Contributor I

Answered

Amp for Both Fronts and Surrounds

14 replies
3804 views

Hi,

Hope someone can help please.

I currently have in a living room the wiring for 5 channel speakers but have removed the home cinema setup to another room.

I have an Arcam A32 and Tannoy Signature DC6 using the front stereo speaker wiring fed by a Sonos Connect (gen 1).

I'm in process of upgrading to gen 2 and was thinking Sonos Port. However I was then thinking I could maybe get an Amp instead be able to use it for TV (hdmi) as well. In this scenario:-

- Could the Amp use the A32 for the fronts (RCA)?

- Could the Amp then power passive rear speakers using its own amps or I'd have to use Sonos wireless speakers?

- What comes out of the digital out on the Amp in this case? Is it the full 5.1?

- What would happen if I played music in such a setup? Does the Amp create a surround effect from the stereo or just play to the front speakers? Or maybe can be configured to do either?

Please if anyone has experience/ knowledge of Amp and can answer these would be much appreciated.

Thanks, Ian.

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buzzAnswer

Grand Maestro

PORT is not a surround unit and connecting PORT to a TV will usually resort in a vexing audio delay.

AMP can be used for TV surround. The A32 is not welcome in a SONOS surround system.

You could connect AMP to the TV’s HDMI-ARC connector and use your Tannoy’s for the front speakers. A second SONOS AMP or a pair of SONOS speakers could be used for surround, resulting in a 4.0 surround system. A SONOS SUB or 3rd party powered subwoofer could be added, resulting in a 4.1 surround system. You could repurpose the A32 to drive a 3rd party passive subwoofer.

AMP does not offer a digital audio input or output.

You can disable the surround output for stereo music. Unfortunately, you need to deal with this each time you transition between TV and stereo music.

Show previous replies

K

Kinder685Author

Contributor I

It sounds like it should work tbh.

Does the Arc still connect to the Amp via 5GHz in this scenario? Wonder if there may be some problem with that? Are there obstructions between them?

A Connect Amp won't help I don't think as I don't believe it can work as a surround amp with Arc?

Airgetlam

A CONNECT:AMP should work, but only if it is wired….see the setting up Amp or CONNECT:AMP as surround speakers FAQ.

This is due to the CONNECT:AMP not having a 5Ghz antenna to latch on to the surround signal generated by the ‘front’ device.

Bruce

E

Eric Bartsch

Lyricist III

The ARC is connected via WiFi while the AMP has an Ethernet connection. I wonder. Maybe I should try connecting the ARC via a CAT 6 cable? I’d have to arrange a few things, but there is one nearby. I don’t know why that would make a difference. Then again, I don’t know how the AMP can tell the difference between a third-party ceiling speaker and the one Sonos sells.

E

Eric Bartsch

Lyricist III

To answer my own question, connecting the AMP and the ARC to the same network via their own Ethernet cables SOLVED THE PROBLEM. Before, the ARC was connected via WIFI and the AMP was connected via an Ethernet cable. After I connected the ARC to the network via an Ethernet cable, the system both added the ceiling speakers as surrounds AND recognized them during the Trueplay synchronization. Playback now works, both as a surround speaker, supporting the ARC 5.1 capabilities, and as music speakers (as either “full” or “ambient”). Other than being the fool for ignoring this problem for too long, I’m now getting the capability out of the Amp and ceiling speakers according to the original install plan.

Eric

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