bluray Wrote:I'm planning to build a new home at the end of the year. I'm planning to pre-wire it as shown below. My Onkyo have these options, and I want to utilize the entire surround speakers in my new theater room. I hope that XBMC release XBMC with HD audio options by then....
Hey,
Not to rain on your parade but you do realise that your AVR will only do 7.2.
To do 11.2 you would be required to by an additional pre-amp for each channel (2 pre-Amps required in your case) as your AVR only has an onboard 7.2 channel audio amplifier.
The 11.2 is mainly used to allow customers to choose which speaker Combination they wish to run, but please read the Manual and you will see that you can not just plug 11.2 speakers in the back of it at the same time as they will not work. You will only be able to select 7.2 to run at any 1 time, unless you invest in pre-Amps and a lot of work/expense. Also as you only have 7.1 pre outs you may struggle even with pre amps to get 11.2.
I have a Denon 4311Ci 11.2 amplifier, Denons flagship model (100th anniversary) however mine has a true 9.2 amp built in, meaning I can connect 11.2 speakers and can activly run 9.2 at any give time. Also I can run the last channel out via a pre-amp, I have all "11.2 channels pre amp out" as well, which is key!
Personally I've chose to leave the 11th channel and currently run a 9.2 setup using the same configuration shown in your picture expect I forgoe the rear high.
It can be a chew on with preamps as you will then need to run the audio from the analog pre out to a pre amp analog input and then to a set of speakers. Meaning you need to set the volume control on both the pre amps and the AVR independently which can be a pain for aydyssey etc. I have aydyssey xt32ci which allows me to connect a pro kit to compensate but I don't think yours is a ci or a xt32 (I can't remember)
Here is the spec sheet which say its a 7.2 amp built in... Also the manual states the RC-270 AVR CAN NOT DRIVE FRONT HEIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME AS FRONT WIDES etc etc and give the combinations that it won't work in... Plus AVS forums thread confim all this (did a lot of revision on many avrs when I bought mine, of which this was one until I noticed these issues) plus thy have a reputation for catching fire (see thread)
http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=HT-R...ceiver&p=f
Here is the AVS thread confirming this as well
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1302412
Don't mean to be a party pooper but don't want you building your house around an onkyo AVR that doesn't do what you think/thought it did
but this is all stated in the manual around page 37 or so I think... Also, be careful with the dual subs as unlike the 4311 the RC-270 model doesn't carry SubEQ HT, meaning the .2 is a glorified "Y" splitter and therefore is not EQd correctly. You WILL require a seperated external subEQ othwise your subs will be off as dual subs require a 75db calibration then apx -4 from each Sub and then filtered. Otherwise you'll get a boomy boom fest.
Here's the manual for you too for extra conformation.
http://filedepot.onkyousa.com/Files/own_...a2f2ac4367
Additional:
As you can see even the Onkyo flagship NR 5009 Is only 9ch AVR and that's a $3000 AVR, also it's limitations still put it behind the denon range in terms of performance etc.
http://www.us.onkyo.com/prod_class.cfm?c...e=sidemenu
Hopefully that will help you on your journey and stop you from building a room around an AVR that doesn't do what you think it does
Hope that helps...