Can you use a single channel on an external amp, and

[ahblaza]

Hey guys, this may be a stupid question but I have to ask, when using a receiver to drive a single back or rear channel speaker it says to use the left channel speaker post, how about if you're using an outboard amp to drive that single rear speaker, do you just use one left channel pre-out cable from receiver to left channel input on the amp and connect the single rear speaker to the left output, I know, dumb. I have another dumb question while I'm at it. I'm using the pre-outs on the receiver labeled FW, FH and BR to a stereo amp to drive a pair of rear channel speakers, now the dumb part = since I'm using the pre-outs for these speakers, can I use the receiver's amp to drive a pair of Front Wides from the receiver's binding posts labeled FW? I know I know, I could make it more difficult if you would like. Thanks to anyone who even understands what I'm talking about
Cheers Jeff

 

[fuzz092888]

When using the receiver's amp section you must use what the manual tells you to use. When it comes to using an external amplifier as long as you use the appropriate pre-out, you can plug that sucker into whatever you want on the amp. L/R/C/SR/SL doesn't matter so long as the speaker wire is connected to the matching binding posts.

The receiver should be outputting sound through the pre-outs and the binding posts, so hypothetically it's possible, but you just have to make sure you aren't outputting surround sound to the FW/FH speakers or vice versa. For instance, if I was using the FW/FH pre outs on my 3009, I could also connect a pair of speakers to the FW/FH binding posts on the amp and I'd have 4 speakers outputting the same signal. However, your situation is a little different since one pair of pre-outs is labeled as all three. The issue is, if your receiver isn't meant to output 9 channels of audio, then you may only be able to pick one or the other for both the binding posts and the pre outs to output.

Which receiver are you trying this with?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

When using a receiver to drive a single back or rear channel speaker it says to use the left channel speaker post, how about if you're using an outboard amp to drive that single rear speaker, do you just use one left channel pre-out cable from receiver to left channel input on the amp and connect the single rear speaker to the left output?

I don't think it matters whether you use the L or R output. But the L output is fine. And you can output to any available Channel on the external amp. But to keep it simple, the L-output from AVR to the L-input of AMP is fine.

My system is not as advanced as yours. I have none of those fancy Width and Height Channels. So I never tried.

 

[ahblaza]

When using the receiver's amp section you must use what the manual tells you to use. When it comes to using an external amplifier as long as you use the appropriate pre-out, you can plug that sucker into whatever you want on the amp. L/R/C/SR/SL doesn't matter so long as the speaker wire is connected to the matching binding posts.

The receiver should be outputting sound through the pre-outs and the binding posts, so hypothetically it's possible, but you just have to make sure you aren't outputting surround sound to the FW/FH speakers or vice versa. For instance, if I was using the FW/FH pre outs on my 3009, I could also connect a pair of speakers to the FW/FH binding posts on the amp and I'd have 4 speakers outputting the same signal. However, your situation is a little different since one pair of pre-outs is labeled as all three. The issue is, if your receiver isn't meant to output 9 channels of audio, then you may only be able to pick one or the other for both the binding posts and the pre outs to output.

Which receiver are you trying this with?

Alex, I'm using the Onkyo 709 for this application, the pre-out is labeled FW SB FH, but there is a set of binding posts labeled Front Wide only currently I'm not using any of the 709's amps, seriously, what's the worst that could happen connecting a pair of FW speakers to the FW 709's speakers binding posts and running the pre-out to the outboard amp driving the rears? Thanks my man.
Cheers Jeff

 

[ahblaza]

I don't think it matters whether you use the L or R output. But the L output is fine. And you can output to any available Channel on the external amp. But to keep it simple, the L-output from AVR to the L-input of AMP is fine.

My system is not as advanced as yours. I have none of those fancy Width and Height Channels. So I never tried.

I think you're right A, you're more advanced than me tho

 

[fuzz092888]

Alex, I'm using the Onkyo 709 for this application, the pre-out is labeled FW SB FH, but there is a set of binding posts labeled Front Wide only currently I'm not using any of the 709's amps, seriously, what's the worst that could happen connecting a pair of FW speakers to the FW 709's speakers binding posts and running the pre-out to the outboard amp driving the rears? Thanks my man.
Cheers Jeff

The worst that could happen is you get surround content from your height speakers or height sound from your surround speakers. So.....nothing bad at all. Best case is that you get 9 channels from a receiver that's only supposed to do 7.