Pro Audio with AV Reciever

[Sabresguy]

I have a long question for anyone out there that can help. I am looking to build a system with PA speakers and wanna have my receiver so I can keep all my stuff connected like PS3, DVD/ Blu ray, CD...ect without having to get all PRO Audio equipment.
So here goes. I wanna get a Yamaha RX-V665 Receiver. Use Preouts for Mains and Subs. Would this work?
Receiver Pre out Mains to
ART CleanBOX Two Way Stereo Converter to
Crown XLS 802D Power Amplifier to
(2) Harbinger HX152 Dual 15 Inch Two Way Speakers

I would connect the Sub(s) using the same setup.

So basically I am wondering if this would be the proper set up?
I think it would work and would sound great.
Another question would be if this setup is possible, say I am running PS3 through HDMI or Optical in. When the signal goes through the pre out, would I get sound or would I have to hook everything up analog? Thanks guys hope I can get an answer

 

[tcarcio]

Yes,That is the correct way to hook up a pro amp. Also anything you hook up to your reciever whether it is hdmi, anolog, or digital it will be output by the preouts. I run my whole HT with pro amps and it works fantastic. I would go with something like the samson s-convert instead of the cleanbox because the cleanbox needs to be modified to work correctly with low freq's. It is OK to use for your mains and surrounds but I wouldn't use it for the sub without doing the mod.

 

[Sabresguy]

Another question for you. Just looked up the Samson convert. Good call. When I use these to connect to the amp....what would I want to set the convert adjustment level to?

 

[tcarcio]

Well I set my amps to full gain and then set my samsons at about 1/4 and then adjust from the reciever. It is something you will have to experiment with because each system will have some differences.

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

So basically I am wondering if this would be the proper set up?
I think it would work and would sound great.

Sure, it’ll work fine. Sound great? Depends on what “sounds great” to you.

The problem with PA speakers is they are not designed with the same priorities as home speakers. With good-quality home speakers, the priority is high fidelity – aka accurate sound. PA speakers, on the other hand, are primarily designed to play loud all day long in the outdoor sun without failing. For the money you’d spend on the Harbingers, you could buy some home speakers that would sound much better, even if they wouldn’t play as loud.

Also, I don’t know if the Crown amp is necessary. The Harbingers are much more efficient than most home speakers. This means that the Yamaha’s 90 watts will drive to the same volume levels as most home speakers with maybe 400 watts. Basically, if you were happy with the volume level you were getting with the home speakers you were using, you don’t need the Crown amp for the Harbingers.


Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[Sabresguy]

Thanks for the insight Wayne. I actually use to have two PA15's as my mains. They were connected to a Panasonic Reciever 5.1(100w per ch) I still have and they were 8 ohms so I could run them right into the reciever. Funny thing is the Pro Audio guys thought I was nuts. Those speakers were 500 watts RMS so techically they were right, in pro audio you wanna be pushing atleast an amp that can put out RMS into your speakers. I am excited to start building my dream system. Been in an apartment for years and could never pursue my ideal of putting HT and pro audio together. I think HT and pro audio guys have very different opinions and it's very interesting. Those PA 15's I had when I was growing up..... lets put it this way, parents made me sell them because the neighbors complained so much. I have yet to hear a $1000 dollar HT floorstanding speaker that could piss a neighbor off let alone neightbors. Well thanks again for the insight. And if you ever get the chance, buy a decent PA speaker. Between 250-500 for a center channel and I think most people would see HT is over priced and over rated in my opinion. Take care!

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

Hi Sabresguy,

I used to work for a pro audio company, so I’m not unfamiliar with it. I've only heard one PA speaker over the years that I thought sounded good enough to be considered audiophile quality.

What your pro audio buddies are forgetting is that your system is being used in a home, not an outdoor city park or a convention hall. A speaker’s RMS rating only means that’s how much power they can take. It means nothing if you don’t need to push them to the max.

It sounds like you like things loud, but I really doubt you plan on generating 118 dB in your living room? Bottom line, if you were getting all the volume you needed from your previous 100 watt receiver, then 100 watts is about all you’ll be using of the Crown amp’s 500 watts.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[Sabresguy]

Well Wayne to be honest I really am all about the music. I guess from my previous experience with my Yamaha PA 15's as mains I felt no HT Floor standing speaker could do that kind of justice with music. So to clear up any confusion I am most concerned with music. Although I do have a large collection of movies, music is what I want to sound the best. If you re-read my first post, the only thing I have purchased is the Crown Amp. It was on sale for 299 brand new, and after extensive looking around I couldn't find any amp that would push 800 watts at 4ohms at that price. I know I don't need that kinda power but if I want to take these speakers to parties or DJ ever I have that option. For 299 I couldn't pass that amp up. Bottom line I guess, I wanna rock out the music but not lose my PS3, Blu ray, DVD type connections. This is why I decided to pre out everything. I was looking at the Harman Kardon HK 3490. Do you think this would better fit my needs? Thanks for all your input! I have also decided to maybe go with these speakers as my mains instead of the Harbinger's. Yamaha S215V Dual 15". Add a sub to these eventually. So I figure with the Yamaha receiver I would run these speakers as my mains and run two channel. I think music wise these speakers can't be touched by any HT Floor standing(maybe I am wrong). Movies wise I think two channel DTS or Dobly would sound pretty nice. I know it wouldn't be the best, but it would get the job done I feel. Any input you have would be appreciated, thank Wayne!

 

[bandphan]

http://jtrspeakers.com/ If you want the best of both worlds.