My bad and sorry for the confusion - I wrote "10 zones" but what I want is actually 10 listening areas (10 pairs of speakers in 10 different rooms). 2 zones are sufficient for me: HT and audio.

I intend on using the 990 for HT and the 2nd zone out for audio throughout the house.

So, if we can back up a moment -

Gonk: the "extra hardware" that I would like to employ is 2 - 2 channel amps.

The question that I have is whether I can effectively split the signal, in order to divide it between 2 - 2 channel amps. Then, assuming that this can be done without degredation of signal quality, the signal would be amplified by the amp(s), and that signal would be fed into a 5 (or 6) way speaker selector box, which would feed the audio out to the different listening areas.

In this way, I would have the 2nd zone signal amplified to a total of 10 different areas.

Otherwise, if I were to use a multichannel amp, as you suggested, I would lose the ability to have central on/off control. Correct? I may be mistaken but I don't know how I could use a multichannel amp to feed into a speaker selector box.

Your reply does raise another question - what effect, if any, comes from using a IM speaker selector box with IM volume control knobs? Neutral, positive, negative? This may be theory, but I do plan on using volume control knobs in each listening area. Given my intended use of IM selector box, I was planning on using vc knobs that did not offer IM.

Therefore, Garcian, given my clarification, that I want 10 listening areas and central control, I would appreciate your expounding on "there are many different ways to do what you want." Specifically, "keep all your amps in one area" -as this is exactly what I want to do.

The question that I have, as stated above, is premised on the fact that I know that I can take the 2nd output from the 990 and run it to an amp, run the signal to a IM speaker selector box, and feed that out to 5 listening areas. My hurdle is how to effectivly double this in order to get it to 10 listening areas?

As for as professional help goes, right now, at 40, I guess I enjoy a challenge and learning something new. There is something to be said for understanding how all of this works together.

Thanks to forums, such as this, and people, such as you two, the learning process is enhanced, as well.