Is it safe to connect a audio receiver to an amplifier?

[Recco Thomas]

Hello to all,

My name is Wayne and I wanted to find out if it would be an issue connecting my Sony 2 channel audio receiver to a 3000 watt amplifier? Right now I'm using RCA cables coming out of the pre-out video into the 3000 watt amplifier and out of the amplifier into a 4 channel speaker selector. But what I would like to do is connect to the speaker output instead so I can have volume control through the Sony receiver. Is this possible without compromising my receiver?

 

[TLS Guy]

Hello to all,

My name is Wayne and I wanted to find out if it would be an issue connecting my Sony 2 channel audio receiver to a 3000 watt amplifier? Right now I'm using RCA cables coming out of the pre-out video into the 3000 watt amplifier and out of the amplifier into a 4 channel speaker selector. But what I would like to do is connect to the speaker output instead so I can have volume control through the Sony receiver. Is this possible without compromising my receiver?

No, do not do that. Build a volume control circuit to go between the preamp out and your power amp, or buy a decent preamp.

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

The Sony receiver’s RCA inputs are expecting a line-level signal of a few milliwatts at most. What do you think will happen when you dump 3000 watts into them?

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[Recco Thomas]

I'm actually using the RCA outputs not imputs. But where I am confused at is, I'm already coming out of the of the Sony receiver into the 3000w amplifier, so what harm would it do if I used the speaker outputs instead?

 

[Recco Thomas]

Thanks, TLS Guy. But what should I use to build a volume control circuit between the receiver and power amp? Isn't 3000w not decent enough? I mean, I know it's overkill but how can I blow the receiver if I'm coming out of it instead of going into it?

 

[lovinthehd]

I'm actually using the RCA outputs not imputs. But where I am confused at is, I'm already coming out of the of the Sony receiver into the 3000w amplifier, so what harm would it do if I used the speaker outputs instead?

What specific receiver do you have? If you have line level pre-outs on the receiver, that would be ideal. If you're using tape outs (or video outs) it likely is at a fixed rather than variable level like a true pre-out. You can convert the speaker level outputs to line level outputs, and while relatively safe may not be ideal, with something like this http://www.crutchfield.com/S-rfzZkjr2bGd/p_543ADP12/Russound-ADP-1-2-Speaker-level-to-Line-level-Adapter.html

Don't plug your speaker level outputs directly into your power amp's line level inputs, though.

 

[Recco Thomas]

It's a Sony STR DH130 2 channel audio receiver.

Yeah, I was told that the speaker output terminals are designed to put out high signal, which should connect directly to passive speakers. And you're right. The video output that I'm using is fixed, but when I spoke with Sony tech support, they act like they couldn't tell me how to change the settings to variable. I do have one other pre-out port and it's MD/Tape.

 

[Recco Thomas]

Will the (Russand ADP-1.2 Speaker level to Line-level Adapter) allow me to use the speaker output terminals so I can connect directly to my power amp?

 

[lovinthehd]

It's a Sony STR DH130 2 channel audio receiver.

Yeah, I was told that the speaker output terminals are designed to put out high signal, which should connect directly to passive speakers. And you're right. The video output that I'm using is fixed, but when I spoke with Sony tech support, they act like they couldn't tell me how to change the settings to variable. I do have one other pre-out port and it's MD/Tape.

Will the (Russand ADP-1.2 Speaker level to Line-level Adapter) allow me to use the speaker output terminals so I can connect directly to my power amp?

Your receiver doesn't have pre-outs and your fixed line outs aren't going to be able to be converted. That device takes the speaker level output and converts it to a line level output; the quality of that conversion I can't tell you about, it may introduce noise and it may not be of ideal output level for your amp to use.

 

[Recco Thomas]

Okay, thanks. I'll ask Crutchfield tech support about the product.

 

[TLS Guy]

Okay, thanks. I'll ask Crutchfield tech support about the product.

No need, that will give you low fidelity.

This is what you need.

 

[Recco Thomas]

Okay. And how do you suggest I use it to make it work? What am I connecting to and how will it affect my sound quality?

 

[TLS Guy]

Okay. And how do you suggest I use it to make it work? What am I connecting to and how will it affect my sound quality?

This is the circuit.

Get a little experimenter box.

Now get two sets of surface mount RCA sockets.

Mount all five units in the box.

Now with screened cable connect the input sockets to the outer contacts on the pot and the output to the amp on center and screen with solder connections. You will need a knob for the pot shaft.

Now you are done.

Now two RCA cables one receiver to input and the other for output to power amp.

This is the only simple way to do this safely and without degrading sound quality.

 

[Recco Thomas]

Wow! All that, huh?

 

[TLS Guy]

Wow! All that, huh?

That is a very simple project requiring minimal skill sets. Sounds as if it is time you learned some minimal skills.

 

[hosko]

plug the tape out into a Schiit Sys and then plug that into your amp. I do similar with the line out of a tv into a Emotiva amp. Its $50 or you can build one yourself.