Depends on how you are getting things around.My video comes from a central location/source. At the destination the user should be able to decide if the audio is played through the TV (headphone) or through the in-ceiling speakers. Is there a way to accommodate this?
I just need L/R, no surround. Most of the time the ceiling speakers will be used but once in a while also the TV speakers (when trying to keep things more quite without resorting to headphones). I would like to keep things as clean as possible, i.e. no visible local amplifier. As mentioned before, I also want to get local iPhone to play through the in-ceiling speakers (via Bluetooth?).What sound channels do you want to run through the ceiling speakers? L/R? Surround? Will you still be using the TV speakers when you do this?
You're going to need to either go through an AVR first, or take an output from the TV into a stereo amp, before you can drive those speakers. Which method depends on which sound channels you're trying to get.
Just a random not, but TV speakers are not inherently better for "keeping things quiet." Typically TV speakers are far less intelligible than good in-ceiling speakers, meaning that the in-ceiling speakers can typically be played at a lower db level while still maintaining intelligibility. The only case in which this would not work would be a situation in which the ceiling speakers are bleeding directly into the rooms that you are trying to keep quiet, in which case TV audio would probably work better for you.I just need L/R, no surround. Most of the time the ceiling speakers will be used but once in a while also the TV speakers (when trying to keep things more quite without resorting to headphones).
To be clear, I have a 24 zone home system with distributed audio and video. I use the analog output from all of my sources, or convert the digital audio output to analog. There is a VERY slight difference between the HDMI audio and the analog audio, but not noticeable if they are run separately.
[...] I have not tried running the stereo feed through the surround receiver into the family room, that could correct the sync issue.