New to home stereos and Amplifiers, having problems

[jem7991]

Hey guys, so I bought the Onkyo TX-8050 Network receiver. And I saw that it only has four terminals for front speakers.

Two Questions: Firstly, how do I hook up a center speaker to this reciever? Secondly, for the "zone 2" function, what kind of cabling do I use to connect those speakers? The hookups look very different from the standard 4 terminals for the 4 speakers.....

Thank you everyone, sorry for my inexperience, if you need pictures of the hookups on the receiver, they are available from amazon.

 

[jp_over]

That's a stereo AVR (2 channel) - there's no center channel.
The zone 2 output is a pre-out (RCA cable) - it give a non amplified signal for you to run to another amp, AVR, etc.

 

[jem7991]

Thank you!

If there is no central speaker, what type of receiver could I get that could run a center speaker, as well as have a zone 2 function? Is there no way to connect the central speaker? That really does suck! How vital would you say a central speaker is to a home theater system?

Thank you for the information, so if I just wanted to have an 3.5 MM hook in in the zone 2 room, should I get a CD player or something with a 3.5 port or what would I need to run that into this receiver?

 

[jp_over]

If there is no central speaker, what type of receiver could I get that could run a center speaker, as well as have a zone 2 function? Is there no way to connect the central speaker? That really does suck! How vital would you say a central speaker is to a home theater system?

Thank you for the information, so if I just wanted to have an 3.5 MM hook in in the zone 2 room, should I get a CD player or something with a 3.5 port or what would I need to run that into this receiver?

Any number of the big brands (Yamaha, Marantz, Denon, etc.) offer multi-channel, multi zone AVRs. A random example might be:

Yamaha RX-V673 Home theater receiver with 3D-ready HDMI switching and Apple AirPlay® at Crutchfield.com

How vital is a center - man, that's a can of worms! I run a center and two fronts only but more than a few folks run 2 channel only. I'd say the center is nice for movie / news / TV dialogue but not vital for music. Some will beg to differ.

For your zone 2, you'd need amplified speakers (at least for the AVR you currently have) or an AVR or amp + speakers. The TX-8050 would then send whatever source is played through it to the zone 2. Best way to run it - likely RCA from TX-8050 to AVR in 2nd zone (sounds like you have an AVR in there already). I'm not sure why you'd use a 3.5mm jack.

Clear as mud?

 

[jem7991]

Much more clear thank you! However that receiver is simply far out of my budget..... I see this one has a central speaker hookup and a second zone.... would an Onkyo TX-NR414 work?

I would post a link but it wont let me until my post count is higher.... I apologize!

I already looked at the nicer receivers and drooled over them.... Sadly until I win the lottery.... you get the idea.

 

[jp_over]

The Onkyo TX-NR414 does have 2 zones and 5 channels if this is all you need...

Onkyo TX-NR414 Home theater receiver with 3D-ready HDMI switching, Internet-ready at Crutchfield.com

 

[norml4721]

HT receiver Vs stereo receiver

Hi :

Go back to the store that you bought it from and explain that you wanted a Home theater receiver not a stereo receiver and the sales person sold you the wrong thing.

Read up on basic Home theater requirements.

Good luck and happy Holidays

Norm L

 

[PENG]

I think a lot of movies stereo have the stereo tracks on them that you can select so I think 2 channel may actually be more practical than 3 channels. It may be better if you just go without the center speakers and when budget allows you go straight to 5.1. IMHO 3.1 is not better (may be worse) than 2.1especially if you can sit close to the center line between L/R.