Multiple extension speakers

druhe · Jul 21, 2016

I am in need of some assistance and advice.I have to install three (3) extension speakers in three different offices from one radio. Each speaker needs its own volume control. I have been researching audio amp/mixers and I'm unable to come up with a suitable set up. Budget is somewhat limited.

Any suggestions and sources appreciated

iMONITOR · Jul 21, 2016

Which scanner are you using? Does each location have a PC running Windows?

jboczek · Jul 21, 2016

Look for a "speaker selector with volume control". I've found a couple different ones on Ebay for under $60 and have 3 speakers hooked up to a base radio. Works great. Didn't use an amp, just connected external speaker output of the radio to the input of the selector and the speakers to the outputs. Plenty of volume on all the speakers.

toastycookies · Jul 21, 2016

would something like this work for $50?

ART_SPLITMIX4_SPLITMix4_4_Channel_Passive_Splitter_Mixer_1257196718000_656634.jpg

ART SPLITMix4 4-Channel Passive Splitter/Mixer SPLITMIX4 B&H

iMONITOR · Jul 21, 2016

I think he wants volume controls at each of the three locations.

toastycookies · Jul 21, 2016

iMONITOR said:
I think he wants volume controls at each of the three locations.

Oh I see,

How about 3 of these?

MFJ-382ClearTone Speaker MFJ382

Project25_MASTR · Jul 21, 2016

I'd use a Barix built intercom and transport it all over IP. Not the cheapest but it is one of the cleanest ways to go.

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bharvey2 · Jul 21, 2016

Not sure what your budget is but what about a small 70V line amp? Many 70V speakers have built in volume control and running room to room in a building shouldn't pose any problems.

druhe · Jul 22, 2016

iMONITOR said:
I think he wants volume controls at each of the three locations.

This is correct

druhe · Jul 22, 2016

bharvey2 said:
Not sure what your budget is but what about a small 70V line amp? Many 70V speakers have built in volume control and running room to room in a building shouldn't pose any problems.

Budget is probably $200 might be able to squeeze a couple more out of them if need be

druhe · Jul 22, 2016

iMONITOR said:
Which scanner are you using? Does each location have a PC running Windows?

Its a Vertex mobile being used as a base station

mmckenna · Jul 22, 2016

bharvey2 said:
Not sure what your budget is but what about a small 70V line amp? Many 70V speakers have built in volume control and running room to room in a building shouldn't pose any problems.

Yeah, I'd agree with this. No reason to reinvent the wheel.
An audio feed off the scanner could feed a line level input on an amplifier.
Take the 70v feed off the amp and just run all your speakers in parallel. Individual speakers can have their own volume controls.

Simple, easy and you can probably find a suitable amplifier on e-bay for cheap.
Another option is these guys:
Product Categories

mmckenna · Jul 22, 2016

druhe said:
Its a Vertex mobile being used as a base station

OK, no big deal. We did this in our fire station with a Motorola CDM-1250.
We took an audio feed off the back of the radio. That was fed into one of the RDL labs mixer (link above) to allow two CDM-1250's to feed the system, one for our dispatch, one for an adjoining agency. The amplifier fed out through the station. There were volume controls and speakers in the various rooms.

Pretty simple and easy setup. If you have just the one radio, then you don't need the mixer. For 3 speakers, you don't need a big amplifier.
Heck, you could get an old home stereo tuner/amplifier that had two sets of speaker outputs. That would give you the ability to run 4 speakers. Use some simple 8Ω speakers. You could probably find a tuner/amp at Goodwill pretty cheap.

darunimal · Jul 22, 2016

How bout three sets of donated computer speakers.

bharvey2 · Jul 22, 2016

druhe said:
Budget is probably $200 might be able to squeeze a couple more out of them if need be

Your budget would be on the low side for any high end supplies but could still be doable (as long as you aren't including labor) Give the site below a try:

https://www.parts-express.com

You'll need both a 70V amp and 70V speakers. If you aren't familiar with 70V systems, the primary difference between them and common home stereo systems is that they use transformers at the amp and speaker locations to accommodate long speaker wire runs. There can be a loss in fidelity with 70V systems but for voice traffic it will be fine. 70V systems are very common for PA applications in large industrial, commercial and office environments.

krokus · Jul 22, 2016

mmckenna said:
Yeah, I'd agree with this. No reason to reinvent the wheel.
An audio feed off the scanner could feed a line level input on an amplifier.
Take the 70v feed off the amp and just run all your speakers in parallel. Individual speakers can have their own volume controls.

+1 on this. This is what I am trying to get installed into my fire stations.

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prcguy · Jul 22, 2016

+2 on this, its the right way to do it. Or you could get a 70 volt line transformer, connect it to the speaker outs on the radio then use speakers downstream with 70 volt transformers and volume controls. The radio probably puts out plenty of power to feed several speakers this way.
prcguy

krokus said:
+1 on this. This is what I am trying to get installed into my fire stations.

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Multiple extension speakers

druhe

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iMONITOR

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jboczek

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toastycookies

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iMONITOR

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toastycookies

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Project25_MASTR

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druhe

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mmckenna

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