Re: Wiring panel for living area

["Bill Kearney" <wkearney99@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Thanks for the ideas, they are what I was looking for. I am considering
> both the multi-channel amplifier approach, although I don't see a need
> for the multiple inputs on them

Never underestimate why you might want zones.  We have three that see
regular use, two mp3 streams and an FM tuner.  We also have a Tivo, DVD
player and CD carousel.  The last two don't see that much use.  But if it
were only one zone I could definitely see problems.  At comfortable
listening levels it's nice to be able to listen to different sources in
different rooms.  For example, I can listen/watch TV in the kitchen while
cooking while music is playing in the living room.  Or listen to morning FM
radio in the bathroom while podcasts are streamed to the home office.  Or
just my listening to one genre of music while my wife listens to another.

> fed from an AV 5.1/7.1 receiver, or an
> A-bus system with the same AV receiver.  Do you know of any A-BUS zone
> controls that have more then the 6 watts/channel that I am finding?

Which ones have you seen?  Aren't the Russound units higher wattage than
that?  I've got one of their A-Bus keypads driving a medium-sized bedroom
and it cranks up pretty well.  No good for teen head-banging levels but
certainly loud enough for most normal use (definitely WELL above just
'background' level)

> It's also not clear from what I have read if I could find an AV
> receiver with the A-BUS interface built in, including the IR control of
> the source switching without the need to use the stick on IR emitters.
> It seems like a natural configuration, but so far I haven't seen one.

I believe Harmon Kardon makes some that have an A-Bus output of some sort.
I've never used one so I can't comment on it's suitability.