Help on Squeezebox outputs please.

[PVM]

Hi all,

I use my SB3 in the lounge through the analoque rca output, then I would like to take the coax to the main bedroom and then the optical to the second bedroom.

What type of cables do I need (I have CAT6 and good quality coax available in all rooms, RCA in lounge to Aego M s'no problem)and what do I need the other end to connect to powered speakers. Is there a limit to length etc, basically I don't have a clue when it comes to audio. I would also like to connect a bluetooth transmitter on the headphone connection pair up with Sony
DR BT50 blue tooth headphones.

Many thanks for any help
PVM

[pichonCalavera]

Do the Sony DR BT50 bluetooth headphones have their own transmiter?, if you manage to find an audio bluetooth transmiter that work with the headphones, you should have no problem connecting those. I use wireless headphones too, but not the bluetooth kind: http://www.sennheiserusa.com/newsite/productdetail.asp?transid=009920

There are many configurations that you can combine, you could buy a Squeezebox Receiver for each room and use something like the Aego M you already have with each one, and this way you can take advantage of the CAT6 wiring you have.

The thing you should consider here is that you will have 4 different listening devices, and I'm not sure if the Squeezebox can control/mute each audio output independently, meaning that when you play something, the sound will be reproduced on all 4 audio outputs, altough I'm not entirely sure if this is correct.

If you use the optical or coax output, you will need a DAC, that converts the digital signal into an audio signal, and then connect this probably to some amplified speakers.

I guess you are trying to go with a multi-room setup, maybe explain a little more what you are trying to acomplish.

[adamslim]

To use a single SB, you would have to run new cables to the other rooms, which is untidy and a pain; your existing cables may not be suitable. You could in theory run the coax and optical outs to other rooms, but then they would need DACs as well as amps.

You're much better off getting new SB3s or SBRs for each room. You can control these separately, and they just need to connect to your home network, either by the network cables it looks like you have, or by wifi.

Running very long audio cables is not usually great for sound quality, whereas networks are fine and wifi depends on your reception, but it's easy to check.

[PVM]

Many thanks for the replies, my aim was to run the cables to the additional rooms (floorboards up at the moment and data outlet boxes present) as I assume all outputs can be used at the same time. Depending what room you were in you would turn the speakers on in that room and use the new wireless controller to select your music. So if you need a DAC for the two other outputs, how much would these cost and is it worth it?

Thanks for your imput
PVM

[Phil Leigh]

There's a limit on how long an optical (toslink) - 5 metres or spdif coax - 15 metres can be before problems set in.
You would be better-off with several of the new receiver boxes connected via your existing cat5.

Or a cheaper option is a "distribution amplifier" which can take the RCA outs from the SB and create several parallel sets of outs, one pair going to each room....

like this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/4-Way-Stereo-Audio-Distribution-Amplifier/dp/B000L99V8M

[pichonCalavera]

Maybe this thread will give you more ideas: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=42362