AUDIOflow 3S-4Z Smart Speaker Switch with App Control User Manual

: June 10, 2024
: AUDIOflow

Table of Contents

AUDIOflow 3S-4Z Smart Speaker Switch with App Control
Use Cases
WHAT IS AUDIOFLOW
USE CASES
SPECIFYING AUDIO FLOW
- 3S-2Z 2-WAY SWITCH
- 3S-3Z 3 WAY SWITCH / 3S-4Z 4 WAY SWITCH
WIRING EXAMPLE A
APPS AND INTEGRATIONS
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AUDIOflow 3S-4Z Smart Speaker Switch with App Control

AUDIOflow-3S-4Z-Smart-Speaker-Switch-with-App-Control-
PRODUCT

Smart Speaker Switch with App Control

Audioflow is a smart speaker switch that allows you to control different speakers in separate zones using an app. It is designed to make it easier to expand installations, control system integration, and provide cost-efficient solutions for AV installations that are budget-limited.

Use Cases

Audioflow is ideal for open-plan living spaces or situations where you want to play the same music in different areas, such as bedrooms, dressing rooms, and en-suites. It can turn speakers on and off in different areas using one amp and an Audioflow switch.

Sub-Zones

If you have a large installation, Audioflow can be used to create sub-zones. For example, if you have speakers in an extension, you can add an Audioflow switch and install speakers in the garden too.

Specifying Audioflow

When specifying Audioflow, it is important to understand speaker impedance. The lower the speaker impedance, the more power your amplifier can supply. However, if the speaker impedance is too low, your amplifier may cut-out or overheat. Always pay attention to the minimum impedance your amplifier is rated for to avoid this.

3S-2Z 2-Way Switch

The two-way switch is in series, so you can use any speakers. If Zone A is 6 and Zone B is 8, having both on at the same time would be 14 to your amp.

3S-3Z 3 Way Switch / 3S-4Z 4 Way Switch

Both the three-way and four-way switches have series/parallel internal wiring to keep the speaker impedance in check. Use 8 speakers and an amplifier that works down to 4. For example, if you are using a 3S-4Z 4 Way Switch and 8 speakers on each Zone A, B, C, and D, the following would be presented to your amp:

for A, B, C, D, ABCD
for AB, CD
for AC, AD, BC, BD
for ACD, BCD, ABC, ABD

Wiring Example A

Below is an example of an Audioflow 3S-4Z 4-Way switch connected to the following:

Zone	Room	Speakers
A	Lounge	Two Bookshelf Speakers
B	Kitchen	Two Ceiling Speakers
C	Snug	One Single Stereo Ceiling Speaker
D	Garden	Two Wall Mounted Outdoor Speakers

Apps and Integrations

Audioflow has apps available for Apple iOS and Android. It also has built-in native support for Amazon Alexa. Control system drivers are available for Control4 and ELAN. It is possible to integrate with the Rithum Switch and Home Assistant. You can read more about these on our website: https:/ow.audio/support

Getting More Help

If you need help with Audioflow, visit the help section of our website, open a support ticket via email at support@ow.audio, or call/WhatsApp us on +44 (0)20 3588 5588.

WHAT IS AUDIOFLOW

Audioow is a speaker switch that allows you to connect multiple pairs of speakers to your stereo amplifier and turn each pair on and o individually. It comes in 2, 3 & 4-way versions.
WHY IS IT DIFFERENT?

Manually operated mechanical speaker switches were popular when Hi-Fi Systems was a tactile experience with record players, CD players, and radio tuners.
Now that music is typically streamed from the Internet, the mechanical speaker switches rarely get used as pressing buttons on a physical switch are inconvenient – however, Audioow changes this.
Audioow is the only speaker switch that connects to your Wi-Fi Network and allows you to operate the switch remotely via the iOS / Android App, Amazon Alexa, and Control Systems.
Where manually operated switches are generally a poor user experience, Audioow is much more convenient as you can operate the switch with the same device you are using to play and control music.

USE CASES

SUB-ZONES

There are some situations such as bedroom/dressing / en-suite and open plan living spaces which are not separate zones as you would typically play the same music throughout.
It is logical that they are operated via one amp and an Audioow switch to turn speakers on and o in dierent areas.

ADD MORE AUDIO TO PROJECTS

Audioow makes it easier to expand installations. For example, if speakers are specified in an extension it is a low additional cost to add an Audioow switch and install speakers in the garden too. Bedroom systems can easily be extended into bathrooms as well.

CONTROL SYSTEM INTEGRATION

An open-plan Kitchen / Lounge in Control4 would have two audio endpoints, and this would force you to create two rooms in the system which the client would then have to manage by grouping. The advantage of using Audioow in this situation is that you can simply create one room in Control4 and have buttons on a keypad or in the navigator to turn speakers on and o which is much easier for the client to use. You can even program to turn speakers on and o via PIR sensors when you have a control system.

COST EFFICIENT

AV Installations are often considered a luxury. With Audioow you can put projects together at a lower total cost and offer high-value solutions when AV installations are budget limited.
Audioow can also be used as a reasonable stop-gap to be replaced with amplifiers to be installed in the future.

SPECIFYING AUDIO FLOW

SPEAKER IMPEDANCE

It is important to understand some basics of speaker impedance when specifying Audioow.
Impedance is measured in Ohms (Ω) and varies as music is being played – if a speaker has 6Ω impedance this means that at some frequencies it would dip down to a 6Ω level.
The lower the speaker impedance is, the more power your amplier is able to supply.
However, if the speaker impedance is too low your amplier may cut-out (protection), overheat or be damaged. You should always pay attention to the minimum impedance your amplier is rated for to avoid this.
Note: Connecting two speakers in parallel halves the impedance eg: 8Ω + 8Ω = 4Ω (the volume from each of the speakers would be the same, but the amp is working harder)
Note: Connecting two speakers in series you add the impedances together eg: 8Ω + 8Ω = 16Ω (the amp is working the same, but the volume from each of the speakers would be lower)

3S-2Z 2-WAY SWITCH

The two-way switch is in series so you can pretty much use any speakers. If Zone A is 6Ω and Zone B is 8Ω, having both on at the same time would be 14Ω to your amp.

3S-3Z 3 WAY SWITCH / 3S-4Z 4 WAY SWITCH

Both the three-way and four-way switches have series / parallel internal wiring to keep the speaker impedance in check, but this means that you should follow this rule:

Use 8Ω speakers and an applier that works down to 4Ω

For example, if you are using a 3S-4Z 4 Way Switch and 8Ω speakers on each Zone A, B, C, and D the following would be presented to you ramp:
8Ω for A, B, C, D, ABCD
16Ω for AB, CD
4Ω for AC, AD, BC, BD
5.33Ω for ACD, BCD, ABC, ABD

NOTES

Most good quality ampliers can handle loads down to 4Ω including Sonos Amp, Bluesound Powernode, Yamaha WXA50 etc. Be wary of some cheap AV Receivers with a Zone 2 function, these can sometimes be a minimum 6Ω. If you can’t nd impedance details on the spec sheet, it’ll be printed on the back of the amplier itself.
You can use multiple Audioow switches on the same Wi-Fi Network. For example; if you set up a 3-Way and a 4-Way, the app will show you seven buttons.
Some speaker brands can have confusing ratings which state both Nominal 8Ω and Minimum 4.5Ω for example. In this case, you should observe the minimum rating.
You should always have only two speakers or a single-stereo speaker per Audioow Zone.
It is possible to disable a zone so you can turn a 4 Way Switch into a 3 Way (or a 3 Way into a 2 Way) if you want to save a connection for speakers which may be installed in the future.
When three zones are active together there may be one at a dierent volume level.
This will depend on which combination you have selected, the sensitivity of your speakers and the size of your room.
Audioow does not include a volume control, you will need to control volume via your source amplier and this will aect all of the active zones at the same time.

WIRING EXAMPLE A

Below is an example of an Audioow 3S-4Z 4-Way switch connected to the following:
Zone A Lounge Two BookshelfSpeakers
Zone B Kitchen Two Ceiling Speakers
Zone C Snug One Single Stereo Ceiling Speaker
Zone D Garden Two Wall Mounted OutdoorSpeakers

APPS AND INTEGRATIONS

There are apps available for Apple iOS and Android, and there is built-in native support for Amazon Alexa. Control system drivers are available for Control4 and ELAN and it is also possible to integrate with the Rithum Switch and Home Assistant. You can read more about the detail of all of these, where to get them, and how they work on our website: https://ow.audio/support

GETTING MORE HELP

We are here to help you with any aspect of Audioow. Visit the help section of our website, open a support ticket via email at support@ow.audio , or call / WhatsApp us on +44 (0)20 3588 5588.

WIRING EXAMPLE B