Switch speaker location? 5.1 (Front right to rear right etc)

[ssmacc]

Hello All,

My brother-in-law is looking at getting a home theatre set up (I've asked in another thread about AV Receiver / speaker recommendations). However, I've just found out he want his TV and Projector in different places.

Is there a way to easily switch speakers i.e. the front right speaker in the Projector configuration will be the back right when watching the TV etc?

Cheers,

 

[ssmacc]

He's currently looking at receivers, not purchased one yet. Thanks for the tip, hopefully someone will know of a pre-made switch type thing.

Cheers

 

[ssmacc]

He's going to need to spend more money than allocated in the other thread.

First, there's no easy way to run a system with speaker switching in the way he wants. Entry and mid-range AV receivers just don't have the sort of speaker matrixing that would be required to two different set-ups. The other issue is that the distance and delay settings would be out for one of the two configurations.

The closest you're going to get is to buy a 7.1 AV receiver that supports the Zone 2 function. In effect, he'd be splitting the room in to two zones. Zone 1 would be 5.1. Zone 2 runs simple stereo. Each zone operates independently of the other, even to the point where part of the amp running Z1 is switched off while Z2 is happily playing.

To make this work, he's going to have to decide which end of the room gets the 'big' sound and which runs just stereo. There's no right or wrong here; it's just what works best for them. It's tempting to think that 5.1 sound should go with the TV, but I'd argue that most TV viewing is casual, so better-sound-than-the-TV through some decent stereo speakers is really all that's required. Leave the 5.1 for big sound to go with the big picture when projecting.

Thank's again, I don't think the budget is set in stone so a few more £ could be found...any recommendations on a AMP capable of 2 Zone's? He was originally looking at the Sony STRDN1080 which has great reviews and looks like it could do the job? If he went for this would your choice of speakers change?

Thanks again!

 

[ssmacc]

I have a 2nd hand Yamaha in the for sale section and you're not far away

I'll pass on the info. Cheers

 

[ssmacc]

Thanks all for the responses,

@lucid, Think (unless there are compelling reasons not to) my brother in law is going to go for the STR-DN1080, he's up'd the budget to £1000 and looking at getting the "Q Acoustics 7000i 5.1 Slim Speaker System" (these have past the domestically pleasing test), would these be OK with Sony? He's going to go multi zone and have stereo for the TV and 5.1 for the Projector, or could he go 3.1 and 5.1? (as a center speaker would be presumably be better for the TV, if this isn't possible stereo will be fine as it's still a big upgrade from the TV speakers)

As ever advice appreciated.

Cheers

 

[ssmacc]

Thanks for the link, just missed out...it was there when I first clicked, spoke to brother in-law clicked again and it was gone...gutted!

He'll buy another couple of speakers and use them for the TV, again cheers