Most stereo and home theater receivers and amplifiers have a Speaker A and Speaker B switch on the front panel. Speaker A is typically used for the primary speakers, usually the pair used for television or video. But what about that secondary set of connections?

With a little planning and effort, speakers assigned to the Speaker B switch can be used to play audio from another room, a patio or backyard, or a set of rear surround speakers. The switches can also be used to compare two different speakers.

To take advantage of this built-in feature, you will need to run speaker wire from the receiver to the desired room or zone and connect a second pair of speakers. Most receivers are designed to power both sets of speakers at the same time safely and without issue.

Be sure to check the product specifications first, as some receivers and amplifiers will only allow one pair of speakers to operate at a time. The owner's manual is a good reference to check. If you don't have the manual, you can often find a digital PDF version on the manufacturer's website, usually under Support.