Old HK Receiver as Sub Amp?

[Sirbuildalots]

Can I use my old HK receiver as an amp for my sub? If I use the sub line out from the Onkyo 502 to the line in on the HK and then hook the sub up to the speaker outs will it work or is there a better way?

 

[BluesDaddy]

Can I use my old HK receiver as an amp for my sub? If I use the sub line out from the Onkyo 502 to the line in on the HK and then hook the sub up to the speaker outs will it work or is there a better way?

Should work no problem given it has enough power not to clip during especially loud passages (or movie soundtracks). I use an old H/K Integrated to power my DIY sub. Works fine at moderate levels, but I can hear it clip if I try to overdrive it. I keep planning on buy a nice, dedicated power amp to replace it, but other things keep getting in the way.

 

[Sirbuildalots]

That's exactly what's going on. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Sirbuildalots]

I just tried it last night and I got sound but no volume controll. From my Onkyo TX-SR502 I used the sub out to the HK 3370's main in and the speaker is connected to the regular speaker terminals. Am I doing something wrong here? Thanks for the help.

 

[BluesDaddy]

I just tried it last night and I got sound but no volume controll. From my Onkyo TX-SR502 I used the sub out to the HK 3370's main in and the speaker is connected to the regular speaker terminals. Am I doing something wrong here? Thanks for the help.

My guess is that the "main ins" by-pass the pre-amp so you're basically using the amp section as a separate power amp. The level would be set using the Onkyo set-up menu for the sub level.

A different way would be to use one of the H/Ks line level inputs (Aux, Tape, etc.). Then you have control over the level with the H/K's volume control as well (if that is what you want). My H/K integrated (from 1984) doesn't have pre-out/main-in connections, so I had to do it this way. IMO, it is *not* the preferable way.