Mostly newb questions, but I just got Lsi9s/LsiC and could use some help.

Ducci · November 2009

A few questions from a new Polk owner. I currently have what I assume is a relatively typical 5.1 setup for a HT enthusiast on a budget.

Onkyo 806
Lsi9 fronts
LsiC center
Two mostly-crappy in-ceiling rears which are good enough for now.
Semi-crappy 10 year old sub which I will replace someday soon.

I thought the 806 would be enough to power the Lsi9's - and it tries, but doesn't really succeed. I need an amp. After browsing this forum and others I think I've decided to get the Emotiva XPA-5. Also, I have three other rooms in my house where speakers are installed in-ceiling. Presently we are only using one set of these via the 806's powered zone 2 feature (and my wife is complaining for me to get the other two sets working). Now for the questions:

Should I hook all five of my speakers (even the crappy rears) up through the XPA-5 or just the Lsi's?
If I leave my rears hooked up to the 806 and the others go through the amp will everything sound ok still? Will the 5 signals still sync properly? This is probably a dumb question but I'm assuming there will be no delay with the amp processed channels.
How can I make the other three sets of room speakers work with this setup? I can leave one of them on the 806's powered zone 2 and will do so. I'm thinking that I can leave another hooked up to the front powered speakers outs on the 806. What about the third? What about buying some kind of "Off/Bedroom/Bathroom" toggle switch for the 2nd and 3rd pair?
Since this is the first time I'll have this kind of setup, I'm curious about the sound processing modes on my 806. If I output in "Pure" mode on the 806 to the amp via the preouts, I'm assuming all the dolby/dts formats will be decoded first and sent to the amp without any additional processing added? What about modes like THX Cinema and all channel stereo? Any info or web resources you could point me to on this would be helpful.

Thanks a ton for any help you can provide.

tcrossma · November 2009

1. Up to you, either way would work just fine.

2. Yes, they will sync properly.

3. Can't really help you out with that one.

4. The amp just amplifies the signal -- there is zero processing done in it. Whether you run in Pure or any of the other modes, all of the processing is being done in your 806, and then sent to the amp.

mmadden28 · November 2009

Ducci wrote: »

...
I thought the 806 would be enough to power the Lsi9's - and it tries, but doesn't really succeed. I need an amp.

Definitely

Ducci wrote: »

...
[*]Should I hook all five of my speakers (even the crappy rears) up through the XPA-5 or just the Lsi's?

Should be OK, although you could let the Onk do a little work and leave more available power for the LSi's. Try it both ways.

Ducci wrote: »

...
[*]If I leave my rears hooked up to the 806 and the others go through the amp will everything sound ok still? Will the 5 signals still sync properly? This is probably a dumb question but I'm assuming there will be no delay with the amp processed channels.

Shouldn't be any delay, if there is you can adjust delay in the Onk.
One thing you absolutely would need to do though is calibrate the speaker levels using Audyssey and/or an SPL meter to ensure they are all the same. The gain in the Onk and the XPA (I think its 29dB) are comparable so as you turn the volume up, the Onk amp output the XPA output will increase at the same rate/ratio.

Ducci wrote: »

...
[*]How can I make the other three sets of room speakers work with this setup? I can leave one of them on the 806's powered zone 2 and will do so. I'm thinking that I can leave another hooked up to the front powered speakers outs on the 806. What about the third? What about buying some kind of "Off/Bedroom/Bathroom" toggle switch for the 2nd and 3rd pair?

You can get a speaker switch for Zone 2, or a small amp to handle the unamplified preouts from Zone 3.

Ducci wrote: »

...
If I output in "Pure" mode on the 806 to the amp via the preouts, I'm assuming all the dolby/dts formats will be decoded first and sent to the amp without any additional processing added? What about modes like THX Cinema and all channel stereo?

I'm not 100% on this so consult the manual to be sure...I believe in Pure/direct mode you bypass most if not all processing in the AVR. All the processing has to have been done beforehand in an upstream device such as a BluRay player or PS3, etc.

Welcome to Club Polk.

Ducci · November 2009

Thanks for the help guys. Just ordered the xpa5. Probably have more Q's after it arrives and I tinker, but this is a great start.

kawizx9r · November 2009

I've got something to add, and not only for Ducci but for the guru's here.

The LSi's are 4ohm speakers, isn't it a bad idea to mix impedence/loads on any type of amp?

The OP didn't state how many ohms the in-ceiling speakers were, I just wanted him to be safe with his setup.

Montoya · November 2009

You can mix and match with the xpa-5 no worries.

kawizx9r wrote: »

I've got something to add, and not only for Ducci but for the guru's here.

The LSi's are 4ohm speakers, isn't it a bad idea to mix impedence/loads on any type of amp?

The OP didn't state how many ohms the in-ceiling speakers were, I just wanted him to be safe with his setup.

kawizx9r · November 2009

Montoya wrote: »

You can mix and match with the xpa-5 no worries.

Alrighty, I just recall reading something about mixing loads as a big no no. Probably in regards to receivers, didn't know it'd be ok for amps....or for the xpa-5 at least.