Setting up Surround Sound

jstrang
jstrang Posts: 5
edited July 2008 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
Currently I have a pair of RTi10's with a 225wpc kenwood stereo amp powering them. My friend is about to give me his similar setup of 2 JBL towers /w a stero amp and a matching powered sub for about a year, I don't know a lot about those speakers atm.

When I get these I am considering buying a Polk center channel speaker to match with my RTi10s and setup a 5.1 surround sound system.

My question is what do I need to set this all up? A 5.1 reciever? If I get one of those can I still use my stereo amps to power the front and back speakers? and will i need to get another amp for the center channel or can I get a receiver that powers that?

TY for any answers, I am very new to all this kind of stuff!
Post edited by jstrang on
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited July 2008
    You could go a couple different directions and I will go from easy to most complicated:

    Buy a 5.1 receiver to process and power everything.

    Buy a 5.1 receiver to process and power the rears and center, then power the mains with your amp.

    Buy a preamp/processor and a 5 channel amp to power everything.

    Buy a preamp/processor and a 3 channel amp to power your center and rears, use your amp to power the mains.
    Jake
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  • jstrang
    jstrang Posts: 5
    edited July 2008
    the RTi10s are 300w speakers and the JBLs are around 200 where am i going to find a 5.1 reciever than can power these? all the ones i found are around 100w per channel
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited July 2008
    just get an avr with pre-outs for all channels and you should be good to go.

    you will be able to use your existing amps for the front and rear speakers and use the avr to power your center channel.

    harmon kardon or nad should both work well with your speakers. whatever you decide to get just make sure it has the pre-outs.

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • jstrang
    jstrang Posts: 5
    edited July 2008
    i've found a Marantz SR4300 that is a 6.1 channel surround receiver with 6.1 preouts. I figure i will just use my 2 amps for the front/rears and another amp i have lying around to power the center and just use the marantz to hook them all up.

    i found it for 300 bucks second hand is this a good idea or can you reccomend a different route?
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited July 2008
    Should work - is HDMi important to you at all?
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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