Why so much analogue?

Posted Feb 2, 2016 15:13 UTC (Tue) by matthias (subscriber, #94967)
In reply to: Why so much analogue? by tialaramex
Parent article: Whole-house audio with free hardware and software

I do not think that running the amplified signal should be a big problem. There might be a difference if you run some low voltage analogue signal and put the amplifier at the end, as you would also amplify any interferences, but running the already amplified signal should not be that much of an issue. And we are not talking about hundreds of meters but tens of meters.

Why so much analogue?

Posted Feb 2, 2016 15:57 UTC (Tue) by hthoma (subscriber, #4743) [Link]

I agree. These are low impedance. fairly high power signals. If you run the speaker lines a long way closely parallel to a power line with high load, then they may pick up sum hum. But it is easy to avoid that.

Why so much analogue?

Posted Feb 3, 2016 10:54 UTC (Wed) by tialaramex (subscriber, #21167) [Link] (1 responses)

That's a good point and one I didn't think much about. No "might" about it for low power signals, you can hear the hum from an audio cable (at line levels, not amplified) running just a couple of metres vaguely near some other electrical equipment, but for interference after amplification the problem should indeed be much reduced because of the SNR.

Why so much analogue?

Posted Feb 4, 2016 23:48 UTC (Thu) by rahvin (guest, #16953) [Link]

You won't hear interference in amplified signals being distributed to a in ceiling speaker short of running it parallel and within a few inches of the power feeding the oven or dryer for a long distance. The maximum runs you will encounter in a residential house are less than 100' (33meters) and that's in a rotten installation point. A well centered distribution closet is more than likely going to be closer than 50' (15m) for your longer runs.

Now these distances are for average homes, not a McMansion where 100' runs may be typical. I've got whole house audio and my shortest run of speaker cable is about 10' and my longest is about 60'. I ensured I didn't run parallel to any power lines in the walls and you can't hear any hum. It's just not that complicated at the distances involved in whole home audio.