2nd zone help

[hawkerman]

I have a Yamaha RX-V659 in my TV/HT room. If I want to run a pair of speakers into my living room and a pair into my kitchen off the second zone I know I need a second amp. This may be a dumb question but, do I need a power amp, pre amp or integrated? I know I can run one pair off the Yammie itself, but two pair I figured I needed something more.

 

[markw]

Technically, you need a power amp.

But, depending on how many channels of your amp you're using in your main area, you might be able to utilize two unused power amps in your receiver for this. RTFM or perhaps others more familiar with your exact unit might chime in here.

But, if you DO need to get an amp for the second zone, you may find a two channel integrated amp (or even a two channel receiver) might afford you a little more control over the signal in that second zone (volume, tone, etc...)

 

[jcPanny]

Zone 2 wiring

Regardless of the amp you chose, I would suggest you include impedance matching volume controls in each room. This will allow you to independentally adjust the volume in each room and maintain a 4-8 ohm load for the amp or receiver.

The Behringer A500 amp is $180 shipped and has plenty of power for 2-4 pairs of speakers with the impedance matching VCs. An inexpensive audiosource amp or the Emotiva BPA-1 are also good options.

 

[markw]

This is why I suggested an integrated.

Regardless of the amp you chose, I would suggest you include impedance matching volume controls in each room. This will allow you to independentally adjust the volume in each room and maintain a 4-8 ohm load for the amp or receiver.

The Behringer A500 amp is $180 shipped and has plenty of power for 2-4 pairs of speakers with the impedance matching VCs. An inexpensive audiosource amp or the Emotiva BPA-1 are also good options.

If he runs a line level run to the integrated is in the other room, he can control the voume right from that.
Two channel integrated amps/receivers are pretty much a dime a dozen, particularly in the used market.

Hmm... might be a great use for vintage gear, no?

 

[hawkerman]

Thanks for all the good info, but im still confused. From the looks of it, those amps suggested or even old vintage ones have only 2 cannels. Since I want to have a pair in the living room and a pair in the kitchen, don't I need 4 channels? My manual says I can run 1 pair off the presence/zone 2 channels using the internal amp, but not to run 2 pair. It even goes onto say not to hook up a splitter box. It says the other option is to hook up another amp if I want more than 1 pair. All it states is "another amplifier" it doesn't state power, pre, or integrated.

 

[hawkerman]

I know I could run 1 pair off speaker B and the other off zone 2. The problem I have with that is if I put speaker B in the living room and zone 2 in the kitchen, when my daughter is watching Cinderella, I cant listen to music in the living room. I could in the kitchen with zone 2controls or vise versa.

 

[hawkerman]

found my answer. this review is exactly what i was looking for. I would go with the amp-3 though for more power.

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_11_3/audio-source-amp-100-amplifier-7-2004.html

 

[markw]

Zone 1 and 2 shouldn't be confused with speakers A & B

1) When you talk speakers "A" and "B", you're talking both sets playing the same source from the same amplifier channels. This is not the same as zones 1 and 2. I also believe that when you select both sets of speakers, you go into two channel mode on some units. RTFM.

2) I'm pretty sure zone two only supports two channels while zone one supports the full array of HT channels. i.e, you don't get two multi-channnel systems for the price of one.

2) I'm also pretty sure that zone 2 allows independent control of the sources, not the volume level. Speakers A and B do not allow this. It sends a line level signal out to whatever amplification you choose.

 

[hawkerman]

I know that speaker A and B are different that Zone 1 and 2. Thats why I want two pairs of speakers on zone 2, I dont care if the two speakers in zone 2 play the same source. I want a speaker A and B in zone 2. Zone 1 would be exclusive to the 5.1 HT. When my daughter is watching cinderella on the HT. I want to be able to listen to a CD in the kitchen or living room. What Im saying is speaker B on the main reciever is useless to me, because your right it is the same source as speaker A, wich has the full aray of HT. It looks like the audiosource amps are what im looking for. I can hook 2 pairs of speakers into those amps, they even have a speaker A and B switch.

 

[MDS]

You don't need an additional amp if you use impedance matching volume controls like Jcpanny suggested.

If you have the receiver power Zone 2 and use IM volume controls in each room you'd have stereo to each of those rooms while the main zone plays 5.1. You could have a different source in the main zone and the second zone but the two rooms that make up the second zone would play the same source. With the volume controls though you could turn them on or off independently.

 

[hawkerman]

If you have the receiver power Zone 2 and use IM volume controls in each room you'd have stereo to each of those rooms while the main zone plays 5.1. You could have a different source in the main zone and the second zone but the two rooms that make up the second zone would play the same source. With the volume controls though you could turn them on or off independently.

So when the manual says not to hook up 2 pairs in the zone 2 posts, if i use IM volume controls I can?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

You can use the IM volume controls or a speaker selector box with High current amplifier protection circuitry. I used one of these for 5 years and ran 6 speakers outside without any trouble at all.

So when the manual says not to hook up 2 pairs in the zone 2 posts, if i use IM volume controls I can?

 

[hawkerman]

Thanks a bunch, this seems like the much cheaper way of going.

 

[MDS]

So when the manual says not to hook up 2 pairs in the zone 2 posts, if i use IM volume controls I can?

The manual has that caution because many speaker selectors will present a 4 Ohm load to the receiver and it can't really handle that well. Connecting two 8 Ohm pairs together will also present a 4 Ohm load.

Some IM volume controls can work with multiple pairs of speakers and allow you to set the impedance you want. With two pairs of speakers you want an IM volume control that can be set to 16 Ohms so that the two pair which are wired in parallel will look like an 8 Ohm load to the receiver.

 

[hawkerman]

I think Im getting now, thanks for all the help. If i find a selector box that shows 8 ohms to the reciever that would work also?

 

[MDS]

I think Im getting now, thanks for all the help. If i find a selector box that shows 8 ohms to the reciever that would work also?

Yes, but read the specs and/or manual carefully because the popular speaker selectors - like Niles - present a 4 Ohm impedance.

 

[jcPanny]

Imvc

The nice thing about the Impedance Matching Volume controls is you can also use them to adjust or turn off the volume in each room. It is not a bad idea to start with the receiver (and IMVCs) powering both pairs of speakers. If it is not loud enough, you can add an amp for more power to the Zone 2 speakers.

I plan to pick up some of these for each room in my future house speaker system:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00009W3IN/ref=ord_cart_shr/103-8621544-9703008?_encoding=UTF8&v=glance

 

[hawkerman]

thanks everyone, i think iknow what i need now.