Multi-Zone Audio using $25 USB Sound Card?

by **Aaron** on Sat Jul 29, 2006 9:15 pm

Wondering if we could make this work...

http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/29/ever ... o-adaptor/

it would be a great and cheap way to turn a PC into an XLobby Multi-Zone Audio system!

I have a spare laptop I'd love to use

by **hjackson** on Sun Jul 30, 2006 3:38 am

Are you planning on using the one external card and getting 4 zones out of it, or are you thinking of using one card per zone (ie 6 zones will require 6 cards for $150 total)? What are you planning on using to amplify the sound?

hjackson

by **Aaron** on Sun Jul 30, 2006 3:51 am

I figure each card is 8 channels... why not use them.

I have 12 channel amp to run the system.

by **PhilB** on Sun Jul 30, 2006 2:27 pm

I took a similar approach but use this device to provide "zones" and each acts as the input for my multizone amp. Each instance of WinAmp "points" to a specific xitel.

http://www.xitel.com/product_hfl.htm

The amp is switched via RS-232 and Girder so getting my XL skin to switch the zone is a snap. (just change the input selected).

by **Jay** on Sun Jul 30, 2006 2:55 pm

Phil, this looks great. How are you pointing a specific Winamp to a specific Xitel? I've only ever run one instance of Winamp.

by **Aaron** on Sun Jul 30, 2006 4:00 pm

The Evergreen DN-SCM81 7.1 USB audio adaptor looks like a much more cost effective solution then buying several Xitel units.

I also want to avoid using 3rd party apps like Girder, only complicates the system.

Plus the Evergreen even has digital outputs so that can be very flexible!

by **hjackson** on Sun Jul 30, 2006 4:08 pm

"I figure each card is 8 channels... why not use them. "

That's what I figured you intended. Do you know if you can control the output to each channel indepedently? Would those kx drivers work with this amp?
BTW, I believe you were the one that turned me onto that 12 Channel amp. Thanks a million, it kicks butt!!

elcabio

by **Aaron** on Sun Jul 30, 2006 4:10 pm

I'd be willing to try the uit if Steven would be willing to work with me on supporting it.

I have the Niles amp... is that what you got? It does a great job for me.

by **P3rv3rt B3ar** on Sun Jul 30, 2006 4:15 pm

kX drivers works only with live-audigy cards chip, so no luck there. Im currently working on kXd which allows control independent channels via PervTalk, and hence inside XLobby, on kX compatible cards.

by **PhilB** on Mon Jul 31, 2006 12:43 am

To run multizone in XL you setup multiple copies (instances) of Winamp and each is configured to use a different Xitel box. That would be the same with any external setup as long as each unit is independently recongized by the system. I dont see why this would be a problem if they were USB or serial.

I only use Girder to send RS-232 commands to the amp. It is not needed otherwise but handy to have since it is so flexible.

Xitel costs a little more but I was happy with the quality and design of the product.

The amp I use is called "Sonance" and includes an integrated FM radio which I use as another input type.

by **hjackson** on Tue Aug 01, 2006 7:11 am

Well Aaron, I guess my source for this amp (MA-1235 12-Channel Amplifier at http://www.htd.com/12channelamp.html ) wasn't you :oops:

At the time when I bought it, it was $599! After getting off my lazy butt and conducting a 5 second search, I found that 90c4, was the member who first alerted me (us) to this amp.

hjackson

by **Aaron** on Tue Aug 01, 2006 2:35 pm

[quote="hjackson"]Well Aaron, I guess my source for this amp (MA-1235 12-Channel Amplifier at http://www.htd.com/12channelamp.html ) wasn't you :oops:

At the time when I bought it, it was $599! After getting off my lazy butt and conducting a 5 second search, I found that 90c4, was the member who first alerted me (us) to this amp.

hjackson[/quote]

who knows... it may be the same internals as the Niles si1230