2 Channel Amp on a 7.1 Ch Receiver - Possible?

[Below10hz]

I just aquired a nice Onkyo 7.1 receiver and I have a space 2-channel 200 watt amp I'd like to use to drive either the front speakers or the rear speakers, depending on setup.

If I use the pre amp outputs just for 2 channels, will the rest of the receiver amp driven channels be disabled, or is thie an indeoendent thing?

BTW it's an Onkyo HT-RC180 receiver.

Thanks!

 

[forkbeard]

Commonly done

Many people do just that. I don't know the receiver in question, but if it has pre-amp outputs, it ought to work fine.

 

[AVRat]

Yup, no problem.

 

[GlocksRock]

That should work just fine, it's what I do in my bedroom setup, use the 2 ch. Onkyo amp for the main speakers, and use the receiver to power the remaining 3 channels.

 

[lsiberian]

I plan to do this as well.

 

[j_garcia]

As long as you have preamp outs, you can run whichever channels you like on an external amp. I run all three fronts via external amps.

 

[MatthewB.]

I agree this is a great way to implememt a two channel amp to a reciever. I use my Onkyo 805 with three outboard stereo amps. What this does is relieve the recievers built in amp from driving those two channels and gives the receiver more power to drive the speakers not hooked up to an outboard amp. I also agree that you should use the stereo amp to drive the main speakers. 200watts per channel is more than enough fgor most rooms and since the rear channel speakers use so little power, it would be a waste to use that beefy amp on the rear channels.

 

[mike c]

the front 2 channels are the most important of the 7 channels, i'd use the amp for those two. just recalibrate the channels with an SPL meter or the built in receiver calibration to make sure they're still balanced.

 

[MatthewB.]

Mike, I would add that the front mains are the most important when listening to music, but during HT use, it is actually the center channel that is doing most of the work.

 

[mike c]

Mike, I would add that the front mains are the most important when listening to music, but during HT use, it is actually the center channel that is doing most of the work.

right, all of the dialogue comes from the center during HT use.

(but i did find it doesn't use much power at all - no scientific test, but i found that the 3 channel amp i had used only had warm L and R amp sections when used with HT.)