help with hometheater can i buy an amp to boost my reciever?

Question

i have 660 watt 5.1 dolby digital reciever with 3 12inch subs and 7 small sourround speakers and i need more POWER!! n dont tell me to unhook some!
i dont have 1000$ for a reciever with 900 watts but i did see these amps http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=abcat0202004&type=category at best buy. can i use one of these to boost my reciever so i have 880 instead of 660 watts with out messing up doby 5.1 and all that. or are those amps not used that way. i know they are more used for sound in multiple rooms.

my subs are not powerd they are passive they guys at best buy said the amp could fry my subs, and do you think 250 watts will make a big difference

Answer 1

'tis easy!!-if your reciever has an optical output (toslink) connect this to the optical input of your new amp and robert's your mothers brother. 5.1 digital audio into the new amp. if your subs are self-powered then they are in no way connected to the output stage of the amp (they are connected to the line out) so the amp will not fry the subs if on the other hand they are passive as you say then check the rated input of the sub (if for example it's 100watts maximum then you need a 50 watt amp then there should be no problem)-but check to make sure. mindyou-a new amp means new speakers-do not attempt to connect two amps to the same set of speakers!!!!.

Answer 2

You can only use these outboard amps if your main receiver has 5 RCA plugs labeled audio out for front/rear/etc.

You cannot send the speaker wire output to the amps and expect the amps to add more power.

But you can add an amplifier or a second receiver to power those 3 subwoofers so your receiver is only powering the 7 small speakers.

Here is what I would do:

- Buy a used stereo or HT receiver from Craigslist/ebay for $300.
- Run a RCA cable from the LFE/Subwoofer out to the CD input on the used receiver. Use the splitter to feed both the L/R inputs.
- Run speaker wire from the used amp speaker outputs to power the subs.

This turns your 3 subs into self-powered subs.

Tell your main receiver you have "SMALL" speakers and a self-powered subwoofer. This will free up lots of power for the 7 small speakers.

Use the volume control on the used sub to level-adjust the subwoofer sound to match the 7 speakers.

Answer 3

bass needs power. get an amp. bass kicker, Sampson, 500watt peak about $250. Crown will be a little more. wire RCA to the low level out on the receiver. parallel out to the subs.

the LOW LEVEL OUT is the same RCA out in the external power amp section that every single receiver including the 15 year old analog I have on my back porch. This is also the same output that goes to a powered sub. since yours are passive you need an amp. I'm betting unless you made them yourself, they have a fixed 100Hz roll off low pass. Unless you have a large room, a cheap 250 watt rms switch amp will work fine, if you can find a nice class D better. Then it's just EQ it to the room which is 80% of the equation get an SPL meter Avia makes a good set up video with all the test tones.