Firstly, sorry for cross-posting. I'm not sure where best to aim this
question.

I have a number of sets of small, stereo speakers in different rooms (wired
back to a single place) and an impedence-matching speaker switch that lets
me switch any of the speaker sets on or off (in any combination). I have a
cheap home cinema system with a "record-out" audio output.

The missing piece is the amplifier to take the record-out signals and
amplify to provide the input to the speaker switch.

What is the record-out? Do I need a specific type of power-amplifer or will
any old amplifier work? Can I use the record-out signals as input to, say,
the AUX input of a normal, integrated amplifier?

I'm looking to do this on the cheap, probably second-hand from eBay. Ideally
I'd like an amplifier that has nothing but a power switch and a volume,
though the odd tone control or two would be fine.

Thanks to all who bother to read and especially to those who can help.

Steve

Steve Baker wrote:
Firstly, sorry for cross-posting. I'm not sure where best to aim this
question.

I have a number of sets of small, stereo speakers in different rooms (wired
back to a single place) and an impedence-matching speaker switch that lets
me switch any of the speaker sets on or off (in any combination). I have a
cheap home cinema system with a "record-out" audio output.

The missing piece is the amplifier to take the record-out signals and
amplify to provide the input to the speaker switch.

What is the record-out? Do I need a specific type of power-amplifer or will
any old amplifier work? Can I use the record-out signals as input to, say,
the AUX input of a normal, integrated amplifier?

I'm looking to do this on the cheap, probably second-hand from eBay. Ideally
I'd like an amplifier that has nothing but a power switch and a volume,
though the odd tone control or two would be fine.

Thanks to all who bother to read and especially to those who can help.

Steve

What type of input does the "impedance-matching switch" have? Does it appear to
have an input that looks like the input that speakers have? Usually black / red
terminals of various types. If so then you would likely connect the "speaker"
out of your "cinema system" to that input. Then the amplifier of the "cinema
system" would power all the speakers.
If the amplifier part of the "cinema system" has a low power rating you could
get a 2nd amplifier and use the "record out" of the "cinema system" to feed that
2nd amplifier. So you would only use a 2nd amplifier if it was better than the
amplifier built into the "cinema system".
The record out on receivers is usually for connecting some type of recording
device. VCR audio, audio cassette etc. There is almost always a signal present
at that output with the exception of when your "cinema system" is set to
playback an external recording device. For example if you had an audio cassette
recorder connected to your system and you played back an audio cassette... there
would likely NOT be a signal present on the "record out" of the "cinema system"
to prevent a feedback loop.

"Steve Baker" wrote in message
...
Firstly, sorry for cross-posting. I'm not sure where best to aim this
question.

I have a number of sets of small, stereo speakers in different rooms
(wired back to a single place) and an impedence-matching speaker switch
that lets me switch any of the speaker sets on or off (in any
combination). I have a cheap home cinema system with a "record-out" audio
output.

The missing piece is the amplifier to take the record-out signals and
amplify to provide the input to the speaker switch.

What is the record-out? Do I need a specific type of power-amplifer or
will any old amplifier work? Can I use the record-out signals as input to,
say, the AUX input of a normal, integrated amplifier?

I'm looking to do this on the cheap, probably second-hand from eBay.
Ideally I'd like an amplifier that has nothing but a power switch and a
volume, though the odd tone control or two would be fine.

Thanks to all who bother to read and especially to those who can help.

Steve


Yes the 'record out' line level will feed a power amplifier okay. You have
to ensure that amplifier chosen is able to drive the load presented (i.e.
the speakers selected) at the levels you want. It all depends on the minimum
impedance presented via your matching unit so you need to ensure the
amplifier is capable, i.e.the power is sufficient to drive that load.
What is the minimum impedance presented to the amplifier according to your
matching switch? How many speakers are you switching? What impedance are
the speakers? Beware though, the actual impedance will depend on how the
speakers are actually wired to the switch i.e. are some paralleled, or in
series or individually connected?

Mike

"Mike Gilmour" wrote in message
...

"Steve Baker" wrote in message
...
Firstly, sorry for cross-posting. I'm not sure where best to aim this
question.

I have a number of sets of small, stereo speakers in different rooms
(wired back to a single place) and an impedence-matching speaker switch
that lets me switch any of the speaker sets on or off (in any
combination). I have a cheap home cinema system with a "record-out" audio
output.

The missing piece is the amplifier to take the record-out signals and
amplify to provide the input to the speaker switch.

What is the record-out? Do I need a specific type of power-amplifer or
will any old amplifier work? Can I use the record-out signals as input
to, say, the AUX input of a normal, integrated amplifier?

I'm looking to do this on the cheap, probably second-hand from eBay.
Ideally I'd like an amplifier that has nothing but a power switch and a
volume, though the odd tone control or two would be fine.

Thanks to all who bother to read and especially to those who can help.

Steve


Yes the 'record out' line level will feed a power amplifier okay. You
have to ensure that amplifier chosen is able to drive the load presented
(i.e. the speakers selected) at the levels you want. It all depends on the
minimum impedance presented via your matching unit so you need to ensure
the amplifier is capable, i.e.the power is sufficient to drive that load.
What is the minimum impedance presented to the amplifier according to your
matching switch? How many speakers are you switching? What impedance are
the speakers? Beware though, the actual impedance will depend on how the
speakers are actually wired to the switch i.e. are some paralleled, or in
series or individually connected?

Mike



Re DanR post, are you able to check there is an output present at 'record
out' when required?

Mike

I need a second amp. because the cinema system isn't powerful enough to
drive the additional speakers from it's speaker-level outputs. It's the
second amp. I'm asking about. Do I need a power-amp to amplify "record-out"
signals or can I use the standard inputs (such as AUX) of an integrated
amp.?

The speaker switch is impedence limiting in that it will ensure that the
impedence presented to the input is 8Ohms, regardless of the number of
speaker-pairs switched on.

Thanks,

Steve

"DanR" wrote in message
m...


Steve Baker wrote:
Firstly, sorry for cross-posting. I'm not sure where best to aim this
question.

I have a number of sets of small, stereo speakers in different rooms
(wired
back to a single place) and an impedence-matching speaker switch that
lets
me switch any of the speaker sets on or off (in any combination). I have
a
cheap home cinema system with a "record-out" audio output.

The missing piece is the amplifier to take the record-out signals and
amplify to provide the input to the speaker switch.

What is the record-out? Do I need a specific type of power-amplifer or
will
any old amplifier work? Can I use the record-out signals as input to,
say,
the AUX input of a normal, integrated amplifier?

I'm looking to do this on the cheap, probably second-hand from eBay.
Ideally
I'd like an amplifier that has nothing but a power switch and a volume,
though the odd tone control or two would be fine.

Thanks to all who bother to read and especially to those who can help.

Steve

What type of input does the "impedance-matching switch" have? Does it
appear to
have an input that looks like the input that speakers have? Usually black
/ red
terminals of various types. If so then you would likely connect the
"speaker"
out of your "cinema system" to that input. Then the amplifier of the
"cinema
system" would power all the speakers.
If the amplifier part of the "cinema system" has a low power rating you
could
get a 2nd amplifier and use the "record out" of the "cinema system" to
feed that
2nd amplifier. So you would only use a 2nd amplifier if it was better than
the
amplifier built into the "cinema system".
The record out on receivers is usually for connecting some type of
recording
device. VCR audio, audio cassette etc. There is almost always a signal
present
at that output with the exception of when your "cinema system" is set to
playback an external recording device. For example if you had an audio
cassette
recorder connected to your system and you played back an audio cassette...
there
would likely NOT be a signal present on the "record out" of the "cinema
system"
to prevent a feedback loop.

"Steve Baker" wrote in message
...
I need a second amp. because the cinema system isn't powerful enough to
drive the additional speakers from it's speaker-level outputs. It's the
second amp. I'm asking about. Do I need a power-amp to amplify "record-out"
signals or can I use the standard inputs (such as AUX) of an integrated
amp.?


Sure, using the Tape Out sockets is an easy way to bi-amp any situation.
Almost any combination of amps can be used (contrary to popular belief)
provided there's some way to set the relative sound levels. A cheap
integrated would do fine....

On Sun, 2 Apr 2006 04:22:05 +0100, "Steve Baker"
wrote:

I need a second amp. because the cinema system isn't powerful enough to
drive the additional speakers from it's speaker-level outputs. It's the
second amp. I'm asking about. Do I need a power-amp to amplify "record-out"
signals or can I use the standard inputs (such as AUX) of an integrated
amp.?

Record Out should be a line-level signal. This will suit Aux In (or
Tape In, or CD In, or just about anything except Phono In) on an
integrated amp. A power amp should take it directly as well, though
it may lack the necessary level control.

But I have to remind you that, with domestic gear, interconnection can
be problematic. Outputs can tend to the over-hot. Inputs can lack
headroom. And you're usually given no means of adjustment.

Unfortunately, the hi-fi world generally ignores what the professional
audio world has always known to be a vital factor in sound quality -
the ability to control interface levels and set up a proper gain
structure. If they thought less of "magic" cables and interconnects
and more of adjustable output levels and useful input level metering,
they'd get far better results.

What would be the point in the system NOT presenting an output to
"record-out"? I want a signal when the cinema unit is playing a DVD, CD or
tuner.

Steve

"Mike Gilmour" wrote in message
...

"Mike Gilmour" wrote in message
...

"Steve Baker" wrote in message
...
Firstly, sorry for cross-posting. I'm not sure where best to aim this
question.

I have a number of sets of small, stereo speakers in different rooms
(wired back to a single place) and an impedence-matching speaker switch
that lets me switch any of the speaker sets on or off (in any
combination). I have a cheap home cinema system with a "record-out"
audio output.

The missing piece is the amplifier to take the record-out signals and
amplify to provide the input to the speaker switch.

What is the record-out? Do I need a specific type of power-amplifer or
will any old amplifier work? Can I use the record-out signals as input
to, say, the AUX input of a normal, integrated amplifier?

I'm looking to do this on the cheap, probably second-hand from eBay.
Ideally I'd like an amplifier that has nothing but a power switch and a
volume, though the odd tone control or two would be fine.

Thanks to all who bother to read and especially to those who can help.

Steve


Yes the 'record out' line level will feed a power amplifier okay. You
have to ensure that amplifier chosen is able to drive the load presented
(i.e. the speakers selected) at the levels you want. It all depends on
the minimum impedance presented via your matching unit so you need to
ensure the amplifier is capable, i.e.the power is sufficient to drive
that load.
What is the minimum impedance presented to the amplifier according to
your matching switch? How many speakers are you switching? What
impedance are the speakers? Beware though, the actual impedance will
depend on how the speakers are actually wired to the switch i.e. are some
paralleled, or in series or individually connected?

Mike



Re DanR post, are you able to check there is an output present at 'record
out' when required?

Mike

Steve Baker wrote:
What would be the point in the system NOT presenting an output to
"record-out"? I want a signal when the cinema unit is playing a DVD, CD or
tuner.

Steve


As mentioned in an above post there might not be a signal present at the "record
out" jack when the receiver is set to monitor a device connected to the "record
in" jack. So if you had your CD player connected to the record in jack of the
receiver there would likely not be a signal present at the "record out" jack.
This is to prevent a feedback loop. Meaning... that if your CD player was a
recordable CD deck and it was connected at these jacks you would not want the
output of the CD unit to be fed back to the input of the CD unit. That is bad.