CD players / Home stereo

Western · Jan 22, 2010

This spring the wife and I want to install 3-4 exterior speakers for the inside stereo. It is an older unit I have had since college, but it is still strong. What it is missing is a cd player.

The one I have been looking at is the Sony 5 disc player, around $150, anyone have this one? Then I guess the next thing would be a way to turn off different speaker zones. Any input on this piece??

MossRoad · Jan 22, 2010

Be sure to get a CD player that will play MP3 files.

Western · Jan 22, 2010

Excellent point, didn't even think of that. Thanks

2manyrocks · Jan 22, 2010

First question would be if your present stereo has the RCA inputs and a switch for a CD player or if its so old that it predates CD players.

Second question would be to determine how many ohms your existing stereo will handle and what ohms your additional speakers will have. There comes a point when you can mismatch or overload a stereo by adding too many speakers.

Somebody might know where you could get your hands on an external switch box like they use in stores to demonstrate various speakers. Then you could switch back and forth.

Others may disagree, but the more simple the player, the less the problems. Lots of people load their favorite music onto MP3 players and then you can pay thousands of songs without messing with CD's, but the audio quality isn't quite as good. But most people appear to be perfectly happy with them.

Red Beast · Jan 23, 2010

MossRoad said:
Be sure to get a CD player that will play MP3 files.

better still, forget the CD player, get an ipod and use RCA inputs into your amplifier from the 3.5mm output on the ipod. Playlists FTW.

Western · Jan 23, 2010

I have plenty of available inputs. I doubt I would ever have on more than 1 set of speakers , front porch, rear porch.

My kids do the mp thing, I haven't gotten to that era yet, but I do have a load of cd's we have collected. I can also see that it is a good idea since in the future I may get "up to date"..

OKnewguy · Jan 24, 2010

If your existing amp/reciever has an a and b spkr out, run your main speaker to A, then run your b spkr outs to a spkr selector switch with impedence matching. I use on of these
Speaker Selectors - ADCOM
but you can also use something like this:
Six Pair Speaker Selector Volume Control | Distributed By MCM | OPT-6S (OPT6S)

These boxes will keep your amp happy. The second one has built in volume controls for each zone. I prefer a unit without the built in volume control and mount a volume control at each location, like these
75W Hubbell Rotary Impedance Matching Volume Control | Hubbell Premise Wiring | NSORAVC
Then to be really slick run some ir repeaters, like these
Niles Audio WS120 Wall-Mount IR Infrared Sensor: Niles Audio IR Sensor > Remote Control Extenders > Custom Installation
Or this one that you can mount up under your eaves
Niles Audio CS120 Ceiling-Mount IR Infrared Sensor: Niles Audio IR Sensor > Remote Control Extenders > Custom Installation

These are just the first products that I could find, they can all be found cheaper with a little scrounging on the net.
Dave

Western · Jan 24, 2010

Dave,
Thanks, the 1st link is what I was thinking about. I don't understand what the IR thing does exactly. I think i will run up to Fry's, they have "allot" of audio equipment and see what they have. I know they where cheaper than best buy and a whole lot bigger.

OKnewguy · Jan 24, 2010

The ir, is just the icing on the cake. It allows you to take your remotes with you to the other zones and control the devices. Basically they are and infrared sensor, and then at you amp you would have an infrared emitter.
The Ir stuff is not necessary at all, but darn convenient. If you are looking to go simple and inexpensive, the speaker selector box/built in volume controls would work very well.

Good luck and have fun, Dave