Denon connection w/amp assistance-manual sux

[nhpm510]

I am planning on using an older AVR-2500 as a pre-amp and the rear has "pre-out front" (L/R) and "main in" (L/R) as the choices. Of course, the manual is lacking in any real explanation.

The manual says "PRE OUT jacks Use these jacks when using another pre-main amplfier or a seperate amplifier." I am fine with that so what the #@%$ is main in (L/R)?

Anyone care to offer the difference in the two? I don't want to damage the external amp or the AVR!

(It has a pre-out center and subwoofer. I have no problem with these choices.)

I picked a bad day to give up hard booze!

 

[MDS]

You want to use the pre-out jacks to conect an external amplifier.

'Pre-out' stands for pre-amplifier out. The pre-amp is the portion of the receiver does the switching between sources, amplifies the signal from the source a wee bit, controls the volume and tone controls, etc. It is *before* the amplifier hence its name pre-amp. So if your dvd player is connected to the receiver and your external amp is connected to the pre-out jacks, the signal from the receiver goes to the external amp first.

'Main-in' rarely exists anymore, but it is the opposite of pre-out. It is a way to bring the signal back into the receiver. If your receiver's pre-amp did not include a processor (like Dolby Digital, DTS, etc) you could use the pre-outs to send the signal to the external processor and then from the processor back into the receiver to be amplified by using the main-in.

 

[nhpm510]

thks for the education: main in

I am using the pre-out and everything works. A long time ago, I had a powered Cerwin Vega and I recall hooking it through the "main ins." I got a hugh increase in the bass volume (which was very good back then) versus connecting it through the pre-out for the sub.

Any idea as to why? What is your guess as to what would result if I plug my external amp in to the main ins? Should I have the fire department on standby? <jk>

Paul

 

[MDS]

Probably due to amplifying the signal twice. It depends on whether it was a receiver or integrated amp (pre-amp, processor, amp in one). I believe older integrated amps would accept an already amplified signal via main-in so you could then have your speakers attached to it and use its volume control as opposed to hookup an external amp where you would use the pre-outs and have the speakers connected to the amp, not the receiver/integrated amp.

 

[nhpm510]

Thks to MDS, it time to go play (safely).