Two WiiM Pros with 12V trigger to multi-channel amp

[Audacity]

I replaced a Sonos Port with a WiiM Pro, and I'm planning to completely change my system over to using WiiM - perhaps during the next Amazon Prime sale!

I have a bunch of in-ceiling speakers in my house that are powered by a 12 channel amp (https://www.htd.com/DMA-1240). Right now I have a single WiiM Pro connected to it with the 12V trigger that turns the amp on/off at the right time. But I'd really like to add a 2nd WiiM Pro for the purpose of having two different "zones" and select audio for each zone independently, and when I want them all to play the same thing I'd do the group think in WiiM.

Is there a recommended way of wiring up two WiiM Pro 12V triggers connecting them both to a amp? Or am I stuck with using the amp's line-in trigger (which doesn't activate for low volume levels).

 

[mpr]

I use a headphone splitter (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07431YDWM?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share) to do the inverse, using the trigger on my my Ultra to turn on both my amp and sub. I don't see why it wouldn't work for your use case as well, turning on the amp no matter which Pro is in use.

 

[dtc]

I use a headphone splitter (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07431YDWM?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share) to do the inverse, using the trigger on my my Ultra to turn on both my amp and sub. I don't see why it wouldn't work for your use case as well, turning on the amp no matter which Pro is in use.

I'd be careful sending 12 V back into a 12 V output. That is quite different than splitting a 12 V signal.

 

[slartibartfast]

I'd be careful sending 12 V back into a 12 V output. That is quite different than splitting a 12 V signal.

Yup, you would need a couple of diodes.

 

[dtc]

If I understand correctly, I do not see an automatic way to do this.

To use a single trigger, you can sync the Pros and mute one Pro to play just some channels.

So, connect Pro1 to Input 1 and Pro 2 to Input 2. Set the channels on the amp to use either Input 1 or Input 2. Trigger off the Pro 1. Sync the two Pros. Play from both Pros and mute one of the Pros to have only one set of speakers play.

I think that should work.

Or just leave the amp on, depending on how much power it draws when on.

 

[Audacity]

If I understand correctly, I do not see an automatic way to do this.

To use a single trigger, you can sync the Pros and mute one Pro to play just some channels.

So, connect Pro1 to Input 1 and Pro 2 to Input 2. Set the channels on the amp to use either Input 1 or Input 2. Trigger off the Pro 1. Sync the two Pros. Play from both Pros and mute one of the Pros to have only one set of speakers play.

I think that should work.

Or just leave the amp on, depending on how much power it draws when on.

Yeah, leaving the amp to "on" is something I did in the past when I was driving it with a Sonos Connect (which didn't have a trigger). I haven't measured the power, but it felt wasteful, especially when it's adding heat to the house and then I'm paying to cool it again in the summer with air conditioning.

I like your idea of a "primary" pro that drives the 12V where you just mute the pro that you want to be "off".

 

[Audacity]

Yup, you would need a couple of diodes.

Yeah, I may end up having to have a little contraption wired on up a breadboard and see if it works well enough to make a custom solution for this. I really liked dtc's suggestion about a primary/secondary WiiM pro where the primary drives the 12V and the secondary doesn't, but I just mute the pro that I want to be "off". So I'll try that first and see if it's practical.