5.1 reciever with L/C/R + Surround & Stereo Out for Spkr B (1 Viewer)

[ElectronicHoby]

Not sure how to search for this style receiver. Looking for a 5.1 receiver for a friend that has a 5.1 setup in th eliving room and a stereo setup out in the lania.

So, i want to be able to play his cable/SAT/BluRay in 5.1 inside and/or (A, B, A+B) also pipe the music/audio outside to lanai in stereo.

He has an old Dolby AC3 receiver now that works..but it has no TrueHD/DTS-MA decoding or HDMI switching. They are on a budget..so..more economical and outputs 80-100 WPC.

Thanks,

Doug

 

[Al.Anderson]

I like A/B too it's easier to use than 2nd zone; unfortunately they're rarer now. I just did a Google search and found this:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Onkyo-HT-RC230-5.1-Channel-Home-Theater-Surround-Receiver/14335655
Onyko's a decent brand so it's not a bad start.

 

[schan1269]

Any 7.1 AVR does this.

Does he want Zone B or Zone 2?

 

[schan1269]

That RC230 is a rare bird.

Another option is one of the Denon 5.1 that has Zone 2 pre-out to use with another amp.

However, you can accomplish what the RC230 does with every single AVR ever made by using a speaker switch.
http://www.amazon.com/Speaker-Selector-Switch-Switcher-Splitter/dp/B0043JBLC0/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1386285720&sr=1-4&keywords=stereo+speaker+switch + every AVR ever made.

 

[ElectronicHoby]

Don't really want to use a second amp. Inconveience for the friend. I saw a Onkyo online...but when using A+B..it cuts the A channel from 5.1 to 2.1.

Would a 7.1 Reciever work using 5.1 for the inside and the addition 2 surrond channels for the outside lanai?....IE a powered zone 2?

 

[schan1269]

Would a 7.1 Reciever work using 5.1 for the inside and the addition 2 surrond channels for the outside lanai?....IE a powered zone 2?

That is the entire point of a multi-zone 7.1 AVR.

Just keep in mind, Zone 2 is analog only(at the "bargain price point"). Meaning anything "network" or stream, must be done from a device connected analog(IE, 3.5mm or red/white)

Hence why "Zone B" is easier if your Lanai is going to be used for streamed/network content.

 

[ElectronicHoby]

That's what i thought..just used to looking at it as (A, B, A+B)So..I'm reading the Onkyo RC-560 manual now..appears that might work. Would you mind verifying?

IE....DTS-MA/Dolby TrueHD could play a movie in 5.1 in Family room...also playing the SAME audio as family room out to a pair of speakers (powered Zone 2) at same time.

Just, if the friend ever decides to put two more speakers in the Family Room (IE 7.1)...he would lose the outside speakers from that amp...unless he bought a 9.1 receiver...correct?

thanks

 

[schan1269]

In case Zone 2 and Zone B aren't clear...

Zone B is the same thing as Zone A(including the volume)

Zone 2 is different content (if desired) and at a different volume.

 

[ElectronicHoby]

Just keep in mind, Zone 2 is analog only(at the "bargain price point"). Meaning anything "network" or stream, must be done from a device connected analog(IE, 3.5mm or red/white)

Hence why "Zone B" is easier if your Lanai is going to be used for streamed/network content.

Hmm...so a Bluray/SAT/Cable box HDMI input to the receiver..would not be able to play on both Zones?...only RCA inputs can?

Also, How can I tell if the Zone 2 volume can be seperated?

 

[schan1269]

The 560 has what is called Intelligent Amp Design(yes, Intelligent Amp Design is a feature to look for)

You look at the back you see 7 sets of binding posts and 2 springs for Zone 2. Connect all 9.

Then you have 7.1 when you want...
5.1 plus Lanai when you want.

 

[schan1269]

Zone 2 is separate source and volume or it would be called Zone B.

 

[ElectronicHoby]

Thanks..would you say for what he wants and the price point the HT-RC560 is a good buy..or does Yamaha/Pioneer/Denon makes something comparable..better?

 

[ElectronicHoby]

Zone 2 is separate source and volume or it would be called Zone B.

However, you can assign the SAME source to zone 2 if wanted..yes?
Owners manual seems vague

 

[schan1269]

Thanks..would you say for what he wants and the price point the HT-RC560 is a good buy..or does Yamaha/Pioneer/Denon makes something comparable..better?

Don't leave out Onkyo. How high up does he want to go? Here...
http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-NR5010-9-2-Channel-Certified-Receiver/dp/B008J3WOD6/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1386287225&sr=1-1&keywords=nr5010

or here...
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Elite-Channel-Network-Receiver/dp/B00DQY9W9C/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1386287254&sr=1-1&keywords=Elite+sc79

or here...
http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-4520CI-Networking-Theater-Receiver/dp/B0092KZCKC/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1386287283&sr=1-1&keywords=denon+4520

or here...
http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-A3030-9-2-Channel-Aventage-Receiver/dp/B00D1VX38G/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1386287311&sr=1-1&keywords=rx-a3030

 

[schan1269]

Yes you can access the same source in both locations. As long as that source(if present in the same room...connected both HDMI and analog) is capable of two methods of connection.

That comes into play with certain cable STB if you wanted to listen to the provided "radio" inside and out. Some cable STB kill the "other outputs" if HDMI is active.

 

[ElectronicHoby]

Don't leave out Onkyo. How high up does he want to go? Here...
http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-NR5010-9-2-Channel-Certified-Receiver/dp/B008J3WOD6/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1386287225&sr=1-1&keywords=nr5010

or here...
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Elite-Channel-Network-Receiver/dp/B00DQY9W9C/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1386287254&sr=1-1&keywords=Elite+sc79

or here...
http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-4520CI-Networking-Theater-Receiver/dp/B0092KZCKC/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1386287283&sr=1-1&keywords=denon+4520

or here...
http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-A3030-9-2-Channel-Aventage-Receiver/dp/B00D1VX38G/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1386287311&sr=1-1&keywords=rx-a3030

LOL..ok..$1500-$3000 is MORE than he wants to pay. The Onkyo HT-RC560 I was looking at is like $400...much better

 

[schan1269]

If he wants, and can get talked into it, to get an AVR that will allow networked audio and digital Zone 2...

Denon X4000. It "almost" pays for the price difference(you can get it under $1000 if you schmooze hard enough at Best Buy...if you are in the US) because it only needs 1 hookup for every device and has a seamless integration with Apple and Droid.

 

[ElectronicHoby]

If he wants, and can get talked into it, to get an AVR that will allow networked audio and digital Zone 2...

Denon X4000. It "almost" pays for the price difference(you can get it under $1000 if you schmooze hard enough at Best Buy...if you are in the US) because it only needs 1 hookup for every device and has a seamless integration with Apple and Droid.

Appreciate the input..I own a Marantz AV7701..and love it...but he'll probabaly want to stick with the $400-$500 range

 

[schan1269]

I forgot...the X3000 will also do Digital Zone 2...
http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-X3000-7-2-Channel-Networking-Receiver/dp/B00CALM12W/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1386288091&sr=1-1&keywords=denon+x3000

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/DENAVR3312CI/DENON-AVR-3312CI-7.2-Network-A/V-Surround-Receiver-w/AirPlay/1.html (if I remember correctly, you can download the manual to check, this one also does digital zone 2. A4L does not have any X3000 at the moment)

Edit: No, the 3312, nor the 3313, can not do digital Zone 2. Only the 4311 could...

And A4L was "out of order-ish"...here's the 3000...

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/DENAVRX3000/DENON-AVR-X3000-7.2-4K-Ultra-HD-Networking-Receiver-w/AirPlay/1.html

 

[ElectronicHoby]

O.k..it looks like the Denon AVR-E400
http://usa.denon.com/us/product/pages/productdetail.aspx?catalog=denonna_us&pcatid=avsolutions%28denonna%29&catid=avreceivers%28denonna%29&pid=avre400%28denonna%29

Will work and is about same price as Onkyo HT-RC560, which is apparently the same as the TX-NR626.

Which one would you recommend ?