Multiroom with Harman Kardon AVR435 help needed (1 Viewer)

[ianpetty]

We are finishing our basement and are installing home theater equipment down there, including our AVR 435, which touts multiroom use. We want to use this receiver to power our outdoor speakers as well. I want to use 5.1 in the basement but still have stereo on the deck. I had speaker wire run in the wall from the receiver area to the outdoor speakers and am not sure what I need to do to make it all work properly. HK says in their manual that the two rear surround speaker outputs can be used for the multiroom, but wouldn't that eliminate me using 5.1 in the basement? I've never used pre-outs before, is that something I can do? Need some help and don't want to purchase another receiver if I don't need to. Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Robert_J]

I've never used pre-outs before, is that something I can do?

Yes it is. Just buy a full range, stereo amp to power the 2nd zone. Here's one example - http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-812 . Here's a cheaper example - http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-380 . If you have an extra stereo receiver, you can use it as the amp.

 

[Martino]

You can use the pre-outs as described above - and it is probably the best way to go, as you will have a separate volume control for the second zone...but you can also use the internal amp to power the second zone if you wish... Found a quick start guide for your receiver: http://www.harmankardon.com/resources/Brands/harmankardon/Products/ProductRelatedDocuments/en-US/QuickStartGuide/AVR%20435%20QSG%20FINAL.pdf According to that - it is set up for a 7.1 channel system. If you want a 5.1 channel system, then you have 2 additional channels that you may be able to use for your outside speakers... Found the owers manual here: http://www.harmankardon.com/EN-US/Products/Pages/ProductSupportDetails.aspx?PID=AVR+435 I went to the above link - then selected the - Owners Manual AVR 435 OM FINAL (web).pdf == the direct connection doesn't seem to work for this pdf... From page 9 of that manual: - In highlight section 10...Surround Back/Multiroom Speaker Outputs... "These speaker terminal are normally used to power the surround back left/surround back right speakers in a 7.1 channel system. However, they may also be used to power the speakers in a second zone, which will receive the output selected for multiroom systems.....see page 41 for more information on configuring this speaker output" So it looks like you can have your 5.1 and outdoor speakers from your existing receiver....

I've never used pre-outs before, is that something I can do?

You can use the powered outputs and redirect the signal for zone two with a setup. If you want to use the pre-outs, you will have to have an enternal amplifier - as this will just be the signal and will need amplification. If you set the zone two up correctly, you should be able to select different sources and different sound levels to what is playing on the main 5.1 system... The good news is - you should not have to buy any additional equipment....just get the setup correct... You can try the zone 2 setup with the configuration change - and if you don't like the results - then use the pre-outs and the extra amp route...