2. amps-preamps
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Powering nine home speakers

Hi. I have a large open living room and want to increase the wattage I have running my speakers. I currently have an Onkyo 7-channel amp and took the front left and right outs and have them going to an OSD Audio ATM7 7-zone speaker selector. However the Onkyo amp is not powerful enough to drive all 9 speakers strong enough. It sounds very weak. 

The only device I want to connect is a sonos connect that I have. Currently I connect the optical out of that to the Onkyo amp. Should I introduce a second amp? How exactly would I connect them? Would I run the sonos connect into one amp and take the preamp outs to the other amp? Can you have a standard front left and right out AND a preamp out at the same time?

i only want/need stereo sound not surround. 

Thanks!
jj91709
imhififan's avatar
imhififan
2,176 posts
 
I helped my friend wiring 8 speakers for his 2000sq ft. restaurant dinning room powered by a 80Wx2 receiver with satisfactory volume level.
noble100's avatar
noble100
2,419 posts
 

     jj91709,

     Unfortunately, you seem to have no desire or interest in a good quality music reproduction system for your room and, as a result, I find I've lost interest in your system, myself.
    Just hire a company that installs background music systems in restaurants and businesses and be be done with it.  You'll be listening to Yanni 24/7 via glorious mono in no time.

Later,
 Tim
    
jj91709 OP
11 posts
 
Your parents raised your parents raised a considerate and compassionate son Tim. They should be proud. 
jj91709 OP
11 posts
 
Hifiman, can I ask how you would recommend wiring the 9th speaker? It seems like I could run 3 in parallel which would be 2.66 ohm. My onkyo amp specs are 8/4/3 ohm. Is the difference significant enough?

i also just received a second amp that is 100w x 2 (Yamaha R-S202) which is 8 ohm.

I would prefer to keep them in stereo as the layout of the room works well even with the odd speaker due to the seating. 
imhififan's avatar
imhififan
2,176 posts
 
Since you have the onkyo receiver with 7 channel of power amp, and a stereo amp (Yamaha R-S202), why not make full use of all 9 channel of amplification!
Just connect 7 of the ceiling speakers to the onkyo speaker terminals via a/b speaker switcher on each speaker:
https://www.gearslutz.com/board/attachments/newbie-audio-engineering-production-question-zone/421582...

connect the Yamaha line in to onkyo front R/L out, and use the Yamaha to power two more ceiling speakers.

Select Full mono or Neo 6 music playback mode on your onkyo for room filling music listening.
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