Headliner I

Question

Connect Amp with Sub+CCM663's cut's out, need an extra amplifier?

Forum|Forum|9 years ago
March 6, 2017
25 replies
1080 views

Morning all, derivative of a question asked many times (also by me) but with new scenario this time.

Have a Connect Amp (actually a new one in this location) to work alongside a Sonos Sub & two pairs of B&W ceiling speakers.

Originally installed 2 x B&W CCM616's but now fitted extra pair of B&W CCM663's & with a view to downgrading the CCM616's to bedroom duty and adding a second set of CCM663's in the kitchen.

They sound great but of course the CCM663's overshadow the CCM616's, hence the adjustments. Just to clarify, it means I have 2 616's & 2 663's working right now with the Kitchen Sonos.

But the Connect Amp cuts out when worked hard. Installed the new speakers December & unusually they not been used so much as normal....daily yes but not worked hard.

A Biffy Clyro, and Gang of Four session yesterday showed the Connect Amp to cut out when driven hard. All other rooms & Sonos boxes worked as normal. I think I'm over working the Sonos box but is opinion not deduction.

If I power down & up, then the Sonos box recovers & continues to earn a decent living.

Have a feeling I need external amplification. Have looked at this before but in the end never needed needless to say, due to more skilled advice on this site.

Would like to understand:

a. If I am over driving the Sonos unit
b. If I have some component mismatch that I'm not understanding
c. If I'm over working the Sonos then can I add a decent quality, small (tiny) footprint amp with ease

Definitely some of you have helped me with this question was way back.....think Buzz and Ratty amongst others. I cannot find that Q just now so must be very old, the scenario was a lot different anyway.

Would very much appreciate a direction on this one.....my Sonos system earns it's crust & then some but it's frustrating a little just now in this area. Many thanks in advance

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A

attacama40Author

Headliner I

Brilliant, got it....all makes sense. Many thanks again for explaining.

I think because Sonos tends to work so well 98% of the time, I tend to loose the topology understanding and terminology until that 2 %.....as such there's a tendency to ask what probably seem obvious stuff to skilled folk like you and Kumar.

Nevertheless is great to get the explanation so clearly. Have ordered a bracket and will be fitting & setting up mid week. Appreciate the support as always. Have a good evening

K

Kumar

It doesn't matter now; I meant that if you went Connect + Amp route, you would have to find a way to start the amp out of standby mode the way a Connect Amp can when it senses a music signal, if left powered on and in standby when not playing. This can be tricky with third party amps.

K

Kumar

And indeed the bathroom/shower has 2 pairs of 616's wired in same way feed from a C:A that never miss a beat....and they also are worked hard.

This suggests wiring the Sub to the Connect Amp that is wired to the 663 pair. Using a Sub takes some load away from the Connect Amp, so I doubt there will then be any trouble for it to drive a 663 pair.

A

attacama40Author

Headliner I

It doesn't matter now; I meant that if you went Connect + Amp route, you would have to find a way to start the amp out of standby mode the way a Connect Amp can when it senses a music signal, if left powered on and in standby when not playing. This can be tricky with third party amps.

Ah understand.

A

attacama40Author

Headliner I

And indeed the bathroom/shower has 2 pairs of 616's wired in same way feed from a C:A that never miss a beat....and they also are worked hard.

This suggests wiring the Sub to the Connect Amp that is wired to the 663 pair. Using a Sub takes some load away from the Connect Amp, so I doubt there will then be any trouble for it to drive a 663 pair.

Brilliant, is what I hoped to hear....many thanks for your help Kumar....will be following this solution and should have it all working by end of week.....super stuff

K

Kumar

Also, you can choose the Sub crossover via the controller when you set it up with the Connect Amp. Setting it as high as possible, using the small speaker option would mean that more of low frequencies - that is probably when the 663 drops its impedance to suck more power - are handled by the Sub, minimising the burden on Connect Amp. Which crossover is selected does have a bearing on sound quality, but I suspect it won't matter much in this case, and transferring as much load as possible to the Sub may be the way to go here.

A

attacama40Author

Headliner I

Also, you can choose the Sub crossover via the controller when you set it up with the Connect Amp. Setting it as high as possible, using the small speaker option would mean that more of low frequencies - that is probably when the 663 drops its impedance to suck more power - are handled by the Sub, minimising the burden on Connect Amp. Which crossover is selected does have a bearing on sound quality, but I suspect it won't matter much in this case, and transferring as much load as possible to the Sub may be the way to go here.

A

attacama40Author

Headliner I

Also, you can choose the Sub crossover via the controller when you set it up with the Connect Amp. Setting it as high as possible, using the small speaker option would mean that more of low frequencies - that is probably when the 663 drops its impedance to suck more power - are handled by the Sub, minimising the burden on Connect Amp. Which crossover is selected does have a bearing on sound quality, but I suspect it won't matter much in this case, and transferring as much load as possible to the Sub may be the way to go here.

Ahh yes just looking at that now Kumar, yes can see the option you mean. Will give that a try as well. I have to confess to usually defaulting in the main to vanilla Sonos settings unless it's obvious, but will definitely give this a crack as well. I guess it's no harm to try each of these even if to prove the logic and power consumption/excess point. Super stuff many thanks....will come back to you next week after C:A install and results etc.

A

attacama40Author

Headliner I

After noon all.

Interesting development. Took the excellent advice from the guys here and added a new C:A....so 2 C:A's, one driving CCM616 and the other Sonos Sub & CCM663s.

Has been working well but noticed the last couple of days two things:

1. Laptap has been opening Sonos and saying it cannot find a system. If I reboot the 2 C:A's in the kitchen it finds everything. No obvious network issues or changes....all wired. The 2nd C:A is off a Linksys SE2500 5 port hub as is the original C:A

2. The CCM663s and sub have a habit now of cutting out for a few mins before returning.

If I de-group the two kitchen groups, the CCM663 & Sub work fine....group them back with the other C:A and CCM616's and issue returns.

Probably co-incidence but has been the case since a software update Friday. As say could be pure co-incidence.

Any ideas folks? Many thanks

K

Kumar

Network weakness/issues identified by the update, probably IP address conflicts. Turn off everything at the mains and repower units in this order:
1. Modem
2. Router
3. Wired to router Sonos units, if any
4. All wireless kit, including the devices that are hosting Sonos Controllers
making sure of reboot completion before moving from one step to the next.

If this works, find a way to reserve IP addresses in your router to not have to do this after the next update.

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