crosen Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 I wonder if anyone has any good experiences they would share integrating a low cost (i.e. $200 retail) two zone amp with C4 for very basic multi room audio. The primary audio application I'm looking at here is streaming mp3's to either or both of two rooms - a main room with an HC-300, the A/V equipment and speakers, and a second room having only speakers.(I understand that using C4 switches/amps is the best practice for multi zone audio distribution if the $ is there. However, for this very basic application, a $1k plus audio switch, etc., just seems like overkill.)Thanks,Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wappinghigh Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 Take a look at Rotel. They have a great range of low cost power amps. www.rotel.com.Some 2 channel (which you can loop) and some say 6 channel..The real beauty of them is some of the range has auto signal sensing. So when the music signal arrives at the rca input on the amp, the amp switches on.This makes them incredibly easy to integrate into any multiroom system as you don't need 12V trigger control (though most have that as well).I thoroughly recommend these amps (and NO I'm a customer not a dealer). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akg4y Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 For just 2 zones you could just get a cheap multizone receiver... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecodeman Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 For just 2 zones you could just get a cheap multizone receiver...I wouldn't. This would rear the nasty head of using a multizone receiver for more than one zone and would not yield desireable results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crosen Posted June 3, 2009 Author Share Posted June 3, 2009 Take a look at Rotel. They have a great range of low cost power amps. www.rotel.com.Some 2 channel (which you can loop) and some say 6 channel..The real beauty of them is some of the range has auto signal sensing. So when the music signal arrives at the rca input on the amp, the amp switches on.This makes them incredibly easy to integrate into any multiroom system as you don't need 12V trigger control (though most have that as well).I thoroughly recommend these amps (and NO I'm a customer not a dealer).Thanks for the suggestion. If I'm not mistaken, I would have to use the 6 channel amp in conjunction with some form of switch in order to have control over zone output, yes? Ideally, I would like to have a single low cost switch/amplifier for this project.Thanks,Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crosen Posted June 3, 2009 Author Share Posted June 3, 2009 For just 2 zones you could just get a cheap multizone receiver...I wouldn't. This would rear the nasty head of using a multizone receiver for more than one zone and would not yield desireable results.thecodeman - this warning has come up several times before, but I don't fully understand the exact problem one would encounter trying to use a multizone receiver for the application i describe. can i trouble you to elaborate?thanks,cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanE Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 The problem is typically that multi-zone receivers don't handle all the cases that a true AV switch would handle, they typically have holes in the protocol, so there are limitations (there has to be audio on in Z1 for Z2 to operate, or the power management doesn't work -- if you turn off zone 1 and someone was listening in zone 2, the whole receiver shuts off, etc.)I don't have a full list of limitations, but it makes it nearly impossible to make a fully reliable driver to control it as if it were two independent zones of audio.Because of these (and others I have not listed) limitations, many dealers will shy away from 2-zone setups using receivers.RyanE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crosen Posted June 4, 2009 Author Share Posted June 4, 2009 The problem is typically that multi-zone receivers don't handle all the cases that a true AV switch would handle, they typically have holes in the protocol, so there are limitations (there has to be audio on in Z1 for Z2 to operate, or the power management doesn't work -- if you turn off zone 1 and someone was listening in zone 2, the whole receiver shuts off, etc.)I don't have a full list of limitations, but it makes it nearly impossible to make a fully reliable driver to control it as if it were two independent zones of audio.Because of these (and others I have not listed) limitations, many dealers will shy away from 2-zone setups using receivers.RyanEok, thanks, that makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mav-Jason Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 Sorry but I have to disagree on the whole 'don't use zone 2' concept... but it won't be a budget receiver.I have this Pioneer VSX-05 serving zone 2 to the C4 amp over an audio balun from the rca outputs. It runs 4 out of the 5 sources to the C4 amp, and it works like a charm. A quality piece with discrete ir codes is a wonderful thing.Pics taken from this thread... http://www.c4forums.com/viewtopic.php?id=3039 (<<<shameless plug ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanE Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 There are exceptions to every rule.There are without a doubt receivers that have a full Zone 2 codeset and work fine.There are a *LOT* more that don't. For that reason, Control4 typically recommends that dealers not 'sell' that feature.RyanE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILoveC4 Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 Plus, that receiver you are pointing out is just a little more than the OP's requested $200 retail price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mav-Jason Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 but it won't be a budget receiver.Was just pointing out that it is very possible to use zone 2 to feed a C4 amp and have it work flawlessy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sbutter Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 The primary audio application I'm looking at here is streaming mp3's to either or both of two rooms - a main room with an HC-300, the A/V equipment and speakers, and a second room having only speakers.The HC-300 has two audio outs. You could use one for the main room connected to an A/V receiver and the second to an amp. The A/V receiver would control the volumne in the main room and the HC-300 would control the volumne in the second room having only speakers.I would look at the Parasound Zamp for about $350; over your budget but a great amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecodeman Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 Onkyo has an amp you could use for just one zone, or you could use a Control4 speakerpoint.http://outlet.crutchfield.com/p_580M282/Onkyo-M-282.html?cc=07&tp=180 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanE Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 Or you could build your own amp:http://tinyurl.com/o68cmkRyanE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CFUG Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 Alright, that is way cool- how did you do that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILoveC4 Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 Yeah, how did you do the whole video of typing a google search thing?That was cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecodeman Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 Internet Newbies http://lmgtfy.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILoveC4 Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 Internet Newbies http://lmgtfy.com/Nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CFUG Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 This is a testhttp://tinyurl.com/m3tu8w Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgerald Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Does anyone know if you can intergrated a Niles ZR4630 multi receiver with C4? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazybuppie Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 From what i hear, Integra receivers have the best Zone2 control. I've talked to several integrators that have done many and they say it works great.But yea...$200 isnt gonna get you an integra Why not just run the 2nd audio out from the hc300 into an amp for the 2nd room? does it need to be more complex than that? The 300 will stream your music and handle volume control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havok2022 Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 Niles has some little amps designed for just that purpose, and they are reasonably priced if I remember correctly.http://www.nilesaudio.com/product.php?prodID=SI-245&recordID=Stereo%20Power%20Amplifiers&categoryID=System%20Integration%20Amplifiers&catcdID=4&prdcdID=FG00795 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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