adding ext. amp to receiver w/o preamp outs

maandjojo

Looking to add external amp to receiver that has no preamp outs. Does anyone have any suggestions. The speakers will be used for fronts in a 5.0 set up.
This is not my set up by the way.


Joe

comfortablycurt

Get a receiver with preouts.

There isn't really any way around it unfortunately.

You can get a converter that will turn speaker level outputs into line level outputs, but it drastically changes the output impedance and voltage...and won't really result in good SQ. It shouldn't even really be considered as a solution IMO.

Bobsama

Find either a receiver with pre-outs, or buy a preamp, a preamp & a tuner, or a preamp/tuner combo.

Schurkey

Thousands and thousands of years ago, both Carver and Soundcraftsmen sold a coupler box to do exactly what you want--connect a powerful amplifier to a receiver that doesn't have preamp-out jacks.

The Carver version might have been "Z-1"; and I'm sure the Soundcraftsmen product was "PC-1".

http://www.soundcraftsmen.com/other.htm

Basically, an impedance-matching transformer that didn't screw up the sound quality too much. Or, at least they HOPED it didn't screw up the sound quality too much. There are probably plans on the internet to build/source such a device; right next to the plans on the internet to build an atomic bomb.

jrgoswick

1)-Get a receiver with pre-outs.
2)-Use the above gizmo and HOPE it sounds OK.
3)-Tie into the first driver stage for your final amp(this SHOULD have enough voltage drive to do the trick, then impedance match-this takes a little know how and some skillz).

Of these three I HIGHLY recommend dropping the coin and going with option 1.

maandjojo

Picking up a yamaha 665 w/pre outs.
Thanks for the help.

Joe