Anybody run A/BV together?

[patnshan]

Hi,

I just replaced some crap Bose bookshelves in the rear with some phase techs and am elated. Now I have been asked by my lovely wife, "What are you going to do with the old one's?". She didn't like "I plan to throw them by the curb"!
She asked if we could use them in the dining room, placed on top of the hutch for mood music during formal dinners. I said that we could but that my amp only has 7 channels, and we have 5.1 plus 2.0 outside. I told her I'd have to get another receiver Maybe a nice Panny digital (pause for gears turning in head).

I was thinking about the B speakers terminals on the receiver. I know for a fact that sound does come out of both speakers if you press both buttons. My question is, what does this do to the amp? Is it OK to play both at low levels? Is there another way I could power these speakers say with a cheap audiosource amp using the same receiver (ie: same source as the others?). I have a Marantz SR-8400.

Thanks and excuse me if this is a dumb question,

Pat

 

[jcPanny]

Speaker A and B

Pat,
The speaker A and B connections share an amp, so when you run speakers A AND B it is trying to drive two pairs of speakers in parallel. For example if your fronts and the Bose are both 8 ohm speakers, then the receiver will see 4 ohms.
Since you have a pretty good receiver it can probably drive 4 ohms at low volume levels for a while. However, if either pair of speakers is less than 8 ohms, then I wouldn't try it. Worst case, your receiver will get hot and eventually go into shutdown.

Here are a couple more options:
1. Use speaker A OR B. If you use a mode like 7 channel stereo, then the surrounds and center will still be playing music in the main room with the B speakers in the dining room.

2. Use a speaker A/B switch to select the outdoor speakers OR the dining room to run of your receivers Zone 2 amp.

3. Use one of the external amplifier solutions that you suggested above.

 

[MDS]

I would go with option 3 suggested by jcpanny and use the zone 2 pre-outs for the amp for the dining room and also keep your 2 speakers you currently have for zone 2 hooked up. That is if your receiver is typical of zone 2 receivers where you can just change a menu setting to switch between powering zone 2 with the internal amps vs using the pre-outs.

 

[j_garcia]

If you are running only 5.1 in the main room, I believe you can assign the rear channel amps to power zone 2 (check your manual). If not, then using an inexpensive amp to power zone 2 will probaly be the best idea.

 

[patnshan]

I would go with option 3 suggested by jcpanny and use the zone 2 pre-outs for the amp for the dining room and also keep your 2 speakers you currently have for zone 2 hooked up. That is if your receiver is typical of zone 2 receivers where you can just change a menu setting to switch between powering zone 2 with the internal amps vs using the pre-outs.

This sounds like a great idea. I know I can switch between the two. The switch is even on the front screen. I have a multi speaker and a multiroom button on the front. I may just pick up the smallest audiosource amp I can find and hook it up.

Thanks,

Pat

 

[patnshan]

If you are running only 5.1 in the main room, I believe you can assign the rear channel amps to power zone 2 (check your manual). If not, then using an inexpensive amp to power zone 2 will probaly be the best idea.

I already use those amps for the patio speakers. I can also choose a different source for those.

Pat