Question about Receivers

[dcshoeman2k4]

I am looking to build a loud home stereo system. I am planning on getting a 2 (maybe more) Cerwin Vega floor standing speakers and a powered 15" cerwin vega sub(already got the sub). Im planning on buying 3 amps. I would like to buy 2 simple 200 watt external audiosource amps (1 for each of the floor standing speakers) The amps im looking at are very simple with basically just left and right RCA input and a gain or volume nob. Now I'm planning on having many different audio sources (Music from my pc, my iPod, dvd player, cable box, etc.) I want 1 receiver where I can hook up all these different inputs and have 1 RCA audio output to got to the powered sub and the 2 external amps powering the main speakers. That way I can cycle through 5 or more inputs and have it all come out through 1 remote controlled output. Thanks

 

[mtrycrafts]

... I want 1 receiver where I can hook up all these different inputs and have 1 RCA audio output to got to the powered sub and the 2 external amps powering the main speakers. That way I can cycle through 5 or more inputs and have it all come out through 1 remote controlled output. Thanks

Well, that isn't going to happen exactly as you are thinking it would be nice.
You will have 1 RCA going to the sub, you will have 1 RCA from the right ch. pre out on the receiver and 1 RCA from the left ch. pre out to the amp you will use to drive the speakers. So, your receiver better have those pre outs.

Then, with all your inputs, you will be able to just tell the receiver by remote which input you want to listen to.

If this is acceptable, there are many such receivers out there.

 

[dcshoeman2k4]

Well, that isn't going to happen exactly as you are thinking it would be nice.
You will have 1 RCA going to the sub, you will have 1 RCA from the right ch. pre out on the receiver and 1 RCA from the left ch. pre out to the amp you will use to drive the speakers. So, your receiver better have those pre outs.

Then, with all your inputs, you will be able to just tell the receiver by remote which input you want to listen to.

If this is acceptable, there are many such receivers out there.

Thank you mtrycraft for taking the time to reply to my topic. Now, (this may be a stupid question, but bare with me) can you define "pre-out" for me?

The whole reason I made this thread was because I bought a Sony receiver off eBay thinking that this would be the master control for all my inputs. It has 2 AV inputs with outputs. When I hooked all the AV up to Video 1 nothing came out of the Video 1 outputs. However, sound did come out of the Video 2 outputs, but the volume nob on the front wouldnt change the volume, it just came out at full blast (and vice-versa). I don't know if its just because the product is defective or if no amps have RCA audio outputs where you can control the volume.

More input would be greatly appreciated. Maybe someone could give me a better way of going about what I'm trying to do. Thanks!

 

[Thaedium]

Pre-outs are utilized by a receiver or pre-amp to pass the power handling onto another source. It also passes the audio signal onto that other source as well. So to have two seperate amps power the front Left and Right you will require two pre-outs for each speaker.

Don't confuse this with the inputs on the back of the receiver for the media being used. For instance, you may hook up your DVD player via component cable, or HDMI or toslink for instance to the Video 1 section. Now the receiver decodes the signal and would normally send the analog signal via the binding posts to the speakers. Its own built in amp would handle the load normally. However, with seperate amps connected properly all the receiver does is decode and pass on the signal to the amps which handle the powering and passage of the analog signal to the speakers. The only way you can do this though is if you have pre-outs for seperate amplification. Without that, you will need to upgrade your receiver.

As for receivers that can do this, and handle multiple sources for media - there are tonnes out there. Pioneer Elite's THX-92VSX and 94VSX will do that no problems, along with comperable receivers from Yamaha, Denon, Onkyo, Marantz, etc etc.

 

[dcshoeman2k4]

Pre-outs are utilized by a receiver or pre-amp to pass the power handling onto another source. It also passes the audio signal onto that other source as well. So to have two seperate amps power the front Left and Right you will require two pre-outs for each speaker.

Don't confuse this with the inputs on the back of the receiver for the media being used. For instance, you may hook up your DVD player via component cable, or HDMI or toslink for instance to the Video 1 section. Now the receiver decodes the signal and would normally send the analog signal via the binding posts to the speakers. Its own built in amp would handle the load normally. However, with seperate amps connected properly all the receiver does is decode and pass on the signal to the amps which handle the powering and passage of the analog signal to the speakers. The only way you can do this though is if you have pre-outs for seperate amplification. Without that, you will need to upgrade your receiver.

As for receivers that can do this, and handle multiple sources for media - there are tonnes out there. Pioneer Elite's THX-92VSX and 94VSX will do that no problems, along with comperable receivers from Yamaha, Denon, Onkyo, Marantz, etc etc.

So.... When I look on the back of a Sony receiver and it has Video 1 inputs and Video 1 outputs will those video 1 outputs work as preouts?
This is what the back of my unit sesentially looks like. (apparently my post count isnt high enough to post a picture... zzz...)



As you can see, it clearly has Audio IN and aduio OUT. I hooked up a dvd player to the input on Video 1(Red, White, and Yellow), yet I dont get any audio or video signals coming out of the OUTPUT of Video 1. Am I doing something wrong? Surely I dont need to spend a grand on a receiver than can take in and put out a audio signal through ther RCA ports.

 

[mtrycrafts]

So.... When I look on the back of a Sony receiver and it has Video 1 inputs and Video 1 outputs will those video 1 outputs work as preouts?
This is what the back of my unit sesentially looks like. (apparently my post count isnt high enough to post a picture... zzz...)



As you can see, it clearly has Audio IN and aduio OUT. I hooked up a dvd player to the input on Video 1(Red, White, and Yellow), yet I dont get any audio or video signals coming out of the OUTPUT of Video 1. Am I doing something wrong? Surely I dont need to spend a grand on a receiver than can take in and put out a audio signal through ther RCA ports.

A receiver should have a master video out indicating to monitor, or something like that for video. then, the input selector will select which video is going to the monitor and its audio being processed.
Also, if that is a multi channel receiver, it should have outs designated by channel or indicating pre out and channel, eg. pre out left front. this audio is where an RCA cable is used to connect an external amp to.

Which receiver did you get, perhaps it is still on line someplace with a picture of the back panel.

 

[Seth=L]

So.... When I look on the back of a Sony receiver and it has Video 1 inputs and Video 1 outputs will those video 1 outputs work as preouts?
This is what the back of my unit sesentially looks like. (apparently my post count isnt high enough to post a picture... zzz...)



As you can see, it clearly has Audio IN and aduio OUT. I hooked up a dvd player to the input on Video 1(Red, White, and Yellow), yet I dont get any audio or video signals coming out of the OUTPUT of Video 1. Am I doing something wrong? Surely I dont need to spend a grand on a receiver than can take in and put out a audio signal through ther RCA ports.

If there are preouts on that receiver, they will be labeled as such. What is the Model number of the Sony receiver? How do you have the Audiosource amplifiers connected to it right now, or are the Audiosource amplifiers being used at all?

 

[dcshoeman2k4]

I dont have 5 post counts so I cannot post links

 

[dcshoeman2k4]

1 more post for 5.... lol

 

[dcshoeman2k4]

A receiver should have a master video out indicating to monitor, or something like that for video. then, the input selector will select which video is going to the monitor and its audio being processed.
Also, if that is a multi channel receiver, it should have outs designated by channel or indicating pre out and channel, eg. pre out left front. this audio is where an RCA cable is used to connect an external amp to.

Which receiver did you get, perhaps it is still on line someplace with a picture of the back panel.

This is very similar to the unit I have.




All I want is a receiver where I can hook up like 5 different types of inputs (Dvd player, PC, iPod, Cable Box, etc.) and have one RCA output controlling the master volume going to the external amps.

 

[Seth=L]

This is very similar to the unit I have.

All I want is a receiver where I can hook up like 5 different types of inputs (Dvd player, PC, iPod, Cable Box, etc.) and have one RCA output controlling the master volume going to the external amps.

If you tell me the model number to yours I can find out for sure if it has preouts or not. The one pictured does not have preouts.

 

[dcshoeman2k4]

If you tell me the model number to yours I can find out for sure if it has preouts or not. The one pictured does not have preouts.

Sony STR-DE825

 

[Seth=L]

Sony STR-DE825

Well I can't seem to find a picture of the rear of that unit or details concerning whether it has preamplifier outputs or not. If you get the time, just take picture of the rear of yours. If the Sony STR-DE825 has preouts they will be labeled similar to this "Multichannel preout" or "Preout", something to that effect.

 

[PENG]

This Sony does not have the preouts for power amps.

http://esupport.sony.com/perl/model-documents.pl?mdl=STRDE825

The audio outs are for connection to VCR and tape deck etc. You can however, use those audio outs for connection to a preamp, that will in turn allow you to control the volume. If you connect those audio outs directly to your power amps, you will get "full blast" as you have already found out.

 

[cbraver]

This is sketchy, but here is my temporary solution: Use "Second Audio Out" ... then control everything from zone 2 / B-channel. That's a pre-out. For the subs, use a y cable and just cross over the subs.

Haha, whatever works.

 

[Thaedium]

Alright, I'll try to illustrate some things to help you out here.



So this is what pre-outs look like. The difference between this and what you are trying to do by using the RCA's on your Video 1 output are significant.

Utilizing a receiver that has Pre-outs and using them allows all audio to be handled by the amps regardless of what Input Selection you make. So if you have a DVD player connected to Video 1, X-box to Video 2, and Satellite to TV/Sat and you select Video 1, or select Video 2 the audio will go through the designated Pre-outs to your amps.

What you've been trying to do is connect the RCA's to the Outs on the Video 1. The problem with this is that it will blast the amp as PENG has already mentioned. Further, the only time the Amp's will be in use is when you have specifically selected Video 1 as your input, if you ever wanted your Video 2 device to output audio over the Amp's you would have to re-wire your whole situation. cbraver's idea might work, though I don't think that would be the optimal solution. PENG's suggestion of using a seperate pre-amp also has the same problem of whenever you want a different source to output audio over the amps you will need to re-wire stuff/

From your original post, my guess is that you should be looking into buying a new Receiver or Pre-amp with the ability to do what you want more effectively. There are many in the $1000 range that can easily accomplish this task.

 

[PENG]

PENG's suggestion of using a seperate pre-amp also has the same problem of whenever you want a different source to output audio over the amps you will need to re-wire stuff/

From your original post, my guess is that you should be looking into buying a new Receiver or Pre-amp with the ability to do what you want more effectively. There are many in the $1000 range that can easily accomplish this task.

I didn't mean to suggest he actually does it with pre-amps. For reasons you cited, it is not a practical solution at all. I agree, he really should consider getting a new receiver. Unless he needs the latest features, a RX-V659 may be going for less than $300 these days. It has pre-outs for all 7.1 channels and the onboard amps are reasonably strong.

 

[dcshoeman2k4]

Thank you very, very much Thaedium for your reply. This was exactly what I wanted to know and you explained it in a way even noob like me could understand.

Now the only reason I want a receiver with pre out's is to control the 2 or more external amps I will be using to power some heavy duty cerwin vega's. I couldn't care less about hdmi, or 7.1 or dolby or any of that technical stuff. So, getting a $1,000 top-of-the-line amp would be an impractical route for me to go.

I'm taking your advice and junking the Sony receiver and am going to start over. Now I'm just a newly wed kid who doesnt have thousands of dollars to spend on my audio system, however, I did some checking on eBay and was able to find some decent looking Denon receivers with preouts in the 100-300 dollar price range.

Like this one



Surely something like this would suffice? It has preouts which is what we've determined I need. Anyways, I think I've found out what I needed to know. If anyone who is an eBay fanatic like me knows of some decent Denon models floating around in the 100-300 dollar price range that they use or like let me know!

 

[PENG]

I did some checking on eBay and was able to find some decent looking Denon receivers with preouts in the 100-300 dollar price range.

You can get one of this new for around a little over $300.

http://cart.shopping.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?action.add=&MfcISAPICommand=ExpressCart&itemid=150204537083

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/receivers/yamaha-rx-v659/overview-and-build-quality

 

[Addy]

wow 200 watts per channel...ear bleeding