[jda182]

I need a receiver that is compatible with 3D, a 5.1 surround sound system, and second zone of 10 speakers. and under $500.


as far as the second zone goes, if the receiver just has 2 speaker inputs for the second zone, you can just splice the speaker wires together and have 5 speakers into each speaker terminal right? i know the power will be spit between but should be sufficient for casual listening, right? if not, what would i need to do to connect 10 speakers in a second zone? I would also like to be able to stream Pandora from the TV to the speakers outside in zone 2 if possible.

 

[jdsmoothie]

10 speakers on Zone 2 is going to be too much of a load on a $500 AVR so what you're looking for is an AVR with Zone 2 preouts that you can then connect an external 2CH amp like this one. You'll also want to connect an impedance matching speaker selector like this one (unless you want to wire the 10 speakers in parallel/series so the AVR sees an 8Ω load) to the external amp and then connect the 10 speakers to the speaker selector. Zone 2 input will need to be analog so in addition to using ARC to pass audio from the TV back to the AVR for the main zone, you'll also need to connect a set of analog RCA cables from the TV to the AVR for Zone 2.


The Denon AVR-2112CI can do what you need as well as pass Pandora to Zone 2 itself without having to use the TV. Give authorized reseller Electronics Expo a call and ask for their best price and you should be able to get it below your budget, although you'll need to of course add another $150 or so for the additional amp and speaker switch. You may also want to check with a Best Buy/Magnolia in your area that is clearing out last year's Denon 1911 model to save some additional money (although it is not a networking model).

 

[jda182]

ok thank you! of the options you listed, which would you suggest? the 1911 or 2112?

 

[jdsmoothie]

The 1911 does not include networking and should be less expensive .... the 2112CI is a networking model and uses the more advanced version of Audyssey MultEQ XT. So really depends on whether you want networking or not in the AVR. Note however, the 2112CI does not include a video chip to scale SD video to 1080p, rather it only pass through the video at the same resolution that it comes in from the source as ... the 1911 does include a video chip, so that may be a consideration as well if you have SD sources.

 

[schan1269]

Or, you "could" get the Onkyo TX NR609...


Has scaling the 2112 lacks and the networking the 1911 lacks.


However it does NOT have the "de rigueur" Audyssey Multi EQ XT...(have to step up to the 709 for that, which you might find refurb at your budget)


There are also "last year" closeouts on the...


Yamaha RX-V667/867(better choices than EITHER Denon above)

Onkyo HT RC260/270 (lite versions of the 608/708 below)

Onkyo TX SR608/NR708

Denon 2311/3311 (I've already seen used prices on the 3311 in the mid $500 range)

Marantz SR5005 (Accessories4less)

Pioneer/Elite 1020/1120/32/33

HK 3600


Matter of fact, I'd take this over the 2112 or 1911(no matter how cheap you could get either)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882120180 (TX NR709-lite, Amazon is the same price)

 

[jda182]

so if I went with the onkyo HT-RC370, how would I connect it to the second, 10 speaker zone? what else would I need? a

2 ch amp and speaker selector? sorry for the questions just trying to understand what I need to do.

 

[schan1269]

There are numerous ways to pull off a "10 speaker" 2nd zone...


I would use the pre-out on the 370 into another amp...any amp as long as it has some form of attenuation(an actual integrated amp or like the Jamo MPA 201 with a knob on it for volume)


Craigslist(here in Chicago...to give you ideas on what you can use)...

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/ele/2532076752.html
http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/ele/2531811115.html
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/ele/2524687324.html
http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/ele/2531400456.html
http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/ele/2504792769.html (this thing right here would be killer. This thing would give you the opportunity to run 3 sets to make 5. Has A, B and C...)


If you tell us where you are...we could scour craigslist for you(possibly even ebay)


Are you replacing a receiver now? If so...what is it?


But, you'll need a speaker switch box...like this one...
http://www.amazon.com/Niles-SS6-6-Zo...2587794&sr=1-1 (I still WOULD NOT attempt to connect that to the 370 and ask it to power it. The "amp" running into this type of set-up needs to be on its own power supply)

 

[jda182]

I'm in Jackson,ms

is pre out the same as "zone 2 line out" on the 370?

 

[schan1269]

line out=pre-out (pre-out is the "industry lingo"). Each manufacturer will call it what they want.


Not exactly relevant, but this would make using your 2nd zone very easy(although this thing is overkill)
http://jackson.craigslist.org/ele/2518780389.html (if you were to buy this, your "amp" that runs the second zone would not need its own attenuation, this mixer will take care of that. If you "were" to buy this mixer, you could get this amp, or similiar... http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-M-282-2-...2590051&sr=1-1 )


Now what you can use to power the zone...
http://jackson.craigslist.org/ele/2528465045.html (be nice to know which one it is)
http://jackson.craigslist.org/ele/2514700658.html (worth EVERY penny)
http://jackson.craigslist.org/ele/2527899239.html (this receiver could probably handle it, if not resell it. That DVD/VCR combo, if not a "crap brand", is worth $65 by itself)
http://jackson.craigslist.org/ele/2525336042.html (buy all this, keep the KG or sell them back out)
http://jackson.craigslist.org/ele/2511104331.html (cannibalize this by keeping the amp, sell the rest. This is a "proprietary cable" Sony sytem. There are probably people out there that could use parts from it)


Can't believe nobody has bid on this thing...
http://cgi.ebay.com/Radio-Shack-SSM-...#ht_1080wt_925


Reason for a "mixer". It is essentially a pre-amp. You treat the "zone out" of the 370 just like an Ipod, CD player, Karaoke or anything else.

 

[MichaelJHuman]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jda182 /forum/post/20789561


I'm in Jackson,ms

is pre out the same as "zone 2 line out" on the 370?

Zone outs are pre outs are a bit different. Zone outs are usually at the end of an analog path (in other words, they only work when the input is stereo analog.)


Pre outs work at all times.


At least, this is how it is on almost every AVR I have ever read up on.

 

[rnatalli]

The Denon 2112 has my vote. Great receiver for the money.

 

[jda182]

I think I'm gonna go with the idea jdmoothie gave. not sure on the receiver yet, 1911 or 2112. but I would just connect the zone 2 out from the receiver to the 2 channel amp, then the speaker selector to that second amp, and speakers to the speaker selector, correct?

 

[jdsmoothie]

Correct.