2. home-theater
  3. 186739-185661

Right way to connect a 2nd “extension” center channel speaker?

Situation: TV outputting digital audio through an optical cable to a Sony STR-DE995 receiver. Have a set of Klipsch speakers wired to the receiver. So far, so good.

Problem: need to “duplicate” the center channel, OR the entire sound output, to play through a separate speaker in the kitchen. I can see the TV from the kitchen, but can’t hear a damn thing over all the appliances. Can’t turn up the main system b/c then it’s too loud for the people sitting nearby.

I have a separate mini-amp, like a no-name $ 50 Amazon amp, with RCA input and 2x speaker connections. It’s meant to drive a 2nd sub, but I need it to drive a 2nd center / mixed-channels speaker.

The STR-DE995 has a 2nd Zone output, but it ONLY works on ANALOG inputs. It will not duplicate an optical input to the 2nd zone. Sucks.

I know that I “know enough to be dangerous”, so BEFORE I start DIYing things and burn out something or other, I’m asking what’s the right way to achieve this.

Should I take the wire from the AVR to the Center speaker, and splice in the longer wire to the 2nd Center speaker? If so, in parallel or series? I don’t get the whole 4 / 8 / 16-ohm thing.

Should I take the wire from the AVR to the Center speaker, and wire it to the small amp and then run the 2nd Center speaker from that?

If it’s the 2nd, another question is - the small amp has 4 terminals (L+ L- R+ R-) - how should I wire the speaker to it? Connect both + terminals to the + on the speaker, both - terminals to the - on the speakers? OR bridge the + and - on the amp, and connect the “outer” + and - to the speaker?

nathank9000
nathank9000 OP
2 posts
 

@spenav - that's an interesting idea, but my issue wasn't how to get the signal across the distance (I have a hollow moulding I can drop the wire into), my issue was where to get the signal from in the first place.

The AVR doesn't have a 2nd zone output if it's being fed by optical. So I was trying to split off the analog output from the speaker side.

@soix - it's the same issue. I would need to somehow duplicate the input to provide signal to the wireless speaker in the first place.

@imhififan - it doesn't need to have all the sound, I need the dialogue mostly. Just watching TV shows or documentaries, and can't really hear it if I'm in the kitchen and got mixers / blenders running, or even the water faucet.

I WISH the Sony AVR had an output, but apparently if you're feeding it a digital signal, it ONLY puts it out to the speakers, not to anything additional / secondary. Weird, I know. You already have the signal decoded, why not split it off to a 2nd zone as an option? Nope, Sony says you can't.

I was trying to avoid having to buy more equipment and having even more connections to manage... LOL.

There's no way to split off the center speaker and re-amplify its sound for a 2nd speaker copy?

erik_squires
16,019 posts
 

https://amzn.to/3rTEfZP

If you use the center in your main zone, you might want to stick to the center channel only for the kitchen output. Otherwise, if you are using a phantom center you can use both the L and R.

deep_333
1,294 posts
 

For example, Yamaha’s Musiccast ecosystem was designed for whole house applications like yours in mind. A wireless musiccast speaker system can bring the music to another room without having to tinker with zones, cables and passives.

I use the following in my kitchen when I am cooking up a storm! You can get very good fidelity (for a kitchen, that is).

https://shop.usa.yamaha.com/en/p/audio-home-theater/desktop-audio/musiccast-50-wireless-speaker

SoundUnited (Denon/Marantz) has equivalent devices that run through their HEOS ecosystem. Sony may have something as well with their newer product lines.

nathank9000 OP
2 posts
 

@imhififan - the optical splitter idea worked perfectly! $ 25 splitter + $ 50 for a 50' optical cable + a soundbar in the kitchen with optical input = perfectly synced "2nd Center" setup that solves the problem. Thank you!

zygat
11 posts
 

I use a Y splitter and bi-amp a pair to Von Schweikert VR4 Jr's. Absolutely perfect performance! I have none of the noted problems dual center channels are supposed to have.

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