I'd like to get a system that will drive four zones of speakers (Bang
& Olufson, and Polk). My sole input is a server with a Xitel device
that sends sound to a TOSLINK cable. I think that I need roughly
100w/ch, and of course I need an optical input. I'd like to keep it
simple, and so have felt that a home theater system is a bit of
overkill.

Is something like an Onkyo 301 Dolby Digital Decoder, or a Dolby
Digital Preamp (e.g., Denon DAP-5500 or B&K Reference 20) in
conjuction with a power amp a reasonable approach?

Should I consider an integrated amp (instead? as a secondary
alternative?)?

Should I just chuck it in and get a home theater system?

Thanks! I really know nothing about amplification systems, but love
my music.

"John P. Wilkin" wrote in message
om...
I'd like to get a system that will drive four zones of speakers (Bang
& Olufson, and Polk). My sole input is a server with a Xitel device
that sends sound to a TOSLINK cable. I think that I need roughly
100w/ch, and of course I need an optical input. I'd like to keep it
simple, and so have felt that a home theater system is a bit of
overkill.

Is something like an Onkyo 301 Dolby Digital Decoder, or a Dolby
Digital Preamp (e.g., Denon DAP-5500 or B&K Reference 20) in
conjuction with a power amp a reasonable approach?

Should I consider an integrated amp (instead? as a secondary
alternative?)?

Should I just chuck it in and get a home theater system?

Thanks! I really know nothing about amplification systems, but love
my music.

John, I can maybe give a little advice, but more specifics about what you
want the system to do would help. Do want to control the volume of each zone
independently? Is the desired SPL background music loud or serious party
blasting loud? Does the SPL need vary by zone?

Wylie Williams
The Speaker and Stereo Store
Saint Louis MO

"John P. Wilkin" wrote in message
om
I'd like to get a system that will drive four zones of speakers (Bang
& Olufson, and Polk). My sole input is a server with a Xitel device
that sends sound to a TOSLINK cable. I think that I need roughly
100w/ch, and of course I need an optical input. I'd like to keep it
simple, and so have felt that a home theater system is a bit of
overkill.

Is something like an Onkyo 301 Dolby Digital Decoder, or a Dolby
Digital Preamp (e.g., Denon DAP-5500 or B&K Reference 20) in
conjuction with a power amp a reasonable approach?

Should I consider an integrated amp (instead? as a secondary
alternative?)?

Should I just chuck it in and get a home theater system?

Thanks! I really know nothing about amplification systems, but love
my music.

Surround receivers have digital inputs, and volume controls, even the
inexpensive ones. They also have 100 wpc, more or less. Does this suggest a
plan?

Thanks, Wylie.
Q. Do want to control the volume of each zone independently?
A. Yes. I've bought some Niles volume controls to do this, one for
each zone. One of them is an auto-muting version, and the others will
essentially be on always. I'm coordinating this through a Niles
automuting-aware "hub".

Q. Is the desired SPL background music loud or serious party blasting
loud?
A. No.

Q. Does the SPL need vary by zone?
A. Yes, and I think that the configuration I've got on the hub and
volume controls addresses this.

The server has our music collection on it, and we use a web-based
interface (and wireless laptops) to control the selection and queuing
of music. So, in this way, I think I have the begin point (i.e., the
server and Xitel output) and the end point (i.e., speakers and speaker
volume control) handled. I know that I could drive this with a home
theater receiver, but the server (and the amp or whatever) will be in
a utility closet in the basement, with nothing else connected, so the
amp/preamp or integrated amp approach appeals to me.


"Wylie Williams" wrote in message ...
"John P. Wilkin" wrote in message
om...
I'd like to get a system that will drive four zones of speakers (Bang
& Olufson, and Polk). My sole input is a server with a Xitel device
that sends sound to a TOSLINK cable. I think that I need roughly
100w/ch, and of course I need an optical input. I'd like to keep it
simple, and so have felt that a home theater system is a bit of
overkill.

Is something like an Onkyo 301 Dolby Digital Decoder, or a Dolby
Digital Preamp (e.g., Denon DAP-5500 or B&K Reference 20) in
conjuction with a power amp a reasonable approach?

Should I consider an integrated amp (instead? as a secondary
alternative?)?

Should I just chuck it in and get a home theater system?

Thanks! I really know nothing about amplification systems, but love
my music.

John, I can maybe give a little advice, but more specifics about what you
want the system to do would help. Do want to control the volume of each zone
independently? Is the desired SPL background music loud or serious party
blasting loud? Does the SPL need vary by zone?

Wylie Williams
The Speaker and Stereo Store
Saint Louis MO

Thanks, Arny. I'm currently driving the system (in two zones) with an
Onkyo surround receiver, and it does the trick. Perhaps another way
of stating the question is that, since I'm going to need to buy
something new to get more power, whether the preamp/amp approach will
get me better quality sound (no complaints about the sound now,
incidentally), and also whether this particular type of preamp/amp
approach will work.

PS. I hope that it's clear that one reason that I'm asking the
question is a basic lack of understanding of how certain components
work together. If someone can point me to a primer on how to
configure a high-end system, I'd be grateful. Frankly, even though
the word "preamp" is used in describing it, I don't even know whether
an Onkyo 301 Dolby Digital Decoder works with an amp in the way that
an otherwise "ordinary" preamp works. I am truly a naive consumer.

"Arny Krueger" wrote in message ...
"John P. Wilkin" wrote in message
om
I'd like to get a system that will drive four zones of speakers (Bang
& Olufson, and Polk). My sole input is a server with a Xitel device
that sends sound to a TOSLINK cable. I think that I need roughly
100w/ch, and of course I need an optical input. I'd like to keep it
simple, and so have felt that a home theater system is a bit of
overkill.

Is something like an Onkyo 301 Dolby Digital Decoder, or a Dolby
Digital Preamp (e.g., Denon DAP-5500 or B&K Reference 20) in
conjuction with a power amp a reasonable approach?

Should I consider an integrated amp (instead? as a secondary
alternative?)?

Should I just chuck it in and get a home theater system?

Thanks! I really know nothing about amplification systems, but love
my music.

Surround receivers have digital inputs, and volume controls, even the
inexpensive ones. They also have 100 wpc, more or less. Does this suggest a
plan?

The more I read of this thread the more it occurs to me that you sure have a
lot of specialized stuff but not much information about how to make it work
together. When I had a storefront (don't anymore) these sorts of questions
were the subject of long discussions between customers and my
installers/salesmen. It is unusual to get as much information as you need
from a newsgroup. Can I guess that you don't have a local store that has the
ability to offer this service?

Wylie Williams

"John P. Wilkin" wrote in message
m...
Thanks, Wylie.
Q. Do want to control the volume of each zone independently?
A. Yes. I've bought some Niles volume controls to do this, one for
each zone. One of them is an auto-muting version, and the others will
essentially be on always. I'm coordinating this through a Niles
automuting-aware "hub".

Q. Is the desired SPL background music loud or serious party blasting
loud?
A. No.

Q. Does the SPL need vary by zone?
A. Yes, and I think that the configuration I've got on the hub and
volume controls addresses this.

The server has our music collection on it, and we use a web-based
interface (and wireless laptops) to control the selection and queuing
of music. So, in this way, I think I have the begin point (i.e., the
server and Xitel output) and the end point (i.e., speakers and speaker
volume control) handled. I know that I could drive this with a home
theater receiver, but the server (and the amp or whatever) will be in
a utility closet in the basement, with nothing else connected, so the
amp/preamp or integrated amp approach appeals to me.


"Wylie Williams" wrote in message
...
"John P. Wilkin" wrote in message
om...
I'd like to get a system that will drive four zones of speakers (Bang
& Olufson, and Polk). My sole input is a server with a Xitel device
that sends sound to a TOSLINK cable. I think that I need roughly
100w/ch, and of course I need an optical input. I'd like to keep it
simple, and so have felt that a home theater system is a bit of
overkill.

Is something like an Onkyo 301 Dolby Digital Decoder, or a Dolby
Digital Preamp (e.g., Denon DAP-5500 or B&K Reference 20) in
conjuction with a power amp a reasonable approach?

Should I consider an integrated amp (instead? as a secondary
alternative?)?

Should I just chuck it in and get a home theater system?

Thanks! I really know nothing about amplification systems, but love
my music.

John, I can maybe give a little advice, but more specifics about what
you
want the system to do would help. Do want to control the volume of each
zone
independently? Is the desired SPL background music loud or serious
party
blasting loud? Does the SPL need vary by zone?

Wylie Williams
The Speaker and Stereo Store
Saint Louis MO

We have a couple of good shops locally, Wylie. I should follow up
with them and see what sort of perspective they offer.

"Wylie Williams" wrote in message ...
The more I read of this thread the more it occurs to me that you sure have a
lot of specialized stuff but not much information about how to make it work
together. When I had a storefront (don't anymore) these sorts of questions
were the subject of long discussions between customers and my
installers/salesmen. It is unusual to get as much information as you need
from a newsgroup. Can I guess that you don't have a local store that has the
ability to offer this service?

Wylie Williams

"John P. Wilkin" wrote in message
m...
Thanks, Wylie.
Q. Do want to control the volume of each zone independently?
A. Yes. I've bought some Niles volume controls to do this, one for
each zone. One of them is an auto-muting version, and the others will
essentially be on always. I'm coordinating this through a Niles
automuting-aware "hub".

Q. Is the desired SPL background music loud or serious party blasting
loud?
A. No.

Q. Does the SPL need vary by zone?
A. Yes, and I think that the configuration I've got on the hub and
volume controls addresses this.

The server has our music collection on it, and we use a web-based
interface (and wireless laptops) to control the selection and queuing
of music. So, in this way, I think I have the begin point (i.e., the
server and Xitel output) and the end point (i.e., speakers and speaker
volume control) handled. I know that I could drive this with a home
theater receiver, but the server (and the amp or whatever) will be in
a utility closet in the basement, with nothing else connected, so the
amp/preamp or integrated amp approach appeals to me.


"Wylie Williams" wrote in message
...
"John P. Wilkin" wrote in message
om...
I'd like to get a system that will drive four zones of speakers (Bang
& Olufson, and Polk). My sole input is a server with a Xitel device
that sends sound to a TOSLINK cable. I think that I need roughly
100w/ch, and of course I need an optical input. I'd like to keep it
simple, and so have felt that a home theater system is a bit of
overkill.

Is something like an Onkyo 301 Dolby Digital Decoder, or a Dolby
Digital Preamp (e.g., Denon DAP-5500 or B&K Reference 20) in
conjuction with a power amp a reasonable approach?

Should I consider an integrated amp (instead? as a secondary
alternative?)?

Should I just chuck it in and get a home theater system?

Thanks! I really know nothing about amplification systems, but love
my music.

John, I can maybe give a little advice, but more specifics about what
you
want the system to do would help. Do want to control the volume of each
zone
independently? Is the desired SPL background music loud or serious
party
blasting loud? Does the SPL need vary by zone?

Wylie Williams
The Speaker and Stereo Store
Saint Louis MO

We have a couple of good shops locally, Wylie. I should follow up
with them and see what sort of perspective they offer.

"Wylie Williams" wrote in message ...
The more I read of this thread the more it occurs to me that you sure have a
lot of specialized stuff but not much information about how to make it work
together. When I had a storefront (don't anymore) these sorts of questions
were the subject of long discussions between customers and my
installers/salesmen. It is unusual to get as much information as you need
from a newsgroup. Can I guess that you don't have a local store that has the
ability to offer this service?

Wylie Williams

"John P. Wilkin" wrote in message
m...
Thanks, Wylie.
Q. Do want to control the volume of each zone independently?
A. Yes. I've bought some Niles volume controls to do this, one for
each zone. One of them is an auto-muting version, and the others will
essentially be on always. I'm coordinating this through a Niles
automuting-aware "hub".

Q. Is the desired SPL background music loud or serious party blasting
loud?
A. No.

Q. Does the SPL need vary by zone?
A. Yes, and I think that the configuration I've got on the hub and
volume controls addresses this.

The server has our music collection on it, and we use a web-based
interface (and wireless laptops) to control the selection and queuing
of music. So, in this way, I think I have the begin point (i.e., the
server and Xitel output) and the end point (i.e., speakers and speaker
volume control) handled. I know that I could drive this with a home
theater receiver, but the server (and the amp or whatever) will be in
a utility closet in the basement, with nothing else connected, so the
amp/preamp or integrated amp approach appeals to me.


"Wylie Williams" wrote in message
...
"John P. Wilkin" wrote in message
om...
I'd like to get a system that will drive four zones of speakers (Bang
& Olufson, and Polk). My sole input is a server with a Xitel device
that sends sound to a TOSLINK cable. I think that I need roughly
100w/ch, and of course I need an optical input. I'd like to keep it
simple, and so have felt that a home theater system is a bit of
overkill.

Is something like an Onkyo 301 Dolby Digital Decoder, or a Dolby
Digital Preamp (e.g., Denon DAP-5500 or B&K Reference 20) in
conjuction with a power amp a reasonable approach?

Should I consider an integrated amp (instead? as a secondary
alternative?)?

Should I just chuck it in and get a home theater system?

Thanks! I really know nothing about amplification systems, but love
my music.

John, I can maybe give a little advice, but more specifics about what
you
want the system to do would help. Do want to control the volume of each
zone
independently? Is the desired SPL background music loud or serious
party
blasting loud? Does the SPL need vary by zone?

Wylie Williams
The Speaker and Stereo Store
Saint Louis MO

We have a couple of good shops locally, Wylie. I should follow up
with them and see what sort of perspective they offer.

"Wylie Williams" wrote in message ...
The more I read of this thread the more it occurs to me that you sure have a
lot of specialized stuff but not much information about how to make it work
together. When I had a storefront (don't anymore) these sorts of questions
were the subject of long discussions between customers and my
installers/salesmen. It is unusual to get as much information as you need
from a newsgroup. Can I guess that you don't have a local store that has the
ability to offer this service?

Wylie Williams

"John P. Wilkin" wrote in message
m...
Thanks, Wylie.
Q. Do want to control the volume of each zone independently?
A. Yes. I've bought some Niles volume controls to do this, one for
each zone. One of them is an auto-muting version, and the others will
essentially be on always. I'm coordinating this through a Niles
automuting-aware "hub".

Q. Is the desired SPL background music loud or serious party blasting
loud?
A. No.

Q. Does the SPL need vary by zone?
A. Yes, and I think that the configuration I've got on the hub and
volume controls addresses this.

The server has our music collection on it, and we use a web-based
interface (and wireless laptops) to control the selection and queuing
of music. So, in this way, I think I have the begin point (i.e., the
server and Xitel output) and the end point (i.e., speakers and speaker
volume control) handled. I know that I could drive this with a home
theater receiver, but the server (and the amp or whatever) will be in
a utility closet in the basement, with nothing else connected, so the
amp/preamp or integrated amp approach appeals to me.


"Wylie Williams" wrote in message
...
"John P. Wilkin" wrote in message
om...
I'd like to get a system that will drive four zones of speakers (Bang
& Olufson, and Polk). My sole input is a server with a Xitel device
that sends sound to a TOSLINK cable. I think that I need roughly
100w/ch, and of course I need an optical input. I'd like to keep it
simple, and so have felt that a home theater system is a bit of
overkill.

Is something like an Onkyo 301 Dolby Digital Decoder, or a Dolby
Digital Preamp (e.g., Denon DAP-5500 or B&K Reference 20) in
conjuction with a power amp a reasonable approach?

Should I consider an integrated amp (instead? as a secondary
alternative?)?

Should I just chuck it in and get a home theater system?

Thanks! I really know nothing about amplification systems, but love
my music.

John, I can maybe give a little advice, but more specifics about what
you
want the system to do would help. Do want to control the volume of each
zone
independently? Is the desired SPL background music loud or serious
party
blasting loud? Does the SPL need vary by zone?

Wylie Williams
The Speaker and Stereo Store
Saint Louis MO

"John P. Wilkin" wrote in message
om...
We have a couple of good shops locally, Wylie. I should follow up
with them and see what sort of perspective they offer.

John, where did you get this stuff? If you have good local shops and are
asking questions on the internet about how to make it work, I think maybe
you did not buy your stuff from them or you would have been asking them
these questions.

Wylie Williams