I have a 100w x 2 channel stereo receiver that drives a set of Bose 51 outdoor speakers as well as a pair of speakers in my garage. I have them wired as A and B.
First questions: Two channels means 2 separate speaker channels …i.e A and B, correct? A 100w x 2 receiver is a 200w receiver? A 100w x 4 channel would allow me to hook up 4 pairs of speakers?
I want to hook up 4 sets of speakers. Three outside and one in my garage. If I am correct in my first question above, I could just get a 100w x 4 channel receiver and be good to go. I was looking at a Sherwood RX-5502 for about $150 that would do the trick.
However, I think I would like individual volume control. That would mean a speaker selector. I am looking at the Niles SSVC-4 for about $250. Since I am driving so many speakers with the same 100w x 2 receiver, will my overall sound volume diminish?
I don’t know how a speaker selector hooks up to the receiver. The Niles ssvc-4 says that it handles 100w per channel 200w peak. That means that the receiver that I have would be the most powerful one I could use in combination with this device? Will I be happy with this combination? I don’t need eardrum splitting sound, just a nice consistent sound throughout the yard. I don’t want to be blasting the speaker volume so that you can hear it far away, yet be too loud if you’re sitting close.
Are there any other methods or equipment combinations that I should be looking at that might give me better results? Thanks!
I am not an “expert”, but I’ll tell what I can, and bump this to the top…
If you have an amp rated 100w x 2, you have 50w per channel. Divide, not multiply. Someone smarter will come along and fix this/explain it better I’m sure.
I have two systems. I run both with 4 pairs of speakers (eight in the house, eight in the garage/shop). I use a simple switching device from a totally suck-ass outfit that rhymes with “Radio Crack”. Simply a little box with 2 inputs and 4 switched outputs. You can select any combo you want, and it supposedly corrects the impedence. It varies depending on the combo you choose. Volume to each speaker is not adjustable. Neither amp I use is over 100w, but they all play plenty loud, to the point of having the cops show up if you want.
If you want independant volume, you need to look at that expensive stuff you mentioned.
OK. Looking at the specs for my amp. It is a 200W amp with 2 channels. I think that means it is a 100W per channel. Sooooo… each channel is one pair of speakers? I have 100W driving each set of speakers?
Gatopescado… I was looking at a setup like you have. They are pretty inexpensive. How does the speaker selector hook up to your receiver? You said that it has 2 inputs and four out. Does each speaker pair (channel) go into one input on the selector? I understand sorta how the speaker selector corrects the impedence.
My big question is…if you have 100W driving one pair of speakers…and then you hook up another pair of speakers using an impedence correcting device…do you lose sound volume? How much?
Incorrect. 100w x 2 means you have a left channel and a right channel. If you have an A/B switch on your receiver, that does not mean additional power.
A 100w x 4 receiver is not four pairs of speakers. It’s four speakers total.
Unless the amp itself has separate volume controls for the A and B speakers, the A, B or A+B switching just parallels the speakers on the amp. Speakers are usually 8 ohms, so two in parallel will be a 4 ohm load on the amp. Most decent amps can handle this with no problem.
If you want additional volume control, you’ll need what’s called an L-pad or “impedance matching” speaker volume control. Looks like the “Shack” has strayed far from its roots and while they’ll happily sell you a remote-control L-pad for $150, that’s probably more than you want to spend. The one linked above will do what you need, and the wiring is pretty simple, assuming you can solder.
Now the question is which set of speakers do you want to be controled solely by the amp, and which set would you want to reduce the volume on? This will be the pair where you install the L-pad.
On re-read… You want to run four pairs of speakers? Time to go multi-amp. It might be possible to run four pair of speakers off one amp, but generally, the results will sound like crap or will fry your amp.
Bose speakers are often 4-6 ohm and are not good for running in A+B mode on most amps. Check the speaker rating and also the receiver manual for it’s impedance limits when running multiple speakers.
(nevermind, I see the Bose 51s are 8 ohm speakers. Just can’t run more than 2 pair off the receiver without that Niles box.)
My speaker selector has 2 inputs. Connect them (L and R) from the “A” position on the amp to the selector. Then hook up 4 (or less) speakers pairs the the selector box.
Actually, at one time, I had a 80w Denon amp running 7 pairs of speakers. 4 on “A” and 3 on “B” using 2 of the cheapo selector boxes, but I had to hook up some 8 ohm resisters on the second box with only 3 sets of speakers to keep the impedence correct.
You will notice a volume increase/decrease depending on how you have them hooked up to the selector box. The one I have, for example, runs A+B+C at 4 ohm (I think, maybe 6), whereas all 4 together run at 8. So, turning “D” off resulted in a volume increase in ABC. I used this in planning the placement on the speakers. A, B and C are in the shop proper and D are in a small entrance “hut” (I call it “The Guardshack”) that is physically located outside the building and I want to cut off the music sometimes. Throw the “D” switch and I don’t piss off the neighborhood and also get more “omph” from the speakers inside the shop.
My advice: Don’t get too hung up on big numbers. 50w of clean power will rock your world. Run 4 pairs of speakers? 20w spread around a backyard should be plenty. Don’t spend more than you need. Most “audiophile” gear is marketed shit, In My Opinion.
Try the cheap way first. Simple A-D selector box, non-powered, no volume controls. Mine came with a little impedence chart, telling you what went to each speaker pair in any given configuration. Less impedence- more volume (short answer). Hook up according to your needs. If that isn’t doing it for you, then go a little higher-tech.
Post-script: Bose is all the same shit made in China, just with a better marketing department.