Stereo volume controls?

[MattE303]

The factory installed stereo on my Carbon includes 3 pairs of speakers; living room, garage, and outside. That's the good part, the bad part is all 3 pairs are wired in parallel to the stereo's built-in amp, with the garage and outside speakers routed thru simple rocker switches to turn them on/off, so I can't vary the volume for the 3 "zones" independently, and, for the garage and/or outside speakers to be usable at all, the volume in the main living area has to be LOUD.

What I would like to do is install a separate 4 channel amplifier to drive the garage and outside speakers (connected to line level output from the stereo), and replace the rocker switches with volume knobs for those secondary zones.

Does anyone know where I could buy "speaker level" volume knobs (or sliders), ideally ones that would fit nicely in the space currently occupied by the rocker switches?

[AbHDToyHauler]

Well my FuZion has a soundbar for living room and the knob on stereo controls the volume for all three if you set the sound bar level to whats acceptable. Took me awhile to figure that out. LOL I also have the switches to kill garage and outside speakers. I'd like to see how it works for you.

[SC Dreamer]

For a boat I once had I installed a radio from a company called Fusion and it was amplified and had zone control for two zones. Worked great for one zone for helm and one for cockpit. What i am getting at is it may be more feasible to replace the radio.

[MattE303]

For a boat I once had I installed a radio from a company called Fusion and it was amplified and had zone control for two zones. Worked great for one zone for helm and one for cockpit. What i am getting at is it may be more feasible to replace the radio.I've been looking at that, so far though, it seems like the "multi-zone" radios (e.g. Jensen JWM6A) don't actually let you control the volume for the zones independently, there's just one volume setting, and A/B/C buttons that allow you to turn the zones on/off, pretty much what I have now, the only advantage would be that I could turn off the "main" zone when using the garage or outside zone. That's a slight improvement, but I'm hoping to be able to set independent volumes for each of the three zones. Still looking...

UPDATE: Looks like the Jensen JWM70A may do what I want.

[JRTJH]

There is an alternative: You could connect each of the speaker pairs to a separate "speaker selector switch/volume control". Pyle Pro builds several in different price ranges, depending on the features you want in your system.

This one is $150, can connect to 2 different amplifiers (watch TV inside with TV sound on the speaker system while listening to the radio/DVD/CD player inside or outside on the other speakers. Each channel has individual volume controls as well as source switches. It would take some rewiring, but essentially is nothing more than installing the box in your RV, rewiring speakers from the back of the existing amplifier to the box and wiring the TV output and radio output to the input of the new box.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/571487-REG/Pyle_Pro_PSPVC6_PSPVC6_6_Channel_High.html?ap=y&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIprCfm9DC2wIVE9tkCh1d7g2jEAQYAyAB EgJpSvD_BwE

[travelin texans]

When using the outside speakers, PLEASE be considerate of your fellow campers!
We've camped next to far too many that must have been hard of hearing, but we could hear & feel it all too well!

[MattE303]

When using the outside speakers, PLEASE be considerate of your fellow campers!
We've camped next to far too many that must have been hard of hearing, but we could hear & feel it all too well!
noted! :angel::lol:

[SC Dreamer]

Look at the Fusion radios, they do all that and are great quality. Far exceeded my expectations in a salt water environment and sound great.

[MattE303]

If anyone is still interested, I settled on the Jensen JWM70A and installed it last night. I'm pretty happy with it so far for the price; it has 8 channels of amplification in 3 "zones" (main zone is 4 channels). Volume control is separate for each zone. Front and rear aux inputs for audio, HDMI output, and Bluetooth.
Also, unlike the factory unit, cutting 12v power (ie. battery disconnect) doesn't totally lobotomize it.

I haven't played with the compatible jControl app yet, although given the dismal reviews in the Google Play Store, I'm not expecting much.

I might have gone with the JWM90A (almost the same price and more powerful amps), but that thing is HUGE and wouldn't fit in the available space.

I did look at the Furions also...very nice but pricier, and they require external amplifiers for the secondary zones. For now I'm happy with the Jensen, although I wouldn't rule out future upgrades that involve more complexity, additional amps and better speakers.

Install was pretty straightforward, cut the existing hole a little bigger, wire it up and bolt it in! Below are pics of the old and new units.

[SC Dreamer]

Awesome, looks great and functional!