Is it possible to use ONLY 2 surround channels, Yamaha Receiver

[dohanc]

I would like to turn on only my two surround speakers from my Yamaha RX-V1500 receiver. Reason is I have two B&W fronts and 2 Polks for surrounds. I would like to be able to listen to some heavier rock music out of the Polks (surrounds) only.

I don't think it's actually possible with my receiver so I was curious if anyone knows of any receiver that CAN do this. I'm not willing to change receivers for this functionality, but I am curious if it's possible with other receivers in the case of upgrading ever. My previous solution was using an external amplifier for the fronts only. I could just turn it off when I didn't want fronts on. My current system is using only the receiver for all 4 speakers so I just pull the speaker plugs out.

Oh and BTW, I do use Surround sound once in a while for movies, so I don't want to lose surround functionality by moving to a different zone or something.

Thanks

 

[mike c]

if your b&w's are attached to the speaker A binding posts, maybe you can unselect speaker A (if you have to choose, select speaker B with no speaker attached to the B binding posts)

and then set the receiver to all channel stereo.
(just my theory)

 

[gcmarshall]

if you're yamaha RX-V1500 is like my RX-V2500 and has a 7-channel stereo mode, put it in 7-channel stereo (i can do this via the remote). then, go into manual setup and see if you can turn off your B&W fronts. i don't know if you can turn off the front mains in the manner, but i do know you can set the center to be off. if you can turn the mains off this way, then you can isolate your surround polks. just an idea. i've never tried turning my mains off in this manner.

 

[dohanc]

Thanks for both suggestions. The Speaker A/B selection I don't think will work because hooking up my rear speakers to the B side won't make them work in regular surround sound for when I'm watching a movie. Or am I missing something there?

The second suggestion I tried already but unfortunetly you can't turn off the main speakers. You can turn off any other speakers except the mains.

Any other suggestions...?

 

[MDS]

I think you misinterpreted the a/b speaker suggestion. Connect the FRONT speakers to the B terminals, then choose speaker A - that should shut off the front speakers. The other speakers should still play if you use a mode like all channel stereo. I don't know for sure if that will accomplish your goal of using only the surround speakers, but it sounds like a good suggestion. Try it and let us all know the result.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I would like to turn on only my two surround speakers from my Yamaha RX-V1500 receiver. Reason is I have two B&W fronts and 2 Polks for surrounds. I would like to be able to listen to some heavier rock music out of the Polks (surrounds) only.

I don't think it's actually possible with my receiver so I was curious if anyone knows of any receiver that CAN do this. I'm not willing to change receivers for this functionality, but I am curious if it's possible with other receivers in the case of upgrading ever. My previous solution was using an external amplifier for the fronts only. I could just turn it off when I didn't want fronts on. My current system is using only the receiver for all 4 speakers so I just pull the speaker plugs out.

Oh and BTW, I do use Surround sound once in a while for movies, so I don't want to lose surround functionality by moving to a different zone or something.

Thanks

If I understand you correctly, your Polks, used in the surround mode and position, you want to also be able to use as the main speaker on some type of music? If so, I don't think any receiver will do you that trick, not any setup.

Would you turn around to listen to those surround speakers if it was possible as you thought?

Maybe you should just move the Polks to the from duty and the others to the surround and you are in business.

 

[mike c]

if the speaker A/B idea doesn't work (im too lazy to try it myself), just get banana plugs for the main LR speakers ...

 

[dohanc]

I tihnk you did understand correctly. However I worded it differently because I would like to use what currently is my surround speakers only. I don't think any receiver will be able to switch those to "mains", but I thought there was a chance to have just "two surround channels on". I just it's not very requested from other people.

The B channel won't work because there's this receiver does not support a full 5.1 on a B channel. I would need that to get the surround working on the B surround. Again I want to be able to use 5.1 in a normal setup.

For some reason (after a week) I just thought of a solution : ) Since I run most of my music out of my computer I think I'll try to route the sound to the surround channels only and leave the receiver in straight effect (connected via digital coax)

 

[GlocksRock]

Put it in 7 channel stereo mode and turn off speakers A. But if you have a center channel hooked up, it will play out of this speaker as well.

 

[jcPanny]

B speaker location

The B channel won't work because there's this receiver does not support a full 5.1 on a B channel. I would need that to get the surround working on the B surround. Again I want to be able to use 5.1 in a normal setup.
QUOTE]

Your receiver (and my lower HTR-5860) has a setup option where you indicate the location of the B speakers. If you specify that they are in the same room (as A speakers and surrounds) then it will run the B speakers with the surrounds. If you specify that the B speakers are in a "different" room then the A speakers, then the receiver will only send audio to the B speakers and turn the center and surrounds off.

Here is another inexpensive option: External A/B speaker switch. Connects the Polks to either the surround channels OR the B speaker terminals on the receiver. B&Ws run off the A speaker terminals.

By the way, the B&Ws probably sound a lot better than the Polks for 2 channel listening.