Distributed Audio Setup
Distributed Audio” set up is all about choice. Unlike a Home Theatre set up which is designed to mimic a theatre, distributed audio is designed with the user in mind. Whether a home with one or a dozen users, the system can cater to many different scenarios.
The purpose of this system is to create a comfortable living area without having to increase the volume of a room to be heard in another room. This always leads to excess volume in the room where the speakers are located to compensate for the distance to the next room.
Design Requirements and Rough-in
- Select the rooms / zones listening areas
- Select the speaker and volume control locations in those areas
- Select the stereo equipment (Head-end) location to wire back to
- Rough-in wiring and details as below
- Run good quality speaker wire from each speaker to the room/zone’s volume control (you can not go wrong with quality cable; minimum 16awg wire)
- Run good quality speaker wire from each volume control to the chosen equipment (amplifier) location
- Multi-source digital systems or rooms with IR (infra-red) repeaters will also require Cat5 data cable from each volume control to the chosen equipment location and should be added
- Proper speaker brackets if required, vapor seals and mud rings complete the rough-in process.
The classical set up for music is an amplifier / receiver running a left & right speaker to mimic stereo. The distributed audio system expands on this concept by utilizing an amplifier than can accommodate multiple speakers without damaging the speakers or amplifier and adding volume controls – no walking back to the amplifier.
This traditional style shown left has each room/zone equipped with two in-ceiling speakers and an analog volume control. The volume control basically adjusts the flow of power from the amplifier to the speakers while the amplifier master volume stays constant ensuring proper power distribution.
Most retail amplifiers regardless of make & model are designed to accommodate two speakers; more than two speakers will put undue stress on the amplifier thus shortening its life and producing gritty sound. Professional grade amplifiers can accommodate multiple volume controls and speakers having greater and much cleaner power output. Retail amplifiers run at 50 to 100 watts total power, while professional amplifiers can run 500 to 800 watts easily producing sufficient power to all areas with very clean power.
Investing in a quality amplifier, distribution unit, volume controls & speakers are all required to obtain a clean, clear, powerful long-lasting system.
Multi-source Multi-room systems are designed like above but with the ability to have each room select their choice of sound input. Each room/zone is assigned its own amplifier to power the digital keypad and speakers. Essentially this type of amplifier is a multi-amplifier system. (see right)
Since the amplifier separates each room it can also assign a different input, chosen by the room’s user. The kitchen zone can turn up the volume of its country FM station while the Den zone has soft classical music flowing from the CD player. All rooms can choose the same source input or a different one. It is all about choice – getting what you want – when you want it at a marginal increase in cost to the traditional style.
The Rough-in should be done keeping in mind the finished product (equipment). Though generic pre-wires are easier to manage, they may not be sufficient once sound equipment is chosen. To ensure the wiring is sufficient, we follow the standard guidelines:
Customization is always desired and it is best to communicate with the end user whenever possible as retrofitting after construction is always costly and troublesome. Our approach allows for the best professional system suited to the client’s needs at the lowest cost.
