Russell,
You need some kind of “impedance matching”. Both speaker selectors and volume controls “can” perform this function for you.
The best way to go about designing a system is with a speaker selector and non-impedance matching volume controls.
In this type of setup you can turn off your areas that you might not use all the time and funnel the power to the areas that you do use more often with improved sound quality and volume.
If you use just impedance matching volume controls, when you turn off a volume control “audibly”, it doesn`t take that control out of the circuit. It still absorbs that power and the byproduct is a low grade heat from the volume control.
And second question, you just need a basic stereo receiver.
> Name :
> Russell Bonds
>
> Message :
> I`m building a house and would like to place 8 ceiling mounted speakers throughout the rooms strictly for background music. Here are a few questions I have:
>
> 1. Do I need a speaker selector?
> 2. Do I need an amp, or will a good receiver work?
>
> Basically, I need you to tell me what I need between the end of the speaker wire and the receiver.
>
> Thanks!