Center channel speaker

It would help to know what equalizer you have, but I will assume it is a stereo analog unit. With the exception of the Tape In/Out connections on the back of the receiver there is really no provision for an equalizer. Even the Tape I/O connections are of little use if you can't monitor the source through the Tape In connections. Even if that were to work, it will not function for any digital sources you may have. You should be able to install this between an analog external source and the input to the receiver if you have one particular device you would like to tweak.
There are equalizer settings you can control within the receiver itself. You have the option of selecting the manual method for equalizer settings for each speaker or the default automatic method. Granted there are only 5 frequencies (3 for the sub) that you can adjust, but the fact that you can adjust each speaker separately is an advantage. The following was taken from the owner's manual:
• The front, center, surround, and surround back speakers
can be adjusted at 80 Hz, 250 Hz, 800 Hz,
2500 Hz, and 8000 Hz. The subwoofer can be adjusted
at 40 Hz, 80 Hz, and 160 Hz.
• While the Direct or Pure Audio listening mode is
selected, the equalizer settings have no effect.
• This procedure can also be performed on the AV
receiver by using its [SETUP], [ENTER], and arrow
buttons.

This is a very good receiver with some great features. If you have performed the Automatic Speaker Setup, you can go to the equalizer setting and select Off, Audyssey (automatic) or Manual.

Hope this helps.

How loud do you expect it to be?

More watts doesn't mean more loud but it gives you more headroom for cleaner reproduction of very loud passages. Distortion will kill a speaker faster than clean signals will.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_power

Register and download the manual for free at retrevo.com

http://www.retrevo.com/support/Audiosource-AMP100-Amps-manual/id/18809dj391/t/2/

I don

the amp should have a sub out if not ,you can check if the sub can take a speaker level input so that you can connect one or both speakers to the sub and it will take the signal from there ,please send the sub model no ,i can track the inputs provided

The problem is the jumpers in preout front amp in, is where you connect an equalizer or auxiliary amp.You most connect the jumpers if you didnt use the equalizer or the A channel didnt work.

Speaker output from the amplifier is a higher voltage than a preout. The speaker level signal has to be reduced to a line level signal in order to connect to another amplifier. I used a car stereo "speaker to line level adapter" and then connected a second amp to run my front channel speakers. Works just fine.

It is normal for power amps to get warm. Overheating can be caused by deffective speakers, or internal leakage on the transistors. Does is produce normal sound?

The Bose cube systems are SYTEMS for a very good reason. They're made for people who want good sound but don't want to manipulate the hardware much. The speakers and amps are designed for each other ONLY, not only electrically but through soundshaping to provide the smooth final result. The design is for you to feed the electronics a Line Level source and the magic and distribution happens internally. These are NOT mix 'n' match components. The special connectors are a clue. The Sony will probably blow them up.

Yes you can use the speaker output in conjuction with the rca pre-outs...but depending on the wattage of the amp, there may be a big difference between the loudness of the front speakers over the rear speakers. If you have a 4 channel amp you can put the rear speakers on the amp also and lower the input gain for the rear speaker. Or if you have a 2 channel amp, you could use a passive crossover to filter out some of the bass to the rear speakers since they are smaller, this would help prevent over-driving them...as it is normally too much bass that distorts and blows a speaker. I'm not sure what you are asking about the hi-rear preouts vs the mid front pre-outs. If you decide to use the amp for the fronts you should be able to connect the amp from the front preouts of the deck. Hope this helps.

It sounds like your CENTER channel is not connected properly.

Check the connection to the speaker itself, and at the connection to the back of the Sony.