Frequently Asked Questions

The AmpliPro is a multi-room/zone home audio controller and amplifier designed for whole-home audio systems. It can play up to 4 simultaneous audio streams or sources, each routed to one or many zones, configurable in real-time using mobile apps, a web app, or a REST API. The system is expandable to 36 stereo zones using AmpliPro Zone Expanders.

While the names are indeed similar, they refer to different aspects of the same system:

1. AmpliPro: This is the name of the physical hardware device - the multi-room/zone home audio controller and amplifier unit.

2. AmpliPi: This refers to the web app interface that controls the AmpliPro system. As mentioned in the manual, "AmpliPro hosts a web app (referred to as 'AmpliPi') that can control the system from any PC or mobile phone on the local network."
    

The AmpliPi design is entirely open source, from the software, to the firmware, to the schematics. The REST API and Web App are written in Python and run on a Raspberry Pi 3+ Compute Module. The firmware, which provides the low level volume control and zone configuration, is written in C and configured by the Python API over I2C. All of the internal circuitry comes with full schematics (available in the GitHub repo)

• You can find our GitHub page here: https://github.com/micro-nova/AmpliPi

• We also have a discussion forum here: https://amplipi.discourse.group

• And our API documentation: https://api.amplipi.com/#overview

• We also have a blog here: https://blog.amplipro.com

The base AmpliPro controller supports 6 zones. Each zone supports two speakers each at an impedance down to 4 ohms. It is expandable up to 36 zones using AmpliPro Expanders. An AmpliPro Streamer provides four line level source outputs.

Zones:

• Zones refer to individual audio output areas in your home.

• The AmpliPro controller supports 6 zones by default, expandable up to 36 zones with additional expanders.

Groups:

• Groups are collections of zones that can be controlled together. Note that groups can span zones on both the AmpliPro main unit and additional Expander units.

• Groups allow you to manage multiple zones as a single item, which is useful for controlling audio in larger areas or multiple rooms simultaneously.

To manage groups and zones:

• Use the gear icon in the bottom right of the app to reach the settings page.

• Here you can configure inputs, zones, and create groups to suit your needs.

• Zones and Groups can quickly be added and removed from each playing source on the AmpliPi home screen.
   

This grouping feature allows for flexible control of your multi-room audio setup, enabling you to manage your audio both on a granular (zone) level and a broader (group) level. For example: You could group zones 1 and 2 on the 1st floor as “lower level” and zones 3, 4 and 5 on the 2nd floor as “upper level” another group with all the zones as “Whole Building” Or any number and combinations of grouped zones.

• Airplay

• Pandora

• Spotify Connect

• DLNA

• Internet Radio

• RTL-SDR (FM radio)

• Lyrion Music Server

• Local music playback

• Bluetooth (with a third-party USB adapter).

The AmpliPro system offers several ways to control your home audio setup:

 1. Mobile App:

• Available for both Android and iOS devices.

• Search for "AmpliPi" on the Google Play Store or Apple's App Store.

• QR codes for each version are available on the Links page at the start of the manual.

• The app will automatically search your network for active AmpliPro units.

 2. Web App (AmpliPi):

• Access by entering "amplipi.local" into a web browser on any device connected to the same network.

• Android and Windows 7 users may need to type the IP address found on the unit's display instead.

 3. REST API:

• For advanced users or custom integrations, a REST API is available.

• Documentation is available at https://api.amplipi.com/#overview

• Check out https://blog.amplipro.com/ more information on using the AmpliPi API

 4. Third-Party Software:

• The system supports control through compatible third-party software:

  • Lyrion Music Server

  • Home Assistant

 5. AmpliPro Wall Panel (optional accessory):

• A wall-mountable touch panel that can control volume and playback for a zone or group of zones.

• Also includes two physical switches for light control.

• Power Input: 100-120 VAC or 180-264 VAC, 50-60Hz, Maximum input 782W

• Power Consumption: 6.7W Idle, 391W Continuous, 782W Peak

• Speaker Power: 55 WPC @ 4 Ω, 32 WPC @ 8 Ω

Each zone has two speaker outputs that drive 4-8 Ohm speakers using provided Euroblock connectors. Connect the positive and negative wires from each speaker to the corresponding terminals on the Euroblock connector, then plug the connector into the desired zone output. See the next question for active/powered speakers and subwoofers.

Yes, each zone output has corresponding line-level RCA outputs (preamp outputs) that can be used to connect powered subwoofers and other active/powered speakers. Note - the Preamp outputs scale in level along with the powered speaker outputs based on the zone volume.

​Yes, the AmpliPro Home Audio Controller can be integrated into your home theater system.

While the AmpliPro is primarily designed as a whole-home audio solution, its features make it versatile enough to be integrated into a home theater system, especially if you're looking to extend your audio to multiple rooms or zones. However, for a dedicated home theater setup, you might still want to use a specialized AV receiver for features like video switching, surround sound processing, and other home theater-specific functions.

From the app or web interface:

1. Click the gear icon in the bottom right corner to go to the configuration page

2. Select Updates and click the Check for Updates button

3. Click the Update button if a new release is available

If you're experiencing audio issues with your AmpliPro system, there are several steps you can take depending on the specific problem:
1. No Audio:

• Check if the source is outputting audio properly. Try changing to a different source to confirm.

• Verify speaker connections are secure.

• Try different speakers or ports on the back of the AmpliPro to isolate the issue.

• Check all other connections to ensure they are secure and in the right location.

• Verify that the correct input is selected and the volume is turned up.

• Ensure the zone you're trying to use is not muted.

 2. Noise:

• Ensure you're not mixing grounds: AmpliPro has two different grounded lines, analog and digital. The most common way to mix them is by plugging in an audio device and attempting to power it with the USB on the rear of the unit, all USB-powered devices must be powered from a wall outlet.

• Check speaker wiring and installation. Some speaker configurations can lead to excess noise being inducted into the output. This is unrelated to the system and has everything to do with how the speakers are wired and installed.

If you continue to experience issues after trying these steps, it's recommended to contact the support team at support@micro-nova.com for further assistance. They can help diagnose and resolve more complex issues.

AmpliPro comes with a 1-year limited warranty from the date of receipt.

Yes, there's a 30-day return policy. If you're not satisfied, you can return the unit in its original condition within 30 days of receipt for a refund

For any support needs, you can contact the support team at Support@micro-nova.com