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Help with Ceiling Home Speakers - New Owner

Hi, I have recently purchased a new home that has built in speakers, I’m not familiar with audio equipment/wiring at all and hoping someone can assist with me finding the right equipment.

The house has 6 indoor speakers and 2 outdoor.  2 in the living room, 2 in the dining room, and 2 speakers in the master bedroom upstairs.  There appears to be wiring for them in several areas - one set of wires in the living room, one set of wires in the playroom downstairs, and another set of wires behind a tv console built in (same level as the playroom).  The previous owner left me a box that allows me to select which speakers to play but no other device.  There are three wall control knobs - one in the living room and two in the dining room.  I’m looking for a cheap device that can allow me to play Bluetooth and maybe radio.

 

I have added photos to my public Google Drive:

 

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_zhdABuYsrO4pDebTFXmS-dJTpzRFN6v

 

nis20082012
kennyc
2,974 posts
 

2 things to determine first:

  1. determine what each wire set powers which speaker, maybe by connecting to a stereo. Mark/keep track of the results 
  2. then for the remaining speakers not determined in step 1, determine where the speaker wires end- hopefully it’s not to difficult.

Afterwards, determine how you’d like to control the speakers. For example, separate systems, or a centralized setup.  After you determine what you want, then it’s time to look at options which may include rewiring or maybe bring in a professional, etc.  

nis20082012 OP
1 posts
 

Thanks all for the response.  What is meant by terminating the existing wires with banana plugs? Are you referring to simply connect the existing wire ends with the plugs? If yes, will these work:

 

https://a.co/d/0cnhXATU

 

Also, for the exiting Sonance SS4 multi speaker device the prior owner left me, there is an input port - what type of device/wiring can I connect to the ss4? I’m looking for something cheap and simple to connect - if so, will the following work (or can you guide me on how to connect these devices to the ss4)?

 

https://a.co/d/06kXxCxV

 

https://a.co/d/05HEwmr7

 

https://a.co/d/082abCee

 

 

What about this wall device? Could I connect my speakers to this device in an adjacent outlet and use it to play music through Bluetooth?

 

https://a.co/d/06VrSvr9

 

https://a.co/d/0bkj9MsX

paradisecom
505 posts
 

You'll need an amplifier to power the speakers and a source for audio.  You can use Bluetooth, but that's not a stable solution for a house since it has such a limited range.  The standard would be a Sonos Amp (WiFi network based solution), at a minimum and beyond that, something like a Sonos Port with a dedicated amplifier to adequately power all those speakers.  This would allow streaming audio from providers like Tidal, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, and more over the internet, rather than Bluetooth from a phone.

Also keep in mind, those are some very old speakers and they might not work, be dry-rotted, etc. so they might need replacing, as well.  

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