Good digital amp receiver with multi-source/multi-room?

Praxis · « **on:** 1 Sep 2005, 09:57 pm »

I'm looking for one of the latest crop of stuff coming from JVC/Panasonic/whatever I'm missing that supports two sources to two locations. I have speakers for audio in an adjacent room to the room with the TV, and I'd like to have the capability to have one receiver handle both sources. It's OK to sacrifice a couple of channels for this; this is anticipated for kids watching cartoons+two channel audio and the like, not movie watching + multichannel audio simultaneously.

If you think there's a better solution, let me know! Otherwise, what's a good pick? It can be hard to figure out which boxes have this capability. Most seem to have "A or B or A and B" or some such designation--what exactly does this mean? It looks like this isn't what I want, but I can't really tell.

I'm actually pretty flexible on other specs--it looks like this one will be the most limiting factor.

Feisal K · « **Reply #1 on:** 2 Sep 2005, 03:10 am »

the Panny XR70 and XR 55 both say they have a A and/or B speaker selector

but I do not think any of them support two sources to two locations

A and/or B simply means that you can have either A on or B on or both speakers on at the same time but they will play only that one source thats selected on the receiver.

I don't know of any other receiver that supports two sources to two locations - other than the Denon AVR5805 behemoth, and that has two sets of 5.1 amps

lht · « **Reply #2 on:** 4 Sep 2005, 03:58 am »

I believe Feisal K is correct in that only very expensive receivers output two sources to two locations.

The Panny XR70 has a 'second audio out' feature which can be set to OUTPUT whatever INPUT the Panny is set too (with the exception of AM/FM) to be routed to a second amplifier for sound in another room. It outputs the sound through the rca tape output jacks. The feature has to be enabled in the menus for it to become active.

I'm using it as part of a whole house audio system for a on-the-cheap set-up for a wealthy (

even the rich want to save $) client.

That's the closest the Panny or any other low priced (reasonable cost) receiver comes to what you want to do.

The least expensive way to do what you wish is to have two amplification/speaker systems. Sources can be shared if you wish but seperate amplifiers and speakers are inescapable.

There are some very fine, relatively inexpensive components out there with more appearing every month, so two systems don't have to be prohibitively expensive.

Good luck,

Geoff

[/i][/u]

Praxis · « **Reply #3 on:** 5 Sep 2005, 04:36 am »

You know, I *have* been considering two systems. I just didn't want "remote hell" with a confusing setup. I'm shying away from that more beccause of ease of use than cost.

I've been looking at the onkyo TX-SR602 (TX-SR602b, TX-SR602s), and hoping I don't get a bad one.

The refurbished ones are a steal at under $300, I guess. Except you can't play digital sources to zone two, and there's no upconversion from svideo/composite to component, so svideo in is svideo out. These two features make it a bit future-resistant, if you know what I mean--it'll do for now, but there's no real room for growth--at least unless you like switching sources around on the TV, too, which isn't really my idea of fun after I've bought a receiver to hopefully take care of all that.

I don't really like buying gear often. My Onkyo 6-disc changer is circa, oh, '91 or so.

Thanks for the responses so far!

Feisal K · « **Reply #4 on:** 5 Sep 2005, 02:06 pm »

How about something slightly different (and a tad more expensive, but...)

http://www.sonos.com/us/index.htm

but it claims to do what you wanted in the first place...

Support for multiple music sources : Accesses music stored on up to 16 PCs, Macs, or NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices on your home network, as well as Internet radio and legacy A/V devices, such as CD players.

edit: forgot to mention, these are using Tripath technology

CSMR · « **Reply #5 on:** 5 Sep 2005, 05:28 pm »

Presumably the JVC multichannel receivers have many analog ins so you can use two for one stereo source and two for another. Can't imagine it being more convenient than having two amplifiers.

Feisal K · « **Reply #6 on:** 6 Sep 2005, 12:06 am »

Quote from: CSMR

Presumably the JVC multichannel receivers have many analog ins so you can use two for one stereo source and two for another. Can't imagine it being more convenient than having two amplifiers.

I think the objective is to play two different sources at one time in different rooms...

Al Garay · « **Reply #7 on:** 6 Sep 2005, 12:25 am »

The Sony ES digital receivers support multiple sources for different zones. You can get an excellent price on last year's STR-DA5000ES, around $700 where it retailed for $1,500. Better yet is this years STR-DA7100ES which retails for $1,999 but is available for $1,200.

CSMR · « **Reply #8 on:** 6 Sep 2005, 03:56 am »

Quote from: Feisal K

Quote from: CSMR
Presumably the JVC multichannel receivers have many analog ins so you can use two for one stereo source and two for another. Can't imagine it being more convenient than having two amplifiers.

I think the objective is to play two different sources at one time in different rooms...

That is what I thought my suggestion accomplished. Am I missing something?

Feisal K · « **Reply #9 on:** 6 Sep 2005, 07:40 am »

Quote from: CSMR

That is what I thought my suggestion accomplished. Am I missing something?

ok, say for example, A speakers are the main speakers in the home theater. B speakers are hooked up inside another room, say the den.

there is a DVD player and a CD player hooked up to the receiver.

Assuming that the A speakers are playing the DVD in the HT, how would you select the source for the B speakers, if you wanted to hear the CD player in the den?

nickspicks · « **Reply #10 on:** 6 Sep 2005, 11:58 am »

Quote from: Al Garay

The Sony ES digital receivers support multiple sources for different zones. You can get an excellent price on last year's STR-DA5000ES, around $700 where it retailed for $1,500. Better yet is this years STR-DA7100ES which retails for $1,999 but is available for $1,200.

took the words right out of my mouth.
the 3000es or 5000es are excellent choices. dual remotes for the multiple zones.

and...they sound great. especialy all stripped down in 2ch mode.
DSD upsampling on all inputs (analog and digital).
show me another reciever that does that...

TIC · « **Reply #11 on:** 12 Sep 2005, 02:02 am »

Nick is right! The Sony STR-DA3000ES or DA5000ES are excellent receivers. I own the DA5000ES and it will do everything you ask. It even comes with two remotes, one a full blown HT/learning unit, the other a more simple model.

The Sony is spectacular for the price. The DA5000ES could likely be the centerpiece of nearly any upscale HT system. It sounds that good! Now, I have heard folks say it doesn't really sound like 170 watts/channel. Well, I have a small-medium room and haven't found the power to be an issue. But I can't say how they would do in a large room with lower efficiency speakers.

Enjoy,

TIC

nickspicks · « **Reply #12 on:** 12 Sep 2005, 10:59 am »

i've got the 3000es, which is rated at 150wpc. its driving a pair of VSA vr4 gen Is, which are rated at 90db.
I still find it underpowered for "live drunken volume".

CSMR · « **Reply #13 on:** 14 Sep 2005, 09:03 pm »

Quote from: Feisal K

Quote from: CSMR

That is what I thought my suggestion accomplished. Am I missing something?

ok, say for example, A speakers are the main speakers in the home theater. B speakers are hooked up inside another room, say the den.

there is a DVD player and a CD player hooked up to the receiver.

Assuming that the A speakers are playing the DVD in the HT, how would you select the source for the B speakers, if you wanted to hear the CD player in the den?

Switch the CD player on. (That gives one source to one location, another source to another; not sure whether the OP wanted more than one source at each location.) Sorry for not replying earlier; been travelling.

John151 · « **Reply #14 on:** 16 Sep 2005, 12:45 am »

Unless I am missing something here, most, if not all, of the higher models of all the common brands have multi-zone functionality. I have 2 AVRs that do this: JVC and NAD. Both of these accomplish this in different ways.

The JVC offers both speaker terminals, and Pre Amp outs, for Zone 2. The speaker terminals are powered internally by borrwoing 2 of the 7 internal amps, which is a neat idea, but comes with a long list of configuation do's and don'ts. I use this AVR in the family room for TV use, and the Zone 2 powers the patio speakers. I ended up purchasing a small 2 channel amp for Zone 2. This works well, but the JVC has some quircks (software bugs?) .

The NAD offers only PreAmp outs for Zone 2. However, because the NAD has both pre amp ins and outs for all 7 amps, I simply routed the Zone 2 pre-amp outs to 2 of the 7 internal amps that I am not using, then use the corresponding speaker terminals to power the Zone 2 speakers. I have combined this with the B speakers to allow for powering 3 different rooms, from 2 different sources. In this set up, the main room is the HT, Zone 2 is the workout room, and the 3rd room is the party room. Additionally, I use the Monitor out S-Video to supply a video feed to the TV in the work out room, so the DVD and Cable Box can also be viewed in the workwout room. There are many limitations to this set up, but it meets my needs.

Both receivers require that I turn on the Zone 2 feature, and select a source. The NAD supplies a 2nd remote for Zone 2 only, while the JVC has a Zone 1, Zone 2 switch on the remote. I am not sure, but I believe that both AVRs will only play analog sources in Zone 2.