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Hooking up amplifier

#1
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I have a Sony HT receiver pushing two Cerwin Vega VS-120's. I bought a Crowntech 1 amp to get more watts to them. I am having trouble hooking it up, I ran a splitter from the tape out on the receiver to the 1/4 jack channel plug on one of the channels on the amp. It works but the speaker is a lot more quiet even when I turn up the amp 3/4 of the way. Also the volume on the receiver does nothing when I turn it up and down.

The speaker had much more bass and was a lot louder when hooked up to just the receiver. I don't understand this because the receiver only puts out 50 watts and the amp puts out 220 at 4 ohm. I am not sure what I am doing wrong or why it is quieter, can anyone solve this puzzle for me?
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#2
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Re: Hooking up amplifier

Hmm, does your Sony AVR have pre-outs? (provide model number). Odd that you would use a Tape Out option as that would only output in stereo and if you are using a splitter, you'd be making it mono again.

Usually for seperates amplification, you connect your AVR to the AMP using seperate RCA cables for each channel (i.e. Left, Right...) but I'm not even sure what model Crown amp you have...
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#3
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Re: Hooking up amplifier

The model number for the receiver is Sony STR SE 501. I have a cable that goes from two RCA outputs to two 1/4 jacks for the amp. The amplifier is a Crown Power-tech 1.1. Here is a PDF file for it:

http://www.crownaudio.com/pdf/legacy/132800.pdf
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#4
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Re: Hooking up amplifier

You're pretty limited on your outputs. You might try the audio outs listed under video, but this may be the same. These outputs are designed for sending out a constant signal to a recording device irrespective of the volume on the receiver. If you were recording something you were listening too, or taping something you were watching on TV on a VCR, you wouldn't want the volume of the recording to change with the listening volume. This receiver is just not designed as a pre-amp and does not have line-level outputs.
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#5
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Re: Hooking up amplifier

I have a Yamaha HTR-5930 receiver also, is there anyway to use that and have the volume of the receiver work and maybe solve this problem?
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#6
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Re: Hooking up amplifier

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shuck
I have a Yamaha HTR-5930 receiver also, is there anyway to use that and have the volume of the receiver work and maybe solve this problem?
I don't think that model has pre-outs either.
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#7
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Re: Hooking up amplifier

Damn, is there something I could hook up like an equalizer or mixer or something that would make this work or a good receiver that is not to expensive that I could get?
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#8
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Re: Hooking up amplifier


What's your idea of "not too expensive?"

You could get something like the Behringer 502 and connect the receiver's tape outputs to it. Then you'd have a volume control.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
My Equipment List
“A nice mid-fi system,” according to an audiophile acquaintance.

My Tech / DIY Articles and Reviews
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#9
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Re: Hooking up amplifier

I don't know much about mixers will that hook into my home receiver and amp ok?
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#10
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Re: Hooking up amplifier


Yup - all you need is cables with RCAs on one end and 1/4" plugs on the other.

1/4-Inch to RCA Cables from zZounds.com

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
My Equipment List
“A nice mid-fi system,” according to an audiophile acquaintance.

My Tech / DIY Articles and Reviews
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