AVR powered zone 2/3 VS dedicated amp stereo setups?

villian

Shopping for a new AVR and it appears that none support 7.1.4 Atmos/DTS:X and a powered Zone 2/3 output at the same time. This has me thinking..should I just ditch my zone 2/3 and wire those two zones independently with all the controls and a speaker level input in their own respective rooms? The only thing that either is used for is audio.

DaveHo

Does the receiver you're looking to buy have pre-outs for the remote zones? If you already have the speaker wire run to the remote zones, why not pick up a couple two channel amps or a single amp & a speaker selector? I have 4 remote zones all powered by two spare channels on a 7 channel amp & routed through an Adcom GFS-4 selector. With all the new receivers being network capable, control of the remote zones is accomplished via an Android app from my receiver manufacturer, Pioneer. Works well for me.

villian

Generally they do seem to have pre-outs at least. But I don't think they can process those channels, even via pre-out, while Atmos or DTS:X is active in a full 7.1.4 setting. But I suppose I could just pick up an old cheap AVR to use for the other rooms and stash it next to the main AVR. The zone 2/3 rooms are nothing special, so I'm not worried about getting absolute sq.

tonyb

I don't think you'll find a receiver anywhere with separate amps to power 2 more zones. If the other zones are just used for music, buy a couple small footprint class d amps to power speakers in other rooms. Your source for music will do the processing such as a cdp, streamer, etc.

If you want to play movies though in those other zones, that's a different animal.

villian

tonyb wrote: »

I don't think you'll find a receiver anywhere with separate amps to power 2 more zones.

Why are all the AVR manufacturers advertising fully assignable amps then? This is what I don't get.. Because from what it looks like you can't actually assign anything to power zone 2 except the Surround sides/surround backs/or atmos speaker outs?? I have everything externally amped except my SBL/SBRs.. So can I just find something that will let me assign the FL, FR, C, SL, or SR amps to use for the zone 2/3 or atmos speakers?

tonyb

They are assignable....in zone 1. Nothing I'm aware of will allow you to re assign zone 1 amplification in a receiver to zone 2 or 3.

Why not just wi-fi music to those rooms ?

Easy Runnin

I currently use a separate 2 channel system for zones 2 and 3. I use the tape out on this system to the CD in on the AVR to get music to all 3 zones. I also have a smart BDP on the 2 channel system for steaming Pandora to all 3 zones.

What's your current AVR?

villian

Easy Runnin wrote: »

What's your current AVR?

Yamaha RX-V667

I'm searching for an Atmos/DTS:X replacement, but apparently there are none that can do what I need.

7.1.4 Speaker Setup
(I have FL, FR, C, SL, & SR on external amps so I only need an AVR that has assignable amps for the SBR, SBL, 4 height speakers, and preferably zone 2/3)

1.4v+ Pre-Outs or XLR pre-outs

Zone 2 support w/HDMI/Digital Input Decoding for Zone 2

villian

Easy Runnin wrote: »

What's your current AVR?

Yamaha RX-V667

I'm searching for an Atmos/DTS:X replacement, but apparently there are none that can do what I need.

7.1.4 Speaker Setup
(I have FL, FR, C, SL, & SR on external amps so I only need an AVR that has assignable amps for the SBR, SBL, 4 height speakers, and preferably zone 2/3)

1.4v+ Pre-Outs or XLR pre-outs

Zone 2 support w/HDMI/Digital Input Decoding for Zone 2