I have a 950 setup question and a request for amp suggestions.
I got an Outlaw 950 for my 5.1 home theater set-up (replacing a Denon AVR2801 used as a preamp) and will be hooking it to a Sherbourn 5/1500 (5 X 200 wpc). In Mar., I’ll replace the Aperion 522 bookshelf speakers in the L/R front with the Aperion 533 T.
I want to try a 7.1 home theater setup, my “home theater” is also the living room; I need to decide if the benefits of 7.1 offset the problems posed by adding rear surrounds i.e. ugly room. Also, I need to drive a pair of Aperion bookshelf speakers in the dining room (second zone, used at low volume levels).
I want to try using the Denon 2801 as an amp to drive the rear surrounds and the second zone speakers as a temporary solution. I have read the previous post on this topic (thanks to all!), please check if I’ve got it right.
The Denon AVR has 5.1 external inputs, so I run the interconnects from the rear surrounds on the 950 to the SR and SL ext in on the Denon, set the Denon’s adjustments to zero (i.e. speaker distance, master volume, channel volume) and use the 950’s adjustments. I connect the 950 “B zone” L/R interconnects to the Denon’s FR FL. Connect the speakers to the Denon same way. Right?
I know the Denon as amp will look ugly, is the sound out (for rear surrounds only) a fair test of 7.1 movie sound?
The amp question is: What kind of amp set up would best replace the Denon if I keep the exiting Sherbourn? The issue is the “B zone” speakers run at low levels and I’m not sure what power levels are needed for the rear surrounds in 7.1 (as processed by the 950). Should I try to match the 200 wpc of the Sherbourn? Would a low power, 6 channel, bridgeable amp (6X40) make sense, bridging 2 pair for the rear surrounds 2 X 80 wpc, leaving a pair of 40 wpc for the “B zone”?
I know an Outlaw 7 channel amp/990 solves most of the problems, but I’m trying to find a solution which lets me live with the the equipment I've got for a while before taking that step.
Thanks

Your connection scheme is correct, oaks. The Denon acting as an amp is a reasonable test of 7.1 - it's not as good an amp as the Sherbourn, but it's only driving rear surrounds.

There's no need to match the Sherbourn's 200W with a permanent rear surround amp. A lower power stereo amp would work fine, or you could get an amp like the 6x40 one you mentioned and also take care of the second zone.