Onkyo tx 870 preamp issue

[Dylan Pinet]

Hi guys. I recently got a good deal on an Onkyo tx870 integra. The problem is that I can use an external preamp, but I can't get its own preamp to work. The amplifier works fine,and the lights and everything else looks like it should be fine without a preamp. I'm using a kenwood C1 right now which I really like, but I still haven't heard the Onkyo working on its own. Any suggestions?

 

[Alex Kaplow]

Are the pre out jacks connected to the main in jacks either through a jumper or rca cable as shown?

 

[Dylan Pinet]

Are the pre out jacks connected to the main in jacks either through a jumper or rca cable as shown?

 

[Dylan Pinet]

There are no little u shaped jumpers where I can see in the picture. It should be fairly easy to fix shouldn't it?

 

[Dylan Pinet]

The guy i got it from said it was all working just fine. Of course then it was shipped.

 

[Dylan Pinet]

Right now I just have a pre out from external preamp going into main in.

 

[Alex Kaplow]

Connecting a rca cable where the metal jumpers are in the photo should fix it. The amp doesn't have an internal link between the preamp and power amp so those jacks have to be connected.

 

[Dylan Pinet]

Oh wow. I thought about taking a patch cord from main to preout. But it seemed dicey. I thought the result could be bad. That is what you mean correct? Just right, left, to right left, and see if that does it?

 

[crazy-in-az]

Connecting a rca cable where the metal jumpers are in the photo should fix it. The amp doesn't have an internal link between the preamp and power amp so those jacks have to be connected.

Ditto. You can also connect the pre-out to the main-in using an RCA cable.

(EDIT)- Nevermind, you just said that! My mind is in a fog today for some reason....

 

[Dylan Pinet]

Ok. I looked again. So it looks like right to right, and left to left. If I understand you correctly, iĺl be heading home in an hour or so, and will let you know. Thank you so much!

 

[gbroot]

I bought a non-working Onkyo A-10 Integrated amp off the auction site a number of years ago for less than a C note. Noticed in the posting photos there were pre-out and main-in connections that apparently were missing the jumpers. Took a chance and the jumpers were all it needed. Easily the best integrated amp I ever have owned including the Pioneer SA-9500.

 

[Dylan Pinet]

It totally worked! I'm stoked. Its been bugging me for a month and a half. I thought about connecting with a patch cord lying in bed, and decided one of two things could happen. I was afraid that that could be an enormous error until I asked on audiokarma . Thank you Alex K! This tx 870 sounds pretty amazing. I had read some reviews about the tx870 and tx890, so I knew it was no slouch of an amp. I think they go from 200-to maybe 300 when you find one. I found one on offer up and offered 60 bucks. I'm super happy with the C1 kenwood preamp I was using, but this amp sounds maybe better. I didn't think that was going to be the case. I am running two Mission762 and 2 Mission 700, and a powered Klipsh sub i picked up cheap. It really sounds amazing! I better leave it alone before divorce papers are filed! Thank you all!

 

[cademan]

I can certainly understand your reluctance but this is the way these things work. Since you thought or knew that an external preamp would work with the main in inputs, then it would most likely be the same for the opposite. You can also use your Onkyo through the pre out jacks to drive a separate power amplifier and more speakers.

They do this so you can expand and mix and match your system to tailor it to your own wants. It's just usually a waste to use rca patch cords to connect the pre outs to the main ins because they are usually a couple of feet and all you need is a half inch or whatever is needed to jump the internal power amp to its internal preamp.

Does this make any sense?

 

[Akustic]

It could well pay audible dividends to experiment a bit with the cable between those two ..
Very short, higher quality cable and connector should sound better ..

 

[Dylan Pinet]

Thank you so much for the help and ideas. It is working really nicely. I do need to find a shorter patch cable. So I am also running a powered Klipsch woofer out of the preouts by way of splitter. Is there a better way to do this? I am running four speakers, and I've noticed it takes a minute or two for the B speakers to switch on. Is this part of a warming up process for these computer amps? The only other strange thing is if I turn in down very low, I get some crazy treble coming from my left side on A speaker side. Never at any higher volume. Maybe a little detoxit? Some cleaning?