Connecting two AVRs to a single set of speakers

[TheRealOC]

I wanted to get a single AVR that could decode original 1980s/90s Dolby Surround/Pro Logic 1, as well as running a 7.2.2 modern speaker setup... and everything in between. I wasn't so concerned about 4k60 or 4k120, as my plan is to send my HDMI signal to a HDMI splitter/audio extractor with one output going to the TV, and the other output going to the AVR. So getting an AVR that can handle as many different surround sound technologies as possible was my priority, and to that end I've been looking into first-generation Atmos Yamaha AVRs from around 2014, as some models still had Pro Logic 2 decoding.

Unfortunately the 4-5 Atmos AVRs which I know can decode Pro-Logic 2 are both hard to find and prohibitively expensive. For example, there's a guy who lives near me selling a Aventage RX-A2040 AV, and he wants €1500 for it, which I think is just too much for a ten year old AVR...

I could get an old 1990s Pro Logic AVR, and a modern Atmos AVR for much less than €1500 combined, but I definitely don't want to have a 5.1 speaker setup and a separate 7.2.2 speaker setup in the same room - that would be... 17 speakers in one room?

But is it possible to just setup 11 speakers (7.2.2 configuration), and pass the audio output signal from an old 1990s AVR through to a daisy-chained modern Atmor AVR, and still have the codecs on both function normally?

 

[highfigh]

I wanted to get a single AVR that could decode original 1980s/90s Dolby Surround/Pro Logic 1, as well as running a 7.2.2 modern speaker setup... and everything in between. I wasn't so concerned about 4k60 or 4k120, as my plan is to send my HDMI signal to a HDMI splitter/audio extractor with one output going to the TV, and the other output going to the AVR. So getting an AVR that can handle as many different surround sound technologies as possible was my priority, and to that end I've been looking into first-generation Atmos Yamaha AVRs from around 2014, as some models still had Pro Logic 2 decoding.

Unfortunately the 4-5 Atmos AVRs which I know can decode Pro-Logic 2 are both hard to find and prohibitively expensive. For example, there's a guy who lives near me selling a Aventage RX-A2040 AV, and he wants €1500 for it, which I think is just too much for a ten year old AVR...

I could get an old 1990s Pro Logic AVR, and a modern Atmos AVR for much less than €1500 combined, but I definitely don't want to have a 5.1 speaker setup and a separate 7.2.2 speaker setup in the same room - that would be... 17 speakers in one room?

But is it possible to just setup 11 speakers (7.2.2 configuration), and pass the audio output signal from an old 1990s AVR through to a daisy-chained modern Atmor AVR, and still have the codecs on both function normally?

Possible, sure. Practical, no. It would require some way of using one set of speakers at any time and I'm not aware of a commercially-made device that can do this- Niles had one that was made for stereo, but that was discontinued awhile ago.

You could theoretically do this at preamp level if the 7.2.2 AVR has the multichannel inputs, but I can't think of a good reason for doing this unless you have hoarded older DVDs. Why do you need ProLogic?

 

[TheRealOC]

Possible, sure. Practical, no. It would require some way of using one set of speakers at any time and I'm not aware of a commercially-made device that can do this- Niles had one that was made for stereo, but that was discontinued awhile ago.

You could theoretically do this at preamp level if the 7.2.2 AVR has the multichannel inputs, but I can't think of a good reason for doing this unless you have hoarded older DVDs. Why do you need ProLogic?

I’m looking for pro Logic because I’m big into retro video gaming on original hardware; I have one wall in my office that is just for consoles. And a lot of those consoles (going all the way to the SNES!) had games that had Dolby Surround and Pro Logic 1 mixes.

 

[TheRealOC]

Possible, sure. Practical, no. It would require some way of using one set of speakers at any time and I'm not aware of a commercially-made device that can do this- Niles had one that was made for stereo, but that was discontinued awhile ago.

You could theoretically do this at preamp level if the 7.2.2 AVR has the multichannel inputs, but I can't think of a good reason for doing this unless you have hoarded older DVDs. Why do you need ProLogic?

Would greatly appreciate any advice on making the preamp solution work; like what equipment would be needed?

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Curious as well. What is the point? Are you trying for “accuracy” or something? Imo, it seems purely academic, and IME DSU and DTSnx are far better upmixers than PLII(which I did like a lot). I would save the headache and just forget about the idea.
Edit: ok. I see your reason above.

 

[highfigh]

I’m looking for pro Logic because I’m big into retro video gaming on original hardware; I have one wall in my office that is just for consoles. And a lot of those consoles (going all the way to the SNES!) had games that had Dolby Surround and Pro Logic 1 mixes.

I guess the next question is: do you actually need Atmos or is gaming the real emphasis for your system?

One model that has the 5 multichannel input jacks is the Denon AVR-4311CI- you would use the 5.1 output from the AVR with ProLogic to feed these input jacks and it becomes a separate source. All you would need is a set of audio cables, the ProLogic AVR and the patience to set it up and control the system. However, if you look around carefully, you might find a ProLogic AVR that can be controlled in a computer browser, like the AVR-4311CI can. That also means that a universal remote with IP control could be set up to handle all of the switching for you.

 

[TLS Guy]

I wanted to get a single AVR that could decode original 1980s/90s Dolby Surround/Pro Logic 1, as well as running a 7.2.2 modern speaker setup... and everything in between. I wasn't so concerned about 4k60 or 4k120, as my plan is to send my HDMI signal to a HDMI splitter/audio extractor with one output going to the TV, and the other output going to the AVR. So getting an AVR that can handle as many different surround sound technologies as possible was my priority, and to that end I've been looking into first-generation Atmos Yamaha AVRs from around 2014, as some models still had Pro Logic 2 decoding.

Unfortunately the 4-5 Atmos AVRs which I know can decode Pro-Logic 2 are both hard to find and prohibitively expensive. For example, there's a guy who lives near me selling a Aventage RX-A2040 AV, and he wants €1500 for it, which I think is just too much for a ten year old AVR...

I could get an old 1990s Pro Logic AVR, and a modern Atmos AVR for much less than €1500 combined, but I definitely don't want to have a 5.1 speaker setup and a separate 7.2.2 speaker setup in the same room - that would be... 17 speakers in one room?

But is it possible to just setup 11 speakers (7.2.2 configuration), and pass the audio output signal from an old 1990s AVR through to a daisy-chained modern Atmor AVR, and still have the codecs on both function normally?

Don't even think about doing this. The risk of connecting both receivers to the same speakers is far too great. If that happens both will be ruined beyond repair instantly. That means in a split second, with no chance to reverse the error Don't think about doing this for a moment longer.
The answer to you problem is two sets of speakers, and I would set them up in different rooms.

 

[Kingnoob]

Don't even think about doing this. The risk of connecting both receivers to the same speakers is far too great. If that happens both will be ruined beyond repair instantly. That means in a split second, with no chance to reverse the error Don't think about doing this for a moment longer.
The answer to you problem is two sets of speakers, and I would set them up in different rooms.

Just hook the pro logic receiver to your gaming console. And or add a hdmi device adapter to an old cable output ?
prologic 1 isn’t very good I have an hifi shelf system with it .

 

[lovinthehd]

Pro Logic is more a sound mode/upmixer, not something that was recorded IME. Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD, Atmos, etc are the actual codecs. Newer avrs may have updated versions for sound mode/upmixer, such as PLII or PLIIx, and Dolby Surround now, but will still play the basic codec too.