Multiroom / Pre-Outs

[BJG718]

So a few days ago I listed a thread about having 4 (a pair of klipsch SB-2s and a pair of Klipsch RB-35s) main speakers. I like how they sound together and I don't not have the vertical room for floorstanders. I thought about how I could get one source to feed both an HK 3480 and an HK AVR525 at the same time and have the HK3480 power the better speakers. I wanted to split a source optically and then amplify the signal to both of the receivers, but I received a plethora of other recommendations.

I am not sure how to accomplish this, but here are my points. 1) I would like to have the same digital processing of the AVR525 for the 3480 that is running the RB-35s. It would seem that if the tone control and volume control of the 525 takes over, then I would be wasting 45 watts: 120 wpc (HK3480) versus 75 wpc (AVR525)? Or would the 525 adjust for the extra power available from the external amp? 2) I guess all I want from the HK3480 is the extra power + volume control.

Which connections should I use to do this? Multiroom? Main-in on the 3480? multiroom-out on the 525? Pre-out on the 525?, etc... (please specify which exact connections to use because I don't completely understand) Lastly, coaxially or digital wires are required for whatever you recommend?

Thanks for your time!

 

[MDS]

It seems to me you have two different goals:
1. Use both sets of speakers at the same time but power the ones you prefer with the more powerful receiver (HK3480) and power the others with the HK525.
2. Use the HK525 to do all the digital processing (which means that the signal from your source MUST be routed to the HK525.)

Both 3480 and 525 have main-ins
You would need two Y adapters. HK 525 L pre-out -> Y adapter. One end of the Y adapter to the L main-in of the HK3480 and one end to the main-in of the HK525. Likewise for the R channel. The volume will be controlled by the 525 so just balance the channels as you normally would using the test tones and an SPL meter.

HK3480 has main-ins but HK525 does NOT
You would connect the L/R pre-out of the HK525 to the main-in on the HK3480. This will get the L/R signal from the 525 to the 3480 and you will have full volume control from the 525; however, the 525 will no longer amplify the L/R signal so you would have to have both sets of speakers wired to the 3480 (either in series or using a+b speaker terminals if it can handle 4 ohm loads). Not quite exactly what you want but close.

I don't think you will be able to use the zone2 feature to accomplish what you want because most receivers will not send any signal that arrived via the digital inputs out thru the zone 2 line-outs. Now you MAY be able to use the zone2 feature if the receiver has the option to power zone2 itself. You would connect the other two speakers to the zone2 speaker terminals and set the zone2 source to be the same as the main source. The 3480 would be connected as above by using the L/R pre-outs.

 

[BJG718]

Both 3480 and 525 have main-ins
You would need two Y adapters. HK 525 L pre-out -> Y adapter. One end of the Y adapter to the L main-in of the HK3480 and one end to the main-in of the HK525. Likewise for the R channel. The volume will be controlled by the 525 so just balance the channels as you normally would using the test tones and an SPL meter.

HK3480 has main-ins but HK525 does NOT
You would connect the L/R pre-out of the HK525 to the main-in on the HK3480. This will get the L/R signal from the 525 to the 3480 and you will have full volume control from the 525; however, the 525 will no longer amplify the L/R signal so you would have to have both sets of speakers wired to the 3480 (either in series or using a+b speaker terminals if it can handle 4 ohm loads). Not quite exactly what you want but close.

I don't think you will be able to use the zone2 feature to accomplish what you want because most receivers will not send any signal that arrived via the digital inputs out thru the zone 2 line-outs. Now you MAY be able to use the zone2 feature if the receiver has the option to power zone2 itself. You would connect the other two speakers to the zone2 speaker terminals and set the zone2 source to be the same as the main source. The 3480 would be connected as above by using the L/R pre-outs.

First, which method did you mean by saying using the L/R pre-outs by using the multiroom set-up? Secondly, what type of cable should I be using? Coax? I know everything will be terminated with RCAs but are interconnects like this...

radioshack stereo cables

or like this...

single coax cable

 

[MacManNM]

Your best bet is to use the L&R ppre outs on the unit that is doing the decoding to the pre input of the other receiver. If it doesn't have a pre in, then use the aux or tape input. Splitting the digital would work but you might run into a timing problem.

 

[MDS]

I meant use the pre-outs as in the first sentence: You would connect the L/R pre-out of the HK525 to the main-in on the HK3480.

It won't matter if you buy a stereo pair of cables that are joined together (that's for convenience only) or you use two separate single cables.