40 wpc isn't really enough, but that's another issue. What your friend needs most is a Niles SSVC-4 Speaker Selector with Volume Control:
http://www.nilesaudio.com/product.php?prodID=SSVC-4&recordID=Speaker%20Selectors%20with%20Volume%20Controls&categoryID=Speaker%20Selectors&catcdID=7&prdcdID=FG01043