So is it true that with the empeg plugged into the HU's AUX-IN, it still needs its rca outs to go to speakers? Shouldn't that now be routed through the HU? Or is it a matter of the system not knowing which source is active, hence the need for a switcher?

And am I also correct in that the empeg only has enough out jacks to power 4 speakers with an amp? If that's true, what the hell were they thinking? Or are there enough outs to route to 2 amps, and hence up to 8 speakers (assuming 2 4 channels)?

I have no idea how all this s**t works, as you can tell. To need amps hooked to the HU and the empeg just to achieve equal speaker output for each seems overkill. Maybe that switcher is indeed the key.