Powered volume control for distributed audio system

A wall-mounted volume control for connecting between an amplified audio signal source and one or more remote speakers for permitting localized volume adjustment of said one or more remote speakers, comprising:

• an input circuit having a relatively high input signal impedance adapted to be located proximate the audio source and to receive a first amplified audio signal from said amplified audio signal source to provide an attenuated audio signal having a predetermined magnitude or range of magnitudes;
• an amplifier circuit, adapted to be located remote from the input circuit, for receiving said attenuated signal and providing a second amplified output which is a substantial replication of said attenuated signal and said first amplified signal from said amplified audio signal source;
• an output circuit, co-located with the amplifier circuit, having a relatively low output signal impedance for providing said second amplified signal output to said one or more remote speakers;
• and
• a variable adjustment device, co-located with the amplifier circuit, for allowing a user to adjust the magnitude of said second amplified signal whereby the volume of said one or more remote speakers can be adjusted over a predetermined range, wherein the input circuit further comprises a connector block also located proximate the audio source for receiving the attenuated audio signal from the input circuit, for outputting the audio signal to the amplifier circuit, and for separately outputting a power supply signal to the remote amplifier circuit for powering the remote amplifier circuit.

A wall-mounted volume control for connecting between an amplified audio signal source and one or more speakers for permitting volume adjustment of said one or more speakers, comprising:

• an input circuit, adapted to be located proximate the audio signal source and having a relatively high input signal impedance adapted to receive a first amplified audio signal from said amplified audio signal source to provide an attenuated audio signal having a predetermined magnitude or range of magnitudes;
• an amplifier circuit, adapted to be wall-mounted and disposed remote fro the input circuit, for receiving said attenuated signal and providing a second amplified signal output which is a substantial replication of said attenuated signal and said first amplified signal from said amplified audio source;
• an output circuit, co-located with the amplifier circuit, having a relatively low output signal impedance for providing said second amplified signal output to said one or more speakers;
• and
• variable adjustment means, co-located with the amplifier circuit, for allowing a user to adjust the magnitude of said second amplified signal whereby the volume of said one or more speakers can be adjusted over a predetermined range, wherein the input circuit further comprises a connector block also located proximate the audio source for receiving the attenuated audio signal from the input circuit, for outputting the audio signal to the amplifier circuit, and for separately outputting a power supply signal to the remote amplifier circuit for powering the remote amplifier circuit.

An audio distribution system for distributing an audio signal from one or more audio sources to one or more speakers located remotely from said one or more audio sources, comprising:

• a first amplifier adapted to be located at or near said one or more audio signal sources for receiving an audio signal input from said one or more audio signal sources and for providing a first amplified signal output which is substantially a replication of said audio signal input;
• a second amplifier adapted to be located remotely from said one or more audio signal sources and configured to be wall-mounted and electrically connected between said first amplifier and said one or more remote speakers, said second amplifier having a relatively high input signal impedance and a relatively low output signal impedance and being adapted to receive said first amplified audio signal from said first amplifier to provide an intermediate attenuated audio signal having a predetermined magnitude or range of magnitudes and being further adapted to amplify said attenuated audio signal to provide a second amplified signal which is substantial replication of said attenuated audio signal and said first amplified signal;
• and
• a variable adjustment device, co-located with the amplifier circuit, for allowing a user to adjust the magnitude of said second amplified signal whereby the volume of said one or more remote speakers can be adjusted over a predetermined range, wherein the input circuit further comprises a connector block also located proximate the audio source for receiving the audio signal from the input circuit, for outputting the audio signal to the amplifier circuit, and for separately outputting a power supply signal to the remote amplifier circuit for powering the remote amplifier circuit.

A method for distributing an audio signal from one or more sources to one or more speakers located remotely from said one or more audio sources, comprising the following steps:

• amplifying an audio signal input from said one or more audio signal sources to provide a first amplified signal output which is substantially a replication of said audio signal input, said first amplified signal having an amplitude or magnitude such that said first amplified signal is relatively impervious to spurious noise;
• transmitting said first amplified signal from a location proximate the audio signal source(s) through an elongated electrical conductor to one or more remote locations near said one or more remote speakers;
• transmitting a power signal from a location proximate the audio signal source(s) through a separate elongated electrical connector to one or more remote locations near said one or more remote speakers;
• passing said first amplified signal through a variable impedance at said one or more remote locations to produce an attenuated audio signal having a desired amplitude or magnitude as determined by a user variable adjustment device;
• and
• amplifying said attenuated signal with power provided by the power signal, to provide a second amplified signal and transmitting said second amplified signal along one or more electrical conductors to said one or more remote speakers;
• whereby said method allows for localized speaker volume control with less noise interference and distortion than methods utilizing conventional autoformer volume controls.