Question

3 pairs of speakers connected to one Sonos Amp

  • 14 January 2017
  • 12 replies
  • 4999 views

Does anyone have experience / knowledge of connecting 3 pairs of speaker to one Sonos Amp?
Sonos say 2 pairs is fine but suggeste that the community would know more about 3 pairs.
Thanks

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12 replies

Userlevel 7
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3 pairs connected directly to the Connect:Amp is going to give it an overload in ohms.

Your going to need to connect in a parallel/series mix - there is a diagram here midway down showing 6 wired to present a 5.34ohm total to the amp (assuming you have standard 8ohm speakers). http://www.colomar.com/Shavano/spkr_wiring.html

To simplify this though you should just get an impedance matching switch to just handle all the work for you
https://www.amazon.com/SS4-Speaker-Selector-Impedance-Matching/dp/B002I9XKTE

The switch also gives you the advantage of being able to turn on/off any of the 3 pairs as needed.
In similar situations I have used the diagram for "4 Speakers - Series/Parallel Wiring; In Phase" and simply substituted an 8 ohm 100 watt resistors in place of the 4th speaker on each channel. I agree though that an impedance matching switch is the easier path.
3 pairs connected directly to the Connect:Amp is going to give it an overload in ohms.

Your going to need to connect in a parallel/series mix - there is a diagram here midway down showing 6 wired to present a 5.34ohm total to the amp (assuming you have standard 8ohm speakers). http://www.colomar.com/Shavano/spkr_wiring.html

To simplify this though you should just get an impedance matching switch to just handle all the work for you
https://www.amazon.com/SS4-Speaker-Selector-Impedance-Matching/dp/B002I9XKTE

The switch also gives you the advantage of being able to turn on/off any of the 3 pairs as needed.
Thanks for such a detailed answer - didn't even know such a device existed.

I'm in the UK and the one you suggest is not available here but I have located one here one Amazon.co.uk (Monoprice 6 Channel Speaker Selector) that keeps the impedance to a minimum of 5 ohms - does your knowledge exist to whether or not 5 ohms is safe for Sonos Amps?

Many thanks

Alan
Userlevel 7
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Safe down to 4ohms as far as I know.
Thanks Chris - you have most helpful - I will check with Sonos direct to be sure
Userlevel 7
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The manual says 4ohms or greater.
Any of you using a impedance matching switch with 6 speakers and one connect:amp (as described above) have any input? How is the sound quality and loudness? Has this shortened the life of the amp at all? Also, which switch are you using?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Userlevel 7
Badge +22
It will not shorten life of Amp but its not going to be overly powerful. It will work though.
Thanks Chris! Any recommendations on a switch that will work but isn’t very expensive? I’ve been looking online for one that has isolated right and left ground (per the instructions). But, I don’t see that listed in any of the overviews.
Userlevel 7
Badge +22
I like having volume controls too

SSVC4 Dual Source 4-Zone Master A/B Switch 300W Speaker Selector... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002C8ZRGU/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdb_t1_BeFOAb6TD27DR
Hi Chris, this has isolated left/right grounds? Also, I forgot to mention that one of the zones has some sort of in wall volume control already. Will this still work since it also has a volume control impedance match?

Thanks so much for your help and reply’s!!!

Mike