New to AV Audio Setups - Some questions

[BeastieCoupe]

Hello Audio Review Forum people!

I am an old audiophile whom is now finally admitting the convergence of audio & video and I have a few questions about merging my old(er) audio equipment with a Yamaha RX-V765 7.2 AV Receiver.

1) I have three pieces of powered speakers coming from M-Audio equipment I have used with computers with no amplifiers present. One is an M-Audio Studiophile BX10s (http://www.zzounds.com/item--MDOBX10S) powered 10" sub-woofer. The other two are M-Audio Studiophile B5xa (http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-5-inch-BiAmplified-Monitor-Speakers/product-reviews/B0009VT9PC) powered 2-way monitors. I am almost 100% sure I am okay with inserting the subwoofer into specifically indicated subwoofer connections on the receiver (in fact I am fairly sure that the subwoofer used MUST be a self-powered model.) However I am not so sure (and in fact doubt) if I can use the powered monitors. This is because I have read that inserting powered speakers into the powered front/rear speaker connections will probably result in major damage to receiver, speakers or both! Is this true? If so, is there any 'workaround' whereby the power from the speaker or the power from the receiver can be defeated or whereby the connection does not result in a very negative outcome?

2) I have a pair of Magneplanar SMGa speakers that I would love to use as the front pair. My Maggies are the all-time favorite speaker of mine due to their wonderfully open and subtle sound. However I do know that they are 4 ohm speakers and that the Yamaha RX-V765 is a speaker rated for 8 ohms. Will there be sound quality and/or volume degradation due to this?

3) The Yamaha RX-V765 sold in the USA and Canada does not have phono inputs therefore I am almost certain that a phono pre-amp is required in order to connect a turntable (and hear anything!) I have found this unit - ART DJPRE II PHONO PREAMPLIFIER (http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AJR482/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1ESMDYMBL695H). It is well-rated for being such an inexpensive unit - will it have issues with the receiver (doubt that) or with the Maggies or the M-Audio equipment (don't think so)? Or will it be mediocre in sound quality? I am not a golden ear, but I also do not have a tin ear and if there is poor dynamics, presence or transitional quality I will be unhappy because as a musician I do note these qualities and also because I often listen with relatively high-quality heaphones (Sennheiser PC-350 or Panasonic RP-HC700)

4) Center speakers? I am considering this unit - Micca MB42X-C Center Channel Speaker with Dual 4-Inch Carbon Fiber Woofer and Silk Dome Tweeter - any opinions (http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HHFBEK6/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AFKH6OU9WWNFS)? I do have a Panasonic soundbar - a Panasonic SC-HBT70 (http://sound-bar.net/panasonic/panasonic-sc-htb70-review/) - but I don't think I can use it due to the above issue of powered speakers connected to a powered connections equals fried equipment. Is this also the case here? Or is there a 'workaround'?

Thanks to any and all that crawled through the scrawl to tell it all.


BC

[Mr Peabody]

The only way you could use the powered speakers is if the Yamaha has preamp outputs. You could plug the speakers into the preamp outputs which would use the speaker amp opposed to the Yamaha internal amp. Ideally, you want your center to match your mains, same brand & series as to have them timbre match for seamless sound across the front. I'm not familiar with that phono stage. My favorite in the budget priced area is Creek. If you use a 4 ohm speaker on the Yamaha it really depends on how stable the 4 ohms will be, whether it dips much below the 4 ohms, it could be fine and the Yamaha just run a bit warmer than usual or it could make the receiver go into protection. Maggies also typically like more power than what a receiver can give them. May not be what you want to hear but if you can't use the powered speakers I'd buy something new in a matching center and mains. Recommendations would depend on budget, room size and listening volume levels.

[bfalls]

Here's a PDF I found with more detail about your receiver. Note the power section delivered at different loads. I'm guessing theses would be two channels driven. It does have pre-outs, so you can connect your powered speakers and sub.

http://www.fullcompass.com/common/files/10751-Yamaha%20RXV765.pdf

[bfalls]

Here's a PDF I found with more detail about your receiver. Note the power section delivered at different loads. I'm guessing theses would be two channels driven. It does have pre-outs, so you can connect your powered speakers and sub.

http://www.fullcompass.com/common/files/10751-Yamaha%20RXV765.pdf

[BeastieCoupe]

Thank you Mr. Peabody and bfalls - however i believe the Yamaha only has pre-outs for a subwoofer and not for any other speaker. Note the Yamaha website itself (http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/av-receivers-amps/rx/rx-v675_u/?mode=model) lists that there are only 2 pre-out and both are mono for subwoofers (assume for each of the zones the receiver can manage.)

I am leaning away from this solution towards leveraging what is still excellent audio equipment regardless of its vintage by using a DAC that will allow meshing with high-end custom-built (by me) computers. I will then throw a couple of hundred dollars for theater-in-a-box so that movies can be a bit more emphatic than with the soundbar now in use.

I still love a good song more than a good movie I guess.

Thanks for your input!