series parallel to one channel and the other 4 to the other channel? also would i need a selector switch if i did that?
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