AV amplifier and active Crossover

[widemediaphotography]

What are the possibilities of using a multi-channel AV amplifier like the Yamaha DSP-AZ1or Z9 as a multi-amplification system to drive a 3 or 4-way DIY speaker system, using an active crossover? If this is possible, what would be the connection diagram?
Thank you."

 

[ppataki]

What are the possibilities of using a multi-channel AV amplifier like the Yamaha DSP-AZ1or Z9 as a multi-amplification system to drive a 3 or 4-way DIY speaker system, using an active crossover? If this is possible, what would be the connection diagram?
Thank you."

Yes it is possible

You need a PC with a player/DSP software like Jriver. Then you connect the PC to the AVR via HDMI and set the AVR to Pure Direct mode so it will not modify the incoming signal at all (this is very important)

Then you can use Jriver's DSP engine to route the signal to the appropriate channels and apply delay, low-pass, high-pass, volume, EQ and more for each channel separately

This way you will have state-of-the-art DSP and basically you only use the AVR as a multichannel DAC+amp

 

[widemediaphotography]

If I would to use a t.racks FIR DSP 408 or better, how do I connect to the AV amplifier? Normally the crossover is connected between PRE and Amplifier... Would a separate Pre be needed? The YAMAHA DSP-Z9 seems to have pre-out outputs to connect to the t.racks FIR DSP 408... or am I doing something wrong?

Thanks

​

 

[ppataki]

If I would to use a t.racks FIR DSP 408 or better, how do I connect to the AV amplifier? Normally the crossover is connected between PRE and Amplifier... Would a separate Pre be needed? The YAMAHA DSP-Z9 seems to have pre-out outputs to connect to the t.racks FIR DSP 408... or am I doing something wrong?

Thanks

​

The t.racks FIR DSP 408 has balanced outputs - theoretically you could connect that to the AVR's multichannel analog unbalanced inputs (if the particular model has that kind of connection...)

 

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

I’m currently using a Yamaha RX-Z9 as a stand-alone seven-channel amplifier in my system. It could be used for the system you propose. The individual amplifier channels can be accessed directly via the “multichannel” inputs. (The AZ1 would only have five accessible amplifier channels.)

You would need a separate preamp, as the preamp outputs the Z9 has would not be of use in this scenario. A separate electronic crossover like the t.racks unit you mentioned would also be needed if the pre-amp does not have the necesssary filtering capabilities.

Documentation provided with the t.racks should include wiring diagrams for connections between it, a preamp, and downstream amplifier system.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[widemediaphotography]

You would need a separate preamp, as the preamp outputs the Z9 has would not be of use in this scenario. A separate electronic crossover like the t.racks unit you mentioned would also be needed if the pre-amp does not have the necesssary filtering capabilities.

Could you clarify this better? Thanks

 

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

Which part?

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[widemediaphotography]

Which part?

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

"You would need a separate preamp, as the preamp outputs the Z9 has would not be of use in this scenario"
Why?

 

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

The seven amplifier channels are only available with the input set for Multi-Channel. If any other input is selected (say, for a music source) it won’t work. You can use it as a multi channel amp, or a 3-channel pre-amp (the only pre-outs are for left, right and center). But not both.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[Rjbell78]

I've also thought about the same thing. Can you not set the channels to 4 or 6 channel stereo and set crossover points in the amps software?