I don't think I'd worry about it too much. I'd be surprised if the extra 4 channels use all that much electricity when idling, and heat has never been an issue with the 1050 as long as it is well-ventilated (i.e. has enough room above it).

I might even go as far as to say you really wouldn't like to turn off those channels, because if wear and tear IS an issue, then you wouldn't want four of them sounding different (newer) than the other two in a few years.

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Matthew J. Hill
matt@idsi.net

Sorry for not getting back sooner. A shorting plug is merely a connector that has the signal and ground connected together. You can buy them or simply make them. Get an old and/or cheap connector, cut-off the connector leaving a little of the wire connected, solder the two wires together, insulate and you have an RCA shorting plug. They help to remove both RF and channel crosstalk. Good luck.