What's new

Conundrum - old amp better for music (1 Viewer)

Joined
Aug 17, 2014
Messages
15
Real Name
Dwayne
I need a way to use my 22-year-old amp for music control, and my brand-new-POS for surround-sound !

I have a 22 year old Kenwood KR-V8040 that is a superlative music driver. It has A&B speaker selectors that can be driven simultaneously and out-stretched 120W per amplifiers that don't even heat up when driving full speed. With my Onkyo 12-band EQ controlling the balance, it blows away my brand new $850 Yamaha by having very solid control over pure signal without all the "processing" screwing things up. WHAT IT DOESN'T HAVE IS SUBWOOFER OUTPUT or surround sound !

My new Yamaha has subwoofer outs (obviously), and surround sound. However, the digital processing of my music is distorting and cutting quality. While listening to music, you can shove 7 channels up your ass. What it takes is undiluted, unfucked-with signal, plenty of power, and a good 4 speakers plus your subs.

I want my Kenwood driving my music, meaning my front and rear speakers. I need the new POS Yamaha for subwoofer signal and surround sound while watching movies.

HOW TO DO THIS ?????????
 

Al.Anderson

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2002
Messages
2,736
Real Name
Al
All you need is a new receiver with preouts and you're home free! You didn't list the model of the Yamaha, so I don't know if it has pre-outs, but you can get pre-outs on most mid to high-end receivers.
 

schan1269

HTF Expert
HW Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2012
Messages
17,104
Location
Chicago-ish/NW Indiana
Real Name
Sam
He's complianing his Onkyo 805(maybe 905) is underpowering his 95db efficient Klipsch.Your Onkyo has preouts. Hook them up to the Kenwood.But since you still don't get gradual volume doubling...instead of the straight line used 20 years ago, it probably won't make any difference.
 
Joined
Aug 17, 2014
Messages
15
Real Name
Dwayne
The Yamaha is a RX A830.

Al - how am I home free?

Sam - Here's the full equipment list at this point:

Yamaha RX A830 receiver that gives me sub outs, 7.2 surround, but overly synthetic sound IMO
Kenwood KR V8040 - 20 yo ProLogic receiver with A/B speakers, no subwoofer outs, but options to drive music without a lot of DSP
Front speakers: DCM Timeframe 600's , showing signs of age( they chatter at about -2db on the Yamaha, but I've EQ'd the sound to push them to their limits)
Rear speakers: Klipsch R15-M.
2 Klipsch 12-inch powered subs.
Onkyo EQ 35 12-band
No center channel speaker yet, nor the middle surround speakers for a full 7.2 setup.

What I've considered is hooking the Front speakers to the Kenwood/Onkyo EQ, and driving the rest from the Yamaha. Assuming that gives me the music quality I'm seeking, I don't know how to switch over to surround sound for a movie when my front speakers will no longer be connected to the surround receiver.

Also, if you're familiar with Yamaha's sound-field options, what do you recommend trying? "Pure-Direct" blows because it shuts off everything except the front speakers. (Line-Direct on the old KW is how I got the most powerful and highest quality output). The best output I've found is using either the 7.1 surround music setting, or "Surround Decode" set to PLIIx (a Pro-Logic decoder).
 

schan1269

HTF Expert
HW Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2012
Messages
17,104
Location
Chicago-ish/NW Indiana
Real Name
Sam
Does the 8040 have a 6 channel MCH?(might be labeled 5.1)Newer AVR, vs 20yo dinosaurs...run audio in volume doubling format.Your Kenwood runs straight line.What that means...Simple math and assuming both are 100wpc...At 1/4 volume...Kenwood is 25wattsYamaha is 12.At 50%Kenwood is 50.Yamaha is 25.At 3/4.Kenwood is 75.Yamaha is 50.100%, both are 100.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Forum statistics

Threads
356,710
Messages
5,121,111
Members
144,146
Latest member
SaladinNagasawa
Recent bookmarks
0
Top