Advice Needed for Integrating Active Speakers (KEF LS50W) with AVR (Onkyo TX-RZ50)

[isomorphZeta]

Been lurking here for a while and finally got around to creating an account. I've just recently replaced my Integra DRX-3.3 AVR with an Onkyo TX-RZ50, and I'm adding some speakers to my setup.

I'm working with a weird, mismatched assortment of speakers in a 5.1 arrangement, plus speakers in 3 separate rooms:

• Front: KEF LS50W
• Center: MartinLogan Motion 30
• Rear: Polk 80 F/X-LS (in-ceiling)
• Subwoofer: Polk HTS-12
• Zone 1: 2x Origin Acoustics D67
• Zone 2: 2x Origin Acoustics D67
• Zone 3: 2x Origin Acoustics D65EX (outdoor)

My plan is to power the 3 zones with a Rotel RMB-1506, which I believe should be plugged into the "Zone 2 Pre/Line Out" RCA jacks on the Onkyo TX-RZ50 (if I've got this wrong, please let me know!)

Now, my main question is regarding the KEF LS50W's: Where should they hook up to the AVR? I would've thought they'd have hooked up to the "Front" Pre Out RCA jacks, but when I did that no sound was output.

On my old amp (the Integra DRX-3.3) I had the KEF speakers hooked up to the "Zone 2 / Zone B (Line Out)" Pre/Line Out RCA jacks, and just kept Zone B active and in A+B Mode. That's what I was planning to hook the Rotel RMB-1506 up to on the new Onkyo, though.

I guess this all boils down to me not really understanding the difference between Pre/Line Out and Pre Out. I'm honestly not attached to the LS50W's - I'm not opposed to passive speakers for the fronts - but for now I'm just trying to work with what I've got.

Thanks in advance for the advice!

 

[dlaloum]

Pre-Out is the main line level output of the RZ50 preamp section.... that is where you should connect a pair of active speakers (or in my case an external power amp powering the speakers.... same thing!)

If you use the Zone2 pre/line out, the volume level is NOT matched and EQ'd with your other main setup speakers (surround, center, height etc...) - it assumes that Zone2 is a straight simple stereo setup intended to be piped to another room... Volume level control is also seperate I am pretty sure, and can be set to a fixed output level (on the assumption that the amp is in the other room, and Volume control is at that point) - or variable - in which case the level is adjusted seperately for Zone2 as opposed to the main speakers...

Yeah, don't use the Zone2 output, use the Pre-out

 

[isomorphZeta]

Pre-Out is the main line level output of the RZ50 preamp section.... that is where you should connect a pair of active speakers (or in my case an external power amp powering the speakers.... same thing!)

If you use the Zone2 pre/line out, the volume level is NOT matched and EQ'd with your other main setup speakers (surround, center, height etc...) - it assumes that Zone2 is a straight simple stereo setup intended to be piped to another room... Volume level control is also seperate I am pretty sure, and can be set to a fixed output level (on the assumption that the amp is in the other room, and Volume control is at that point) - or variable - in which case the level is adjusted seperately for Zone2 as opposed to the main speakers...

Yeah, don't use the Zone2 output, use the Pre-out

Thanks for the prompt response!

Yeah, in my previous setup with the Integra AVR I had to use the volume control on the KEF speakers (via a universal remote that also controlled everything else, so it wasn't a pain), and the sub was controlled by the AVR volume control.

Now, adding in other passive speakers, that setup obviously would be a PITA to deal with.

So I should be connecting the KEF speakers up like this?

And then hook the Rotel amp up to the one of the Pre/Line Out connections?

I wonder why I didn't hear anything when I previously had it hooked up to the Pre Outs? I'm guessing I didn't have it turned up enough, since I was used to keeping my Integra down around 10-15 when it was just controlling the sub.

 

[HarmonicTHD]

Thanks for the prompt response!

Yeah, in my previous setup with the Integra AVR I had to use the volume control on the KEF speakers (via a universal remote that also controlled everything else, so it wasn't a pain), and the sub was controlled by the AVR volume control.

Now, adding in other passive speakers, that setup obviously would be a PITA to deal with.

So I should be connecting the KEF speakers up like this?

View attachment 285959


And then hook the Rotel amp up to the one of the Pre/Line Out connections?

I wonder why I didn't hear anything when I previously had it hooked up to the Pre Outs? I'm guessing I didn't have it turned up enough, since I was used to keeping my Integra down around 10-15 when it was just controlling the sub.

Yes correct. Maybe you have to configure the pre-outs in the menu (look in the manual). I am just guessing. (In my Denon the preouts are always on though)

 

[Chrispy]

When adding an external amp for some channels and still using onboard amps for others, best to run the calibration/setup routine to match them up (or just a change from on-baord to external amps in general). Hard to think you'd get no sound, tho, perhaps at worst a very low level without doing this.

 

[dlaloum]

Thanks for the prompt response!

Yeah, in my previous setup with the Integra AVR I had to use the volume control on the KEF speakers (via a universal remote that also controlled everything else, so it wasn't a pain), and the sub was controlled by the AVR volume control.

Now, adding in other passive speakers, that setup obviously would be a PITA to deal with.

So I should be connecting the KEF speakers up like this?

View attachment 285959


And then hook the Rotel amp up to the one of the Pre/Line Out connections?

I wonder why I didn't hear anything when I previously had it hooked up to the Pre Outs? I'm guessing I didn't have it turned up enough, since I was used to keeping my Integra down around 10-15 when it was just controlling the sub.

Yes use the Pre-Out's and the Speaker outputs (binding posts) for your main surround environment.

Then you can use Zone2 and/or Zone3 for other zones/areas around your home

Keeping in mind that you sacrifice a height channel if you want to use both zones, which may or may not be an issue.

 

[isomorphZeta]

Yes correct. Maybe you have to configure the pre-outs in the menu (look in the manual). I am just guessing. (In my Denon the preouts are always on though)

Moved the cables over to the Front Pre-Out jack, cranked up the volume on the KEFs, and sure enough: glorious sound!

Turns out I just had the KEFs (and the AVR) turned down too low when I initially had it hooked up. I'm sure there was some sound coming out when I first had it hooked up, but it was so low as to be inaudible to me (probably since it was only 1/4 of the way up on the KEFs and around 10-20 on the AVR).

Thanks everybody for the help! This is an amazing forum - excited to be a bit more active and learn!

 

[Chrispy]

Moved the cables over to the Front Pre-Out jack, cranked up the volume on the KEFs, and sure enough: glorious sound!

Turns out I just had the KEFs (and the AVR) turned down too low when I initially had it hooked up. I'm sure there was some sound coming out when I first had it hooked up, but it was so low as to be inaudible to me (probably since it was only 1/4 of the way up on the KEFs and around 10-20 on the AVR).

Thanks everybody for the help! This is an amazing forum - excited to be a bit more active and learn!

Can't compare volume/gain positions much....and I'd run the setup/calibration routine to help level match the different amps.