Audio visual

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nickelec

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Hey guys maybe I can get some answers here, so I'm currently roughing in my own home . I want to do an audio system through out nothing really to crazy
I probably will end up with about 8-10 speakers I was thinking either Yamahas or polk audio.
I'm thinking one zone I can't ever seeing myself playing different songs in different areas etc
I would like to have volume control in my master
And first floor separate my first floor would consist of kitchen living dining room open concept
I also would like to have a keypad in my master and somewhere on the first floor..
So my questions are as follows
What type of system would u suggest I was looking st Niles,sonos

Can the keypad actually control volume in each room if so I would assume that the speakers I want to be controlled would have to be looped in together

To make life easier should I just run all speakers independently to one location where I plan on putting the amp.and a cat 6 to where I would like to put volume control/keypad?

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What I really need to know is what to run and where to run it through equipment I can get later and I know I know I tell customers all the time need to know what u wanna do to know what to run, but maybe there's a way I can cover all bases

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Can't put the cart before the horse. Pick a system then wire for it. Keep in mind though, this consumer stuff changes like I change underwear. So I wouldn't wait too long after roughing to purchase the system.

-Hal
 
If you’re just looking for whole-home audio, I highly recommend the Nuvo Player Portfolio system from Legrand. You can get it through your local P&S distributor.

You said 8-10 speakers; is that 4-5 zones, or do you mean 8-10 separate zones?

They have single zone and 3-zone systems; all are compatible with the P10 and P20 keypads. They have streaming services built in, can stream from your device, or through a network library.

Some have analog inputs also, and some have combo analog/toslink inputs.

The sound quality is great.

For Player Portfolio, you need to have a cabinet or a rack to put the equipment in. Run your speaker cables back to where the equipment will be. You’ll also need a network connection there. The keypads are PoE, and you can have up to 4 keypads per zone. So keep in mind you need a network port on your switch for each device.

They also have a sound bar with a wireless subwoofer, and tabletop speakers; all can be connected to a keypad as well.


Legrand also makes the On-Q digital audio line that installs inside a structured media cabinet. The app interface for control is identical to the Nuvo, and the keypads are very similar, however the amplifier for the On-Q system is built-in to the keypad, so you can only have one per zone. This system is a little less expensive. It’s limited to 4 global inputs and one local analog input per zone, however you can daisy chain 4 of the local inputs in each zone but play one at a time. They have a 20w and 60w amplifier keypad.

From a sound quality perspective, the Nuvo is better.

Nuvo link ...
https://www.legrand.us/categories/audio-and-video/multi-room-audio-systems/player-portfolio.aspx


On-Q link ....
https://www.legrand.us/categories/audio-and-video/multi-room-audio-systems/onq-digital-audio.aspx

I can answer any questions you have. I sell both of these on a regular basis; I’ve never had a customer dissatisfied with it.


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Wanted to add also; if you won’t have more than 3 zones, what I typically do on a new install is mount a structured media cabinet in the wall and mount the equipment inside that; this lets you put the Nuvo system and all the related networking devices in the wall to save space.


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Wire every speaker independently, or wire each room's pair (presuming stereo) to a box next to the room's wall switch for a simple speaker-level volume control, and run four-conductor back to the central location. You'll need a multi-speaker box (don't remember the term) that splits the signal and protects the amp from too-low impedance.

Or, for better flexibility, use a multi-input, multi-channel amp, where each amplifier pair can be switched among several sources, and a wire to each room for a compatible control pad as you described, probably Cat-5 wire as you said. Best would be to select your equipment now, even if you don't buy it now, and wire to suit the system's needs.

The best future-proofing is conduit. For example, stub a 1/2" PVC from each controller location up into an attic or down into a crawl space, run a 2" PVC conduit "riser" from the attic to the crawl to inter-connect the spaces, and stub a 2" PVC to the central location. You might want two 2" stubs if you have a lot of signal, control, and speaker wires.

The bottom line is plan first, then wire. It's all to easy to forget something, like coax cables, phone home runs, IR remote wiring, possibly a bonding/grounding wire, etc. Don't forget adequate power circuits, at least a quad. (I ran a 50a, 120/240v sub-panel for my home theater, with eight 15a circuits, but that's a topic for another thread.)


Added: That's what I get for taking so long to type up my response. Besides, as you can tell, I'm more "old-school" than some of the other guys. I grew up in the age 60's and 70's and stereo was big, and surround-sound was just getting started. Do ask about my home-theater system. 10-foot screen, 2200 watts of audio.
 
Last edited:
LarryFine said:
Wire every speaker independently, or wire each room's pair (presuming stereo) to a box next to the room's wall switch for a simple speaker-level volume control, and run four-conductor back to the central location. You'll need a multi-speaker box (don't remember the term) that splits the signal and protects the amp from too-low impedance.

Or, for better flexibility, use a multi-input, multi-channel amp, where each amplifier pair can be switched among several sources, and a wire to each room for a compatible control pad as you described, probably Cat-5 wire as you said. Best would be to select your equipment now, even if you don't buy it now, and wire to suit the system's needs.

The best future-proofing is conduit. For example, stub a 1/2" PVC from each controller location up into an attic or down into a crawl space, run a 2" PVC conduit "riser" from the attic to the crawl to inter-connect the spaces, and stub a 2" PVC to the central location. You might want two 2" stubs if you have a lot of signal, control, and speaker wires.

The bottom line is plan first, then wire. It's all to easy to forget something, like coax cables, phone home runs, IR remote wiring, possibly a bonding/grounding wire, etc. Don't forget adequate power circuits, at least a quad. (I ran a 50a, 120/240v sub-panel for my home theater, with eight 15a circuits, but that's a topic for another thread.)


Added: That's what I get for taking so long to type up my response. Besides, as you can tell, I'm more "old-school" than some of the other guys. I grew up in the age 60's and 70's and stereo was big, and surround-sound was just getting started. Do ask about my home-theater system. 10-foot screen, 2200 watts of audio.
Click to expand...

Great advice, but I think I’d not mess with 1/2”....3/4” will pretty much guarantee you can pull anything you may need in the future, audio-wise.
 
For the rooms, shop, I ran (2) cat5 and (1)coax, then the living room is 5.1 Polk speakers individual picked not a set, computer, Avr, tv, so I added a wifi router (I use them rather than a switch) to get a HR to each and extending the wifi, (3) wifi routers (1) shop (2) house. Small stereo amplifier in shop blue tooth to amp.
WiFi is big here with kids (38yrs) and now grandkids, phones, iPad,fires. My house is only ~900sqrft.
 
i cannot suggest a audio system but i can suggest one thing.. i wish ihad in my house-

- a quad outlet on the entertainment wall. we must have 8 darn things plugged in back there!

- a big pipe from the entertainment wall to behind the couch for surround speakers (i know there is good wireless systems but...)

- a power floor outlet under the coffee table in front of the couch would be awesome for the laptop/phone chargers..
 
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