DIY - Whole House Audio

Copyright Randy Melton 2007

Section 1 - Choosing a System

I'm aware of the following types of systems for distributing audio to multiple rooms. Note that I'm not including the cost of source feeds, speakers, wiring etc, just the system cost.

System	Cost	src/zones	Pros	Cons	Notes
AMP with A/B	N/A	?/2	Cheap	both rooms same volume	Most respectable stereo amps already have A/B outputs
Nuvo Simplese	$550+	4/4	?	?	4x RCA into unit, cat5->roomControl->speaker (local source option is ~$100/room)
Sonos	$400 + $500/room	IP+1RCA per room	beautiful	price, AMP takes room	?
Roussound A-BUS	$917	4/4	?	?	cat5 to rooms, amplified wallplate
Channel Vision A-BUS	$475	1/4	?	?	cat5 to rooms, amplified wallplate ($100 to add a local source/room) (4x) AB-114, (1x) AB-202 (1x) AB-404 (2x) IR-3002 (1x) AB-500 add 4 more zones for $80 (AB-404) plus $120/room (AB-114)
Impact Acoustics (abus clone?)	$400	4/4 4/8	?	?	cat5 to rooms, amplified wallplate, local sources (1x) SWS8ZADM ($120), (4x) SWSAVC5WIR ($70 ea)
Impedance Match hub + volume controls	?	?	?	?	Assumes you main AMP can deliver enough power for multiple speaker pairs

Section 2 - Wiring

Signal Types:

USE Info
Speaker Low Impedance, relatively noise immune
Line Level (Consumer Audio) high impedance, -10 dBV 0.316 Vrms, cable runs over a few feet are suceptable to noise. (ever hear a CB radio on your stereo? this is why) wikipedia definition
Mic Level Same as above, but much lower signal level.
Balanced audio Two signals 180-degrees out of phase wikipedia definition and sometimes a ground to shield the other two. (I suspect you only want to groung this on one end or isolate it via the center tap of a transformet to elliminat any ground loops.)
Nuvo Control cat5 4-pair

USE	Info
Speaker	Low Impedance, relatively noise immune
Line Level (Consumer Audio)	high impedance, -10 dBV 0.316 Vrms, cable runs over a few feet are suceptable to noise. (ever hear a CB radio on your stereo? this is why) wikipedia definition
Mic Level	Same as above, but much lower signal level.
Balanced audio	Two signals 180-degrees out of phase wikipedia definition and sometimes a ground to shield the other two. (I suspect you only want to groung this on one end or isolate it via the center tap of a transformet to elliminat any ground loops.)
Nuvo Control	cat5 4-pair

I'm currently looking for solutions that will allow me to balance the line level outputs of some of my audio equipment, run long balanced runs, then unbalance it back to line level. I may end up building my own. A quick search turned up these devices: TX-LM1 and TX-LM2 from Radio Design Labs. for around $30 and $40 respectivly. (my google search term = line matching transformer "line level" stereo balanced)

Wire Types
in-wall speaker cable ratings

CL2 rated up to 150V (speaker wire, NEC 725.2)
CL3 rated up to 300V (speaker wire, NEC 125.71 F)

(for info on plenum wiring see: www.phonicear.com/learnplenum.asp)

in-wall speaker cable ratings
CL2	rated up to 150V (speaker wire, NEC 725.2)
CL3	rated up to 300V (speaker wire, NEC 125.71 F)

4-conductor speaker wiring conventions
Convention Left Right Reference
+ - + -
Convention-1 Red Black Green White ?
Convention-2 White Black Red Green ?
Convention-3 White Green Red Black AVS Forum
Convention-4 Red Black White Green lanea.com/LaLena.com

4-conductor speaker wiring conventions
Convention	Left	Right	Reference
+	-	+	-
Convention-1	Red	Black	Green	White	?
Convention-2	White	Black	Red	Green	?
Convention-3	White	Green	Red	Black	AVS Forum
Convention-4	Red	Black	White	Green	lanea.com/LaLena.com

References:

(US) NEC, NFPA National Electric Code and the National Fire Protection Association.
Understanding In-Wall Speakers, Video and Audio Cable Ratings

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