Is there anything more exciting than being able to listen to all of your preferred music throughout your home? How could that be possible?
Speaker selectors are inexpensive and easy-to-use tools that allow you to place your home’s audio system in various locations, such as on the floor, on wall mounts, or even on the ceiling.
Such elaborate, multi-room audio systems are common in luxury dwellings, despite their seeming complexity. Nonetheless, just think of how awesome it would be if the music from your primary system could be routed into other areas of your home.
In this blog, we will represent how to connect the speaker selector to the receiver & also recommend some best possible choices for the speaker selector.
What Is a Speaker Selector
In order to distribute the sound coming from your receiver or amplifier to a number of different speaker systems, you will want a speaker selector.
Passive speaker selectors distribute amplification output from your receiver or power amplifier to the connected speaker pairs.
The majority of speaker pickers support anything from 2–6 speaker systems. Figure (A) shows an example of a speaker selector. It’s a 4 Channel Speaker Selector by Melody (TM):
Fig A: Melody (TM) 4 Channel Speaker Selector
How Does a Speaker Selector Work
A speaker selector is an electronic device between your receiver and your speakers. It is in charge of distributing the audio signal to each speaker. The selectors for the speakers are straightforward devices.
Typically, the speaker selector wire into the receiver’s Zone 2 or assignable back channel speaker output terminals, as seen in Figure (B).
Fig: B
Each speaker set is then wired into the selector’s rear jacks. Audio cables use for all connections. That’s how easy it is.
Pick the desired pair of speakers by pressing their respective buttons on the front of the selector. Identifying items is a nice touch that is especially helpful for those with partners.
Most speaker selectors have removable labels to easily distinguish between the “living room” and the “kitchen” speakers.
Each speaker set is then wired into the selector’s rear jacks. Audio cables are used for all connections. That’s how easy it is.
Pick the desired pair of speakers by pressing their respective buttons on the front of the selector. Identifying items is a nice touch that is especially helpful for those with partners.
Most speaker selectors have removable labels to easily distinguish between the “living room” and the “kitchen” speakers.
What Is The Function of The Selector Switch In The Amplifier
Speaker selector switches do what? Non-audiophiles may find this topic weird, and it’s not one of the most popular on the Internet. Let’s learn more about it then!
It is important to note that the speaker selector switch is a passive device and is only utilized with previously amplified speakers. This switch splits your receiver/power/signal amplifier’s into many speaker sets. This gadget is utilized when you have a large house or apartment and wish to spread the sound to different rooms.
How Do You Wire a Speaker Selector Switch
The wiring of a speaker selector switch is a simple process. You only need to connect a powered output and choose audio zones. The below diagram shows a simple speaker selector with volume controls:
FIG: C
You only connect the AV receiver or amplifier’s speaker outputs to the selector’s inputs.
The speaker selector’s outputs are then routed to your speakers or volume controls. Since all connections are made at the speaker level, use 14AWG or 16AWG wire.
For distances smaller than 50-75 feet, use 4-conductor 14AWG cables. These systems function in pairs. Therefore, each zone requires four cable lines.
Even in a tiny house with a few rooms, barriers and non-direct pathways may build up dramatically. Consider CL2 or CL3-rated cables with two pairs per zone, based on speaker distance.
Removing wires from two spools and taping them together might save time if you have substantial separation.
Cable Labeling
Since you’re bringing all the speaker cords to one place, identifying them is crucial.
If you want to simplify the wiring process, you may label the speaker pairs as “Bedroom 1L,” “Kitchen,” “Theater FRL,” etc. You may also upgrade and modify equipment without re-identifying each zone.
See the illustration below:
Fig: D
How Do I Connect My Speaker Selector to My Denon Receiver
If you’re on the market for a new home theater receiver, Denon is a name you should keep in mind. Their pricing, both low and expensive, are spot on.
For example, the Denon AVR-X4700H is a robust and powerful 9.2 channel receiver. Compared to similar models from Onkyo, Yamaha, and Arcam, it sounds better and has more features.
Here’s how to hook up a selector to a Denon receiver:
The Speaker selector’s left and right amp inputs are wired to the receiver’s left and right front speaker terminals, respectively. Speaker cables attach to the selector’s outputs so sound can be heard. Additionally, the choice should link to the local front speakers.
If the receiver isn’t set to stereo or multichannel, the sound coming from the remote speakers will be distorted. Any bass from the remote speakers will be completely drowned out until the front speakers are set to big.
The receiver’s speaker setup should be a massive front, no middle, no rears, and no sub if you’re not using surround sound.
How Do You Use a Speaker Selector Switch
The Speaker selector is connected to the music source (player, TV, radio, etc.) and all home speakers. It’s put between them and plays music throughout the home.
One speaker switch can normally control 8 speaker sets. Even expensive speaker switches can only handle 8 sets. How to use a speaker selector switch? Let’s find it out here:
You may easily connect a speaker selector switch by linking its input ports to the amp’s matching output terminals. The selector’s on/off and volume knobs are conveniently located on its front panel. Every speaker system needs to have dual input terminals on the back panel.
Depending on the model, selectors can vary in the number of front-mounted buttons found to be in control. While some have a single button that operates all the sets, others have separate knobs.
The receiver/amplifier splits the signal before sending it to the speaker switch. In a messy or intricate installation, pre-printed or blank labels are employed to label each wire and button. Now it’s simpler to tell which button or cable belongs to which speaker.
These options reduce your audio system’s power by splitting the signal/power, which might cause problems. Some high-end models have small booster amps that augment each speaker pair. These gadgets safeguard your audio system from overheating and breaking down.
Can You Connect any Speaker Selector to a Receiver
To sum up: yes, you can do it. Inspect the ohm load carefully. Most home speakers can only maintain stability between 6 and 8 ohms.
If you choose speakers with a 6-ohm impedance, they will draw slightly more power from the receiver and provide somewhat greater volume as a result.
Can I Connect a Speaker Selector to a Sonos amp?
When linked in parallel, the Sonos Amp can provide power to three pairs of Sonos Architectural speakers, totaling six speakers. When connecting numerous speakers to a single amplifier, it is crucial to know that all speakers will work as a single zone.
Speaker Selectors To Consider
When searching for a speaker selector, you need to pick the premium brands.
1. Monoprice 4-Channel Speaker Selector
2. 4-Zone Channel Speaker Switch Selector
3. A ADWITS 2-Channel Speaker Switcher Selector
4. Xtrempro 61049 2 or 4-Way Speaker Switch
Conclusion
Let’s summarize the pros and cons of using speaker selectors by listing the most salient features and flaws.
These affordable, easy-to-use devices don’t require an additional amplifier. Moreover, they serve a practical purpose by allowing you to fill a whole home with sound.
Keep in mind that most speaker selectors can only play music from a single source, so you won’t be able to listen to different genres in separate rooms.
In reality, the power consumption decreases when more speaker sets are added to the setup.
