AVR for active Mackie monitors

[yupanic]

I am looking to order Mackie 824's for a great room in which the wife doesn't want a sub. This room will be used for music, basic tv viewing, and to power a second (outdoor) zone. I would like to stay quite reasonable with this AVR but still be with this times, i.e. HDMI. I was thinking of the Yamaha V661 but this was before chosing the active Mackie monitors, which I am not as familiar with active speakers.
Thanks for any input.

 

[no. 5]

As far as I know, the Yamaha will still work; it has pre-outs for all channels, and the Mackies have unbalanced RCA inputs.

 

[B3Nut]

I second no.5, the 661 should work just ducky. I'm considering this unit myself (never had a surround receiver before, and I'd like to try multichannel classical SACD/DVD-A on for size.) You'll have preouts for the Mackies and plenty of power for regular speakers elsewhere. Your outdoor speakers will connect to the Front B/Zone 2 terminals, and the Mackies to the Front preamp outputs.

I'm impressed by the 661...HDMI, full preouts, and a phono preamp for the turntable for less than 5 bills.

Todd in Cheesecurdistan

 

[fmw]

I think I would find a preamp/processor. Not much point in powering amplifiers you aren't going to use.

 

[Seth=L]

I think I would find a preamp/processor. Not much point in powering amplifiers you aren't going to use.

There is if you want to save money, plus we don't know that the receiver's amplifiers won't be used to power other passive speakers for the center and surrounds. A pre/pro that's as current as the RX-V661 (which is what the OP is looking for) would be much more expensive, new or used.

 

[yupanic]

I will definitely need power for additional passive speakers. Rears later on and zone 2 for outdoor now. I have just never dealt with actice speakers before so wanted to ensure I was thinking right. Now how does the YPAO work once I get surrounds with the act6ive Mackies? Do I have to adjust them separately? I have yet to work with an AVR that has this capability (I have an Onkyo 805 in box awaiting my move next week to set up my HT).

 

[Seth=L]

I will definitely need power for additional passive speakers. Rears later on and zone 2 for outdoor now. I have just never dealt with actice speakers before so wanted to ensure I was thinking right. Now how does the YPAO work once I get surrounds with the act6ive Mackies? Do I have to adjust them separately? I have yet to work with an AVR that has this capability (I have an Onkyo 805 in box awaiting my move next week to set up my HT).

Wait, you have an Onkyo TX-SR805 and you are considering buying a lower end receiver? MADNESS! What could you hope to gain by doing this?

 

[yupanic]

Forgive the lack of clarity! I have a new 805 to go UPSTAIRS in my HT. I was actually given Boston Acoustics Lynnfield VR 30 l/r/c and a Paradigm PS 1200 so I got the 805 for them. And since I saved dough on that room I can put it in the downstairs where the wife wants good sound but no subs/ towers, etc. So I only really need great music sound downstairs but will have HD plasma for regular tv stuff so I wanted a lower cost AVR for that room. And I'm told by multiple sources that the Mackie 824's will be more that adequate (of course I ahve to hear them first).

 

[Seth=L]

Forgive the lack of clarity! I have a new 805 to go UPSTAIRS in my HT. I was actually given Boston Acoustics Lynnfield VR 30 l/r/c and a Paradigm PS 1200 so I got the 805 for them. And since I saved dough on that room I can put it in the downstairs where the wife wants good sound but no subs/ towers, etc. So I only really need great music sound downstairs but will have HD plasma for regular tv stuff so I wanted a lower cost AVR for that room. And I'm told by multiple sources that the Mackie 824's will be more that adequate (of course I ahve to hear them first).

Oh, I see. I know you said you wanted the connectivity and this may not be a good idea at all, but what if you used the Zone 2 or Zone 3 preouts on the Onkyo to drive the Mackies? I wonder what you would need to add to the Onkyo (like RF controllers) to make it simple to use, or even practical.

 

[yupanic]

Interesting idea but I need the downstairs AVR to run zone 2 outside and maybe zone 3. I figured if I can't rig my Bose companion computer speakers (the little sub my not be able to be hidden well enough) to run off my laptop in the kitchen I could get speakers and run them RF from the B mains. Love the house but no AV wiring sucks!