Setting up a pre-amp with bi-amped speakers

Early B.

I'm interested in purchasing a pre-amp for 2-channel music listening. Currently, I have a pair of Rti70's bi-amped (tweets to an HK 525 and lows to a HK PA 2000 amp). I want to by-pass using the receiver as the pre-amp. If it's possible to do so, how do I hook up a separate pre-amp to this set-up?

gatemplin

Just split the pre-outs from the preamp to the pre-ins on the amps.

disneyjoe7

The PA-2000 amp has pre amp in and out. So you can get your preamp out right from the amp itself.

Originally posted by Early B.
I'm interested in purchasing a pre-amp for 2-channel music listening. Currently, I have a pair of Rti70's bi-amped (tweets to an HK 525 and lows to a HK PA 2000 amp). I want to by-pass using the receiver as the pre-amp. If it's possible to do so, how do I hook up a separate pre-amp to this set-up?

Early B.

Let me make sure I understand -- so I would need 4 y-adapters, 2 for the pre-amp and two for the 525. The pre-amp would be hooked up to both the pre-outs on the 525 and the 2000, and the 525 would also be hooked up to the pre-ins on the 2000???

gatemplin

No, I think 2 splitters. Just split the pre-amp outs.
L&R to the 525, L&R to the 2000. The processing and volume control is done in the pre amp. Adjust the gain on the power amps. I am pretty sure that would work with your setup.

Early B.

If I got a pre-amp, my fronts would be pulling double duty -- movies and music. Do I need to connect the 525 to the 2000 for HT use? Or do I just need to make sure the pre-amp is turn on when watching movies and the receiver's signal would be routed through the pre-amp to the amp?

gatemplin

Oh I see now, I think it could be a problem if you dont have two sets of pre-amp ins on the 2000. I was only thinking about 2CH, now I am confused.

You could always use the 525 for HT and the new Preamp and 2000 for 2CH.
That is what I do with my HK and Sansui

Tour2ma

I think it may be doable by:

Y-splitting the AVR's Pre-Outs to its internal amp and the Pre_amp.
...AND...
Routing the Pre-amp out to the 2000's Pre-In and the 2000's Pre-outs (that dj7 mentioned) to the AVR's Aux In (or similar).

I'd have to think about the inputs used on the AVR or Pre to eliminate feedback loop possibility, but the signal paths are there.

Movie sound fed to the AVR would also go to the 2000 via the Pre-amp.

Music fed to the Pre would get to the AVR via the 2000.

Problem is the separate, independent gain you'll get from the AVR and the Pre-Amp. Balancing the amplification of the lows and highs would be doable, but everytime you change one you have to rebalance. Would end up being a PITA...

disneyjoe7

No not really the 2000 is a multichannel amp 4 channel (but not 4 independent, just 2 channels). So where it has 2 sets of RCA 1 set is “IN” the other set is “OUT”. So you can loop that in and out and not using a splitter.

BTW I use a 2000 myself for 2 channel & HT, when I did there wasn't enough signal to let the AMP stay on in HT. So I now using a switch outlet AC walwart for "Trigger" you may find true also.

Originally posted by gatemplin
Oh I see now, I think it could be a problem if you dont have two sets of pre-amp ins on the 2000. I was only thinking about 2CH, now I am confused.

You could always use the 525 for HT and the new Preamp and 2000 for 2CH.
That is what I do with my HK and Sansui

Early B.

"I think it may be doable by:

Y-splitting the AVR's Pre-Outs to its internal amp and the Pre_amp.
...AND...
Routing the Pre-amp out to the 2000's Pre-In and the 2000's Pre-outs (that dj7 mentioned) to the AVR's Aux In (or similar)."

________________________________________________

Being new to this kind of stuff, I don't fully understand how to do this. I need a picture.

What I'm attempting to do is temporarily forego the purchase of a more powerful amp for my fronts and still take advantage of what a 2-channel system could offer. Would all of this wiring detract from the SQ?

Maybe I should keep it simple, save my money and buy another amp, and do it right. Then I could move the PA 2000 amp to rear duty.

Tour2ma

I see what you are saying dj, but the splitter in my scheme would be to reach both the stereo pre and the HK AVR's amp section, not the 2000.

EB,
Did a sketch. Should be below if all went well with the upload...

To watch a DVD your AVR would select "DVD" as normal, and Stereo Pre would select "Aux In".

For 2 ch listening to a CD the Stereo Pre would select "CD" and the AVR select "Aux In".

Do note that feedback loop situations can occur that could potentially damage equipment. For example, if both the stereo and the AVR are set for Aux input, then a loop exists through the stereo Pre.

That said, it should work, but I'd advise against doing it. And again, even if you try it and avoid feedback, the volume balancing is key and not necessarily easy.

You would also need to double check that neither Pre-Out can overload the opposite Pre-In. Info should be in your Owner's Manual's spec's.

I don't see another amp completely solving this either. Yes you could route the AVR through the Stereo Pre all the time, but you still have a two volume controls in the path.

An external switching arrangement that eliminated the possiblity of feedback would be preferrable. Offhand I don't know of any out there, but I'd bet they exist.

Tour2ma

Well, that looks like crap. Taking it from 1.07 Mb down to 1 Kb to post blurred it up but good.

Hopefully you can make it out...