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So here is what my setup will be:



5 pairs of Indoor Ceiling Mounted speakers. These 5 pairs will need to be 3 zones (3 connect:amps)

1 pair of Outdoor Mounted Speakers (Understand this would require it's own Connect:Amp)



So I know the easy solution is 4 connect:amps and I am done. I have 2 pairs of speakers in garage and 2 pairs in kitchen/dining area which are open concept so that is why I only need 2 Connect AMPs for these 4 pairs of speakers.



My indoor/garage ceiling mounted speakers are Polk Audio RC80i's

My outdoor speaker is undetermined- leaning towards Bose 251 or Polk Atrium #? Will take recommendations



My question is: Should I go with 4 Connect:Amps to power/play through all of the areas mentioned above or should I go with a third party amplifier and just get 4 Connects. The difference in price is $600 ($150 extra between Connect AMP and Connect) and I figure I could put a couple hundred into a good amplifier and still save some money going this route. Any suggestions on 3rd party amplifiers which deliver enough power to all speakers. Would a bridgeable 12-channel amp work (that would give me 6 zones and I could bridge the 2 common zones -- garage and kitchen-- together?)



Thanks!
Go with the 4 Connect:Amps. It just makes life so much simpler. And the amplifiers you buy you would have to leave on 24/7. Your not going to save $600. You save $600 buying the Sonos units but then your at least going to spend at least $75 per amp for a fairly cheap one so that's at least $300 in amps.



Parts-express.com has always had the best selection of cheap amps.
I just wasn't sure. I've heard that the Connect AMP's don't have good power output, especially to outdoor speakers. I thought there might be one Amplifier that can power all the speakers and each speaker pair can be hooked up to it's own Connect without the amp.
No you have to have individual amplifiers. There are some larger amplifiers that can output to 2 zones but your wanting discrete listening in 4 different zones. A 12 zone amp even if it allows 4 input zones is going to cost you way more than $600.



A single connect:Amp will power 2 or 4 (8 ohms speakers) with plenty of power.
Cheaper 12 zones like this https://www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-MA1240a-Multi-Zone-Amplifier/dp/B003DKVZHQ or this https://www.amazon.com/OSD-Audio-MX1260-Universal-selectable/dp/B004S3PY9M/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_23_bs_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ECGXSM5N870WMTTMHKXN



are rated at 40 watts per channel. The Connect:Amp is a strong 55 watts per channel. So the Connect:Amp should be better.



Only advantage for the outdoor is I see the OSD will output in Mono. Although I haven't had any issues running stereo outdoor.



https://sonos.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/269/~/connecting-speakers-to-a-connect%3Aamp
And think also - you have to run all your wires to a single location with one of the distribution amps. Maybe that's not an issue for you ... but with the Connect:Amps you can have them in more convenient locations (shorter runs) to the speakers themselves.
Its a new construction and all wiring (network, routers, speaker, etc.) terminate (or originate) in the basement. So a single location is not an issue -- actually I have to use a single location.
Unless you get a distribution Amp that is 60watts or more per channel (8ohms) your not gaining anything over the independent Connect:Amps



Connect:Amp is 55watts/channel 8ohm 110watts/channel 4ohm and many people say that is conservative. I have never had trouble getting it to put out some volume.
Even Russound amp would give you a little less wattage per channel then the Connect Amps



https://www.crutchfield.com/p_543D850/Russound-D850.html?tp=9414
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