V663 questions for all you familiar

[roll - gybe]

Hey guys, I like the features on the 663 for my media room/basement/deck area.

I have some specific questions, and the manual didn't quite hit them all.

1) I will have 3 zones for the mains. Can I run an amp off the L/R preout for zone 3? If so will I still have a signal in zones 1 & 2? The manual just said not to try this...

2) Is there a way to cross over the second zone differently than the first zone? Eg: Zone 1 at 60, Zone 2 at 40?

3) If (1) works, what is the crossover point of the pre-out?

4) Are the crossover points variable for the mains vs the rears?

5) I like to play music pretty faithfully, while I like my sub hot for movies. Is there a way to set the level of the sub out based upon whether I am listening to music vs. movies?

Thanks!!!

 

[GlocksRock]

Not sure about 1 - 3, but I can answer 4 & 5...

You can not adjust crossover point, they are the same for all speakers, which I think Yamaha needs to get with the program and allow for variable crossover points for all channels.

No, you can not set separate sub level based on movies or music, it's the same for all sources.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

If I remember correctly, zones outside of 1 are unprocessed so you cant set anything, only full range goes to those speakers.

You can just use zone 2 for your other two zones and use impedence matched volume controls. Adding an amp for zone 2 shouldnt be an issue either and the manual on my Yammy says it's fine.

 

[roll - gybe]

Thanks GG for the response. Here is what I found on page 24 of the manual:

"When you make connections to the PRE OUT jacks, do not make connections to the SPEAKERS terminals."

Is this just preventing something really stupid from happening, or is this indicating that if the preout is hooked up, then there will be no signal to the speaker-level connector (receiver's amp output)?

Here's how I would set this up if it were to work:
1- 5.1 in the HTR
2- Zone 2 in adjacent pool room
3- Pre-out to small sonic impact integrated powering outdoor speakers.

My only audio source I would ever want to run to zones 2/3 would be audio supplied by a Squeezebox. Currently this is hooked up via digital cable to my receiver (which only uses the sub with a digital hookup... old receiver). I could split off an analog to the zone 3 integrated if this proposed set up doesn't float and if the 663 crosses over to the sub with an analog signal.

Each zone would play the same source as zone 1. So, I wouldn't be watching a movie inside and listening to music outside. That is just excessive!

The manual states that zone 2 speaker-level out is fully analog. Does that mean that there is no crossover?

Also, if there are pre-outs for the mains, I would have to imagine that they are, in fact crossed over... is this correct?

 

[roll - gybe]

You can just use zone 2 for your other two zones and use impedence matched volume controls.

Can you explain this one? I think you are running with knowledge that exceeds my own.

So, you are saying I can run 2 sets of speakers off zone 2? That would be great!

 

[ParadigmDawg]

You could run around 8 if you have the power and use impedence matched VCs. Iam not the expert on this as I just ran mine this way last weekend.

Can you explain this one? I think you are running with knowledge that exceeds my own.

So, you are saying I can run 2 sets of speakers off zone 2? That would be great!

 

[ParadigmDawg]

"Thanks GG for the response. Here is what I found on page 24 of the manual:

"When you make connections to the PRE OUT jacks, do not make connections to the SPEAKERS terminals."

If you use pre-out there is no power going to the speaker terminals on the AVR.

Fully analog means you will need to run a redundant set up for zone two using the analog side (RCA cables).

 

[WLS]

Zone 2 and 3

I have set up my 663 with the pre-outs to an Adcom amp with a volume control as a quasi Zone 3. The integrated amps are assigned to Zone 2 and use the receiver volume control. Only analog signals can be used. To get sound from Zone 3 you must turn on Zone 2, select an analog source and turn on the amp. It works, but I recently got a message saying that there was an extra zone 2 assigned.

 

[roll - gybe]

Thanks, guys. I just want to first resolve something.

GG - you are saying that by using the pre-outs, no power goes to the speaker terminals. I find this a little odd - does the receiver know that the pre-outs are plugged in and thus it will not power it's own amps?

WLS - you seem to say that you have used the pre-outs the way I was thinking... When you use them to the int amp, does it disable the speaker level output?

GG - is there a resource that you used to set up your extra zones, or could you describe how you did it?


I really feel like it shouldn't be hard to run a main L/R low level out to another amp. Just don't want to get surprised to the contrary.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I am not sure if the terminal are live or not when you use pre-outs but it shouldnt matter.


I would use zone 2 with impedance matching VCs in each room. You'll have to splice all the wires together since you have only 2 speaker terminals for zone 2. The VC has 4 inputs and 4 outputs so the easiest way is to run 4 conductor wire from the VC in each room to the receiver location. You can chose to assign the AVR internal amp to zone 2 or use your external amp.

 

[roll - gybe]

the analog only issue made me think...and i think i came up with another solution.

i can just run the analog out of my squeezebox to the zone 3 amp, and run my current B speakers the same way to zone 2. Problem solved, no preouts needed.

one day, I will find the piece of gear that makes this all work pretty seamlessly, but until then I will just jam it through.

Now I just have to deal with a reciever with a really poor LFE rolloff.

 

[WLS]

What you just described will certainly work. The note on page 24 of the user manual refers to the main pre-outs not the zone 2 stereo pre-outs. I can find nothing that tells you not to connect zone 2 pre-outs at the same time you have two of the integrated amps assigned to zone 2.
I believe that if you use the B speaker option that you totally lose the option of having different sources for the main room and zone 2. This may not be a problem for you. I like that capability and what would be more important to me is that you don't have a separate volume control for zone 2. The volume for your a and b speakers will be at the same level, and unless the speakers are the same, you may have dramatically different sound.

 

[roll - gybe]

very good points. thanks for helping draw them out!

 

[jcPanny]

Outboard amp.

FYI,
If you have a decent amp that is stable into 4 ohms, you can connect 2 pairs of 8 ohms speakers directly to it. Otherwise, if the receiver is powering these speakers, use the IMVCs or an Impedance Matching speaker selector as Greg sugested.

I would connect the SB3 through the receiver so that you can hear it in all of the rooms.

 

[roll - gybe]

thanks for the reply, I have actually used this an opportunity to learn about impedence matching volume control and speaker selectors. Previously, I thought one pair of speakers = one amp.

jc - I actually have 3 sb3s throughout the house, so I can synch those. I am trying to get easy coverage for my basement areas, and I think I'm in business.

One potential strategy is to run a digitial out to the receiver and run analog to the zone 3 integrated. You can actually hook up all 3 SB3 outputs at once. This would meet my needs.

Alternatively, I could add IMVC and split the zone 2 output.

For now, I can get this done with the first option without any new gear. Free! Well I guess there is a cost to having extra gear around the house... hehe

A very informative session. New purchases are delayed!