Help with new AV receiver selection

[jjwelly]

Hey all:

I'm in the market for a new receiver, and have always been an Onkyo fan, so been looking at options for one of these. One feature that is really hanging me up is whether or not I can live without zone 2 hdmi out. I like this option as it would give me another tv in an alternate room (kitchen or outside deck) that can have a tv without a cable box/source, allowing me to have the ball game on the zone 2 tv while the kiddos are playing games on the main room. So this feature was something I thought was worth having. As I'm looking at options, i was a little disappointed to find that the 'cheapest' Onkyo option is the RZ710 at an even $1k. It appears to be the exact same specs/features at the TX-NR757 MINUS the zone 2 feature, and I can get this for $600, quite a savings.

For those of you that have zone 2 now, how useful do you really find this feature? Just trying to decide if this is worth an additional 400 bucks, and having trouble justifying the expense. I don't buy receivers/technology very often, but when I do, I like to buy good quality stuff that will keep me happy for many years.

edit: Now I see I can get the Denon avr-x2300w for $600 too....

Thanks for any help!

 

[Auditor55]

Hey all:

I'm in the market for a new receiver, and have always been an Onkyo fan, so been looking at options for one of these. One feature that is really hanging me up is whether or not I can live without zone 2 hdmi out. I like this option as it would give me another tv in an alternate room (kitchen or outside deck) that can have a tv without a cable box/source, allowing me to have the ball game on the zone 2 tv while the kiddos are playing games on the main room. So this feature was something I thought was worth having. As I'm looking at options, i was a little disappointed to find that the 'cheapest' Onkyo option is the RZ710 at an even $1k. It appears to be the exact same specs/features at the TX-NR757 MINUS the zone 2 feature, and I can get this for $600, quite a savings.

For those of you that have zone 2 now, how useful do you really find this feature? Just trying to decide if this is worth an additional 400 bucks, and having trouble justifying the expense. I don't buy receivers/technology very often, but when I do, I like to buy good quality stuff that will keep me happy for many years.

edit: Now I see I can get the Denon avr-x2300w for $600 too....

Thanks for any help!

Just reading what you wrote above, you probably need to consider A/V receiver brands other than Onkyo, which is what you seem to be doing by considering a Denon. If Onkyo doesn't have the feature you want and the price point you want to pay, as much you like Onkyo's, it probably time to move on from that brand. I have Zone 2 capability with my receiver, but that feature is useless to me.

 

[jjwelly]

Well I'm not sure I'm gonna find the features I want for less from a different brand. I'm looking at the Denon AVR -X3300W as it too has zone 2, and it's the exact same cost as the onkyo. both are running at $1k, but I've seen them both on sale for $800. So I have both of these on my radar now as I'm trying to decide. Also have found some factory refurbished Onkyo 710's for $680, but probably would rather pass on this option.

Thanks for the reply! I know many people may not use zone 2, but I actually think it could be nice to have. However I can also see it maybe not working out so well, since you can't change the sources/channels without doing so from the main unit. I guess I'm really wanting to know when zone 2 makes sense to use and how well it works.

 

[lovinthehd]

I'd get the Denon 3300 mostly for Audyssey XT32/SubEQ feature over anything the Onkyos offer now (since Onkyo dropped Audyssey a few years ago for their own branded setup/eq routine). Not a zone using guy yet but the manuals should tell you what you can run thru it or not as sometimes a zone is restricted as to source (digital vs analog sources for example).

 

[jjwelly]

Thanks! Yes I'm now watching for a sale on either the x3300 or the x4300. I think I'm leaning towards one of these, but the x3300 does satisfy my zone 2 wishes. I think zone 2 could be nice in the right setting, but would require a non-IR control system so I could change controls at zone 1 when I'm at zone 2, which will surely be outside of IR range.

 

[lovinthehd]

Thanks! Yes I'm now watching for a sale on either the x3300 or the x4300. I think I'm leaning towards one of these, but the x3300 does satisfy my zone 2 wishes. I think zone 2 could be nice in the right setting, but would require a non-IR control system so I could change controls at zone 1 when I'm at zone 2, which will surely be outside of IR range.

You should easily be able to do control via wifi, with android apps at least, and I think IP control as well, as I do on my older Denon.

 

[jjwelly]

that's what I was thinking. surely there's some control options available. Think it's gonna be one of these two choices now, x3300 or x4300. I suppose the only reason I'd go with the x4300 is HEOS, which I may or may not ever use.

 

[jjwelly]

ordered the X3300! Thanks everyone. Now to select some loudspeakers..