The simplest and most inexpensive way to move into whole-home audio is to build a single-zone audio network, which is a network that allows you to send an audio source to speakers in different rooms (although you can't listen to different audio sources in different rooms).
Simple, single-zone audio networks have many variations. Your personal preferences, budget, and existing audio components play a big role in shaping your network. For example, you can choose between an all-in-one receiver and an integrated amp to handle the control and amplification roles, or you can use separate components.
Regardless of what you decide, the basic network architecture remains the same: pairs of speaker cables run in a star-wiring configuration from a central amplification point to each speaker location in the house.
A single-zone, multi-amplifier system uses separate amplifiers in the media room for each set of speakers in the audio network. This network eliminates the need for an impedance-matching system and provides more power to each set of speakers.
The process for installing a single-zone, multi-amplifier network is similar to the process for installing a single-zone, single-amplifier system. The two main differences are:
- You don't need the impedance-matching system because each speaker is powered by its own amplifier.
- You need to split the audio signals from your source components - a single stereo pair of outputs - to several pairs of amplifier channels. Doing so can be a bit of a sticking point. You have three options:
• If you're installing speakers in only two locations, you can probably use a Y-connector cable, which takes a single pair of line-level outputs and splits the signal into two pairs of connectors.
• You can buy a distribution amplifier that accepts the line-level input and provides multiple pairs of outputs (sort of an audio cloning device). This device also amplifies the signal (which gets weaker as it's reproduced) so that each power amplifier has the signal strength it needs.
• You can buy an integrated amplifier specifically designed for a multi-room system. This amp internally splits your source device signals amongst its amplifier channels.
