Just bought a Denon AVR-590. Can I hook...

[BudgetHT]

... an amp to the Denons pre out and run my mains as the "front highs" and still maintain a 5.1 set up?
I bought this receiver accidentally last night(long story. Yes alcohol was involved). I want to try an Emotiva 2ch amp(UPA-2) for my fronts, but I really don't need an amp for my rears and I don't want to add another channel to the system for 7.1.

 

[m_vanmeter]

I do not think the Denon 590 has "pre-outs". Manufacturers are not using pre-outs anymore on the lower cost AVR units.

 

[BudgetHT]

Oh it has pre outs, but not for all zones. Just for the surrounds or front highs so you can essentially make it a 7.1.

 

[BudgetHT]

I've been doing some research and it looks like the surround back/front height pre outs are for PL IIz effects only.
So I guess if I use an amp on the "front height" section to connect the main fronts instead of the standard F R/L inputs I would be missing all the F R/L signals.
What I'm trying to do is set that portion up for 2ch audio(music).

 

[jvgillow]

Yes the reason why Denon included those particular pre-outs is because it's their budget AVR and they don't include 7 amplifiers, only 5.

It would probably cost them as a manufacturer less than $5 to add all the other channel pre-outs, but they really want you to buy a more expensive model in order to use separate amps for the main surround channels.

Normally the only option with that type of receiver is to use a high-to-low level converter, which degrades fidelity. If it was strictly a 2-channel system and you had an integrated amp (with its own volume control), the receiver could be used as a basic source switcher by utilizing the VCR/Tape pre-outs but that's about it.

 

[BudgetHT]

Thanks for the info Jeremy.
You know I have been researching the "front height" DPLIIz and I may give it a try. Sounds intriguing. I'm thinking of picking up an Emotiva UPA-5 and another set of TSS-Bs before TSC closes shop. That way if I don't care for the sound I can still use the UPA-5 on a different receiver to use all 5 channels.