HOW TO Add Surround Sound to a High-End Stereo Step 1:  As of normal setup in 2-channel for the front left/right tower speakers,  the Carver                       preamp output to Carver M-4.0t power amplifier, then hookup the front left/right                      speakers to the power amplifier. Step 2:  From the Yamaha RX-V3800 7.1 Home Theater Receiver front output to any input of                      Carver C-15v preamplifier.  The Carver C-15v controls the volume of Carver M-4.0t                      500W into 4 Ohms of the main front speakers. Step 3:  Setup audio Stereo Cables from the Pioneer Blu-Ray player and Pioneer DVD play for 2-                      channel Stereo music playback to any inputs of Carver C-15v preamplifier.  This setup                      can be bi-pass the Yamaha RX-V3800 receiver and without turning power on when                      playing 2-channel music. Step 4:  Set Carver TFM-24 225 watts power amplifier to mono mode, the output power is                      350 watts in 8 Ohms.  Use RCA mono Y-splitter to 2 RCA cable from  the Yamaha                      RX-V3800 receiver to Carver TFM-24 power amplifier. Step 5:  For Blu-Ray movies and SACD 5.1 Audio playback,  set the Carver C-15v volume                      about 2/3.  Then use the volume control from Yamaha RX-3800 receiver as Master                      volume to control the loudness of all the speakers. With this setup, the Carver power amplifiers can put out more tighter bass and more sound stage than Yamaha receiver can never sound like.  For music playback I don't have to turn the Axiom EP600 600 watts subwoofer in order to feel tighter bass. Second Setup:  I used 2x Carver M-4.0t power amplifier in mono mode, I am not too sure the power output is to drive the Axiom 4 Ohms tower speakers.  the specs is 1000 watts per channel into 8 ohms, so what is wattage in 4 Ohms? With this setup, I can not play very loud in a 12 x 12 feet room.  The sound is shaking all the walls and  Media Racks.  Then I take out 1x Carver M-4.0t for the setup.   I also own Carver C-1000a 200 watts Receiver, C-1 preamp, TFM-35 250 watts power amplifier,  HR 754 100 watts 5.1 receiver.  Not tested: Carver CT-28 Audio/Video Preamp/Tuner,  Carver AV-405 100 watts Five channel power amplifier, Carver SD/A360 5 Disc CD Player, i have owned Carver C-15v and TFM-24 for over 20 Years, they have been working excellent for me. I lent the Carver HR754 100 watts receiver as two channel power amplifier to my friend to compare his Yamaha 100 watts per channel 7.1 receiver.  The setup: front speakers is Axiom EP60 250 watts maximum,  2-channel music playback the Carver Hr754 sound much better than Yamaha, it plays  much more tighter bass, and produce more soundfield.  I believe that all Yamaha receivers have no match the sound quality to any Carver 100 watts per channel or more power amplifier when play music.   9.2 Audio/Video Setup: 1. Rear Ceiling Projector:  Sanyo PLV-Z3000 100" 16:9 setup Motorized screen      1920x1080, Brightness: 1200 ANSI Lumen, 120Hz. DC: 65,000:1, 5:5 pull-down,  14-bit digital        processing, 2x Zoom for short throw viewing, quiet fan system. Deep color or x.v. color supports. 2. Rear Optoma 3D Home Theater Projector, Active 3D  9.2 System setup: Subwoofer Yamaha RX-A3030 11.2 Receiver (Requires additional 2-ch amp.,              20 Hz to 20KHz 8Ω  150W RMS, 295W 4Ω        The AVENTAGE RX-A3030 gains in performance starting with the double bottom chassis design.           This 9.2 channel AV receiver offers expandability up to 11.2 channels for superb surround sound        realism utilizing the CINEMA DSP HD3 engine. Enjoy advanced HDMI® zone switching in a second        zone while utilizing Yamaha’s most powerful video processor available. With the ESS Technology        ES9016 SABRE32™ Ultra DAC and ESS Technology ES9006 SABRE™ Premier Audio DAC, audio        quality is at its best when combined with Yamaha’s most powerful version of auto room        calibration, YPAO™ with angle correction. Pioneer BDP-320 Blu-Ray Player:  4 Burr-Brown DAC Pioneer DV-79AV DVD Play: Multi-Region, SACD/DVD-Audio Samsung  BD-UP5000 Blu-Ray/HD DVD Combo Pioneer DLV-700 Laser Disc/DVD Combi Player JVC HR-S2915U Super VHS ET VCR Play Technics RS-TR575 Double Tape Deck Audio Technica AT-LP240  Turntable Belkin PureAV Home Theater Power console PF60 2 channel setup: For Music Carver M 4.0T: 350W per channel Power Amplifier IN 8 Ohms, 500W per channel Power in 4 Ohms Carver CT-28V Audio/Video Preamplifier Speakers Setup:  Axiom Home Theater Speakers Main:  Axiom EP80 V2 400W 4 Ohms Full tower Speakers Center:  Axiom VP- 180 400W 4 Ohms Front Presence:  1x Setup of QS8 400W 8 Ohms Surround/Back:  2x Setup of QS8  400W 8 Ohms Subwoofer 1:  Axiom 12" 600W Class D 17 Hz Subwoofer 2:  Sound Dynamic 15" 400W 25 Hz     Pioneer Elite DV-79AV DVD Player:  SACD (5.1 Surround Sound support) , DVD-Audio,                                       HDMI 1.2a, DVD Up-converter to 1080p, Region Free, excellent up-converter.                                       * Best investment for SACD 5.1 playback, excellent to listen 2 channel                                        Audio CDs, Solid built quality only 11 lbs.     Pioneer BDP-320 Blu-ray Disc Player, Deep Color x.v. Color upto 48bit, 4 Burr-Brown DAC,                                       Excellent Blu-ray movies playback, when matching Deep Color setup with any                                       LCD/Plasma or Front-projector. Excellent 2-channel Audio playback with                                       Built-in 4 Burr-Brown DAC (this feature only comes with some of expensive                                       Blu-ray player), too bad most of any reviews from the Google search don't                                       even bother mention when testing and listening to the Audio CDs                                       bought it at the Futureshop on June 30, 2010, at the price of $ 200,                                       Regular list price is over $ 350 Main Speakers:  Axiom M80 V2 Floorstanding, excellent price for the quality built speakers       3-Way:  25Hz-22KHz at 4Ω 91dB       Tweeter:  2x 1" Titanium       Woofer: Aluminum 2x 5 1/4"        Subwoofer:  2x 6.5"  10 - 400 Watts Maximum 56.8 lbs              Mansfield Beech Finish Center Speaker:   Axiom VP180 4Ω      3-Way: 25Hz - 22kHz  at 4Ω 91dB     Tweeter:  2x 1" Titanium      Woofer: Aluminum 2x 5 1/4"       Subwoofer:  2x 6.5"  10 - 400 Watts Maximum 56.8 lbs              Mansfield Beech Finish Front Precence:  Axiom QS8 V2:       Quadpolar Technology:   65Hz - 22kHz at 8Ω 91dB      Tweeter:  2x 1" Titanium       Woofer: Aluminum 2x 5 1/4"         10 - 400 Watts Maximum 13.5 lbs              Boston Cheery Finish Surround/Surround Back:  Axiom QS8 V2:       Quadpolar Technology:   65Hz - 22kHz at 8Ω 91dB      Tweeter:  2x 1" Titanium       Woofer: Aluminum 2x 5 1/4"         10 - 400 Watts Maximum 13.5 lbs              Boston Cheery Finish Subwoofer:  Axiom EP600 V2          Specification:  12" DSP Class D amplifier, 600 watts RMS                                     -The Deepest. This subwoofer goes down to 16 Hz (anechoic response), creating sound so real you not only hear it - you actually feel it. Sure, claims of 16 Hz are made every day by manufacturers, but you'll only hear it if the sub is in a tiny closet-like room like the one they're measuring in. The EP600 is the first subwoofer to ever achieve it anechoically, in a room with no boundaries. You'll actually hear it all - guaranteed - and in most rooms, you'll even experience 15 Hz!                                     Audio Listening: I have to use the Carver M 4.0T power Amplifier to play music Carver Power Amplifier (now Sunfire is Bob Carver's new line):  M 4.0T Magnetic       Field power Amplifier  Power:  350 watts RMS per channel 8Ω both channel driven,       500 watts RMS per channel into 4Ω Carver Preamplifier: C-15v Audio/Video Preamplifier   Testing:  Axiom Audio M80 V2 Floorstanding Loudspeakers     Two channel Audio music:     Outstanding sound when listening the Telarc Ein Straussfest  by Cincinnati Pops Orchestra,      they play back with full-range sound to ultra low frequency, the sound is so pronouced , you can      hear and feel every instruments that are so detail high and low frequency.      When I use the Carver M-4.0t and TFM-24 Amplifier for 5.1 channel surround playback, it can      produce deeper and tighter bass  feature the Carver Silver Seven Vacumm Tube Reference      Amplifier which was designed over ten years ago.  The Axiom Audio M80 V2 Speakers sounds      much more powerful and more dynamic than my Yamaha RX-3800 with 140 watts RMS receiver.