Basic pre-amp output to amplifier questions

[jwhitakr]

I've had the same old AV receiver for many years now, and have never used separate amplifiers before. I'm planning to purchase a new AV receiver with pre-amp outputs soon, and also purchasing separate amplifiers to power my left, right and center speakers.

My first basic question is about the interconnect cable needed from the pre-amp output on the AV receiver to connect to the amplifier. From what I can tell from searching the Polk forums, for each speaker I need an RCA cable with a male connector for the pre-out connection and 2 male connectors for the amplifier connection. Is that right?

My second basic question is whether or not I can re-use the RCA cables that I have now. I have a few sets of old RCA cables with the red and white male connectors on both ends. Can I use those, or do I need to use different RCA cables?

Thanks in advance for any help. :)

[cfrizz]

Red to red, white to white, from amp to receiver. Yes you can use your old IC's.

[reeltrouble1]

No, you need single ended RCA connectors.

You plug one end to the receiver pre-out and the other to the amplifier channel input, you run speaker cables from the amplifier to each speaker.

Yes, you can use any standard RCA patch cord and it will work, not to say we do not debate endlessly about which ones to use.

RT1

[engtaz]

Your AVR does not have all channels pre amp out, only subwoofer. You can't use your AVR as a pre amp.

[jwhitakr]

Hmm... thanks for the replies guys, but I'm still not 100% clear based on all of the pictures I've seen of AV receiver pre-amp outputs and pictures I've seen of amplifier inputs. Maybe I am making this too hard ... let's look at a simple example.

In the picture of the back of the HK AVR 247 shown here (http://www.harmankardon.com/back.aspx?prod=AVR%20247&cat=REC&sType=C&Region=USA&Country=US&Language=ENG&ImgName=AVR247B.jpg), you can see that each speaker has one pre-amp output connector. Let's say that I want to amplify the "FL" speaker (I am assuming FL means front left speaker).

In the picture of the back of the 2-channel Audiosource amp shown here (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=24798&d=1179018780), you will see that each of the "Line 1" and "Line 2" inputs has two connectors ... a red and a white input.

So if I want to amplify the "FL" speaker, do I need an RCA cable with one connector on one end (for the AV receiver) and two connectors on the other end (for the amplifier)?

Thanks again for the help. :D

[jwhitakr]

Your AVR does not have all channels pre amp out, only subwoofer. You can't use your AVR as a pre amp.

Yes, I understand that. That's why I said in my original post that I am planning to purchase a new AVR. ;)

[NeilGabriel]

The amp is most likely a stereo amp with two channels. Thus one output woud connect to one line in and another out would connect to the other line in. The amp would run two speakers (or 4 in the a+b mode). Anybody buing that?

[reeltrouble1]

Do not use A+B and try to run four speakers from your pre-pro to that amp.

if you were to look at a 5-channel amp you would see five individual inputs.

a three channel amp three individual inputs

a two channel amp two individual inputs

and a one channel amp (mono block) one input.

Don't think about stereo marked Left or Right, think about it as a channel, you send the signal you want from the pre/pro to the amp channel to the speaker.

You Kapish..............

RT1

[engtaz]

this should show you pre amp outs. this is a Denon 4802 backpanel

[jwhitakr]

Appreciate the help - thanks guys!

[JJ5484]

Hi Folks.

I apologize in advance as this will be a lay-up for you all. I too have the same issue as mentioned. I am brand new to the whole audiophile life picking up a Polk RM6800 with a 2 channel amp and a Denon AVR-2807 as the receiver. Basically the receiver has a single red RCA jack for the pre-out SW but the Polk SW has both red and white connections. I read the whole string but don't understand what to do. Technically I am pretty sound having worked in high-tech for 15 years. This is alien territory for me though. Help...

Also, I have connected the surround speakers to the AVR directly (as per Denon) instead of to the SW as is recommended by Polk. Can you all tell me the pros and cons to the setup the way it is? Suggestions on the best way to hook it up?

Thanks.
JJ5484

[liordra]

Here is a thread you might find informative. http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40723
Your surround speakers are connected jest fine, The Denon way.
connecting the surround from the sub makes no sense, unless the SW is used just by the surround channels, and connectted to their speaker level.

[reeltrouble1]

The Polk Way is to connect the front mains to the sub not the surrounds. So if you want to try it this way you connect the:

Receiver Front R & L to Sub In R & L using speaker wire.

Sub out R & L speaker wire out to the Front R & L.

In the Denon Reciever set-up set subwoofer to NO.

RT1

[MGPK]

The Polk Way is to connect the front mains to the sub not the surrounds. So if you want to try it this way you connect the:

Receiver Front R & L to Sub In R & L using speaker wire.

Sub out R & L speaker wire out to the Front R & L.

In the Denon Reciever set-up set subwoofer to NO.

RT1

To properly connect the sub is to take a single end rca cable from the sub out on your receiver and connect it to the left input on your sub (if you like, get a y adapter-single female end to two male ends to fill both inputs on your sub). Run all of your speakers from the receiver, then access your menu on your Denon receiver, specifically your bass management section, set all your speakers to small and sub to yes and then set your crossover for your sub (usually twice the low end dropoff of your speakers). As well, turn your crossover on your sub up all the way.

Most AVR's have a better crossover than what the sub has, and sometimes, you may be filtering your bass twice. This method allows your receiver to run more efficiently.

[JJ5484]

You folks are the best. Thanks from the newbie.
Jim

[reeltrouble1]

To properly connect the sub is to take a single end rca cable from the sub out on your receiver and connect it to the left input on your sub (if you like, get a y adapter-single female end to two male ends to fill both inputs on your sub). Run all of your speakers from the receiver, then access your menu on your Denon receiver, specifically your bass management section, set all your speakers to small and sub to yes and then set your crossover for your sub (usually twice the low end dropoff of your speakers). As well, turn your crossover on your sub up all the way.

Most AVR's have a better crossover than what the sub has, and sometimes, you may be filtering your bass twice. This method allows your receiver to run more efficiently.

nevermind its not worth the aggravation.

you can do it either way Jim, welcome to Club Polk, the way I described is known as the Polk Way since it is recommended in the owner's manuals.

RT1

[koyaan]

jwhitaker :From the picture, What you've got there is definitly not a 5 channel amp. An integrated amp mabey ?
If your going to use a seperate amp, why buy an AV receiver at all? Your just paying for an amplifier section that you won't use. You might want to consider a pre-amp/digital sound processor. you'd likely get better performance for your money. I run an Outlaw 990 pre/pro with a 770 amp and would never contemplate going back to an AV receiver.
JJ5484: you've got a choice of 2 ways to hook up your sub. You coud set your processor to "front large" and "subwoffer no" and run hour FR and FL speaker wires from the receiver ( or amp) to the subwofer "ins" then run
speaker wire from the subwoffer speaker level "outs" to your speakers. With this set-up uou would need to adjust the low pass settings on your sub to control the base crossover point.
Alternatively, could run a singll RCA cabel from your receiver or amp ( you could use a "Y" adapter if you like, but a single cable run to either of the 2 inputs will work fine and it doesn't matter which one) to the sub and set the
sub's low pass filtering to "off". you could then ise either 'Large" or "Small" settings for your front speakers and let the receiver or pre/pro contol the bass. ( This is what I do with the Outlaw as it has great bass management capabilities).

[john22614]

MGPK......very well written instrutions...i am managing my bass on my lsi9's and lsic with psw1000 exactly as you describe... but i have one question...why are you advising to turn the crossover on the sub all the way up?......just curious because i have mine set at 90.

thanks, john

[cfrizz]

Polk's way makes it unecessarily confusing & complicated! Especially if you are a newbie.

nevermind its not worth the aggravation.

you can do it either way Jim, welcome to Club Polk, the way I described is known as the Polk Way since it is recommended in the owner's manuals.

RT1

[ben62670]

Hmm... thanks for the replies guys, but I'm still not 100% clear based on all of the pictures I've seen of AV receiver pre-amp outputs and pictures I've seen of amplifier inputs. Maybe I am making this too hard ... let's look at a simple example.

In the picture of the back of the HK AVR 247 shown here (http://www.harmankardon.com/back.aspx?prod=AVR%20247&cat=REC&sType=C&Region=USA&Country=US&Language=ENG&ImgName=AVR247B.jpg), you can see that each speaker has one pre-amp output connector. Let's say that I want to amplify the "FL" speaker (I am assuming FL means front left speaker).

In the picture of the back of the 2-channel Audiosource amp shown here (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=24798&d=1179018780), you will see that each of the "Line 1" and "Line 2" inputs has two connectors ... a red and a white input.

So if I want to amplify the "FL" speaker, do I need an RCA cable with one connector on one end (for the AV receiver) and two connectors on the other end (for the amplifier)?

Thanks again for the help. :D

Do you have the products listed in this post here already?
If you do then you can just take an RCA patch cord, and use the pre out to the line in on your amp. Red to red, and white to white. I don't think that small amp would help much over a beefier amp. The HK probably does just about as good by itself. It would however take some load off the AVR.

(hey guy's I didn't say Adcom:p )
Ben