Total downstairs solution

[ali_g]

Right, i don't really know what bit of kit to purchase or what my options are please help!

i have done a really bad mockup in publisher that i'll share:

   

So i did have 2 stereos, one in conservatory, that did there, and the kitchen, although that was a pain, because the conservatory is quite close to the neighbours, so i have to have that stereo on to hear anything in the kitchen,

The other consists of a stereo in the living room that is connected to my mediacenter machine, that's abit irrelevent here.

So i would like the following...
(i'll use the zones)

1) 1,2,3
2) 1,3
3) 1,2 etc.. etc...

but as it is, the living room, can stay as so.

1,2 are the main, can i switch from one to the other to both?

i'm sure i've made this more complex than needed, although may i just mention, i'm not looking to pay £2500 for one of those Onken fucking Mahooozive amp things!

[elootos]

There are things like these in-wall speaker selectors from QED, but at £90 a pop they seem a bit steep.

I guess you could feed a 'B' output of an amp into the switch, then that would control 1 & 2, and the normal 'A' output would still be driving your 3 zone speakers.

[northan]

I know exactly what you are trying to achieve, unfortunatley it's not easy unless your gona be prepared to spend some money.

The cheapest way to do it is to buy one of these, but as you know once you read it, your aware that it has limitations, like getting of your arse and changing the side. I guess if your adventurous you could add in line volume resistors or something.

Something a little more expensive and hence versitile is this.
To be honest im considering this myself. (other options that are cheaper can be found by same manufacture)

Third option is to have 3 basic amps running of the same source and then using a remote power plug to turn on and off. Crude

Ahhh yes you could always go the Onken fucking Mahooozive amp things route

---

I know exactly what you are trying to achieve, unfortunatley it's not easy unless your gona be prepared to spend some money.

The cheapest way to do it is to buy one of these, but as you know once you read it, your aware that it has limitations, like getting of your arse and changing the side. I guess if your adventurous you could add in line volume resistors or something.

Something a little more expensive and hence versitile is this.
To be honest im considering this myself. (other options that are cheaper can be found by same manufacture)

Third option is to have 3 basic amps running of the same source and then using a remote power plug to turn on and off. Crude

Ahhh yes you could always go the Onken fucking Mahooozive amp things route

[ali_g]

northan Wrote:The cheapest way to do it is to buy one of these,

Only had to say it once, but thanks.

now they're out of stock so is this what i'm after too?

oh and by the way, when i see your username it sounds like 'Now then' said in welsh

[northan]

(01-20-2010 04:20 PM)ali_g Wrote:  now they're out of stock so is this what i'm after too?

oh and by the way, when i see your username it sounds like 'Now then' said in welsh

No problem. Thats about right for what you want to do. I'm too lazy to have that, I would want it controlled within MC.

Cause it's so cheap too, you can always upgrade in the future.

You wiring up all your house at the moment? All I suggest is that you put in as much wiring as you can afford, and put it every where.
In fact if your doing a proper job and you cant afford all the wiring now, put in trunking within the walls, so if you decide to expand in the future, its easy for you to chase all the wires. Hopefully it's a job you only need to do once.

I started out thinking that two coaxials to every room were enough 8 years ago, before I found my first htpc.

I have no idea why I call my self Northan, it was the first sign on name I could think of when I was a kid, and stuck with it ever since. Never had a problem signing on with it yet. (some people think I was trying to spell Northern, but dyslexia got the better of me)

[elootos]

(01-20-2010 04:20 PM)ali_g Wrote:  Only had to say it once, but thanks.

Er, not sure why the forum duplicated the post. I've seen it happen before but am unsure how it's triggered. I think it's where a user edits a post and for some reason both edits are shown.

(01-20-2010 04:54 PM)northan Wrote:  I have no idea why I call my self Northan, it was the first sign on name I could think of when I was a kid, and stuck with it ever since. Never had a problem signing on with it yet. (some people think I was trying to spell Northern, but dyslexia got the better of me)

Ah, well Duncs saw you joining in his tea leaves and predicted it. 'cept he also saw an 'm' in your username, and you weren't number13 either. But it was close enough. Spooky...

(11-03-2009 10:01 PM)dunks517 Wrote:  I shall be the fourth to say hello, Whats the betting that number 13 'shall be no Northman'? Name the film...

[ali_g]

northan Wrote:You wiring up all your house at the moment?

Well i'm looking to wire these all together, but i haven't begun yet, i'm considering using CAT5 cabling as a cheaper alternative to speaker cable, does anyone have any experience with this?

Well the living room is the last room we need to redecorate, so it's got left till last, when the carpet comes up i will be wiring it all under the carpet so that it goes under the stairs into the kitchen+ conservatory,

I will try and describe my next problem with this...

   

excuse the mess, it's the easiest way to see my problem, well hopefully you can see that on the right, where the brown power comes through the wall is from the cupboard under the stairs (where the speaker wire will come from)
so it's no problem getting it there, but i want the cable to goto above the cupboards to the top left of the photo, but it's Tiled everywhere, and i might struggle to get the wires to there without seeing them..

i'm going to include another photo, so you don't think i'm a scruffy bugger :)

   

This is a better view of where i want to get the wires, up above the cupboards.

any advice?

[northan]

Its a tricky one

Are you planning on using celing speakers or speakers on top of the cupboards?

There are plenty of ways to skin a cat, but looking at what you got, makes me think its gona be a little difficult if you want it compleatly hidden.
Your photo doesnt show what is at the far left of the cupboards, is there a door frame or a corner? Reason I ask is you could go behind or under the cupboards and the up using a natural contour of the room. and some good looking trunking. These things can be hidden well enough if you do a good job.
Some times you have to go around the whole house before you get to where you want, so think lateraly as to how you can get there.

If you have any spare tiles you could take some off and route within the wall. The reason I say spare, cause you would be damn lucky to get them off and not crack a few, but once behind the tiles its easy to chase into wall and retile. That would be the most diy extensive but the neatest

Another would to go within the celing space and drop down to the cupboard. But if you were gona do that, it would be easier to use ceiling speakers, that way the job would look nicer.

[ali_g]

(01-21-2010 02:41 PM)northan Wrote:  Its a tricky one

Are you planning on using celing speakers or speakers on top of the cupboards?

I think i'm just gonna stick to on top of cupboards until a whole kitchen re-fit is done.

Including a TV where the chopping board is (on the splashback board thing).
but for now.... hmmm

northan Wrote:Your photo doesnt show what is at the far left of the cupboards, is there a door frame or a corner? Reason I ask is you could go behind or under the cupboards and the up using a natural contour of the room. and some good looking trunking. These things can be hidden well enough if you do a good job.

   

heres the best pic i've got so far, as i'm at work...
What are my chances of getting the wires behind the tiling? next to none?
I didn't do that kitchen, just re-floored it so i don't know, although tonight i'm gonna do some investigating under the stairs i think, see if i can gain any idea where i can enter, (Oooh Errr)
I am thinking i might try and see if theres a gap between the wall and the tiles if i can make a hole in the tiles above the units that won't be seen then try dangling something down (Oooh Err again) behind the tiles and retreive it as a pull-through

northan Wrote:If you have any spare tiles you could take some off and route within the wall.

I do have spares but i think that re-tiling a few tiles would look abit daft now since they have been on the wall since the year 1975 probally when it was built.

[northan]

Just had a look at your new picture.
My thoughts are, for minimal work, no bother aproach would be to have the wires come up that corner where the sink is.
You can buy silicon type corner fillets that are used for baths and sinks, there is a small gap behind for a couple of speaker wires. Otherwise a normal corner conduit would work too

You would drill a small hole in the work surface on the corner and drill a hole in the under of the cupboard unit, otherwise there should be a standoff gap anyway.
Thread your wire from the bottom to the top and then place over your corner conduit.
Use silicone to stick it down, that way it should be wiped easily and no nasty areas.
By the time you got your washing liquid in front again, no one would ever notice except you.

When you get to remodel kitchen, it will be easy for you to do a proper job for it.

Hope that helps, ask if my rambling makes no sence.