Connecting Old Yamaha CR-1020 to Yamaha RXV-671 (7.1)

[greenflash]

Hi guys, I've been wracking my brain to try to figure this out (found some info in AK that served as basis). I basically have a stereo Yamaha CR-1020 and I want to use it together with a RXV-671 multichannel receiver.

Main goal is, to share the 7.1 speakers set (the fronts only, of course) with the stereo receiver. Little room for two sets, and also overkill. I'd use the stereo for phono and a CD and all the stuff in the 7.1.

The only special feature is the pre amp/main in in the stereo receiver (the RXV671 has none of this). But not sure it will do the job. I could also work it out the other way around.. But I'm not sure.

Didn't connect anything yet in fear of damaging equipment. Is it possible to get away with this? Thanks!!

 

[LexDM3]

You have two ways to do this:

1) If you want to use the CR-1020's internal amp to drive the speakers when you're listening to CDs etc., you'll need to get a speaker switcher that lets you choose source A or B. Then connect the 1020 speaker outputs to input A of the switcher, the AVR to B and run the output to the speakers.

2) You can use the 1020 as a tuner-preamp only and have the AVR always drive the speakers. To do that, just run Tape Out from the 1020 into an unused preamp level input of the AVR. Simply select that input on the AVR to hear what's coming from the 1020, no speaker switching required.

The real question is whether the 1020's amp section will sound better for two channel audio than the AVR's amp. It very well might but there's only one way to find out - Try it!

 

[greenflash]

You have two ways to do this:

1) If you want to use the CR-1020's internal amp to drive the speakers when you're listening to CDs etc., you'll need to get a speaker switcher that lets you choose source A or B. Then connect the 1020 speaker outputs to input A of the switcher, the AVR to B and run the output to the speakers.

2) You can use the 1020 as a tuner-preamp only and have the AVR always drive the speakers. To do that, just run Tape Out from the 1020 into an unused preamp level input of the AVR. Simply select that input on the AVR to hear what's coming from the 1020, no speaker switching required.

The real question is whether the 1020's amp section will sound better for two channel audio than the AVR's amp. It very well might but there's only one way to find out - Try it!

Hi, thanks for your answer. About 1) well I wanted to avoid the switch..
So 2).. AVR drive the speakers: yes! Problem is "unused preamp level input of the AVR" as you see in the drawing there is no preamp-in at the RXV671... It's ok to use a simple AUDIO IN connection?

 

[LexDM3]

Yes, use any spare audio input. CD, Tape, etc. Sorry, that's what I meant to say earlier.

Also, it's simpler to use the 1020's Aux input for the CD player. That way you won't have to worry about having the Tape Mon switches in the right position. Just select Aux and play the CD.

 

[greenflash]

Yes, use any spare audio input. CD, Tape, etc. Sorry, that's what I meant to say earlier.

Great @LexDM3 . Well, I tested with another amp that I had lying around (a Sansui au4900). It *did* work...

- Sansui-Tape OUT -> Yamaha RXV671-Audio IN:
The Sansui amp became a mere passthru, no control/knob did work (I connected a portable player to its AUX).
Sounded fine, just good for keeping the Stereo amp active.. Not sure how the sound is processed in this case, or by which amp, but I believe the RXV671 does the job.

- Second try, equalizer:
Then I tried a little more complexity: cascaded the Sansui to a equalizer and from there tried to connect to the RXV671-Audio IN.
That produced a lot of static so I guess it's because the eq tries to process the sound.. So no go.

In the end, I added a couple of small speakers for the stereo and will keep this layout when I move the Yamaha CR (perhaps with a couple of little bigger boxes) ..
Or I'll use a switch as you suggested.

 

[LexDM3]

Any Tape Out output is constant level. It is not affected by the tone, balance,or volume controls of that unit. That's what you want to use into the AVR input.

I'm not sure why you would want to use an equalizer as you have explained it. For simplicity, I'd suggest that you not use it but that's obviously your decision.

 

[greenflash]

Any Tape Out output is constant level. It is not affected by the volume control of that unit. That's what you want to use into the AVR input.

I'm not sure why you would want to use an equalizer as you have explained it. For simplicity, I'd suggest that you not use it but that's obviously your decision.

Well of course you're right about the EQ, it was just to test it out. Thanks for the clarification about the Tape Out.. That makes sense now. Learned a bit more now!