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[orbytel]

Hey all,

I was wondering if someone could help me out with a little dilemma I'm having.

I'm currently using a cm19 with firecracker, and x10commander for the several modules around my house, lights and appliances etc. and control it all from my iphone (i was using a cm15 with ahp, but it didn't have support for the australian version of the module).

I have also started using the 'remote' app on the iphone, which allows me to control my entire music library from my phone and play it through the pc. I decided on iTunes for my music control, as it is linked directly to my media server from my desktop pc, has all my pre-created playlists, and has an excellent app written specifically for the iphone that controls it all.  It's also provides a little less stress and more stability on my x10 server, which exists solely for module control etc.

It's all been working great, with the speakers powered from a single amp off the pc, which is hooked up to an appliance module, so I can turn it on and off from x10 commander, and control everything else via the iphone remote.

I've now decided to install additional speakers around my home. At the moment I have ceiling speakers in my living areas, and have installed more speakers outside around the pool area. Each zone also has a wall mounted volume control. The problem I have, is how I am going to control individual zones. I'm not too worried about volume control, but the ability to remotely turn on or off a zone would be great.

I've considered the following, but there are some things which are off-putting:

* Purchasing an additional amp and appliance module for each zone (a little pricey for my liking)
*Using a low-voltage appliance module to somehow create a switch for each zone (but the speakers are not connected to mains, so there is no way to control the modules).

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Knightrider]

Try this: http://www.hacs.com/ab8ss.php

[orbytel]

mate, you are an absolute champion.

Thanks!

[bitman]

Wow Knight! That's cool.

I was going to say a universal module opening and closing the ground return from a pair of speakers. This way you should be able to turn on and off a stereo pair with one inline switch. You would need one for each zone and that could get fiddly.

:Ron

[Knightrider]

Bitman,
Using a UM506 on the ground is exactly what I do here to switch my speakers.  The good thing is that I use an amp that can handle the varying loads.  Not all amps can do this, and the unit I linked to shunts the load to a resistor when the speakers are turned off.  That unit is much better than my way.

[orbytel]

Wow Knight! That's cool.

I was going to say a universal module opening and closing the ground return from a pair of speakers. This way you should be able to turn on and off a stereo pair with one inline switch. You would need one for each zone and that could get fiddly.

:Ron

thanks for this, i had a spare universal appliance module laying around, so i've hooked it up on the ground for the outdoor speakers which allows me to control those at the moment, which were the main issue.

It is a little cheaper than the link posted by knight. I'll be investing in that a little further down the track, but for the moment your way seems to be a little more feasible (after purchasing the linked module, I would have to purchase an AU standard replacement ac adaptor, which ive been quoted at $60 (a total of $250, which was a little more than I wanted to spend on just speaker control).

Thanks for your help guys!

[bitman]

I'm glad that worked,
However, like Knightrider mentioned,
Be mindful of the impedances that you present to the output of the amp at any one time while using the universal module approach.
Solid state power amps do not like open outputs at all or too little impedance either.

Sorry if I am pointing out the obvious to you.