If I use a mrx 500 amp connected with a denon integrated amp, will that degrade the sound? Can it even be done? Do you turn the volume knob all the way up on the denon integrated?

Source > anthem mrx500 using surrounds > mains going to denon 4802

Wait, are you talking about connecting two receivers? The MRX500 is a receiver, and so is the Denon 4802.

In that case, no. Because the Denon has no separate input that bypasses the pre-amp, it would not be a safe thing to do.

Seriously, the MRX500 costs $1500, only has 4 HDMI inputs, is only 100WPC, and is only 7.1? What on earth makes it worth $1000 more than feature-comparable units?

I'm using the mrx for the processing & the hdmi (4802 hasn't got any hdmi and doesn't have processing of the mrx) The mrx has pre outs. Have just hooked the mains to the denon to the ext. in ... these jacks are used for inputting signals from a kulti-channel outboard decoder 'quoted from the manual', the only question is do I crank the volume level on the denon to the max or keep it to 0db... seems to work good..

this is a temp solution until I get a D-Sonic M2-2500-7 to hookup with the mrx

The showpiece name.

It's actually only 75 WPC into 8 ohms with 5 channels driven continuously...

Got this mrx amp for a good price 700$ new

Fair enough. I doubt you're getting any benefit from combining the two receivers, and you may be running the risk of damaging them.

the mrx is not very good on 4ohm load my m80's, vp180 + 2 pairs qs8's and rated 75 watt on 5 channels.. the denon 150@4ohm each channel.. and the denon 4802 (as per the manual) has this special rare feature ''ext. in'' ... these jacks are used for inputting signals from a multi-channel outboard decoder no different than hooking up an exterior amp like an emo or d-sonic

JBG, if it's correct that the 4802 inputs in question give the same result as if connecting a separate amplifier, then the setting of the volume control on the 4802 is irrelevant. The volume control operates at the preamp stage and this is bypassed if the connection is directly to the amplifier stage.

However, these external multi-channel analog inputs are typically meant to feed feed voltage from a player, etc., into the preamp stage. If this is the case here, a preamp output would be fed into a second preamp stage, possibly overloading the 4802 stage and causing distortion. At least, the volume control on the 4802 would have to be turned down substantially to reduce the voltage input from the MRX.

Looking in the manual, the ext-in feeds the pre-amp in the 4802, not the amp.