2. amps-preamps
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Powering nine home speakers

Hi. I have a large open living room and want to increase the wattage I have running my speakers. I currently have an Onkyo 7-channel amp and took the front left and right outs and have them going to an OSD Audio ATM7 7-zone speaker selector. However the Onkyo amp is not powerful enough to drive all 9 speakers strong enough. It sounds very weak. 

The only device I want to connect is a sonos connect that I have. Currently I connect the optical out of that to the Onkyo amp. Should I introduce a second amp? How exactly would I connect them? Would I run the sonos connect into one amp and take the preamp outs to the other amp? Can you have a standard front left and right out AND a preamp out at the same time?

i only want/need stereo sound not surround. 

Thanks!
jj91709
imhififan's avatar
imhififan
2,184 posts
 
Try connect 4 speakers as a group follow the wiring diagram, one group for right channel and one for left channel, leave the last speaker unconnected and see what’s the result.
http://www.colomar.com/Shavano/4ps-spkr.gif
https://www.amplifiedparts.com/tech-corner/speaker-impedance-power-handling-and-wiring
Please refer to ’Example 4’
imhififan's avatar
imhififan
2,184 posts
 
I helped my friend wiring 8 speakers for his 2000sq ft. restaurant dinning room powered by a 80Wx2 receiver with satisfactory volume level.
noble100's avatar
noble100
2,419 posts
 

     jj91709,

     Unfortunately, you seem to have no desire or interest in a good quality music reproduction system for your room and, as a result, I find I've lost interest in your system, myself.
    Just hire a company that installs background music systems in restaurants and businesses and be be done with it.  You'll be listening to Yanni 24/7 via glorious mono in no time.

Later,
 Tim
    
jj91709 OP
11 posts
 
Your parents raised your parents raised a considerate and compassionate son Tim. They should be proud. 
jj91709 OP
11 posts
 
Hifiman, can I ask how you would recommend wiring the 9th speaker? It seems like I could run 3 in parallel which would be 2.66 ohm. My onkyo amp specs are 8/4/3 ohm. Is the difference significant enough?

i also just received a second amp that is 100w x 2 (Yamaha R-S202) which is 8 ohm.

I would prefer to keep them in stereo as the layout of the room works well even with the odd speaker due to the seating. 
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