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Denon AVR-X3700H - Can I output separate audio to outdoor speakers while Zone 1/2 are playing their own separate video sources?

3709 Views 7 Replies 6 Participants Last post by harsh, May 26, 2021

palepimp

Discussion Starter · May 26, 2021

Setup:
Denon X3700H
Zone 1 - Basement Main TV - 5.1.2 - Connected via HDMI Zone 1 out
Zone 2 - Basement Bar TV - No Audio needed, or through TV audio only - Connected via HDMI Zone 2 out
Backyard/Outdoor Speakers are connected via Zone 2/HEIGHT2 L/R speaker posts

This past weekend had a backyard party. Great times... Until my kids wanted to watch TV in my Basement on the Main TV. This was fine! Then my buddies wanted to hang out at the Bar in the basement and watch a baseball game (no audio needed, just video). Meanwhile wife and friends are still in the back yard jamming to the music I was streaming via the HEOS app to Zone 2 audio. Was working fine all day of course until this scenario came up.

Basically trying to watch the baseball game on the Bar TV disrupted the music we were trying to stream to the backyard Outdoor speakers. I understand that basically the Zone 2 audio was being piped to the backyard speakers, and I couldn't play the baseball video on TV, while the music was streaming to the backyard outdoor speakers. But how can I set this up moving forward? The outdoor speaker wiring is ran to my basement where the X3700H is. I have Alexa speakers all over typically for music streaming, so I was considering some sort of Echo device as a separate Audio device setup next to the X3700H (Echo Link includes an amp?) to handle the music streaming to the backyard, while both TV's in the basement could watch independent video sources. However I don't want to lose the great sound quality I was experiencing with my current setup of the X3700H playing to my 2 x outdoor Klipsch AWR-650-SM's to my backyard. I don't NEED the HEOS app, I can get by with typical Spotify/Pandora streaming to a device from my phone, unless HEOS provides the better sound quality.

Is it possible to pipe audio separately (and stream, maybe grouped with Alexa devices) to my backyard while having 2 independent video sources play on my 2 separate TV's in the basement? If not, what kind of separate amp would I need to plug in next to the X3700H to accomplish this? Cost is an issue here, would like to not spend too much more.

Bonus question -- I want to make sure in the winter that if I am watching the Bar TV in my basement that my outdoor speakers will never start blasting the Audio that is on the Zone 2 / Bar TV input to my backyard. I don't think I would ever know that was happening and my neighbors would be pissed!

Thank you in advance to anyone who can help!

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jdsmoothie

· #2 · May 26, 2021

To answer your question, the Denon X4700H with 3 Zone capability would have been the better choice to meet your use case.

The Denon X3700H is a 2020 model discussed in the 2020 Denon AVR Owner's thread linked below. Many questions can be answered by reviewing posts 1-8 of that thread. And if not, questions can be posted there.

"OFFICIAL" 2020 Denon AVR Owner's Thread + FAQ (Posts 1-8) | AVS Forum

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iKevinT

· #3 · May 26, 2021

Not exactly answering for your equipment, but maybe describing how I deal with it will give you ideas. I use my older Denon receiver to power my outdoor and garage speakers. Newer Denon receiver for the living room. Apple TV’s connected to each receiver, using airplay to stream music to each and to Homepods in other rooms of the house. Having a separate receiver for outdoors and garage eliminates the concern of unintentionally blasting out the neighbors because I only turn it on when needed.

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palepimp

Discussion Starter · #4 · May 26, 2021

Thank you, I think I need a separate receiver for this Outdoor group, and I can just replace with Alexa devices instead of the Apple products like your scenario. I currently do this for my garage, I was just hoping to get this done all in one receiver. Like jdsmoothie said, I probably should have gotten the 3 zone but damn these are expensive compared to what I am used to. Wondering if I should get this Echo Link or Echo Link Amp? It includes an amp, and it can be grouped with other Alexa speakers throughout the house. Hmmmm, that damn thing is the link without the amp is $200 and the other one is $300. And from what I understand, I still couldn't stream from a 3rd source to the outdoor speakers if Zone 1/2 are both in use? Damn!

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philpoe

· #5 · May 26, 2021

For the outdoor speakers, you could make it separate from the AVR by using an amp with auto-on/off capability, then adding an Echo Dot as the input.
OSD XMP60 or XMP100 are examples of amps you could use, though there are many others. <= $150 total. Of course a used amp would cost less if you can find the right one.
You could also use an Echo Dot as an input to the Denon and make it part of the Echo grouping. Yes it's redundant, but at the price point, convenience may win out.
Having the separate system would help avoid accidentally playing the patio speakers in the winter as well.

palepimp said:
...
But how can I set this up moving forward? The outdoor speaker wiring is ran to my basement where the X3700H is. I have Alexa speakers all over typically for music streaming, so I was considering some sort of Echo device as a separate Audio device setup next to the X3700H (Echo Link includes an amp?) to handle the music streaming to the backyard

Is it possible to pipe audio separately (and stream, maybe grouped with Alexa devices) to my backyard while having 2 independent video sources play on my 2 separate TV's in the basement? If not, what kind of separate amp would I need to plug in next to the X3700H to accomplish this? Cost is an issue here, would like to not spend too much more.

Bonus question -- I want to make sure in the winter that if I am watching the Bar TV in my basement that my outdoor speakers will never start blasting the Audio that is on the Zone 2 / Bar TV input to my backyard. I don't think I would ever know that was happening and my neighbors would be pissed!

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Reactions: 1

palepimp

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 26, 2021

Do any of you know about the Echo Link or Echo Link Amp? It sounds like exactly what you are describing with the Dot part built in (at least the Echo Link Amp). Maybe they have higher quality audio, but probably not worth it at that price point.

So audio can't be streamed to from a 3rd source if Zone 1 and 2 are playing something right?

I appreciate the recommendations on the amps, I'm going to look them up!

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