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Using old integrated with new HT receiver possible?

WM826

WM826

Well-Known Member
I'm a little dissapointed with the power of the Yamaha I recently picked up, however I prefer all of the extra features and accurate volume control. It's an RX-V540 with 80 watts into 6 channels. My older Yamaha AV amp has pre out/in jacks, and I'm wondering if there is any way to connect them so I'd be using the receiver as the preamp and older integrated as power amp. The receiver doesn't have any pre-outs on it though. I have the dvd player connected to the vcr in jacks. Can I use the vcr out jacks from receiver to the "Receive" jacks on the integrated? I'm trying to figure this out on my own, but brain isn't cooperating.

Wes
 
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Thirty five years ago we'd have not believed you could get 80 watts from six channels with a lot of features in a 25 lb. package. I think today's watts are passing easier tests in school.:scratch2:
 
Use the headphone output on the new yamaha, connect that to the aux in on the old integrated, and presto!, otherwise if you use the vcr output it will be at full volume and that would blow your speakers. I have done this, so it works, but the noise floor is quite a bit higher using the headphone jack. What you really need is a higher end yamaha like the rx-v1400, etc. that has actual pre-outs for all channels. this is a jackass way to do it, but Indeed the ONLY way. besides haking into the new yamaha and making pre-outs.
 
rockin1150 said:
Use the headphone output on the new yamaha, connect that to the aux in on the old integrated, and presto!, otherwise if you use the vcr output it will be at full volume and that would blow your speakers. I have done this, so it works, but the noise floor is quite a bit higher using the headphone jack. What you really need is a higher end yamaha like the rx-v1400, etc. that has actual pre-outs for all channels. this is a jackass way to do it, but Indeed the ONLY way. besides haking into the new yamaha and making pre-outs.
Click to expand...

Cool. I will have to give that a try.

Thanks :thmbsp:
 
I was going to do this but mid way through connecting them I realized that I could only use the old one for whatever is connected to the vcr in. The other inputs are re-assignable via remote but that would be a pain to do every time I wanted to switch from one source to the other. And the headphone jack way doesn't sound inviting.

There's a Yamaha HTR-5860 for sale on CL. It's more than double what I paid for the RX-V receiver and the only real gains in my opinion are the pre-outs and Pure Direct mode. It does have 95w x 7 but not sure if that would be much better than the 80 I have now. I doubt it's as powerful as the old AVC amp. But then again, I could hook the two up the correct way and know I'll have enough power.

Damn volume control on the old amp is so touchy. If it weren't for that I would have had no interest in a fancy dsp receiver with digital this and that.

Thanks for the help guys!!
 
On the newer yamaha, you should be able to set the rec out to "source" that way the vcr 1 output jack will follow the input that you are set to. otherwise, you may have to upgrade receivers. (For stereo sound, IMO, the best way is to have a 2ch system and a HT system. they don't integrate all that well!
 
I'm looking at a couple of receivers local to me. There's a RX-V992 and an RX-V1400, both at very decent asking prices. I'm not sure the volume control on the 992 is any better than my older Yamaha, but it does have the same 80w output and pre-outs.

The 1400 was more expensive than my current receiver (when new) but still a great deal now and also has the pre-outs I've been looking for.

I was still thinking of trying to hook the two current Yammies together. Could I plug the old into the back of the new so it switches on at the same time? I'm just thinking safety-wise. I imagine there is no risk though.

Thanks, Wes
 
The RX V1400 is a good one. I have the lowly RX V657 (recommended in The Perfect Vision and became the first AVR recommended in The Absolute Sound) and it's great for HT. I use a different system for music.
 
I switched back to the old receiver Sunday night. I realize now how much more power the old integrated has. It's night and day. My brother had boasted to co-workers how amazing it sounded and recently had a guy over and put some rap on to test the bass and with the new receiver it was very dissapointing. I think he was embarrassed actually. After re-connecting the AVC last night and listening to a bass heavy song we realized just how much we were missing with the new receiver. All of the impact that I thought was still there with the new receiver was actually gone. I don't know why I didn't notice it after they were switched. I guess I convinced myself that because it was newer and had many more features it had to sound better.

I'm trying to sell the RX-V and would like to get either that 1400 or similar model, preferably with pre-outs just in case it's as weak as this one.
 
Rather than using a old integrated there are great deals to be had on used power amps from HK (love bridging the center channels on both of my Marantz receivers to HK), Adcoms and Parasounds. Even with my Marantz 7500 the power amps doing the front and center made a huge difference.

The HK's even have auto switching so they turn on the moment the receiver sends a signal from its pre-amp out.
 
not even apples to apples, the 540 is way cheaper and weaker than the old integrated was, it was deigned for music mind you, and not HT, the 540 would spank the old integrated for HT, hands down. IMO, this is not a FAIR comparison. the 1400 would be more apples to apples with your old unit. Also, compare the weight of both, and you will answer your own questions as to why it has no bass, and I hope for hell's sake that you DID set the front channels to LARGE, and not small.
 
Yes, I did set them to large. I checked all of the settings at least twice to make sure it wasn't something I had missed that was keeping the sound from being as full as it could be.

And as for it spanking the old one. I'm not sure, only because I wasn't using it to it's full potential and never intended to. I did hook up rears (dcm cx07) for a little while but wasn't impressed. And all the settings were correct. I'm sure with the full 6.1 system it's much better but I used it mostly in 2 channel mode as I did/do with the AVC. I never really sought out all of the extra features. It's just it was a good deal used and it had the much more precise volume control and some other convenience features the old one is lacking.

I noticed the weight difference as soon as it was home. I thought that with the size of the new one it would be much heavier, but no.

Thanks guys!
 
nyindallas said:
Rather than using a old integrated there are great deals to be had on used power amps from HK (love bridging the center channels on both of my Marantz receivers to HK), Adcoms and Parasounds. Even with my Marantz 7500 the power amps doing the front and center made a huge difference.

The HK's even have auto switching so they turn on the moment the receiver sends a signal from its pre-amp out.
Click to expand...

I would like to do that but I rarely see any pre/pros that are used local to me that have video jacks (usually 2 channel stereo only). There's an HK PA2100 power amp selling local now but it's a buck and a quarter. And then I'd need to find an HT preamp or receiver (with pre-outs) which is more $$. Would work good though I'm sure. Don't have the cash to do that at the moment but will have to try at some point.
 
I listed the newer receiver on CL last night. It sold today for $2 less than I paid. I'm happy. I have more options for what I can get now as a replacement. I never got a reply from either of the two Yamaha receiver ads on CL. Kind of disappointing. But oh well, they certainly won't be selling them if they can't write a two word response to an email. Or, possibly they haven't got a chance to yet.

I've read that Marantz has some high quality HT receivers. I may even check ebay for local listings. Still, that 1400 is probably a good buy, if I can get in touch with the seller.

Any specific models I should look out for, Marantz or not?
 
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