Inexpensive way of utilizing Pre-Outs?

[rwnano]

I have a Harman Kardon AVR 240, 50 watts per channel 7.1 system. Its got high current capability.

This is how the Rear-side of the Amp looks:

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/lUUAAOSw29FjE3Eq/s-l1600.jpg

Qn1. Apart from the SubWoofer, how do I use the Pre-outputs of the Amplifier. ???

I currently have 5.1 HKTS 11 speakers with Front Left and Right as Jamo S60 SURs for a total of 7.1 speakers in my bedroom all arranged on one wall-face.

Music is plenty loud and clear for this room both in Stereo mode as well as 7.1 mode.

** Laptop is playing FLAC files to Topping D10s DAC which outputs to the analog IN of the Harman AVR 240.

Qn2. How else to improve sound quality?
N.B: my DAC reads 44.1 PCM when it plays - so I do know that I need to use ALSA out to improve the sound quality.

Note: My subwoofer is a passing Harman Kardon HKTS 11 200 Watt sub, with its plate Amp removed, and is powered by an external SubWoofer amplifier.

Thank you!!

http://en.all-specs.net/model/135040/

Inputs​

composite x5, S-Video, x5, component x2, coaxial x3, optical x3, 7.1CH x1, linear x7 input for iPod
http://en.all-specs.net/model/135040/

Outputs​

subwoofer x1, composite x3, S-Video x3, component x1, headphone x1 coaxial x1, optical x1, 7.1CH x1, x3 linear, PreAmp
http://en.all-specs.net/model/135040/

The connectors on the front panel​

headphones, line input, composite input, S-Video input, optical input, coaxial input
http://en.all-specs.net/model/135040/

Digital sound processing​

DSP​

there, Cirrus CS 49400

10

The sampling frequency of the audio DAC​

192 kHz

100

Bit audio DAC​

24-bit

75
http://en.all-specs.net/model/135040/

 

[spirovious]

Preouts are connected to poweramp which drives respective speaker. You can use stereo or multichannel power amp for it.
But it may not change much sounds as speakers are satellite. Before trying preout, front speakers can be changed as Harmon AVR has good power.

 

[rwnano]

What about center speaker? Where do I get a good L,R,CENTER spkrs?

 

[spirovious]

What about center speaker? Where do I get a good L,R,CENTER spkrs?

Yes all 3 upgrades will be better way. Matching speakers will improve sound to next level.

 

[Manish Sharma]

First of all upgrade your speakers to atleast bookshelf and buy a decent centre speaker…Second step wud be to fed your AVR with a good signal of 24bit/96khz…I am using the Harman Kardon old model AVR660 with Polk audio s20’s, centre channel s35, surround klipsch ceiling and rear surround BOston CR55…I cud hear a huge difference in sound quality once I fed the clean signal as my signal goes to 990kbps through LDAC …Recently hooked up a marantz PM6007 amp to the pre outs for front LR channels…The receiver gives pre outs but the question is how clean is the RCA out as I have read in other articles that the AVR pre out is always distorted as compared to pre out from a specialised PreAmp/Processor

 

[Amarendra]

First of all upgrade your speakers to atleast bookshelf and buy a decent centre speaker…Second step wud be to fed your AVR with a good signal of 24bit/96khz…I am using the Harman Kardon old model AVR660 with Polk audio s20’s, centre channel s35, surround klipsch ceiling and rear surround BOston CR55…I cud hear a huge difference in sound quality once I fed the clean signal as my signal goes to 990kbps through LDAC …Recently hooked up a marantz PM6007 amp to the pre outs for front LR channels…The receiver gives pre outs but the question is how clean is the RCA out as I have read in other articles that the AVR pre out is always distorted as compared to pre out from a specialised PreAmp/Processor

How are you feeding 7.1 signal as LDAC ?

 

[Manish Sharma]

How are you feeding 7.1 signal as LDAC

How are you feeding 7.1 signal as LDAC ?

LDAC is technology of sony and hence I had to buy a dedicated DAP i.e Sony Walkman which had LDAC…And my second unit for receiving LDAC signal is Auris BlumePro Bluetooth Receiver which itself acts as a DAC as well…Connected its optical out to the optical In of my AVR

 

[Amarendra]

LDAC is technology of sony and hence I had to buy a dedicated DAP i.e Sony Walkman which had LDAC…And my second unit for receiving LDAC signal is Auris BlumePro Bluetooth Receiver which itself acts as a DAC as well…Connected its optical out to the optical In of my AVR

But optical is feeding digital signal to the AVR ? So you are relying on the AVR to convert the digital to analog. Also I havent come across a blutooth receiver which transmits multi channel signal. It must be 2 channel in that case ?

 

[Manish Sharma]

But optical is feeding digital signal to the AVR ? So you are relying on the AVR to convert the digital to analog. Also I havent come across a blutooth receiver which transmits multi channel signal. It must be 2 channel in that case ?

But optical is feeding digital signal to the AVR ? So you are relying on the AVR to convert the digital to analog. Also I havent come across a blutooth receiver which transmits multi channel signal. It must be 2 channel in that case ?

The feeder has Analog outputs as well but I didnt see any diff between optical & analog output sound quality…Yes the signal is two channel but we listen to music in 2 channel only … all the music is recorded in that way and optimized for 2 channel only…Our AVR processes the signal from 2 channel to 7 channel

 

[Amarendra]

The feeder has Analog outputs as well but I didnt see any diff between optical & analog output sound quality…Yes the signal is two channel but we listen to music in 2 channel only … all the music is recorded in that way and optimized for 2 channel only…Our AVR processes the signal from 2 channel to 7 channel

I was referring to watching movies.

 

[Manish Sharma]

I was referring to watching movies.

I am taking dolby plus channel from my tv and directly feeding it to AVR…DAC is kept only for music listening…In your tv settings set the sound mode to Pass Through instead of PCM …And under decoding options select DOLBY DIGITAL PLUS…Your tv wil output pure dolby sound through optical cable