Using A & B Speaker connections

[yikes]

I didn't think I was a complete idiot until I started hooking up everything I just bought! I now think I'm smart but inexperienced, and gaining experience with each mistake. I need some advice.

I have just purchased a pair of RTi6 speakers for mains in my smallish (12 x 16) living room. After hooking them up and slapping a DVD in (Vertical Limit) these speakers sound very good and are more than enough for the room. The room has tile floors and plaster walls, 8 foot ceiling, so it's pretty easy to overwhelm the room with sound. The RTi's are also sufficient for my tastes right now for music CD's as well.

What I now want to do is buy the RM 6005 surround speakers and hook them up to the receiver (Yamaha YTR 5650) and use only one sub (currently it's the PSW 202) with either the music set-up, the RTi's, or with the Movie/DVD set-up, the 6005's. Can I do that?

The receiver does have "A" and "B" speaker connections so I know I can set up two "mains", just not sure if I can cause any damage somewhere as I fumble my way through the set up. The next post will likely be how I wire all of this!

[ohskigod]

do you mean that you want to use the rm6005 as surround, and then have the rti6 as a seperate set of mains only for music use?

the people here will probably be able to help you, if no one posts, a picture of he back of the reciever might help me (as clear as possible).

[yikes]

Yes, I would like to use the rm's as the surround speakers and the RTi's for music CD's. I don't have a pic handy (I'm at the office) but if you copy the following link (page 13) shows the back of the receiver in some detail.

http://www.yamaha.com/yec/customer/manuals/HTR56505640_e.pdf

[dorokusai]

If your AVR has a "A+B" option, whether it is a switch, or menu option...then yes you could run two sets of mains, and run them at the same time, but why?

I personally wouldn't choose the RM6005 satellite speaker, for that experiment. What are the RTi's not doing for you? It is a fine choice, and coupled with a subwoofer, should sound fantastic. I own the previous version, and have zero plans on upgrading them at any time.

If you really want to try it.....wiring wise, its simple. You need to run speaker wire to each pair from the A and B connections on the rear of your AVR. If you have a switch for speaker selection, switch it to "A+B"....or use the menu to choose "A+B", as I am not sure exactly how Yamaha employs that method. It is certainly possible.

[dorokusai]

You are confusing me now. I don't know what exactly you are trying to explore here....5.1 Surround Sound....5.1 Music....or just another pair of speakers on the "B" end. If you hook up another set to the B terminals, you will only get front stage sound....no surround effects, nothing but stereo sound.

I would suggest that you use your RTi6+PSW202 for your main speaker, your "A" pair.....and forget about using the "B" idea until you at least hear that effort.

[George Grand]

If it's some kind of enhanced 2 channel stereo you're looking for, then you could always fire the back speakers away from the primary listening position, and diffuse the sound a bit. Even though they will be reproducing the same info that the "A" speakers are, it will be slightly diffuse, and could create an aura of spaciousness. If this IS what you're attempting, try firing those "B" back speakers up at the ceiling, or into the corners behind the primary listening position. You could also mount them directly in BACK of the "A" speakers, firing them towards the wall you're looking at from the primary listening position.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

[yikes]

Thanks for both replies (Dorokusai and George - OTJG). I'll try to clarify a bit better.

My idea is to use one pair (I'll say "B") only for stereo music. That pair right now would be the RTi6's. The "A" hookup would be the fronts to a surround system for Movie, mainly DVD. I would not plan to run both mains at the same time - although after reading both of your posts you've given some ideas to experiment with. Thanks.

Dorokusai, I did listen to the RTi's and the sub as the main "A" pair. Sounds good, although I'm not totally sold on the sub yet. But I still want some level of "surround" system. I agree that the 6005's are not sufficient. So I think the next step up is the 6700's.

Any thoughts?

[Loud & Clear]

I understand what you want to do, and I certainly think that it would be enjoyable for both two channel and movie surround. However, I think you could also avoid the sub/sat configuration altogether and pickup a center and surrounds that match the RTi6's, like the CSi3 and RTi4's. And there are lots of options for bigger, meaner subs.

[gatemplin]

Yes that would work as L&C said. I also agree that you should step up to Rtis all around, it will probably save you money.

[yikes]

OK, OK. It didn't take much to push me over the edge. I'm pretty sure at this point that I'll forget the surround in a box concept and get the center and rears instead.

Thanks for your comments, it's been helpful. I'm sure I'll be back sooner v later with the next issue as I continue to get this system working!