Anyone try using powered monitors in their HT?

I have a Denon AVR where I can add Height speakers but require external amplification to do so which led me to wondering if anyone has tried using monitors as surrounds. I realize HT is not the same environment as a recording studio where monitors are used in a near-field application, but the fact that decent monitors are accurate and are usually powered made me wonder if they could be an alternative to traditional bookshelf speakers in surround duty. Anyone tried this?

That's interesting... you could use a big-ass few-channel amp for mains + center, then self-power the rest. Only reason I can think of for that not being more popular is that people generally buy an AV receiver first so they already have lots of low-power amplification channels available.

In terms of downsides, not sure whether long line-level cable runs out to the surround positions would be a source of noise/interference. Should be OK as long as you use decent coax I guess ?

The Denon I have, has height capability but requires separate amplification so it could be an alternative. Also, if you wanted to, you could run your fronts and centre off the AVR but use powered surrounds thereby freeing your AVR to give you some extra headroom.

Good point, forgot about that.

I have a 7.2 system driven by a 5 channel Anthem PVA5 amplifier. I use a Partsexpress.com sourced 2 channel 60wpc channel for the back surrounds. You have to set the volume separately from the processor, but it works great.

Dayton Audio DTA-120 Class T Mini Amplifier 60 WPC



Probably cheaper than an amplified monitor.

I use one of these in my 2.1 channel garage system. 2 Merak (Axiom made) center channel speakers upgraded with twin Axiom 6.5" aluminum drivers, one with a horn tweeter, the other with a tweeter from a Reference 3a mm de capo I picked up from ebay with its cap and resistor. I use a cheap CD player and a Sony XDR F1 HD am/fm tuner which is silly good.



Super sound quality.