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Newbie Question

I recently purchased a Marantx SR5002 surround receiver. It puts out 90watts x7. I am happy with the unit. However, I have power hungry speakers with low sensitivity. My SR5002 has preouts. I was looking at the 75 and 125 watt Outlaw amps. However, Marantz technical support told me that if I used an amp with the receiver, I would have to hook up RCA [analog] cables to desired sources, and then to the receiver, in order to utilize the amp. They also told me that by doing this, I would lose all my digital surround modes. Could this be true? They said the reason for this is because my receiver does not down convert. I thought an external amp just took the place of the amp in the receiver, supplied the power, and everything else stayed the same. HELP!!!! I am confused.
jrhooper1963
samhar
1,048 posts
 
Find an amp you can audition hook it up to "main out" and see what happens with the receiver. Make sure to check that the receiver's five other channels can be used in this configuration. My old Pioneer could, my new Onkyo NR-905 can't.
jdodmead
257 posts
 
I looked at the owner's manual for your receiver. You should have no problem running external amps.(page 22)I think you were given bad info.
Jeff
samhar
1,048 posts
 
What I meant but didn't elaborate enough to clarify was with the 905 I don't think I can externally amplify the front three channels and use the 905's amp for the four surround speakers (page 47 in the manual) " connect all speakers "
.I'll try again to be certain.
cerrot's avatar
cerrot
1,700 posts
 
You can. Jeff is correct-it is page 22 in your manual. Use RCA Interconnects from the preamp outs in the lower left of the rear of the receiver to the applicable RCA inputs of the separate amplifier. You won't lose any of the surround modes. I would think, though, that if the Marantz outputs 90 watts while running all channels (some surround sound receivers power the max output into two or three speakers and than it is reduced as it powers more) and if you really need power, going with 125 watts may not be worth the cost of the amp and cables. I have a Pioneer Elite receiver @ 130 watts per channel and have an extra three channel 150 watt amp and not hooking it up as I just don't feel the extra 20 watts is worth the work and interconnectss. (I am eyeing a Mcintosh, though). Maybe you should look at a 200 watt 3 channel amp.
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