plugging 2 channels into one speaker from 5.1 sub

[Scee]

I was wondering if it would be possible to hook up 2 channels from a 5.1 klipsch sub to power some bookshelf speakers using regular speaker wire.

Yeah I know I could just use one channel, but in the interest of more noise....

Thanks.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

So you've maxed out the power a single channel on the klipsch amp can provide?

I know bi-wiring speakers (which is kind of similar) can have some benefits if you use separate amps (better clairity etc...), but I'm not sure if hooking two outputs from the same amp would help you.

Do you have really inefficient speakers?

If you really want some power, you might want to go on ebay and pick up a real amp.

 

[CrispyFried]

edit: Are you talking about bi-amping?

 

[Scee]

This is bi-amping in a way, but as YOyo... said it's sort of weird that I'm using 2 channels.
Here's the deal on why I'm thinking about this. I'm on a budget and picked up 2 Athena as-f1 floorstanders. I'm considering grabbing a cheap klipsh multimedia sub off ebay to power them.... all my music comes off this pc and this way I can avoid paying for a dedicated amp at the moment.

Then I can up with the idea of using 2 channels from a 5.1 sub to increase the SPL. Additionally the 5.1 sub has volume control, which the 2.1 does not. I think this is going to be rather hit or miss given that I don't have much control over the sub cross-over point. The Athenas are 3 dB down @ 40Hz, so the sub won't add that much, but at the same time I'm hoping it doesn't completely filter out the lower frequencies.

I don't claim this is sane, but wondered if it might work.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I'm pretty sure the output from the klipsch sub is going to cut off the lower frequencies since computer speakers have built in crossovers. It's probably somewhere around 120 or 150hz... I don't know how steep the crossover would be though.

How much to promedia subs go for on ebay?

I know ribbon13 has found some $100 range (and sometimes under) vintage integrated amps for people off ebay. If you give him a pm, I'm sure he'd be willing to find something for you, or point you in the right direction.

For my bass shakers, I got a cheap $45 shipped off ebay Sherwood stereo receiver to power them. I hooked them up to a couple of my speakers briefly and it sounded quite good.

 

[PurdueRy]

I believe the only way you will get this to work is if you get something along the lines of a Denon1705 or higher, This can use the surround back channels as channels for ci-amping the fronts. Otherwise I don't see how you are going to get 2 channels for each main speaker that are identical.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: rleemhui
I believe the only way you will get this to work is if you get something along the lines of a Denon1705 or higher, This can use the surround back channels as channels for ci-amping the fronts. Otherwise I don't see how you are going to get 2 channels for each main speaker that are identical.

I was assuming he was going to get a y-splitter or something to feed the front and rear inputs to the Klipsch system the same signal.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: rleemhui
I believe the only way you will get this to work is if you get something along the lines of a Denon1705 or higher, This can use the surround back channels as channels for ci-amping the fronts. Otherwise I don't see how you are going to get 2 channels for each main speaker that are identical.

I was assuming he was going to get a y-splitter or something to feed the front and rear inputs to the Klipsch system the same signal.

Are you saying to use a Y splitter to combine outputs from the audigy? That doesn't seem like it would work...

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: rleemhui

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: rleemhui
I believe the only way you will get this to work is if you get something along the lines of a Denon1705 or higher, This can use the surround back channels as channels for ci-amping the fronts. Otherwise I don't see how you are going to get 2 channels for each main speaker that are identical.

I was assuming he was going to get a y-splitter or something to feed the front and rear inputs to the Klipsch system the same signal.

Are you saying to use a Y splitter to combine outputs from the audigy? That doesn't seem like it would work...

I mean take the front L/R output from the audigy and feed it to the front L/R input and the rear L/R input of the sub so they both get the same signal.