Yamaha AV Receiver 5.1.4 setup means no Zone 2

[Craig Payne]

This is more of a rant than a question. I am upgrading to a 5.2.4 setup from a 5.2.2, and i discovered that if i do this I will loose zone 2 audio which I currently use. The only way I can have 5.2.4 + Zone 2 is to buy a 2 channel amp and use the Zone 2 pre-outs.

Both the front height and rear height speaker outputs can be configured as the Zone 2 audio outs. Not the rear surround outputs though. Am I the only one who's thinks this is limiting?

Since I have already just forked out $2000k on a 9 Ch receiver (RX-V3081) I would have thought that there would have been the ability to run 5.2.4 + Zone 2 (no pre-outs).

One side question though. Why can't the rear Surround speakers jacks on these 9ch receivers also double a as Zone 2 audio output? Maybe something for Yamaha and other AV receivers makers to look at.

No wait, then they would not be able to gouge more money out of us audioholics.

rant done!!

 

[lovinthehd]

Gotta review not just some general overview blurbs and specs for what you want to accomplish before buying rather than assuming it should have what you think it should....trust me I've done the same in the past (with a 7ch avr I thought I could use the wides and rears at the same time for example, LOL). I read manuals before purchase then still peruse user comments on forums to get there.

That avr comes up with a bunch of south pacific locations, nothing in the first page of results for the US. Wonder what the equivalent is here....

 

[Craig Payne]

The equivalent would be the RX-A3060 in terms of specs/functions. The V3081 is not part of the Aventage line though.

The manual does not make mention that Zone 2 cannot be utilized when front and rear presence speakers are configured. I only found some commentary form another website on it later.

Anyways, A 5.2.4 setup is a priority for me to fully enjoy immersive audio in my main room. So my Zone 2 to outiside will have to be retired for now

 

[lovinthehd]

The equivalent would be the RX-A3060 in terms of specs/functions. The V3081 is not part of the Aventage line though.

The manual does not make mention that Zone 2 cannot be utilized when front and rear presence speakers are configured. I only found some commentary form another website on it later.

Anyways, A 5.2.4 setup is a priority for me to fully enjoy immersive audio in my main room. So my Zone 2 to outiside will have to be retired for now

Do you plan to use both at the same time? Can it be setup where the wiring is in place, say speakers on speaker terminals, and zone on preouts, and switching amp assign, to take advantage of lesser processing inside when you want to use both?

 

[Craig Payne]

No I only use Zone for casual music listening when outside. My questions based on your suggestion are:

1. If I use the Zone 2 pre-out then don't I need an external 2ch amp?
2. How can I connect my speakers wires to the pre out jacks?

Sorry for my niavity, but I have never had to do this before

 

[lovinthehd]

No I only use Zone for casual music listening when outside. My questions based on your suggestion are:

1. If I use the Zone 2 pre-out then don't I need an external 2ch amp?
2. How can I connect my speakers wires to the pre out jacks?

Sorry for my niavity, but I have never had to do this before

Haven't looked in your manual and you may not have amp assign flexibilities that some avrs have (mine does but its not a Yamaha). Generally pre-outs are always live so without amp pre-assign you could get sound output simultaneously I think but yes am thinking of use of an external amp in any case. There's always manual speaker selector boxes, too for some options in connection. Really need to review the manual, maybe find forum threads centered similar models like this. Or find a thread centered on your particular model altho when I searched by 3081 model the same thread came up but didn't read any of the thread....give it a shot.

 

[Craig Payne]

Thanks, I will look for any threads on these models. Another option i could look at is to run the presence speakers via pre-out to an external multi channel amp. Would be a pricey option though. It would however give me the flexibility to go up to 7.2.4 + Zone 2 later on if I wanted to.

 

[bigbigjon]

OK So I am in the same boat here, I have the 3060 and 5.1.4 setup. I have an external amp I can use, what I want to do is run 2 speakers outside. How do I do this with this setup. I will run the 5.x.4, 9 speakers from the internal amps but want to run zone 2 on preamp out to the ext amp. Is there anyway to use the back surround preouts as the zone two, since zone two is labeled below front pres and zone 3 is below rear pres? Is there a way to dynamically change the zone 2 or 3 to send to the external amp without changing all the settings. i.e. creating a scene?

 

[Hitmanr20]

This is more of a rant than a question. I am upgrading to a 5.2.4 setup from a 5.2.2, and i discovered that if i do this I will loose zone 2 audio which I currently use. The only way I can have 5.2.4 + Zone 2 is to buy a 2 channel amp and use the Zone 2 pre-outs.

Both the front height and rear height speaker outputs can be configured as the Zone 2 audio outs. Not the rear surround outputs though. Am I the only one who's thinks this is limiting?

Since I have already just forked out $2000k on a 9 Ch receiver (RX-V3081) I would have thought that there would have been the ability to run 5.2.4 + Zone 2 (no pre-outs).

One side question though. Why can't the rear Surround speakers jacks on these 9ch receivers also double a as Zone 2 audio output? Maybe something for Yamaha and other AV receivers makers to look at.

No wait, then they would not be able to gouge more money out of us audioholics.

rant done!!

Question I just set up my 5.1.4 set up and also realize I will.loose my zone 2. I bought an amp to have my zone 2 speakers hooked up to rca zone 2 section but cannot figure out how to set up. Can anyone provide guidance?

 

[Hitmanr20]

OK So I am in the same boat here, I have the 3060 and 5.1.4 setup. I have an external amp I can use, what I want to do is run 2 speakers outside. How do I do this with this setup. I will run the 5.x.4, 9 speakers from the internal amps but want to run zone 2 on preamp out to the ext amp. Is there anyway to use the back surround preouts as the zone two, since zone two is labeled below front pres and zone 3 is below rear pres? Is there a way to dynamically change the zone 2 or 3 to send to the external amp without changing all the settings. i.e. creating a scene?

Did you ever find a solution?