Best way to hook up Bose 901 series VI to a Harman Kardon HK3490

SOURCE: I have harman kardon AVR

I have a setup similar to what I think you're trying to do and it works great!

You're in luck because you have a full complement of pre-outs. You'll need a separate amp for the 901's.

First some background.

The use of 901's Active EQ (or any external proxcessor) in any digital AV receiver setup for anything EXCEPT STEREO listening through the 901's alone requires you to have a separate amplifier for them and to avoid having to use a Tape Monitor which could introduce proprietary and potentially damaging Active Equalization back into anything in the AV Receiver with its conventional speakers.

In an AVR, if you activate any Tape Monitor circuit at all, you will kill any digital sources. That is a function of AV receivers in general, nothing to do with 901's. Your Pre-Outs get us around that possibility and limitation but it also means you need a moderately powerful amp for your 901's. I use a Carver MT-200.

Run it with the Active EQ between the receiver Front L and R Pre-Outputs ** and the 901's amp channels.

** Front Pre Out (or one of your analog Tape Outs) >>> Bose EQ Amplifer IN, then Bose EQ Amplier OUT >>> new amplifier IN.

The AV Receiver can still drive the Center, Surrounds and the Sub(s) as it is designed. This is how mine is wired.

Then set the new amp's volume control (if it has one, mine doesn't) to something HIGH and leave it alone. Run through your speaker setup routines on the AVR. After levels and distances are set the AVR will be the boss of the 901's. With 901's don't even need subwoofers but they don't hurt. If you do have subs I recommend sharing the LFE with the 901's.

I've done this in my own setup once. Turn the 901's around so the rear faces point into the listening area. Crank up a movie like Master and Commander and when the waves are crashing or cannon are firing you WILL FEEL A BREEZE from them. Now THAT is multi-media! I advise having the 901's share LFE with any subwoofers you might have.

http://www.retrevo.com/support/Harman-Kardon-AVR-230-Receivers-manual/id/386bh145/t/2/