Matching amp to AV rec questions

jabrax

Hello everyone, please excuse the newbie question here. Questions. If I hook a two channel power amp (drive fronts for lsi9s) to an AV receiver, will I still get full surround sound? Does the AV quality affect the sound of the fronts through the amp in 2 channel music?

A little history and where I am headed. My first purchase was a Yamaha RX-V757 receiver listed at 100 X7 (I have sinced learned of yamaha's new math system :rolleyes: ). I then listened-to and then purchased the lsi9s and a 10inch sub. Second mistake was hearing them played connected to 200 watt amps and not my receiver (smart salesman.) The receiver pushes them nicely at higher db, but a bit flat when played at low listening levels. I need to drive them, so before I purchase the lsic, I need to get the power straight for the 9's but maintain surround. However, top priority is for the 2ch music.

Money is limited so I was thinking of maybe a used amp at around 500 bucks (rotel, adcom, bk, etc) if that wouldn't break up the surround, or selling the receiver and purchasing a bigger badder model.


current equip
42 inch hitachi plasma (sexy one with the swival lol)
yamaha - rx-V757 AV
polk - lsi9 fronts
10 klipsch down firing sub (going to borrow a polk to see if i like better)
lsic center - coming future
lsix surronds - coming futher in the future

tonyb

No,your surround sound will only benefit from a seperate amp.
If I am not mistaken,the LSI line are 4 ohm's,which is why your
AVR is moaning.If you run all LSI across your front,try and match
the power.But if the 2-channel amp is what you can afford now
then for God's sake man,do it.Your choices are fine and I give
you kudo's for actually thinking of power BEFORE buying
speakers,and and and...useing the search button.:)

cfrizz

Welcome Jbrax! Don't rush it. Start saving your money and then puchase a 5 channel amp. For now hold off on the LSIC & put that money toward the amp.

Once you have the amp, you can add speakers to your hearts content!

Just make sure to keep the volume down on the Yamaha until you get the amp.

tonyb

Point being.....get an amp.2 OR 5 channel,what ever suits you.
And hopefully you know why Cathy said to keep the volume
down on your AVR 'till you get a amp.

jabrax

I assume the keep volume down refers to the 4ohm speakers. I thought the ability to set the receiver at 4ohm meant it would properly feed them. Part of the receiver setup before powering is to select 8 or 4 ohm speaker types. When I said I was newb, I wasn't kidding. Head is about to explode from reading and scouring forums

cfrizz

Yes it is because of the 4ohm LSI's. However, all the switch is doing in limiting how much power the receiver will allow in so that it doesn't go into protect mode. But it is also limiting the ability for the LSI's to really show you what they can do!

jabrax wrote:

I assume the keep volume down refers to the 4ohm speakers. I thought the ability to set the receiver at 4ohm meant it would properly feed them. Part of the receiver setup before powering is to select 8 or 4 ohm speaker types. When I said I was newb, I wasn't kidding. Head is about to explode from reading and scouring forums

jabrax

Thanks so much for the education. Think I got it now!!! Back to square one which will be to sell the 7 mth old rec that might get me most if not all of my money (got a great deal) and pick up separates, or just add an amp the rec for now...getting clearer

Thanks very much

cfrizz

Our pleasure. Let us know what you end up getting!

Cathy