Submitted by: Jason Hersh

When setting up a stereo system in multiple rooms in your house, you may find yourself wondering whether you should use an additional receiver, in-wall volume controls, speaker selectors, or a combination of all three to control the sound in the various rooms. So what s the difference?

Most (but not all) receivers can support at least two audio zones. This will allow you to use the surround sound system to watch a movie in zone #1 and at the same time use a set of speakers in zone #2 to listen to music on your MP3 player. If you want to create more than two different zones, you may need an additional receiver. Your owner s manual should tell you how many zones your receiver can support. Remember though, an additional receiver will let you create more zones, but won t let you share the same source. So you can t play the same CD throughout the house during a party, for example.

A speaker selector is an accessory to your receiver, which will allow you to add speakers to your system without adding more zones. You can then choose which speakers you want to use for a specific output (a DVD player or MP3 player, for example) from your primary receiver. In the case of a two-zone receiver, zone #1 might include the living room and kitchen, and zone #2 might include the den and backyard. The speaker selector will allow you to watch a movie in the living room without blasting the movie soundtrack in the kitchen at the same time. You can turn the kitchen speakers off via the speaker selector, or if you ve installed separate volume controls in the kitchen, you can turn the volume down just in that room. At the same time, you could be playing music on an MP3 player in the backyard and turn off the speakers in the den. Note that each set of speakers must be wired to only one zone; so you can t mix and match rooms between zones unless you step up to a more complex system like a multi-zone controller or an audio matrix switch (these really need to be designed, wired, and installed by a professional).

Depending on which model you choose, a speaker selector will allow you to enjoy sound in up to 8 different sets of speakers (most speaker selectors are for 4-6-or 8 pairs of speakers). You can plan to spend anywhere from $100 to $500 on a speaker selector. Some selectors have volume control built in to the unit (so you won t need to put them in each room).

To simplify, a speaker selector is like an on/off switch for a particular set of speakers, except that it also protects your amplifier by preventing your various speakers from demanding too much power. Speaker selectors have other attributes as well, but this is the basic concept.

An in-wall volume control allows you to turn the volume up or down for a specific set of speakers while you are in the room. Unless you install in-wall volume control in the room where the speakers reside, you will have to monitor the volume for all your zones from your central receiver (not ideal unless you are in a building where you want to restrict volume access, like a doctor s office). Depending on the features you choose, the style, and the brand, volume controls cost anywhere from $30-100.

Receivers, speaker selectors and volume controls all work together to help you create the perfect sound experience throughout your home and outdoor space, whether you are expanding an existing surround sound system or building a completely new system.

Still have questions? Contact a professional systems integrator or consumer electronics specialist for more help.

About the Author: Dynamic Sound Systems provides the latest products to meet the growing demand for quality equipment. Browse our site for informational guides on all of our products. We look forward to working with you in your quest for the ultimate system.

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