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Hookup for surround sound processor to existing integrated amp

Ghoulardi

Ghoulardi

Well-Known Member
I don't understand how to hook up a surround sound unit to my existing stereo system. I have a Pioneer integrated amplifier and want to add a used unit I purchased, a Audiofile brand surround sound processor. The surround unit has speaker terminals for the rear left and rear right channels and the center channel. The surround unit also has a built in amplifier for these channels. There are rca jacks for line in, tape out, tape in, line out front, subwoofer(mono), and surround out rear. The front has two knobs for sub level and input level. There is a master volume control, center volume control, and rear volume control. Are the volume controls supposed to control all speakers, or just the additional rears and center? I have tried to utilize this new unit with no success and have no instructions. I guess it's now time to ask those that do know how to do this. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
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I think you have an older model unit for adding surround to an exisitng 2 channel set-up that was used for folks who wanted to jump into surround but not buy all new gear, its likely only controllong the surround and center and if I had to guess isnt going to be very steller. I can call you anytime you wish to help out, I had one in the past but IMO its probably gonna be better to get a reciever with pre-outs and use it to power center and rears while you use Integrated for mains, that way you have alot more options for delay, crossover slopes and such. Let me know if I can help.....cheers
 
Thanks and I may take you up on the offer...I would like to use it to just control the rear and center speakers and their volume. I just don't know the proper connections to make to accomplish this arrangement.
 
Hope this gives you some ideas and possibilities.

It may help to get a pic of front and back and maybe what brand and model.

Are there jumpers in back?

In my Yamaha AVC50 integrated amplifier/surround sound processor that provides some primitive surround processing: Dolby Surround, Hall Surround, ... It can also serve as a rear surround amp, there are 3 sets of jacks: Front output - Main In - Rear output.

There are several configurations possible.

If I have it powering Rear speakers only using its speaker connections, the jumpers would connect the Main In - Rear jacks. In my case I just used the TV itself for front sound, so I don't use a Front amp. But if I did the Front output jacks would connect to a separate amp for the front speakers.

It has a Rear level Control and a Main Volume Control. The rear level control controls the rear speakers and the Main will also increase the rear level.

It has inputs and outputs for a variety of sources: TV, VCR, TAPE, TUNER, CD, etc.

Connections Part 1
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Connections Part 2
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I have a kenwood surround sound processor and it works excellent. You would use RCA jacks coming from the REC or LINE OUT on the integrated amplifier, going to the LINE IN on the surround processor with the rear speakers connected to the processor. I have some CD's that are recorded in surround but only have 2 channel stereo systems.

When I play a CD through my stereo system, I get the full stereo signal, but when I turn on the surround processor, MAN, what a difference! You can hear things that you cannot hear with just the 2 channel stereo. Mind you that it probably is the poor man's surround, but I think it works just excellent. I never was in to surround sound enough to go out and buy an actual 5.1 receiver, but what I have works great for me!
 
Thanks for all of your replies but I am still getting nowhere. If I connect input from a line out on my integrated to the line in on the surround unit I can adjust the input level with the knob on the front and see the changes on the units display, but there is no sound. If I connect the input line from the integrated to the surround out rear jacks, I get sound at a high volume that can not be adjusted. The volume controls have no effect at all with this configuration. There was a suggestion to jumper the line in jacks to the surround out rear jacks. If I did this, where would the input from the integrated be plugged in to get the signal to the surround unit? Help if you can. I'm quite confused at this point. Thanks.
 
It seems like the preamp of the surround and the amp of the surround are not connected. If there are supposed to be jumpers utilized, where would they go?
All the choices across the back are: Line In, Tape Out, Tape In, Line Out Front,Subwoofer Mono Center, Surround Out Rear.
 
Ghoulardi said:
Thanks for all of your replies but I am still getting nowhere. If I connect input from a line out on my integrated to the line in on the surround unit I can adjust the input level with the knob on the front and see the changes on the units display, but there is no sound.
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Are there any tape monitor switches that need to be turned off?
What displays are you seeing? Are they volume meters?
If I connect the input line from the integrated to the surround out rear jacks, I get sound at a high volume that can not be adjusted. The volume controls have no effect at all with this configuration.
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Are speakers connected to the integrated or the surround speaker connections in this configuration? What is the source: a cd on the integrated?
There was a suggestion to jumper the line in jacks to the surround out rear jacks. If I did this, where would the input from the integrated be plugged in to get the signal to the surround unit? Help if you can. I'm quite confused at this point. Thanks.
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I'm not sure this is applicable. In my example above, the Main In and Front, Rear are part of the design of the Yamaha. And it has multiple inputs for a variety of sources. Your description indicates it is limited as far as sources.

What is its intent as surround decoding? Dolby surround, Hall surround?

The choices in back are pretty limited. So maybe there are some front buttons or switches controlling the sound? Or could it be you need separate amps for the Front out, Rear out?

Just thinking randomly.

What is the brand and model number of your processor? Maybe somebody will be familiar with it.
 
IMO, you need to...

1. Connect the Tape Out from the integrated amp to the Line In on the processor.

2. Connect the Line Out Front from the processor to the Tape In on the integrated amp.

3. Engage/turn on the Tape Monitor circuit on the integrated amp, then be sure the Tape Monitor on the processor is disengaged/turned off.

Generally, with an external processor connected like this, the processor main volume control and the integrated amp volume control will both affect the sound level...the processor main volume should affect all speakers, the integrated amp volume control should affect just the front/main speakers. The individual/channel specific volume controls on the processor should affect the speakers indicated. You do have speakers connected to the integrated amp and processor unit for at least front L/R (integrated amp), center and rear L/R (processor), yes?

You'll have to experiment with the volume/level settings to get everything balanced/tuned in.

Pictures of the processor's front and rear panels showing all the displays, connections, and controls might be somewhat helpful.
 
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Also, just thinking out loud. The line out from the integrated to the line in on the surround processor, is the correct way for the connections. Make sure your processor has the rear speakers connected to the speaker out jacks. Also make sure the speaker switch (if it has one) is on. The 'line out' on the processor, is to drive another seperate amplifier.

Are you playing a song or CD or something known to have a surround signal imbedded in it? My processor only works with CD or VHS with known surround signals imbedded in the actual audio (with the surround button pushed of course).
 
whoaru99 said:
1. Connect the Tape Out from the integrated amp to the Line In on the processor. 2. Connect the Line Out from the processor to the Tape In on the integrated amp. 3. Engage/turn on the Tape Monitor circuit on the integrated amp, then be sure the Tape Monitor on the processor is disengaged/turned off.

Generally, with an external processor connected like this, the processor main volume control and the integrated amp volume control will both affect the sound level...the processor main volume should affect all speakers, the integrated amp volume control should affect just the front/main speakers. The individual/channel specific volume controls on the processor should affect the speakers indicated. You do have speakers connected to the integrated amp and processor unit for at least front L/R (integrated amp), center and rear L/R (processor), yes?
Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong whoaru99, but wouldn't this connection defeat the surround? I only ask because if you connect the surrounds line out back into the integrated, are you not then sending a surround signal back into the integrated amplifiers two main front speakers? How are you going to hear the surround if it is coming from the front and the rear at the same time, even with volume levels adjusted properly?

You should only hear things from the surround that you will not hear out of the front speakers!

I have line out jacks on my Kenwood processor also, but I do not have them connected to anything. My surround sounds awsome and works just like you would expect it to!
 
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I didn't say surround out, I said line out.

But, you bring up a good point. I should have been more clear that I meant line out front, as specifically mentioned by Ghoulardi. I'll go back and clarify my original post.
 
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Any chance your unit is DOA? Email me your phone if you want me to call and try to figure things out, like I said I ran one years ago................cheers
 
I know your intent is purely good, but it doesn't help build a searchable knowledge base if all the details and the solution are taken offline.
 
I am trying to help somebody out and its easier to do it via phone so thats more important than a data base and I really dont see where any lecture is in order.
Perhaps if it is infact fixed the op will offer his experience but thats not my worry and I think your crossing the line with being critical on how a problem is adressed.....why allow private contact at all then? Are you even a moderator or in the position to dictate how help is given????????

I think its good karma to help another if you can, I think its in bad taste to call somebody out on kindness.
 
Take a chill pill dude...it was merely a suggestion that it might be more beneficial to others down the line.

Did you miss the first few words of my comment?
 
"dude" send those comments to private message or be prepaired to hear my opinion of them, what your the only one who can be critical?
 
I'm not taking any of this to PM. I don't believe I said anything so serious that we need to have some sort of offline tiff.
 
I said what I have to say, no reason to continue as it was between the OP and me and thats whats relevant.
 
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