Noob question

MANSKITO
MANSKITO Posts: 295
edited January 2010 in Electronics
So i just got done testing out my New AVR an H/K 325, much better then my none too loved Yamaha RX-V463. And more importantly has pre-outs.

So my question is I only have speakers for a 5.1 setup and the thing is a 7.1, which speaker terminals do i plug my rear speakers in.


Also on a side note I wanted to know that if I follow on my plan to buy an Adcom GFA 555 or something along those lines can i Still use the center channel and rear channels out put from my AVR or do i need to buy a 5 channel power amp?
Monitor 60s, CS10 front
Monitor 40s, back
PSW10:(

H/k AVR 325
Sansui Tape Deck
Pioneer PD-5010 CD player

Sennheiser HD 650s :D
Maverick Audio Tube Magic D1 DAC

AMD Phenom II 940 @ 3.8 prime stabel
4 gigs 1066, cas 5
XFX 4890 1gig
Seagate 1tb 7200.12
Creative X-fI Titanium Fatal1ty
Post edited by MANSKITO on
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Comments

  • cstmar01
    cstmar01 Posts: 4,424
    edited January 2010
    the back should be marked on the AVR that says Center, Surrounds ect. If it does not I would recommend checking the manual. For a 5.1 you would want to do side surrounds, front L, R, and your center.
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  • lynx
    lynx Posts: 43
    edited January 2010
    Surround R & L , NOT surround back
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  • MANSKITO
    MANSKITO Posts: 295
    edited January 2010
    cstmar01 wrote: »
    the back should be marked on the AVR that says Center, Surrounds ect. If it does not I would recommend checking the manual. For a 5.1 you would want to do side surrounds, front L, R, and your center.

    Thanks for the fast answer lol. Do you know about my second question?
    Monitor 60s, CS10 front
    Monitor 40s, back
    PSW10:(

    H/k AVR 325
    Sansui Tape Deck
    Pioneer PD-5010 CD player

    Sennheiser HD 650s :D
    Maverick Audio Tube Magic D1 DAC

    AMD Phenom II 940 @ 3.8 prime stabel
    4 gigs 1066, cas 5
    XFX 4890 1gig
    Seagate 1tb 7200.12
    Creative X-fI Titanium Fatal1ty
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  • cstmar01
    cstmar01 Posts: 4,424
    edited January 2010
    no you shouldn't need to. you can just use a 2 or 3 channel on the front end and then let the AVR handle the back which is fine. I have done this before and it doesn't hurt anything. Some people may say that if you think you will get separates or decide to amp the other channels in the future that you might want to get a 5 channel now, but if thats not something you thought about, don't worry about it.
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  • MANSKITO
    MANSKITO Posts: 295
    edited January 2010
    Is there a huge difference between using a multi channel pre amp and a AVR as a pre amp?

    I m hoping no because thats my plan lol.
    Monitor 60s, CS10 front
    Monitor 40s, back
    PSW10:(

    H/k AVR 325
    Sansui Tape Deck
    Pioneer PD-5010 CD player

    Sennheiser HD 650s :D
    Maverick Audio Tube Magic D1 DAC

    AMD Phenom II 940 @ 3.8 prime stabel
    4 gigs 1066, cas 5
    XFX 4890 1gig
    Seagate 1tb 7200.12
    Creative X-fI Titanium Fatal1ty
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited January 2010
    MANSKITO wrote: »
    Is there a huge difference between using a multi channel pre amp and a AVR as a pre amp?

    I m hoping no because thats my plan lol.

    There is a difference - it is up to you to determine if it is huge or not.

    There IS what I would consider a HUGE difference in price though....
    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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  • snow
    snow Posts: 4,343
    edited January 2010
    MANSKITO wrote: »
    Is there a huge difference between using a multi channel pre amp and a AVR as a pre amp?

    I m hoping no because thats my plan lol.
    Any time you go from AVR's to High quality seperates there will be improvements whether it be 2 channel or multi channel. If you go with a multi channel seperate it would be a pre/pro and nice ones cost money. You can buy a relatively decent 2 channel pre for not too big of an outlay if you buy used. Multi channel pre/pros will cost you more as a rule simply because there are fewer companys making them and less demand than for 2 channel pre amps.

    If your primairly into HT I wouldndt be too concerned about using a receiver for processing. For 2 channel music seperates are the only way to go.



    REGARDS SNOW
    Well, I just pulled off the impossible by doing a double-blind comparison all by myself, purely by virtue of the fact that I completely and stupidly forgot what I did last. I guess that getting old does have its advantages after all :D
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  • MANSKITO
    MANSKITO Posts: 295
    edited January 2010
    snow wrote: »
    Any time you go from AVR's to High quality seperates there will be improvements whether it be 2 channel or multi channel. If you go with a multi channel seperate it would be a pre/pro and nice ones cost money. You can buy a relatively decent 2 channel pre for not too big of an outlay if you buy used. Multi channel pre/pros will cost you more as a rule simply because there are fewer companys making them and less demand than for 2 channel pre amps.

    If your primairly into HT I wouldndt be too concerned about using a receiver for processing. For 2 channel music seperates are the only way to go.



    REGARDS SNOW

    My source is my computer and maybe a oppo player of some sort latter on for SACD play back is there a 2 channel pre that i can use where i will not have to keep pulling the optical cord out of the 2 channel pre amp and back into my AVR when i want to watch a movie?

    And if so maybe one that coast some thing along the lines of $200? Thats all I will have left after i buy my DSW micro pro 1k and an ADCOM 2 channel amp.
    Monitor 60s, CS10 front
    Monitor 40s, back
    PSW10:(

    H/k AVR 325
    Sansui Tape Deck
    Pioneer PD-5010 CD player

    Sennheiser HD 650s :D
    Maverick Audio Tube Magic D1 DAC

    AMD Phenom II 940 @ 3.8 prime stabel
    4 gigs 1066, cas 5
    XFX 4890 1gig
    Seagate 1tb 7200.12
    Creative X-fI Titanium Fatal1ty
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  • MANSKITO
    MANSKITO Posts: 295
    edited January 2010
    Let me clear up what I'm asking.

    I like the Idea of a 2 channel pre-amp, but I do not like the idea of changing out cables every single time I want to watch a movie or play some games.

    Is there any way that I can incorporate a 2 channel Pre-amp into my system? Because I m only concerned with Hi-fi when I listen to music and thats generally only recorded in stereo so theres no need the other 3(or more) channels. And thus i don't want to spend then Extra money a multi channel pre/pro will coast.

    Don't get me wrong I still like good audio when in surround sound mode its just I m happy 100% with the Harmon kardon ability to drive my speakers when watching movies.

    I just want more power/performance for stereo.
    Monitor 60s, CS10 front
    Monitor 40s, back
    PSW10:(

    H/k AVR 325
    Sansui Tape Deck
    Pioneer PD-5010 CD player

    Sennheiser HD 650s :D
    Maverick Audio Tube Magic D1 DAC

    AMD Phenom II 940 @ 3.8 prime stabel
    4 gigs 1066, cas 5
    XFX 4890 1gig
    Seagate 1tb 7200.12
    Creative X-fI Titanium Fatal1ty
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited January 2010
    Yes, what you are looking for is a 2 channel pre-amp with home theater bypass....

    (and for 2 channel - there will be a HUGE improvement with a pre-amp over an AVR)
    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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  • MANSKITO
    MANSKITO Posts: 295
    edited January 2010
    McLoki wrote: »
    Yes, what you are looking for is a 2 channel pre-amp with home theater bypass....

    (and for 2 channel - there will be a HUGE improvement with a pre-amp over an AVR)

    Do you have any suggestions as to any brands/models that have Home Theater bypass that I could find used?

    Don't mean to bug yall so much.
    Monitor 60s, CS10 front
    Monitor 40s, back
    PSW10:(

    H/k AVR 325
    Sansui Tape Deck
    Pioneer PD-5010 CD player

    Sennheiser HD 650s :D
    Maverick Audio Tube Magic D1 DAC

    AMD Phenom II 940 @ 3.8 prime stabel
    4 gigs 1066, cas 5
    XFX 4890 1gig
    Seagate 1tb 7200.12
    Creative X-fI Titanium Fatal1ty
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited January 2010
    Sorry - for recommendations, I really think I need to have first hand experience with them, but I have not used a 2 channel pre with HT bypass before. (I just know they are out there).

    A google search on the words "home theater bypass" will at least give you info to see if that is what you are looking for though...
    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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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited January 2010
    Manskito,

    I really think you're getting ahead of yourself for the moment....just get the power amp first and listen to the H/K as a 2 channel pre-amp....you might be more surprised than you think at just how much better that, by itself, will sound?

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • louhamilton
    louhamilton Posts: 209
    edited January 2010
    I agree with cnh.

    Enjoy your current setup with the H/K. Next get your 2-channel amp and use the H/K as your 2-channel pre-amp (this is what I am currently doing except I went with the 5-channel from the get-go. In hind sight, I would have done it differently and gone with a 2-channel amp or monoblock amps).

    If you feel that your center and or surrounds need a little more, then get a matching 3-channel amp. By matching, I mean same company and class as your 2-channel. Each amp has a slightly different sound and your three front speakers may sound a little different. This is why some people will recommend a 3-channel to power your center and fronts. Also, keep in mind that as you remove channels from your H/K the remaining channels will gain some wattage, so a typical 100w 7-channel receiver, may end up giving you 110-115w/channel when you only have three channels running.

    Well good luck on your setup! Keep us posted o the progress.
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