Is it possible to use two stereo receivers to get 4 channel sound from a multi-channel source?

Question

I'm trying to amplify the surround channels using a stereo receiver. Are surround channels encoded, requiring a surround receiver to decode them?

Answer 1

It's not possible as you describe it, but if the second receiver has the decoding it might work.  Receivers that have the decoders for surround sound usually have 4 outputs (or 5 for surround 5.2)  and (If it needs external amps) a second amplifier is needed, not the second receiver.