[jsf0656]

i bought a onkyo 506 receiver which is 7.1 channel but i.m only hooking up a 5.1 system. i was wanting to know if the output of the 2 channels not being used is transferred to the other 5 channels thus resuting in more power to those channels or is it not used at all. i hope i said that right as i'm kinda a noob. anyway thanks for your response.

 

[schroedk]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jsf0656 /forum/post/15455741


i bought a onkyo 506 receiver which is 7.1 channel but i.m only hooking up a 5.1 system. i was wanting to know if the output of the 2 channels not being used is transferred to the other 5 channels thus resuting in more power to those channels or is it not used at all. i hope i said that right as i'm kinda a noob. anyway thanks for your response.

If they're not hooked up, they're not used at all.

 

[jsf0656]

ok, thanks i was just wondering.

 

[rulerofthemoon]

Not sure about your model, but you may be able to use those other two channels to drive speakers in another area ... maybe by your pool, workout room or nannie's quarters. ;-)

 

[dotVIBE]

to answer your question, by not using that last 2 channels, you are making more power available to your other 5 channels, yes.

 

[ekb]



Quote:
Originally Posted by dotVIBE /forum/post/15455912


to answer your question, by not using that last 2 channels, you are making more power available to your other 5 channels, yes.

This is not really correct. If the rear channel amps are not being used, then the power output of those amps is wasted. However, there is a secondary effect where the other 5 channels probably will output a bit more power without the 2 rears being used since the operation of the 7 amps is not completely independent since they share a common power supply.


Ed

 

[jsf0656]

what about the sub output? if you are using a powered sub would you gain anymore power by not using the receiver to power it?

 

[dotVIBE]

no, using or not using a sub makes no difference to your receiver's internal amplifier's power distribution.


The sub runs on it's own power, so the receiver is only feeding it a line level signal. This takes next to no power.

 

[dotVIBE]



Quote:
Originally Posted by ekb /forum/post/15456640


This is not really correct. If the rear channel amps are not being used, then the power output of those amps is wasted. However, there is a secondary effect where the other 5 channels probably will output a bit more power without the 2 rears being used since the operation of the 7 amps is not completely independent since they share a common power supply.


Ed

well, that is exactly what I'm talking about.


Most receiver's have a total wattage output, as less or more channels driven, the wattage per channel changes. Because of the common power supply. You are correct that is not a simple (power) / 7 sum. Fact of the matter is, if you leave off the back to channels, the other 5 channels will be better equipped to deal with impedance load peaks from the speakers than they would be if all 7 channels were connected and playing at the same volume.


right?

 

[ekb]



Quote:
Originally Posted by dotVIBE /forum/post/15457323


Most receiver's have a total wattage output, as less or more channels driven, the wattage per channel changes.

I don't know exactly what you mean by this, but it sounds as if you are saying that the output per channel is equal to some "total wattage" divided by the number of amplifiers used. That is not the case.


Ed