Multi-input amplifier for music and TV

krinpit

Hi team!

I am a total newbie, looking for some advice please, as I am beginning to build my first sound system for my living room.

I haven't got as far as researching subwoofer, speakers yet - right now I am looking for options to ensure that my multiple audio sources can ultimately route through to a speaker system, without needing to manually toggle inputs.

My current audio sources are:

• TV (device output options are optical connector, or RCA, or 3.5mm jack)
• Amazon Echo Dot with Spotify (device output options are 3.5mm jack, or bluetooth)
• Apple Mac Mini, currently connected to the TV via HDMI (also has 3.5mm output jack)

To give you an idea of budget, I had considered a Sonos Play 5 due to its wireless compatibility with Spotify/Alexa, as well as a 3.5mm line-in from the TV, however I have read several reports of audio lag, even with the line-in, and also I'd need to manually select line-in as the source each time. I may consider Sonos Play for a different room, but definitely not for my living room.

What are my options? I presume I'd need to start by buying some sort of amplifier which accepts several inputs, but I don't know what I should be looking for.

Thank you!

Richersounds.ie: DavidS

krinpit wrote: »

Hi team!

I am a total newbie, looking for some advice please, as I am beginning to build my first sound system for my living room.

I haven't got as far as researching subwoofer, speakers yet - right now I am looking for options to ensure that my multiple audio sources can ultimately route through to a speaker system, without needing to manually toggle inputs.

My current audio sources are:

• TV (device output options are optical connector, or RCA, or 3.5mm jack)
• Amazon Echo Dot with Spotify (device output options are 3.5mm jack, or bluetooth)
• Apple Mac Mini, currently connected to the TV via HDMI (also has 3.5mm output jack)
  
  

[*]




To give you an idea of budget, I had considered a Sonos Play 5 due to its wireless compatibility with Spotify/Alexa, as well as a 3.5mm line-in from the TV, however I have read several reports of audio lag, even with the line-in, and also I'd need to manually select line-in as the source each time. I may consider Sonos Play for a different room, but definitely not for my living room.

What are my options? I presume I'd need to start by buying some sort of amplifier which accepts several inputs, but I don't know what I should be looking for.

Thank you!

[*]
Hi krinpit,

The best way to do this would be with an amplifier with speakers. I would recommend an AV receiver with either a stereo speaker set up or a 5.1 speaker set up.

The best AV receiver to use would be the Denon AVRX2500, this has 8 HDMI inputs as well as Alexa built in so you can set it up with the Echo Dot. It also has Bluetooth, Spotify built in and wireless streaming. It is down to £429 at the moment and would be the best amp/hub for the living room:

https://www.richersounds.ie/p-203414-denon-avrx2500h-atmos-av-receiver.aspx

We do speakers bundles with this amp. I would recommend the Monitor Audio Mass 5.1 system. These usually retail at £599 but we are doing the full package of amp and speakers for £899.

Let me know if this sort of set up would be of interest.

Kind regards

David

krinpit

Thank you David. Since your reply, I have been obsessively reading up on AVRs.

Do you know if I would need to manually switch sources in order to switch from playing a HDMI source to play from Alexa/Spotify?

The idea of an AVR/amplifier appeals to me, but having to manually switch audio sources does not.

John.

Richersounds.ie: Kenny

krinpit wrote: »

Thank you David. Since your reply, I have been obsessively reading up on AVRs.

Do you know if I would need to manually switch sources in order to switch from playing a HDMI source to play from Alexa/Spotify?

The idea of an AVR/amplifier appeals to me, but having to manually switch audio sources does not.

John.

Hi John,

With any AV receiver you would have to manually switch audio sources with the remote or on the amp itself.

Any amp with Alexa built in should allow you to switch with voice control however one of my colleagues bought himself an Alexa enabled amp and he says the voice control is more hassle than just using the remote.

Let me know what you think.

Kind regards

David