2. home-theater
  3. 166752-1829

Attempting to configure 5.1 with current gear and new Anthem unit-

New Anthem surround replacing older Arcam.  Cannot figure out how to get all five speakers (left, center, right and two rears) to play.  Have CJ Pre, Power and Phono Pre--basically working in two channel mode for vinyl and CDs--  Put in new Anthem--my tech cannot figure out how to get all to play in surround mode-5.1--(I guess unless I add addl set of speakers, left and right--which wasn't necessary prior. and sound would suffer-along with space issues.)
It seemed to me my old tech from years ago had sussed this out--but I am in a jam.   Also attempting to get OPPO DVD player and Comcast TV feed into mix.  If anyone has a clue, please chime in.  My current universal remote is a MX780-- need less to say, I wasn't expecting this, and I am not a tech guy.
Thanks---Thoughts???????  
bluesnbike1954

Showing 2 responses by reubent

reubent
6,940 posts
 
Was the previous Arcam a 5.1 HT Receiver? Is the new Anthem also a 5.1 HT receiver? Model numbers might help too....

Does the 2-channel system, i.e. pre-amp, amp, phono and CD work independently, without the need to use the HT receiver?

Sound like you may have had a "combo HT/2-channel system" previously, where the 2-channel components powered the front L&R speakers. If that is the case, the 2-channel rig would be able to play completely independent of the HT 5.1 channel portion of the system. Then the HT receiver would power the center channel speaker, and rear surrounds. It would also do all of the 5.1 channel decoding, etc., when playing DVDs and TV, etc.

Does that sound like what you had previously?
reubent
6,940 posts
 
What is the model of your CJ Pre-amp? Just curious if it has an HT Bypass/Processor Loop input?

If it worked before, it is likely that there was a pair of RCA interconnects running from the L&R front pre-out channels on the Arcam, into some input on the CJ Pre-amp (HT bypass input, Processor Loop Input, or other vacent analog input). When that input was selected on the CJ Pre-Amp, the front L&R channel signal from the Arcam would go into the CJ setup and the sound would come out of the speakers connected to the CJ 2-channel rig.

It can be done, it's just a matter of "how simple is it to operate". A unity gain HT bypass or Processor Loop simplifies things.

No time to add more at the moment. But I'm happy to answer questions later in the weekend. Gotta go for now......

More to discover