I have done a few searches but have come up with nothing. What I'm trying to do is not too common, therefore results aren't easy to come by.

I just bought the Yamaha RX V363 surround receiver. The reason I bought it, is because I thought the extra Multi-channel inputs (RCA) on the back were for RCA acceptable speakers.

Here's my dilemma. I have professional studio monitors (speakers) that have 1/4", XLR, and RCA plugs. I want to use these for my home theater speakers. But when I plug them in via RCA cables to those multi-channel inputs on the back of the v363, all I get is a humming noise.

Does anyone know if this is possible? IS there a setting that I don't know about that I have to switch so I can get signal from those RCA jacks in the back to my speakers?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

Joe

You are trying to plug a device (speakers) that needs to be hooked up to outputs of your receiver. You are plugging them into the inputs.

You need to find or make RCA plug to bare wire connectors.

Ya, your question doesn't make sense. How can you hook up speakers to an input on your amp? Your speakers need to hook into an output.

As stated above, those plugs on the back of the AVR are multi-channel inputs and are used by the AVR to accept signals from a device that sends them - like a BD or SACD player. They are not speaker outputs.

Speakers need to be connected to the speaker terminals - as indicated in the AVR's operating manual. The easiest way may be to simply cut off the RCA connectors and use the bare wires properly connected to the speaker terminals.

I don't know how you could even think of using multi-channel inputs to power speakers. Plugging incorrect equipment into the incorrect input or output can damage the equipment.

Often speakers that have these sorts of plugs are meant to be used with a specific piece of equipment and these speakers may have a lower impedance - say 2.5 or 4 ohms - or something else unique which indicates they should not be used as "normal" speakers. Although these may work with your new AVR, you need to be careful with low impedance speakers (if that's what they are) that you don't blow your amp. See:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=62722 Speaker Impedance thread.

Some more-expensive AVRs have multi-channel outputs and those are designed for connection to an amp when you wish to use the AVR as a pre-amp.

If his speakers have XLR inputs then they're POWERED speakers with their own amplifier. He needs a receiver with variable preamp outputs. XLR connectors are the 3 pin plugs you see on commercial microphones. The speakers are meant to plug directly into the mixing board and will have IN and OUT so you can chain together speakers until you're happy with the sound.

Dog Byte, would those speakers then work with the multi-channel outputs on some AVRs, since they are meant to be fed to an amp? (as mentioned in my last paragraph in post 2) For example, the following model has these pre-outs:

http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/productdetail.html?CNTID=5028057&CTID=5000300&RLTID=1504&DETYP=RELATION

I guess it'd be good to know the make/model of the OP's monitors (speakers).

Guys,

thanks for the responses. Everything you are saying makes absolute sense, and I feel like a friggen moron for making this mistake.

Furthermore, will simply cutting off the tips of the RCA cables and plugging the wire into the speaker terminals work?

The speakers have an impedance of 10 ohms. and I believe the impedance of the receiver is 6 ohms.

IF simply cutting off the tips of the RCA cables works, I'll definitely just do that.

Thanks again guys.

Joe

Dog Byte, would those speakers then work with the multi-channel outputs on some AVRs, ...
Yes, I think those pre-outs would do exactly what I thought the multi-channel inputs would do.

Furthermore, will simply cutting off the tips of the RCA cables and plugging the wire into the speaker terminals work? This would not be recommended if the speakers are amplified because then you'd be sending a "high level" signal to a device that is expecting a "low level" one. As requested before, what's the make/model of these speakers.

The AVR doesn't actually have an impedance, it's simply designed to work properly with a speaker of a certain impedance (range) - usually 8 ohms, but can be used with other impedances usually outlined in the AVR operating manual.

KRK RP6 ...

here is a link to the manual.

http://www.krksys.com/manuals/ROKITGRPManual.pdf

I quickly looked at the operating manual and on pages 9-10 of the manual (not the pdf) it intimates that these need to be hooked up to a mixing console and not an AVR, as mentioned by Dog Byte in post 5. I'm not even sure if the pre-outs would work.

I'm sorry but I don't have the time to see if it's possible to somehow "Jerry-rig" these to work with an AVR's pre-outs, or in some other way. You may wish to contact the speaker manufacturer directly, as they may work on AVR pre-outs (diagram on page 10?) (which your new AVR doesn't have)

crap. so i should be returning this receiver then, huh?

I did a quick look at some other receivers, and it looks as if the Yamaha RX-V465 has two RCA Audio OUTS (right under the speaker terminals), and then to the right, has 2 more surround "Pre-Outs" via RCA jacks. If you look up this receiver via google, several merchants have good photos of the back panel so you can see what I'm talking about (i can't post those links here due to the forums rules about posting merchant links).

Would that be something more suitable for my speakers?

Retail links are not allowed, but you'll notice my manufacture link in post 6, which is allowed.

1. Stop trying to Jerry-rig something.

2. The 465 doesn't have the appropriate 6 pre-outs (the pre-outs on the 465 are for the surround back signals which would go to an amp and then to the 2 rear speakers of a 7.1 surround system). I believe the lowest Yamaha that does have the appropriate preouts is the 665 which I linked to in post 6 - you can see the picture of the back panel in the link on that page.

3. Even though the 665 has these pre-outs, you need to confirm with the speaker manufacturer that this would work - it may not.

4. An hour of proper research/confirmation before purchase will save you hours of work (and returns) because you didn't do your homework.

57 - roger that.

Thanks for being blunt. I'll contact the speaker manufacturer and see if these speakers are ok with a receiver like the 665.

crap. so i should be returning this receiver then, huh?

I think the real question here is, why are you trying to use studio monitors in a home theatre system? The receiver is not the problem, the speakers are...I'd be looking at new speakers instead.

I think the real question here is, why are you trying to use studio monitors in a home theatre system? The receiver is not the problem, the speakers are...I'd be looking at new speakers instead.
Yeah, that makes sense and all, but i really like the speakers. and I have em... ya know? At first I thought it would be easy to make em work with a receiver... but now I will be looking into other options.

My guess is that 6 of these speakers are not exactly inexpensive. (I'm assuming there are 6)

well right now i only have 2. with 2 more and a sub coming soon. My thought process was if i could get an inexpensive enough receiver that could handle the speakers, I'd rather have better speakers...

turns out its not going to be so easy.

It's not that they're bad speakers - they're just not meant for home theatre. To me, it's like buying a road bike for mountain biking.

I need some studio monitors to build a basic recording studio...how much you want for 'em? ;)

Back from mowing the lawn.

57 - Looking at the manual, the RCA input could connect to the PRE-OUT of an receiver.

JAG94 - The speaker' input impedence is 10K or 10,000 ohms which is what you would expect for a low level input. The speakers are meant for portable PA systems and any receiver you buy will have an unused amplifier section.