Multi-room system: need integrated?

I-SIG

Folks,

I have some friends that run a small cafe on the University oz Arizona. They are in the process of re-opening/remodeling. Needless to say they are wanting a little sound system for the cafe and on the cheap, but not shoddy.

Right now, my main dilemma is how to power 6 speakers. I was hoping to go with the KISS principle and get something like an older NAD integrated amp connected to XM Radio and a CD changer. I'm concerned that I'll be short of power with 6 speakers. I realize that I'll need to wire two pairs in parallel with the thrid pair in series to get an approximate resistance of 12 ohms to keep from overloading most of the affordable gear out there.

Anyone have any better suggestions?

For speaks I'm thinking somethign simple like the Monitor 30's. If y'all have a better suggestion on cost vs. sound vs. efficiency, lemme know.

Thanks,
Wes

unc2701

OK, 6 speakers total? The easiest and cheapest way would be to get an surround sound reciever that has a 6.1 stereo setting. Doing series/parallel configurations with a total of 6 speakers doesn't give you many good options, but something like an onkyo sr503 will do the job fine.

I-SIG

I was trying to stay away from receivers.

Wes

unc2701

yeah, I can understand that, but it's probably your best bet here.

seo

Several of the NAD integrated amps have A and B speaker connections. You could pick one up used for a reasonable price:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatran&1145467449

Not sure if that solves your problem. It should be able to drive a pair of Monitor 30's on each output. The 3rd would have to be in parallel on one of the outputs as you stated.

unc2701

A&B's are just paralleled internally, so 3 sets of speakers would put you under 3 ohms.

seo

unc2701 wrote:

A&B's are just paralleled internally, so 3 sets of speakers would put you under 3 ohms.

I was wondering about that.

In that light, probably not a good plan.

unc2701

How about this: Cambridge audio 540A plus a used adcom 535. Should be under $400 total (540a is on sale at audio advisor). Hook up one set of speakers to the cambridge, then run the preout to the Adcom, 2nd & third sets go on it in parallel. If you want to add another set in the future, you can put it on the cambridge.

I-SIG

unc2701 wrote:

How about this: Cambridge audio 540A plus a used adcom 535. Should be under $400 total (540a is on sale at audio advisor). Hook up one set of speakers to the cambridge, then run the preout to the Adcom, 2nd & third sets go on it in parallel. If you want to add another set in the future, you can put it on the cambridge.

Interesting idea. I was thinking about trying something like that on a smaller scale. Get a NAD and then get a splitter on the output and run 4 speakers in main the front room off the NAD and then run some RCA's to the other room with a little Sonic T-amp (or whatever the hell it is) to run one pair on the back room. It would be a lot cheaper.

They really want it for background music, not so loud that you can't converse or talk on your cell phone.

Wes

hoosier21

KISS

6 monitor 30 on a NAD receiver using the 6 channel stereo (or whatever it's called on NAD) Bingo, your done.

I-SIG

Yeah, but what is a 6 channel receiver gonna set them back? A grand?

Wes

hoosier21

what's the budget?
used?
NAD T742 refurbished $ 429.00 ( 5 channel )
http://www.spearitsound.com/nad/T742.asp

hoosier21

back to your thoughts, a NAD intergrated c350 ot c370 (or something like those) will power 6 small polks at moderate levels all day long.

I-SIG

Nothing specific on the budget, just watch things very closely. I was hoping for some other speaker suggestions as well. I'm thinking I could drop down to the M10's (if they canbe found) or the R15's.

Wes

I-SIG

hoosier21 wrote:

back to your thoughts, a NAD intergrated c350 ot c370 (or something like those) will power 6 small polks at moderate levels all day long.

You don't think dipping below 4ohms will hurt them? Or do you mean wiring them in at 12ohms?

Wes

unc2701

How were you going to get 12 ohms? You've got 6 speakers total, 3 on each channel. Series two (16 ohms) and parallel the other (8ohms) give you 5.3 ohms. The problem is that the single will get twice the current as the series pair. You'd be better off just getting another pair just to balance things out.

unc2701

I-SIG wrote:

Interesting idea. I was thinking about trying something like that on a smaller scale. Get a NAD and then get a splitter on the output and run 4 speakers in main the front room off the NAD and then run some RCA's to the other room with a little Sonic T-amp (or whatever the hell it is) to run one pair on the back room. It would be a lot cheaper.

They really want it for background music, not so loud that you can't converse or talk on your cell phone.

Wes

Nothing wrong with that. Or you go with hoosier's idea, parallel all of them, and as long as the NAD doesn't go into thermal shut off, you're fine. If it does, add a T-amp.

I-SIG

unc2701 wrote:

How were you going to get 12 ohms? You've got 6 speakers total, 3 on each channel. Series two (16 ohms) and parallel the other (8ohms) give you 5.3 ohms. The problem is that the single will get twice the current as the series pair. You'd be better off just getting another pair just to balance things out.

You're right. I didn't invert the second time around.

Wes

adam2434

What about a simple speaker selector box?

Many have built-in impedance protection, so you don't have to worry about overloading your amp. For example , I own a Niles SPS-4 (4 pair), which was about $75.

Some even have volume controls for each pair.

Parts Express has a several options:
http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage.cfm?&Webpage_ID=3&DID=7&CAT_ID=43&ObjectGroup_ID=560&SO=2

I also agree that M10s or R15s would be adequate for background music.