SurroundBar idea for stereo

jimbo1421

Here is the problem:

My Yamaha RX-V496 has a three DSP programs for two channel audio that spread the stereo signals to the left and right surround channels. They are called DISCO, ROCK CONCERT & CONCERT HALL. DISCO is the least objectionable and I used to just leave that one on for all stereo input. Lately, though, I have been more closely comparing plain, two channel stereo to the DSP programs and realized that DSP does this at the expense of detail, at least with my SurroundBar 42. Playing just the stereo pair does reduce the width of the sound stage of the SurroundBar. I would like to expand it back.

Since my AVR has a B channel for stereo, my proposed solution is to connect the left and right front B channel to the left and right surround speakers on the SurroundBar to get all four channels going at once in stereo. To play 5.1 surround content I would choose just the A channel and turn the DSP effects on; to play stereo I would choose A + B and turn the DSP effects off. I have attached two PDF files with both the existing wiring and the proposed wiring (in orange and hot pink).

Does anyone see anything wrong with this idea? Would it improve the stereo performance of the SurroundBar? It would be easy to inadvertently have both surround and front signals going to the surrounds. Would that overload the speakers and damage them? I think a toggle switch before all the surround leads would solve this problem, switching between one mode or the other. There might also be a need for separate volume and delay controls.

Does such a device already exist?

Even if it did work would I void the warranty on the SurroundBar? I would ask Polk before trying this.

There are other possible solutions. Maybe more up to date AVRs have a setting that accomplishes the same thing. Or I could just save up for a good stereo pair for the B channel and leave the SurroundBar off for music.

Thanks for reading,

Jim

PS: This is what happens when you let amateurs into the forum. We start thinking.

TECHNOKID

I am not sure how it would affect the high impedance of the surroundbar cross over as voltage would remain constant (parallell) and the current would double up (would be of higher volume therefore the need to keep the volume knob lower than usual). My concern though would be potentially damaging the amplifier as you are shorting outputs (feeding back tension and current from one out to the other). I definitely would avoid such. If you have a separate pair of good speakers, connect them to "B" as this is what would be recommended for music. Nothing stops you from using "AB" for movie thus enhancing your front presence during the movies.

Cheers

jimbo1421

Thanks TK. I knew someone would stop me.

Regards,
Jim

TECHNOKID

How did you manage to modify the polk drawing with your intended mod? That looks neat (I am not computer literate)!

jimbo1421

TECHNOKID wrote: »

How did you manage to modify the polk drawing with your intended mod? That looks neat (I am not computer literate)!

Opened the file in Acrobat 5 (full program) and extracted the page. Saved to disk, then imported the PDF page into Vectorworks (my CAD program). I traced the spade terminals and placed them as needed and drew the lines between them. Then created a new PDF to post here. VW has the ability to snap to objects in an imported PDF if the original was also created in a CAD program or one that uses vector graphics. This makes tracing easy.

Regards,
Jim