Can you play 4 speakers off a 2.1 receiver?

[anamorphic96]

If not mistaken the 3485 has the ability to run two sets of speakers. Just use the second set of speaker inputs.

 

[gazcat]

If not mistaken the 3485 has the ability to run two sets of speakers. Just use the second set of speaker inputs.

You sure about this? It has 4 pairs of speaker wire input things... that would be great it I could just do that.

 

[Seth=L]

You sure about this? It has 4 pairs of speaker wire input things... that would be great it I could just do that.

It will not impedance match, you will still have problems running both sets simultaneously. Do you plan to run both sets at once? I have asked this about 3 times and haven't got an answer on that one yet I don't think.

 

[anamorphic96]

The amp is 4 ohm stable so you should be fine 2 pairs at once. Just goto the H/K website. It's where I received all my info.

My house mate is running two pairs of outdoor speakers on the 3385 with no issues and they have an 86db sensitivity. It fills are entire backyard with no problems. Make sure the top of the receiver has good ventilation. The receiver gets a little warm but nothing obnoxious. We just had a BBQ with both pairs running, and it ran all night long with no issues at pretty good volume.

If this was a cheap Sony receiver I would not suggest running both pairs at once. But the HK has pretty robust amp section and can handle both pairs playing at one. Your Infinity's are 8 ohm speakers. With both pairs running the amp will see a 4 ohm load which it is rated for. Don't go beyond 2 pairs of speakers though.

 

[Babalu]

I have the HK 3485 and it states this right in the owners manual.....

"Speaker 1/2ress the left side of this button to enable the
HK 3485 to output audio to the speakers connected to the Speaker 1
Outputs,and press the right side of the button to enable the Speaker 2
Outputs.You may enable or disable both sets of speaker outputs simul-
taneously.This feature is a convenient way of hearing audio in more
than one room at a time,although the same source material will be
played through both sets of speakers. "

 

[gazcat]

It will not impedance match, you will still have problems running both sets simultaneously. Do you plan to run both sets at once? I have asked this about 3 times and haven't got an answer on that one yet I don't think.

Yes they will both be playing at the same time. I already bought the Niles SS4 but now will I need it? I will only be adding 2 speakers to be played all at once.

 

[Seth=L]

Yes they will both be playing at the same time. I already bought the Niles SS4 but now will I need it? I will only be adding 2 speakers to be played all at once.

Regardless of what Harman says or others have done it is still advised to use the impedance matching switcher. If the speakers are being used for higher output, you definitely should do this. It will reduce stress on the amplifier inside the receiver, and should also reduce the chance of clipping while reducing the overall power consumption at a certain level of output (if I am thinking about this all right). You also should not assume the speakers will stay at the same impedance all the time, because they will not, the impedance will go up and down. You could have dips as low as 2 ohms, and pair that with high output and you have big problems.

You should definitely use the switcher.

 

[gazcat]

Regardless of what Harman says or others have done it is still advised to use the impedance matching switcher. If the speakers are being used for higher output, you definitely should do this. It will reduce stress on the amplifier inside the receiver, and should also reduce the chance of clipping while reducing the overall power consumption at a certain level of output (if I am thinking about this all right). You also should not assume the speakers will stay at the same impedance all the time, because they will not, the impedance will go up and down. You could have dips as low as 2 ohms, and pair that with high output and you have big problems.

You should definitely use the switcher.

Ok, well I bought one so I might as well use it. Ive decided im just going to add some small wall mounted Onkyo bookshelf speakers (got em for real cheap).

Does anyone have any instructions on how to wire such a set up? Its a total of 4 book shelfs to be added.

 

[Seth=L]

Wait, what? Are you changing what you are doing again? You have two pair of the Onkyo speakers? You should connect one stereo set of outputs to the Niles impedance matching speaker selector, then use 3 outputs on the switcher. You will have to go up and manually set which sets of speakers you want to use during use. So if you only wanted to run the Betas for a while you would shut off the Onkyos. If you want all sets running you would turn on all sets. With three sets total the power will be divided 3 ways of course, and two sets would be split power, and one set running would get full power.

 

[gazcat]

Wait, what? Are you changing what you are doing again? You have two pair of the Onkyo speakers? You should connect one stereo set of outputs to the Niles impedance matching speaker selector, then use 3 outputs on the switcher. You will have to go up and manually set which sets of speakers you want to use during use. So if you only wanted to run the Betas for a while you would shut off the Onkyos. If you want all sets running you would turn on all sets. With three sets total the power will be divided 3 ways of course, and two sets would be split power, and one set running would get full power.

Haha yes I did switch once again. I am really indecisive about my speaker set up but I think I finally figured it out.

So to clarify this, Betas (main room) on one channel, and the other 2 Onkyo pairs (bar room) on another channel? This sounds perfect. Hopefully hooking it up isnt too hard!

Seth thanks again for all the help you really have pointed me in the right direction!

 

[Seth=L]

Haha yes I did switch once again. I am really indecisive about my speaker set up but I think I finally figured it out.

So to clarify this, Betas (main room) on one channel, and the other 2 Onkyo pairs (bar room) on another channel? This sounds perfect. Hopefully hooking it up isnt too hard!

Seth thanks again for all the help you really have pointed me in the right direction!

I am glad to help, it's what I do. I just want to make sure all your equipment is not only safe but operates satisfactory as well. Naturally you wouldn't want to hear the amplifier clipping because the impedance was too low at too high a level, the impedance matching speaker selector should reduce the chance of harm to the speakers and receiver and keep audible distortion out during playback.