Unfortunately, with my 'hi-speed' dial-up connection I don't have time to look through every thread for this subject but I am sure there is a nifty, inexpensive device for what I need to accomplish. I will try to keep it brief. I am basically installing (4) Polk RC6s In-Wall/Ceiling speakers into three rooms of a massage therapy clinic. They will be used for soothing background music so I obviously don't need to drive them with incredible power. I will be using my old Yamaha RX-V1000 to drive them. I chose these speakers for their capacity to produce stereo sound through one speaker (a quick search will reveal these speakers have dual tweeters). I made an awful assumption thinking I needed to provide just one speaker wire from a L/R channel to send the signal. In fact, I need to take a wire from both my L and R channels to each speaker. My problem as you may begin to notice, is that I only have two channels, an A and a B to do this with; hence, I can only 'power' two speakers. I originally chose these instead of a standard pair of speakers because of a similar problem I would having powered 6 seperate speakers. Now, instead, it's like I need to power 8! Counterproductive indeed. So, short of jimmying speaker wire to do what I need, is there a nifty y adapter or other inexpensive device or another method (using my current components) in which I can expand my channel capabilities? I have already bought my speaker wire (Monster XPHP) and subsequent banana plugs and have installed my wall mount banana plate. Any suggestions? Please provide any product part numbers or links so I may be able to research your suggestions. Thanks!

Welcome to the forum...

If you want a stereo signal going to the speakers, you're going to need to run an additional speaker cable to each speaker.

Once that is done, you can connect all the speakers to a speaker selector like this:

http://www.nilesaudio.com/product.php?prodID=HPS-4&recordID=High%20Power%20Speaker%20Selectors&categoryID=Speaker%20Selectors&catcdID=7&prdcdID=FG01037


These devices make the receiver think it's driving only one set of speakers, which keeps the amp from being overloaded.

Looks like a nice unit but may be a bit more powerful than I need and hence a bit more expensive (although normally I wouldn't consider it expensive). I had to spend more in shipping costs and customs brokers fees than expected so now its becoming an expensive option. Is there another you could recommend that may be of 'good' quality that is a bit less expensive (under $100)? Also, do you think I would be harming my reciever if I rigged my cables to do the trick? Again, it is merely for soothing background music so the amp will not be turned up very loud. I was originally thinking of using my A, B, and surround channels to run six speakers in the 6ch stereo mode of my receiver...although I would lose some information with the speakers being on the surrounds. Dunno....just trying to explore all my options. Thanks again for the feedback.

Terminology might be a problem here. Let's assume that when you write A and B channels you refer to the left and right channels, and not to two zones each with a left and right channel.

Polk says your speakers are compatible with 8 ohm amplifiers rather than giving the nominal impedance. We'll treat them as 8 ohms and think of the speakers as separate units- four on the left and four on the right.

You need to read your receiver's manual and find out if it can drive 4 ohm loads or only 8 ohm loads. Then you can figure out what combination of series and parallel wiring of the speakers will give you about the required impedance.

Take a look at this site for examples http://colomar.com/Shavano/spkr_wiring.html

This combination of 8 ohm speakers is the equal of one 8 ohm speaker
http://colomar.com/Shavano/4sp-spkr.gif

By A and B I do mean that I can drive two seperate sets of main channel (L+R) speakers. I also have an Ohm selector switch on the back of the receiver as well which I can change depending upon what type of speakers I am driving as well as how many (i.e. A, B, or A+B). I also have the capacity to operate a second Zone as well but that requires a seperate amp. The user manual also states only that the impedance is 'compatible with 8 ohm receivers'.

So, I understand the math behind the electrical diagrams but how would I mechanically accomplish this? I'm thinking if I start trying to splice wires I am going to end up with both a rat's nest behind my gear as well as create a recipe for disaster. I'm probably better just sucking up the fact that I have to buy another piece of gear to accomplish what I really want with the smallest amount of aggrevation.

By A and B I do mean that I can drive two seperate sets of main channel (L+R) speakers. I also have an Ohm selector switch on the back of the receiver as well which I can change depending upon what type of speakers I am driving as well as how many (i.e. A, B, or A+B). I also have the capacity to operate a second Zone as well but that requires a seperate amp. The user manual also states only that the impedance is 'compatible with 8 ohm receivers'.

Ok, got it it. Your receiver has the option to drive one or two pairs of stereo speakers. It may do this by connecting the two left speakers in parallel or in series or by adding a resistor in series.

Is the problem then that you have already run just one cable to each speaker and can't run a second? If you did that there is nothing you can do to get two separate left/right channels to the speakers. There may be alternatives however.

If you can run a second cable you should be OK. Because each speaker has four connections (two for each channel) there is no avoiding a bunch of wires, as your four speakers take the same wiring as four pairs. If you each run goes directly out to a speaker, then yes you will have 8 cables to tie together/connect to your receiver. If you can run some to a speaker and then on to a second speaker you will have fewer.

Connect a speaker wire to the left terminals of the A speakers.
Run it to the left connectors of one speaker.
Then run a speaker wire from those terminals on that speaker to the left terminals on the second speaker.

Connect a speaker wire to the right +/- terminals of the A speakers.
Run it to the right +/- terminals of one speaker.
Then run a speaker wire from those terminals on that speaker to the right terminals on the second speaker.

Do the same for two speakers on the B set.

If you run separate wires to each speaker. Then tie them together at the receiver end. Connect the + left wires for two speakers together and then connect them to the + terminal for the left A speakers. Do the same for the - wires.

If you can't connect two wires to a terminal, join the two wires to a third, a pigtail, and connect that to the terminal.

If one wire to each speaker is all you can run, check the receiver's manual to see if the receiver can combine the L/R channels and send a mono signal to the speakers. If it can then connect one speaker to each of the A and B left and right speaker terminals and your are good to go.Mono is fine for background music.

Is there another you could recommend that may be of 'good' quality that is a bit less expensive (under $100)?

Yes, there are less-expensive speaker selectors (with impedance-matching) available. I've heard good things about the Phoenix Gold devices. They have a model for around $50.00:

http://www.phoenixgold.com/accessories/speakerselectors.html

Thanks guys for the replies. I finally did work out my 'mechanical' wiring in my head yesterday exactly in the ways you defined trekguy, by either 'daisy-chaining' two speakers or by connecting at the terminal end of the receiver. Rupert, thanks for the other recommendation. I just let pass an opportunity for a Niles SSVC-4 (think that was the #) on eBay yesterday. I needed more time to think about it. It was at $168.00 the last time I checked (open box). Now that I am kind of wandering deeper into this, are Niles models considered 'premiere' in the consumer realm of things? Also, I am now thinking that a model with volume controls would be a good thing also, if I decide to go that route......'better to have and not need than to need and not have' I like to say :)

Any speaker selector brands to stay away from? I see SIMA all over the place. Any feedback on them?

Niles makes good products, although there are others that no doubt work well. There is nothing esoteric about any of them, but like everything else there are no doubt differences in build quality and durability. You might some time at the Niles Audio site just to get some ideas, and then do some searches. You can have a simple or an elaborate system.

If you are up to some work in the walls and depending upon your budget you can put on/off/ or volume controls (http://www.nilesaudio.com/product.php?prodID=SVC100R&recordID=High%20Power%20Stereo%20Volume%20Controls&categoryID=Volume%20Controls&catcdID=6&prdcdID=FG01162) in each room,

Wouldn't outputting a mono signal and sending each speaker to a seperate room work? If I understand your situation, you only have one speaker per room anyway.