Multi Room Audio for TV

6 years ago

I have an open concept living room / kitchen space. We have a TV mounted in our living room with the kitchen along the opposite wall. Because of the large open space, it can be difficult to hear the TV audio in the kitchen at times.

We are currently using a soundbar to enhance the TV's sound, but in order to hear in the kitchen the living room gets uncomfortably loud. I'd like to retain the sound bar, but add a pair of ceiling speakers in our kitchen as a secondary stereo output. I'd like the new kitchen speakers to be controlled by a new volume knob, also located in the kitchen, which can turn the speaker volume up, down or off.

I'm looking for the simplest solution. Most AV guys want to show me a complicated 5.1 multi-room set up with multiple source selection. I don't want this expansive (and expensive) of a set up. I just want to hear the TV in the kitchen.

Ideally, I'd see something like Apple TV to the TV. TV Audio out to a multi zone amplifier (2 zones). Amplifier output A to soundbar. Amplifier output B to wall volume control, to stereo ceiling speakers.

My hope would be that I can control the source (Apple TV), TV and soundbar audio all from the Apple TV remote (as I do now); and the secondary kitchen speakers would be controlled by the wall knob.

Any suggestions or pitfalls to be weary of?

Featured Answer

badabing2

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

A multi-zone receiver is the usual method but that wouldn't be the simplest solution. The gotcha with BT speakers is you still need to give them power so depends on your setup.

Method 1 - Wireless: Get a cheap Bluetooth amp (click me) and BT speakers (assuming TV has BT). If you're good with a smaller speaker you could use a USB powered one for example and avoid all the wiring. The smaller Bose USB speakers sound nice - seen for $80 at Costco.

Method 2 - Wired: I'd just get a cheap amp (click me) connect with a 'Y' splitter on the audio to the soundbar to audio input, and output to speakers. Also manually controlled but the small amp could be inconspicuous. Assumption here is you can run the wires easily.

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Comments (10)

Heath H
Original Author
6 years ago
I'm told I'll get a delay using bluetooth and the audio won't sync well ...
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Heath H
Original Author
6 years ago
No, it would be great if it could work that easily. Can you clarify the set up you referenced before? Do I set up an Alexa device as a bluetooth speaker and then use what command? Will the audio play simultaneously through the tv speakers and the bluetooth speaker?
badabing2
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
The request was ceiling speakers in kitchen independently controlled than the main speakers. From my perspective this would need a multi-channel receiver which wasn't an option. If your soundbar supports Alexa you could mimic it in the kitchen but no volume control. Easy. I doubt your TV could handle dual audio channels simultaneously (soundbar & kitchen) so suggested a separate amp 'cloned' off the soundbar. Perhaps someone knows a more clever way. Look at Sonos products, they support Alexa and might be a solution.
weedmeister
6 years ago
Most likely, the sound bar uses HDMI and won't have RCA outs to drive an amp.
badabing2
6 years ago
weedmeister: excellent point, thanks. I assumed RCA audio out from TV to soundbar.
DavidR
6 years ago
Being an old fashioned analog guy, I'd probably add whatever adapter I needed to get to either RCA line jacks or 600 ohm balanced at line level, feed that to a small general purpose power amplifier, and then run AWG 14 or so speaker cables to the kitchen with a conventional speaker pad there. YMMV.

PS - keep in mind that you'll get a good stereo effect in a limited number of locations -- probably only one. You'll probably get by just fine with a simple mono PA amplifier and a single speaker.
mtvhike
6 years ago
Do you have an easy way to run wires to your kitchen speakers?
Heath H
Original Author
6 years ago
Yes, I can run wires.
mtvhike
6 years ago
Does your audio come from the TV or your AppleTV? Or, do you use both? I would do what DavidR suggests: get a stereo amp/receiver to put in a convenient location in or near your kitchen, and run speaker wires from it to where you want your speakers (on the ceiling?). Run a stereo pair of shielded cables with RCA connectors from an input on this amp to your TV area, and connect the other end to whatever splitter you are using. My AppleTV has analog audio out, but I don't know if newer ones do. All of my TVs have analog outs.