In a word...separately! Although the DVD remote has a "volume" it is obviously for TV or AVR only, although the switch allows for choice between TV/DVD-it obviously would not control an amp's volume. I suppose I was thinking that it did adjust the DVD signal level output.
Dual volume control (one is not even remote) definitely creates a bit of pain in the ass and is rather tedious. I messed around using the amp via CD input on another (older) avr for the main fronts low range (mains of the 5.1 analog outs on DVD-split)and the mains out of the Onkyo for high range; just to try to give me some feeling for bi-amplification. I do believe that I notice a definite difference, although rather hard to say.
I have yet to experiment much with movies however, it seems as though if you set the low range (from the bi-amped mains) level on older receiver, there is very little adjustment necessary (a little bit of adjustment on low freq volume = large volume change). This older avr is also rated @ 55W/ch. If I was brave (or dumb!) enough-I would use the older for both Hi and Low with using the A & B speaker outputs-but it is only rated for 8 ohms and I just repaired one blown channel on this unit-plus I don't want to hose my speakers more importantly! The Onkyo front ch. are driving the upper freq., the center and the surrounds which can be remotely adjusted.
In answer to my own question-it in this configuration it seems as though the surround does work because my DVD is doing all of the surround decoding with the Onkyo in strictly multi channel. Since front signals are split out of DVD, this bi-amp config. does work for surround as well.
Just for grins-(this is really getting screwy) but I will share nonetheless. Vantas has this surround converter / amp combo for upgrading a 2 ch. system to 5 channel. It is designed for routing the mains (frt)speaker level outputs as pass through and adds 3 channels of signal amplification. It monitors main levels and "tracks" any change which it then adjusts other surround channels level to match.
I was thinking of using this for strictly additional amplification (100w/ch versus 55 on Onkyo AVR). The only way would be to connect the rear surround inputs to this converter/amp to the main ch. connections which would pass those signals thru and track those and adjust the former surround (now front mains) channel outputs accordingly. This would give me 100w/ch on my two frnt mains and a center while the Onkyo would power the surrounds @ 55w/ch. Just was a bit leery of having the volume controlled by the surround level inputs, obviously suspect.
So, answer is there is no way round it I'm 'fraid. I guess I will just have to grin and bear until I can afford exactly what I want. Which means new Receiver/amp or separates or integrated of sorts, kind of fun playing though nonethless.
"done playin" now I just want some functionality!!
Dual volume control (one is not even remote) definitely creates a bit of pain in the ass and is rather tedious. I messed around using the amp via CD input on another (older) avr for the main fronts low range (mains of the 5.1 analog outs on DVD-split)and the mains out of the Onkyo for high range; just to try to give me some feeling for bi-amplification. I do believe that I notice a definite difference, although rather hard to say.
I have yet to experiment much with movies however, it seems as though if you set the low range (from the bi-amped mains) level on older receiver, there is very little adjustment necessary (a little bit of adjustment on low freq volume = large volume change). This older avr is also rated @ 55W/ch. If I was brave (or dumb!) enough-I would use the older for both Hi and Low with using the A & B speaker outputs-but it is only rated for 8 ohms and I just repaired one blown channel on this unit-plus I don't want to hose my speakers more importantly! The Onkyo front ch. are driving the upper freq., the center and the surrounds which can be remotely adjusted.
In answer to my own question-it in this configuration it seems as though the surround does work because my DVD is doing all of the surround decoding with the Onkyo in strictly multi channel. Since front signals are split out of DVD, this bi-amp config. does work for surround as well.
Just for grins-(this is really getting screwy) but I will share nonetheless. Vantas has this surround converter / amp combo for upgrading a 2 ch. system to 5 channel. It is designed for routing the mains (frt)speaker level outputs as pass through and adds 3 channels of signal amplification. It monitors main levels and "tracks" any change which it then adjusts other surround channels level to match.
I was thinking of using this for strictly additional amplification (100w/ch versus 55 on Onkyo AVR). The only way would be to connect the rear surround inputs to this converter/amp to the main ch. connections which would pass those signals thru and track those and adjust the former surround (now front mains) channel outputs accordingly. This would give me 100w/ch on my two frnt mains and a center while the Onkyo would power the surrounds @ 55w/ch. Just was a bit leery of having the volume controlled by the surround level inputs, obviously suspect.
So, answer is there is no way round it I'm 'fraid. I guess I will just have to grin and bear until I can afford exactly what I want. Which means new Receiver/amp or separates or integrated of sorts, kind of fun playing though nonethless.
"done playin" now I just want some functionality!!