Improving my zone 2

[BBigJ]

I was getting excited about my next upgrade, but it seems the features that I was counting on don't actually exist. My current setup is a 5.1 in the basement powered by an HK 630. I'm really happy with the 630's sound quality, but it is pre-HDMI so it's a bit short on modern features. Zone 2 is in the living room on the main floor and is used exclusively for music (network streaming, internet radio, and possibly the occasional CD). Zone 2 is powered by a cheapo Craigslist (pre-digital input) receiver hooked up to a couple of Klipsch satellites. The plan is to use those speakers to add rear surrounds to the basement, replace them with 2-4 towers or bookshelfs in the living room, move the HK 630 upstairs to power zone 2, and get a modern receiver for the basement.

The question I have is, what is the best way to get sound from the basement to the secondary receiver? Currently I have some Cat 5e hooked up to a couple of baluns doing the job. However, this has not given me very good quality. I can't turn up the volume in the living room very high before the background hiss becomes unbearable. I was hoping the new receiver would have a coaxial digital output, but I see this feature is extremely rare (nonexistent?) Are there any models that have this? I'd like to spend <$1k, but I'm willing to save to do it right. If I stick with analog, would replacing the cheapo receiver with the HK make much of a difference? I am skeptical this would improve things much given the big loss of quality the time I tried powering zone 2 from the pre-amp outputs. In other words, I think I'm losing too much quality from the long (20-30ft) cat5e run for a downstream amp to make up the difference.

Is there anything else I should try?

Thanks,

J

 

[JMJVK]

Digital coax would be nice, but I've tried using my own AVR 3600's coax to send a signal to my HK3490, and no dice, but every time I've fiddled with zone2, I've never gotten anything out of it, so I'm probably not the best person to answer this question.

That said, you could try replacing your Cat5e with two extra-long RCA shielded SubWoofer cables for your analog signals. I've got no clue whether the electrical/impedence math is sound or not, but I would try it. Chances are the low resistance they offer will offer a better end result upstairs.

 

[BBigJ]

I've got some Cat 6 lying around and I've wondered if that would improve the signal quality. I've also got some TV coax here, would it be possible to crimp RCA heads onto that?

 

[Nestor]

I've got some Cat 6 lying around and I've wondered if that would improve the signal quality. I've also got some TV coax here, would it be possible to crimp RCA heads onto that?

Is there something wrong with the signal quality?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[BBigJ]

Is there something wrong with the signal quality?

That's what it seems like to me. The multi-room outputs put out a much stronger signal than the pre-amp outputs, and that let me crank up the volume in zone 2 a bit higher until the background hiss became objectionable. I could be mis-interpreting it, but that sounds like I'm getting a lot of loss in the signal strength over the long distance.

 

[crossedover]

I couldn't find any info on the output of the main or zone 2 in regards to voltage, not sure how it was determined that zone 2 is higher. Your length of cat5 run isn't the problem as I have run many times longer than that easily with no issues
It could be the balum, or the cheapo Craigslist receiver. I'd like to think it's the cheapo, what brand is it btw?
I'd get your new gear in place and if there is still a problem address it then

 

[Nestor]

That's what it seems like to me. The multi-room outputs put out a much stronger signal than the pre-amp outputs, and that let me crank up the volume in zone 2 a bit higher until the background hiss became objectionable. I could be mis-interpreting it, but that sounds like I'm getting a lot of loss in the signal strength over the long distance.

Try to temporarily relocate the zone 2 equipment near your main system and connect a shorter (12ft or less) rca cable and see if you have the same problems. If so, then you have gain matching issues between your equipment. If the problem goes away, then you have problems with your cat5/baluns.

I know this sounds like a pain, but you should confirm where the problem is before throwing more money at it.

I'm running muxlab's hifi sterieo baluns with 80 ft runs with no issues.

 

[JMJVK]

I'm running muxlab's hifi sterieo baluns with 80 ft runs with no issues.

Sorry guys, I really don't want to hi-jack this thread; just a few quick questions for Nestor: Is this the balun you are using ? And to use it, do you use the same type at both ends of your cat5 line (PDF seems to imply this), or is a second, different part is required to use these ?

 

[crossedover]

It shouldn't matter which standard of termination you use as long as it's the same.

 

[Nestor]

Sorry guys, I really don't want to hi-jack this thread; just a few quick questions for Nestor: Is this the balun you are using ? And to use it, do you use the same type at both ends of your cat5 line (PDF seems to imply this), or is a second, different part is required to use these ?

You are correct. Those are the ones I'm using. I use the same balun at each end. Muxlab sells them in pairs for this reason.

 

[JMJVK]

Thanks for the prompt reply, Nestor.

 

[BBigJ]

The upstairs receiver is an Onkyo TX-SV545. I thought about doing Nestor's test (moving the zone 2 closer) but unfortunately the Onkyo seems to be fried (hence my eagerness to upgrade). I think the critical blow happened about a year ago when my daughter cranked the volume all the way up. Surprisingly, once the burning smell dissipated the receiver worked just fine. But several months later its volume level dropped to almost nothing. I've been trying to think if I have any other audio equipment that might be suitable for that test. One thing that would be easy to move around would be the transmitter for my outdoor speaker. I could hook that up on either end of the baluns and see if that makes a difference.

Seems like the consensus is that the run length shouldn't be an issue. I'll do the test when I get around to it and hopefully the problem goes away with the new receiver.

 

[crossedover]

You are correct. Those are the ones I'm using. I use the same balun at each end. Muxlab sells them in pairs for this reason.

Just a note all audio baluns
use the same pin out #s 123&6 for the transmission.