Help with Yamaha RX-A1020 w/Bose 901 and active eq

[renzo]

Aloha and Happy New Years, I've been reading all the post in regards to Bose. First Id'e like to say I respect everyones opinion. Everyone's like's and dis likes are different, and not to leave out how much money one is able and willing to spend Please forgive me to asking, I know many will say through out the 901's...

I want to keep them, I really like all the bells and whistles the Yamaha RX-A1020 is giving me. I don't want to use the 901's for music only, I want my surround sound. However I also want to hook up the active equalizer!

I've been told that the Yamaha is not compatible to be hooked up to a Power Amp. I was willing to buy an Amp to have the EQ work. This is where I need your HELP please. Is it possible, or is it a moot point.

Thank you for your tolerance, patience with me and most of all your willingness to read my post and be helpful.

 

[Nestor]

Can't you use the pre-outs of your avr and an external amp?

 

[renzo]

Nestor, I stand corrected. It does have a Pre-out but no Main amp In. Also, Iv'e been told that my Yamaha is not compatible with an Amp, hence I don't believe what I'm being told that's why I'm here.

 

[Pyrrho]

The Yamaha RX-A1020 has preamp outputs for all channels. What it does not have are power amp inputs to insert your equalizer between the preamp out and the power amp in.

Unless I am missing something, you have essentially two choices. Hook up the equalizer to the preamp output channels for which you wish to use the Bose speakers (presumably, this will be front left and right, correct?). Then hook the equalizer's output to a separate power amp and hook that power amp up to your Bose. You can use the amplifier that you were using with them before, unless it stopped working or you have gotten rid of it.

The other option is to forget the equalizer. Normally, that would be a bad idea, but YPAO can equalize automatically for you, likely with good results. Try it before spending any money, and see if you like it. The manual will tell you all about this.

 

[renzo]

Pyrrho, Thank you for your reply, yes it will be used as Left and Right front. I don't have an amplifier that works, only the Yamaha receiver. I'm willing to buy an Amp, however I've been told the Yamaha that I have won't work with an Amp. Iv'e also asked my friends if they have an extra Amp lying around for me to try, no luck. I was going to try the Russound X75 amp to see if it would work from Crutchfield, again I was told it wouldn't work with my Yamaha.

 

[Pyrrho]

... I've been told the Yamaha that I have won't work with an Amp. Iv'e also asked my friends if they have an extra Amp lying around for me to try, no luck. I was going to try the Russound X75 amp to see if it would work from Crutchfield, again I was told it wouldn't work with my Yamaha.

You have been told wrong. You can see that I am right by looking on page 23 of the manual for your receiver, which is titled:

Connecting an external power amplifier​

I hope that you are not being misinformed by someone at Crutchfield, as they brag about their customer service and advice. But before you buy an amp, I would simply try using YPAO to automatically equalize the sound. It will not be quite the same, because it will also be correcting for room effects, not simply the characteristics of the speaker itself.

 

[renzo]

Aaa you are correct again, Yes Crutchfield tech which is where all the mis information started from hence I purchased the Yamaha because the said ABSOLUTELY it would work with the 901's. I do like the Yamaha now that I have it, ran the YPAO and the 901's sound great. Would you know if there a BIG difference?

I was contemplating purchasing the HK 3490 (stereo receiver) it has the correct connections that the active eq needs just to hear how the 901's will sound, if theres a big difference in the sound quality I'll have to make a few decision. If I don't hear any difference then I'll keep the Yamaha and return the HK. Any advice?

 

[Pyrrho]

Aaa you are correct again, Yes Crutchfield tech which is where all the mis information started from hence I purchased the Yamaha because the said ABSOLUTELY it would work with the 901's. I do like the Yamaha now that I have it, ran the YPAO and the 901's sound great. Would you know if there a BIG difference?

I was contemplating purchasing the HK 3490 (stereo receiver) it has the correct connections that the active eq needs just to hear how the 901's will sound, if theres a big difference in the sound quality I'll have to make a few decision. If I don't hear any difference then I'll keep the Yamaha and return the HK. Any advice?

I would not bother. But if I were going to go with a separate amplifier, I would buy a power amp, not a receiver or integrated amp. The reason being, you are only planning on using the power amp portion of it, and you can get more power for your money that way.

As for hearing any difference, I would expect that you would hear a difference between:

1. using the Bose equalizer with a power amp and with the receiver set to bypass its equalization, and
2. just using the receiver with its equalization.

The reason being, the Bose equalizer is meant only to correct the frequency response of the speakers, not the effect of your room (which it obviously could not, as each room is different). YPAO will adjust according to those speakers in your room placed wherever you place them, so its equalization will be different.

Now, whether you would hear a difference between 2 above and using the Bose equalizer with rerunning YPAO to equalize for the room or not, is more questionable. If the Bose equalizer adds any noise, that could be worse. But it could also be that YPAO will be better able to deal with room effects, as it has limited ability to adjust the frequency response, as it has a finite number of bands of equalization that it can do. However, that does not necessarily mean that it will be worse, as it may also be that, due to room affects, it has to undo some of what the Bose equalizer does to the frequency response.


Now, if I were to hazard a guess, it would be that you would likely make the noise floor worse with using the Bose equalizer and a separate amplifier, as it is unlikely that input and output levels will be precisely suited for each other, and your Bose equalizer likely has a higher noise floor than the receiver anyway (though I am uncertain of that). And I doubt that there will be any very significant difference in the equalized result if you used YPAO to correct things in both cases.


So, again, I would not bother with buying a power amp or using the Bose equalizer. I would save the Bose equalizer, in case I ever wanted to use the speakers with a traditional stereo that does not automatically equalize, but I would not actually use it with this receiver.

 

[renzo]

MAHALO Pyrrho for taking the time to elaborate and educate me at the same time! Now on to something else like getting fresh vegetables and fruit from our farmers market.
Happy New Years!!