I am using a Lexicon CX-7 Power Amplifier in conjunction with a Lexicon MV-5 Processor. I have 7 B&W Speakers (2 Fronts, 2 Sides, 2 Rears and one Center). I also have a REL Stentor III subwoofer. Trying to get the best way to connect the Sub with the above configuration. Thanks for help.

I don,t no where you are reading thease articles from,I installed car audio equipment for over 40 years, Untill i retired a couple of months ago, Who ever is writeing those sort of articles does not have the slightest clue what they are talking about, It is the opposite way around, It is allway better for yor (Speakers) To handle more power then what your amp puts out, Then you will not blow the spaekers, It is best to get speakers at least 20 watts more then what your amps maximuin (RMS) Watts are, Hope this helps you out, (PS) 50 watts (RMS) Is what most people go for, It is in no means (Under) Powered.

Ignition wire for the radio is RED.
The constant 12v is YELLOW.
BLUE is the remote/power antenna.
ORANGE is for the dimmer.
PURPLE pairs are right rear speakers.
GREEN pairs are left rears speakers.
GRAY pairs are right fronts and
WHITE pairs left fronts speakers. Hope this helps.

Swap the front speakers to the rear and the rears to the front. If the rears now don't play, it's in the radio. Double check the fader control. If that is correct it is the internal amp. If the fronts don't play after switching, it's the speakers. Use an Ohm meter to check the wiring and the speakers. It should be 4 or higher. If it is 2 or lower, it will cause the internal amp to fail. Check the wiring and make sure it is not pinched and make sure the speaker terminals are not touching metal where they are mounted.
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IF and only if, your receiver has connections labeled as "pre-out" can it be connected to an external amplifier.

If it does, then you connect from the left and right channels from the receiver, to the left and right channel on the amplifier.

I would contact Lexicon first ...These are VERY complex units

I used to work there

I would recommend a high power 2-channel amplifier, minimum 16 guage speaker wire, and of course the Bose 901 active EQ that matches the series of your speakers. I use a Yamaha mx-830 power amp & cx-830 pre amp 170 wpc They (Bose) claim that they're unlimited power handling, But if you use a amplifier with to little power and overdrive it to make it louder, you could damage the speakers or amp. With my 170 watt class A amp,the 901 series 6 will blow wind across the room. Go with the best amp you can afford! best for money- Yamaha,Denon,Onkyo!

Hi chupetin2

If the problem is present with ONLY the speakers connected, that is no other powered devices like subs, or input/output cables, it will be a power supply problem inside the amp. If you have electronic fault finding skills, there will probably be a capacitor in a regulated rail that has failed.
If you do have a sub connected, be sure it is powered from the same mains source as the amp, or at least a GPO that is on the same phase. Different phases will induce mains hum, as will multiple earths. Try also temporarily moving the amp(whilst monitoring the hum) from where it is sitting and see if the hum is being induced into the amp by any other devices

Happy to talk to you more about this. Just ask:)

regards
robotek

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.

If your amplifier has what they call High level inputs (basically inputs on the amp that you run the speaker wires from your radio into), you can splice wires from where the connectors are on your rear speaker(s), still leaving the speaker hooked up, and use those as an input into the amp. If your amplifier does not have high level inputs, a convertor is available to turn an audio signal from your radio output speaker wires ( spliced in just as above, leaving the speaker hooked up), into an rca output jack. Or the best thing to do would be to buy another say 2-4 channel amp w/high level inputs and rca inputs and outputs, and run your rear speaker wires into the amp. Then you'll be able to run the rca cables out of that amp and into the sub amp, and you'll have the new amp to power your rear speakers or rears and fronts. That would be ideal. But, A convertor is your best bet. Got em at best buy, circuit city, etc. Hope this was helpful.