Surround speakers: switch between set-ups?

[Wulfman]

Hola,

I guess I'm looking for some sort of surround setup/receiver/control box that can store at least two "sets" of speaker set-ups, and switch between them on the fly. Of course, I'm out of the loop and have no idea what someone would call this kind of feature, and am consequently completely lost in looking for a product. As this explanation doesn't make too much sense (I guess), here is the full problem:

I want to have a set of surround speakers arranged in a room, but have two differently arranged listening spots, e.g. the desk (monitor, lets say facing the "north wall") and a projector (for movies, "east wall"). I want to switch easily between those two, without having to rewire everything. Yes, the center speaker is going to be a problem, but for a 4.1 setup...?

I've just sold a Kenwood receiver and some largish Quadral speakers, in principle a mid/high end PC surround set will be sufficient for the new location (thin walls, lots of neighbours). So, anyone able to give me some suggestions?

Thanks,
W

[VJ]

So basically you want (speakers: S1, S2, S3, S4)
Config A: Front: S1+S2, Rear: S3+S4
Config B: Front: S2+S3, Rear: S1+S4

My first suggestion would be to use 2 speaker switches. Most hifi stores use them to allow easy switching in setups: then they can let you listen to any amplifier with any set of speakers.
Edit: just checked and it could be quite costly... But this is the type of device I was thinking: http://www.crutchfield.com/p_190SS4/...4.html?tp=2997
I'm guessing you'd need two: one for front, one for rear... But it would be vital to switch them both, otherwise something could be shortcircuited or overloaded... hmm... maybe not the best of ideas... If only they'd make it for more channels...

Do you have to switch the amplified signals, or could it be possible to switch the unamplified ones? (this would be cheaper and safer I think)

[UtwigMU]

You want what the bands and theatres use where you can fade in and out, I don't know the english term for it.

[VJ]

DJ or PA mixing console... ( http://en.beglec.com/products/10100/Mixers )
That may be an option, although you'd have to work with the unamplified signals. Usually they only have stereo output though... The affordable models tend to have quite a low signal to noise ratio as well... (I have a JB Systems MX4 )

But if your source is a pc, what about getting a second soundcard? You connect the first one to the amplifier to match configuration A (could even be digital connection), and the other one with its analog outputs connected to match configuration B. Switching setups would be a matter of switching soundcards and changing the input on the receiver.

[Wulfman]

So far everything sounds like "there is no easy/elegant solution"... too bad.

mfg
w

[VJ]

Yes... the two soundcards solution seems the most elegant (but I don't know how easy it is to change the soundcard for output if you have multiple soundcards in a computer).

You could inquire at a hifi store: maybe there are the type of things you look for (but we just don't know about them).

[Dr Mordrid]

You can swap audio output devices in the Control Panel/Sounds And Multimedia dialog. Do it all the time between my USB headphones, "normal" audio (stereo embedded) and a multi-track PCI card.

[UtwigMU]

Do you plan to use only one PC for everything?

You could build a HTPC which could act as media and backup server and connect it to surround for watching movies on projector.

Then at desk you can get another surround though if you don't game or watch movies much on your desk PC, it's better to go with a nice 2.1 setup or even use headphones only for the desk PC.

[Wulfman]

a htpc is definitely overkill.

a 2nd soundcard is actually a good idea, it could be something simple, like a usb-stick or something...

thanks, will keep you updated.
w