Looking for a network rcvr with phono inputs and A & B front speaker

bobinaz

Active Member
Looking for a network rcvr with phono inputs and both A&B front speaker outputs. This is for a friend at work. Guy is around 50, married, just moved into a new home pre-wired for 5 ceiling speakers. He has held onto a 80's Onkyo rack system with big floor standing speakers. He knows nothing about audio but is willing to learn just enough....I've helped him out a few times getting what he has set up to where he likes it. Now he wants to downsize his system somewhat. I've let him know the benefits of a network receiver. he wants to use his phone to create lists / play songs via various wifi network and music apps. he wants to keep his turntable, cassette deck and cd player. With a network rcvr he can get rid of his tuner, amp and preamp. He does not care about any video features. He does not own a TV. But he thinks it would be good to use the 5 ceiling connections for speakers and still use his big onkyo rack system speakers. I'm trying to steer him in a 2-channel direction with a sophisticated network rcvr or even a 5.1 network rcvr with an A & B fronts.
 
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The speaker A & B concept seems to have disappeared from the newer networked AVRs...at least for the Yamaha line.

Connecting the B speakers to a powered zone 2 or running in bi-amp mode will sort of do the same thing though not as simple as hitting the A, B, or A+B switch.

Or simply get a 7.1 unit and run the big speakers in 2-channel stereo mode and all of them in 7-channel "stereo" mode.
 
Does each of the 5 speakers locations have separate home run of wire back to the amplifier location ? If so use a speaker selector switch box to connect the speakers as singles. Using a 1:1 transformer combining the stereo signals to mono for each speaker if there is only one speaker per room. If they are all in one room then I would put three on one channel and two on another if trying to save a buck with the speaker selector box. There are as many ways to do this as there are speaker configurations. Personally I would prefer a separate amp, be it mono for a single speaker in each room or stereo if the speakers are in pairs with a single for one room or if all the speakers are in the same room. If the system was wired for use as a supplement to a HT system, Home theatre relievers are pretty cheap with some having the ability to create good stereo too. Like I say there are many solutions as there are tastes.
 
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