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anm
Contributor I
Jan 14, 2017 6:03 PM UTC
Question

3 pairs of speakers connected to one Sonos Amp

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

Chris
Chris
Lead Maestro
Jan 14, 2017 6:36 PM UTC
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.
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    upstatemike
    Jan 14, 2017 6:47 PM UTC
    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.
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      anmAuthor
      Contributor I
      Jan 15, 2017 5:58 PM UTC
      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.
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      anmAuthor
      Contributor I
      Jan 15, 2017 6:18 PM UTC
      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
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      Chris
      Chris
      Lead Maestro
      Jan 15, 2017 6:36 PM UTC
      Safe down to 4ohms as far as I know.
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      anmAuthor
      Contributor I
      Jan 15, 2017 7:17 PM UTC
      Thanks Chris - you have most helpful - I will check with Sonos direct to be sure
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      Chris
      Chris
      Lead Maestro
      Jan 15, 2017 7:30 PM UTC
      The manual says 4ohms or greater.
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      mikedee
      Lyricist II
      Mar 9, 2018 12:03 AM UTC
      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.
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      Chris
      Chris
      Lead Maestro
      Mar 9, 2018 1:23 AM UTC
      It will not shorten life of Amp but its not going to be overly powerful. It will work though.
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        mikedee
        Lyricist II
        Mar 9, 2018 2:04 AM UTC
        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.
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