I am trying to find the best way to integrate Sonos with my already pre-wired family room sound system.
What I have:
Living Room
- 4 rear speakers (pre-wired in the ceiling)
- Front LR speakers (pre wired in the wall)
- Front Center speaker (pre wired in the wall below the TV)
- TV above the fireplace
- Currently using a Receiver in the basemen
Rest of House
- 12 other zones in the house with a 12 zone amp in basement. I plan on using Connects or Ports for all of those (NOTE: all zone speakers in the ceiling wired to the basement).
What I want:
- The ability to play music via Sonos to all 7 in-wall speakers in family room.
- The ability to hear my TV sound coming out of all 7 in wall speakers
- The ability to also play the TV sound in any other room (I can live without this)
- Use my existing speakers instead of putting an ugly soundbar in front of my inwall speakers (seems tacky)
- I NEED a great quality center channel… I can't hear dialog very well with current set up.
My Challenge:
My TV is in the living room, my DirecTV is in the basement. I need to be able to switch between multiple inputs (DirecTV. Firestick, DVD Player, Apple TV or any othere new inputs) OR play from apps on the TV). I might need an HMDI switch for that.
My Questions:
- The new Sonos AMP has HDMI input (great) but it only does Phantom Center Channel… is that good enough or could I use another sonos connect or sonos amp or something else to wire to my existing center speaker to enhance that channel?
- Do I just go with the Sonos AMP and use the front and left speakers and ditch the center speaker?
- Can I play my TV in the other rooms without a lag? Presumably, the TV HDMI input is digital and the rest of the Sonos Port inputs are analog? I had this exact problem with my Control4 setup…. I wonder if Sonos solves that.
- Or do I just go with the Sonos Soundbar and ignore ALL three front speakers of my surround system?
- Do I need to spread some of my ports througout the house and wire them down to the basement, so I can have a full mesh throughout the house? Or do I put them all in the basement where my 12 Zone Amp splitter is?
- What questions am I NOT asking?
Thanks in advance, this is a complex problem that I’ve been trying to get my head around. At least I made the decision to ditch Control4, but now the question is… what’s the best Sonos set up for me.
Best answer by buzz
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