How to connect audio to 8 different speaker locations?

[Kelemvor]

Howdy,

A friend of mine wants to setup some audio in their offices. They want to play audio (Pandora or whatever) from a PC at their front desk and then have it go to speakers in 8 rooms that they have. I'm just looking for the easiest, no frills, way that this can be done.

I'm assuming I need some sort of main amplifier that take one input and have 8 outputs, and then I'd run each output to a speaker in each room, but I don't know anything about that sort of equipment. If anyone can recommend me something that would work and that's inexpensive (no idea if they have a budget for this) I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks!

 

[Howard]

Same source goes to all of them?

 

[Kelemvor]

Yep. Just basically need an 8-way splitter...

 

[vshah]

you need a "distribution amplifier," something like this: http://www.amazon.com/OSD-Audio-MX12...nel++amplifier

no idea if that's a good one or not.

edit: here's a cheaper one
http://www.amazon.com/PT8000CH-8000...4616612&sr=1-2&keywords=12+channel++amplifier

 

[JAG87]

8 airplay speakers or 8 airport express + 8 active speakers, all on the same wifi network.

You can then control all 8 sets of speakers directly from iTunes on the front desk PC.

 

[ArJuN]

You're looking for a impedance matching speaker selector. This will split one amp to multiple speakers. They are really cheap and simple. This is only if you can live with the same thing playing on all of the speakers (you can turn rooms off or on). If you want separate sources, the above suggestions would work.

30 bucks:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10903&cs_id=1090305&p_id=8230&seq=1&format=2

 

[vshah]

You're looking for a impedance matching speaker selector. This will split one amp to multiple speakers. They are really cheap and simple. This is only if you can live with the same thing playing on all of the speakers (you can turn rooms off or on). If you want separate sources, the above suggestions would work.

30 bucks:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10903&cs_id=1090305&p_id=8230&seq=1&format=2

holy crap, that's awesome. always thought you needed a distribution amp for stuff like this. i just ordered one of those for home

 

[sdifox]

Howdy,

A friend of mine wants to setup some audio in their offices. They want to play audio (Pandora or whatever) from a PC at their front desk and then have it go to speakers in 8 rooms that they have. I'm just looking for the easiest, no frills, way that this can be done.

I'm assuming I need some sort of main amplifier that take one input and have 8 outputs, and then I'd run each output to a speaker in each room, but I don't know anything about that sort of equipment. If anyone can recommend me something that would work and that's inexpensive (no idea if they have a budget for this) I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks!

simple, you just need an 8 channel amp and in ceiling speakers. The installation is the expensive part. Running wires and installing the speakers.

http://www.parts-express.com/cat/ceiling-speakers/1934

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=300-815

If you need individual control at each run, then it gets trickier.

 

[ArJuN]

There is no need for an 8 channel amp in this setup...

 

[ArJuN]

holy crap, that's awesome. always thought you needed a distribution amp for stuff like this. i just ordered one of those for home

Yup, they're great. If it were mid May I'd be able to send you a six channel one for the price of shipping (if you didn't mind the 4 holes I drilled in the sides to rackmount it).

 

[vbuggy]

Howdy,

A friend of mine wants to setup some audio in their offices. They want to play audio (Pandora or whatever) from a PC at their front desk and then have it go to speakers in 8 rooms that they have. I'm just looking for the easiest, no frills, way that this can be done.

I'm assuming I need some sort of main amplifier that take one input and have 8 outputs, and then I'd run each output to a speaker in each room, but I don't know anything about that sort of equipment. If anyone can recommend me something that would work and that's inexpensive (no idea if they have a budget for this) I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks!

The hardware question's been answered, but the licensing may not.

http://www.ascap.com/licensing/licensingfaq.html#general

Only takes a disgruntled employee with knowledge of this to drop you in it - at least a small nasty surprise if it happens. Just sayin'.

 

[Plugers]

The hardware question's been answered, but the licensing may not.

http://www.ascap.com/licensing/licensingfaq.html#general

Only takes a disgruntled employee with knowledge of this to drop you in it - at least a small nasty surprise if it happens. Just sayin'.

Looks like if you're less than 2000 square feet and limit yourself to 6 speakers, you're good.

 

[vi edit]

I'm running 3 "zones" (6 total speakers) using a speaker selector and the Zone 2 on my home theater receiver that only outputs 100w per channel. Works fine for my situation. The speakers won't hit any ear splitting dB levels for a party but it's plenty fine for background music.

That combo plus a Sonos controller are awesome.

 

[Arxinall]

IDK

 

[vbuggy]

There's software which will do it (like j.River Media Center) if you want independent control of all speaker pairs (or maybe even individual speakers, not sure about this) from a single PC, but personally I keep it simple for my home setup - I use Sonos like commented on above. Completely effortless multi-zone setup, near-seamless Spotify integration. I love the little things too - like when I leave music playing after I leave any of my homes/apartments, I can VPN in, crank up the Crestron app (with Sonos integration) and turn everything off. Sonos choice does depend on whether you have the budget of course.

 

[Kelemvor]

Somehow I missed a bunch of replies here. That Monoprice thing looks great for only $30. Looks like it takes speaker wire as the input and the outputs. Can I use a 1/8" RCA plug to regular RCA plug convert to get output from the PC and just somehow connect those to this box or do I need something between this and the PC?

Might have to use something like this at home too.

 

[vshah]

Somehow I missed a bunch of replies here. That Monoprice thing looks great for only $30. Looks like it takes speaker wire as the input and the outputs. Can I use a 1/8" RCA plug to regular RCA plug convert to get output from the PC and just somehow connect those to this box or do I need something between this and the PC?

Might have to use something like this at home too.

you will need an amplifier between this and the PC. any old stereo amp or receiver from craigslist should do fine.

 

[Kelemvor]

you will need an amplifier between this and the PC. any old stereo amp or receiver from craigslist should do fine.

Oh yeah, duh. Should have thought of that myself.

Thanks.