Ussing surround speakers for stereo music

[admin_exported]

Is there anyway in a typical 5.1 set up that you can whilst playing music send a duplicate stereo signal to your surround sound speakers, as if they were in B channel speakers that some home cinema receivers have, but without the need of doubling up on speakers. As i understand if you just turn centre off and play in surround mode it will be 4 channel quadrophonic and unless the music is recorded that way may sound pretty bad. Pretty confused and have too many speakers in my living room so if anyone can help? Perhaps it's dependent on the receiver?

 

[John Duncan]

Most amps have a "Stereo 5.1" mode where the signal is sent to all speakers at once, is that what you mean? Sounds fantastic for parties.

 

[Anonymous]

sounds good, if a bit of a contradiction. Have a very old and not very good receiver which i am about to upgrade. presume new one will have that option then. wonder what they send out the centre speaker, a mix of left and right, or nothing? better to turn that off i guess. thanks for reply

 

[John Duncan]

I suspect it's mono to all five!

 

[Anonymous]

On my Marantz SR-7002 amp I can change the surround mode to M-CH Movie and then music comes out of all 5 speakers. Can't quite work out what is coming from the centre speaker (mono or a mix of stereo). But it sounds good in the room, like before really good for parties! I'll just add that this is with my laptop hooked up via 3.5 jack->phono into a phono analogue input.

Steve.