"DaveC" wrote in message
news.net

In a distributed audio system in a residence, how can
volume control in each room be accomplished.

(1) Separate amp at each location, not totally impractical
in these days when you can get a pertty fair 100 wpc amp for
under $80 if you look around.

(2) Transformer-type stepped volume controls. Ironically
they are around $30 each, so you're talking a bit less than
half the price of the receiver.

http://www.hometech.com/audio/volume.html

"DaveC" wrote in message
news.net
Thus spake Arny Krueger:

(1) Separate amp at each location, not totally
impractical in these days when you can get a pertty fair
100 wpc amp for under $80 if you look around.

Sources for small amplifiers? Place in wall? Attic?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Amplifier-module...QQcmdZViewItem

It needs a pair of 24 volt transformers, and here are some
candidates at about $12 each:

http://www.action-electronics.com/trnsfrmr.htm


Google turns up so many amps, but are stereo system
component types.

Those too, including receivers.

In article .net,
says...

Is there a wireless solution to distributing audio throughout a residence to
8 rooms? Digital?

Something similar to wireless computer networking...

Thanks,


Yamaha makes a system called MusicCAST that does this. Has a hard
drive, stores 1,000 CD's in MP3 format or 100 in original format.
My son sells these in his audio store. See Yamaha.com.

JC the elder

In article .net,
DaveC wrote:
(1) Separate amp at each location, not totally impractical
in these days when you can get a pertty fair 100 wpc amp for
under $80 if you look around.

Sources for small amplifiers? Place in wall? Attic?

My solution was to make them, as if hidden don't have to look pretty.
Plenty of kits on the market. I used a DC controlled pre-amp for volume
etc, as then the controls take up a tiny space and can easily be fitted on
a face plate of the type used for sockets etc, and there are no safety
implications if used in a wet room.

This was some time ago - a remote control might do as well.

But I've got an easy to wire house. Victorian with a cellar and dry lined
walls. A modern solid concrete one would be a different matter. ;-)

--
*To steal ideas from *one* person is plagiarism; from many, research*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"DaveC" wrote in message
news.net...
Is there a wireless solution to distributing audio throughout a residence
to
8 rooms? Digital?

Yes, there is; you can have a central computer acting as a music server,
with a wireless ethernet network, and network music devices such as the
Squeezebox.

So, in each of the eight rooms you'd have speakers and an amplifier (or
powered speakers) and a Squeezebox. You could also have other devices
connected to the amplifier.

So you could have:

Mode 1: All eight rooms playing the same sound from their Squeezebox, with
the Squeezebox acting in multicast mode. The volume in each room would be
controlled by its own amplifier.

Mode 2: Some of the eight rooms playing the same sound from their
Squeezebox, and others playing diferent sounds from the music server via the
Squeezebox. Selection of music in each room is controlled by the Squeezebox
remote control.

Mode 3: Some of the rooms playings sounds from their Squeezboxes, others
playing sounds from local sources (eg, TV with line-out connections, or
their own computer.)

Now: there's no need to use wireless everywhere; you can use a mix of
wired and wireless connections.

The Squeezebox is one of the more expensive devices at £250 or so each. I
have a Netgear MP101, which now cost about £70, but can't do Multicast.

On the other hand, all these devices can do Internet radio. I've not looked
into it, but I suppose you ought to be able to set up your own Internet
radion statio within your home, so all your Netgear boxes could tune into
it. (Does anyone know how to set up an Intenet radio station for use within
their home?)

Costs for a basic quality system (YMMV):

Central Computer ... whatever
Central Wireless Ethernet hub ... £70

Per room Netgear MP101: £70
Per room amplifier: eg Richer Sounds Cambridge A1 £80
Per room speakers: eg Richer Sounds Celestion F10 £110
Per room leads, stands etc: £40

So I think you could get a basic system with reasonable quality small
speakers at £300 a room; and for an extra £50 you could get better
floorstanding speakers. And of course you can use different-quality
equipment in each room.

Don't forget, this is providing all the audio requirements in each room ...
central music, TV, computer, etc.

Tim


..

DaveC wrote:

Is there a wireless solution to distributing audio throughout a residence to
8 rooms? Digital?

Something similar to wireless computer networking...

Currently only at mp3 like quality. True16 bit linear pcm in stereo @ 44kHz
sampling requires something like about 6 Mbps of bandwidth.

Graham

Pooh Bear wrote:
DaveC wrote:

Is there a wireless solution to distributing audio throughout a residence to
8 rooms? Digital?

Something similar to wireless computer networking...

Currently only at mp3 like quality. True16 bit linear pcm in
stereo @ 44kHz sampling requires something like about 6 Mbps
of bandwidth.

44,1000 ksamples/sec * 16 bits/sample * 2 channels = 1,411,200 bits/sec

wrote:
Pooh Bear wrote:
DaveC wrote:

Is there a wireless solution to distributing audio throughout a residence to
8 rooms? Digital?

Something similar to wireless computer networking...

Currently only at mp3 like quality. True16 bit linear pcm in
stereo @ 44kHz sampling requires something like about 6 Mbps
of bandwidth.

44,1000 ksamples/sec * 16 bits/sample * 2 channels = 1,411,200 bits/sec

Sorry, that's:

44,1000 samples/sec * 16 bits/sample * 2 channels = 1,411,200 bits/sec

or

44.1 ksamples/sec * 16 bits/sample * 2 channels = 1,411,200 bits/sec

In any case, it's 1.4 Mbits/sec, NOT 6 Mbits/sec.

wrote:

wrote:
Pooh Bear wrote:
DaveC wrote:

Is there a wireless solution to distributing audio throughout a residence to
8 rooms? Digital?

Something similar to wireless computer networking...

Currently only at mp3 like quality. True16 bit linear pcm in
stereo @ 44kHz sampling requires something like about 6 Mbps
of bandwidth.

44,1000 ksamples/sec * 16 bits/sample * 2 channels = 1,411,200 bits/sec

Sorry, that's:

44,1000 samples/sec * 16 bits/sample * 2 channels = 1,411,200 bits/sec

or

44.1 ksamples/sec * 16 bits/sample * 2 channels = 1,411,200 bits/sec

In any case, it's 1.4 Mbits/sec, NOT 6 Mbits/sec.

That's the raw data rate only !

Now you have to add overhead for the frequency hopping stuff, handshaking, whatever
and redundancy for lost packets - and I've no idea how the data's encapsulated -
there'll doubtless be extra stuff there too. I'm not calculating this myself, I have
it on good authority from some guys who are developing the product. I was quite
surprised how much overhead is required myself actually.

Graham

On Tue, 2 Aug 2005 09:17:47 -0700, DaveC wrote:

Is there a wireless solution to distributing audio throughout a residence to
8 rooms? Digital?

Something similar to wireless computer networking...

Thanks,

I have some 2.4GHz wireless units that can send/receive video and
stereo audio... MATCO ASK-2008-TR

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona Voice480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax480)460-2142 | Brass Rat |
| http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.