Question for theater and music hookups

ntg
ntg Posts: 36
edited August 2006 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
What are the benefits and or problems with hooking amps just to the front two channels for music and leaving the rest of the channels alone.My reciever has 55wpc on 5.1 and I want at least 150wpc to the front channels for better music listening.Suggestions-comments-help.

Thanks
Nickolas
Post edited by ntg on
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Comments

  • zombie boy 2000
    zombie boy 2000 Posts: 6,641
    edited August 2006
    It all depends on what speakers you're using for your fronts, as opposed to your rears and center.
    I never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Rushmore. Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you're going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs and take them down. Just remember, they can buy anything but they can't buy backbone. Don't let them forget it. Thank you.Herman Blume - Rushmore
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited August 2006
    Welcome. What speakers are you using? A lot of people actually start the upgrade process by adding external amps to their recievers with pre outs and find it to be a nice improvement. Be careful though, you may end up getting a 5 channel amp:p
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • ntg
    ntg Posts: 36
    edited August 2006
    All polks, the center is a cs400i,rears are M3's and front are rt 2000i's.I am running all off the reciever at 55wpc now and just want to add the amp to front for music reasons.I just do not want to sacrafice Theater sound.


    Thanks
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  • zombie boy 2000
    zombie boy 2000 Posts: 6,641
    edited August 2006
    You won't sacrifice anything by adding an amp.

    A lot of people run their fronts off an external amp and leave the AVR to power the rears and center -- generally because the mains more often than not require/benefit from more juice. I imagine as long as everything is properly calibrated to account for the discrepancy in power, things should be kosher.
    I never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Rushmore. Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you're going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs and take them down. Just remember, they can buy anything but they can't buy backbone. Don't let them forget it. Thank you.Herman Blume - Rushmore
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  • ntg
    ntg Posts: 36
    edited August 2006
    Thanks you guys.How about the max distance for a powered sub from your reciever before you notice problems with timing? I have the built in ones up front but would like to put another behind the couch.
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  • ahorvitz
    ahorvitz Posts: 235
    edited August 2006
    The signal will travel at the speed of light (c = 3.0 x 10^8 m/s), meaning FAST.

    Timing won't be a problem, making sure soundwaves aren't bumping into each other and cancelling is the only challenge. Your best bet to test the placement of the sub will be trial and error. Listen to it and decide where in the room you think offers the best response. It can be a huge pain in the ****, but it will pay off when you find the G spot.
    Main Rig
    Pioneer Elite SC-05, Rotel RMB-1075
    RT800i, CS400i, RT35i, FXi50, Klipsch RSW-12
    Pioneer Elite DV F-07, PS3, Wii
    Monster HTS 3500 MKII
    SC Analog 2, BJC Speaker Wire
    Samsung HL61A650

    2nd Rig
    Pioneer Elite VSX-56txi, Pioneer Elite DV-47a
    Cambridge Soundworks, MC150 (Center), MC100 x 4, Mirage LF-150

    Office
    Adcom GTP-400, Adcom GFA-535II, (need a quality CDP), RT55i
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,046
    edited August 2006
    ahorvitz wrote:
    The signal will travel at the speed of light (c = 3.0 x 10^8 m/s), meaning FAST..

    Not to be anal, but wouldn't the signal travel at the speed of sound ?
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited August 2006
    Willow wrote:
    Not to be anal, but wouldn't the signal travel at the speed of sound ?

    I was wondering that myself :p
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • DarqueKnight
    DarqueKnight Posts: 6,765
    edited August 2006
    Through air: the speed of sound.
    Through wire: 0.9 x the speed of light (under the best of conditions).
    Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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  • jhermance
    jhermance Posts: 214
    edited August 2006
    Well that is good to know
    Samsung UN46C7000
    Cambridge Audio 640R
    Sony BDP-S570
    Magnepan MMG's
    Totem Dreamcatcher Center
    Eleganza™ Bella 1200 High Performance Subwoofer
    Polk R15 Surrounds
    Audioquest Cables
    Panamax 5510-PRO AC Regenerator
    Monster Cable HTS 2500 MKII power cleaner
    Nordost Blue Heaven Interconnects
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