Can the Zone 2 inputs on the Sony STR-DA1500ES be used to power a subwoofer?

[Cristofori]

Hello,

I bought a Sony ES stereo receiver STR-DA1500ES from Crutchfield and their website says that the "Zone 2" inputs can be used to power a subwoofer, but the manual says nothing about this that I could find. Does the Zone 2 inputs on this Sony work the same as a pre-out input?

If so, I would have to get some kind of splitter to form into a single ended RCA output correct?

Sony has a tendency to be a bit quirky (unique) sometimes in the way they do some things, so this would make sense if true.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[TLS Guy]

Hello,

I bought a Sony ES stereo receiver STR-DA1500ES from Crutchfield and their website says that the "Zone 2" inputs can be used to power a subwoofer, but the manual says nothing about this that I could find. Does the Zone 2 inputs on this Sony work the same as a pre-out input?

If so, I would have to get some kind of splitter to form into a single ended RCA output correct?

Sony has a tendency to be a bit quirky (unique) sometimes in the way they do some things, so this would make sense if true.

Thanks,
Chris

You might be able to. It looks as if the so called zone 2 is a pre out. If this output comes straight from the preamp stage you will not be able to do what you want without a buffer amp. Knowing modern designers and their inability to do much correctly, my guess is that those outputs are not buffered. In other words if you couple those left and right zone outputs with a Y connector then the receiver will become a mono receiver. In that case you will need to insert a two channel buffer between the zone two outputs and the sub.

If you don't want to, or can't build a dual IC buffer amp, then the best thing is to use a two channel headphone amp as your buffer.

 

[Cristofori]

You might be able to. It looks as if the so called zone 2 is a pre out. If this output comes straight from the preamp stage you will not be able to do what you want without a buffer amp. Knowing modern designers and their inability to do much correctly, my guess is that those outputs are not buffered. In other words if you couple those left and right zone outputs with a Y connector then the receiver will become a mono receiver. In that case you will need to insert a two channel buffer between the zone two outputs and the sub.

If you don't want to, or can't build a dual IC buffer amp, then the best thing is to use a two channel headphone amp as your buffer.

OK, but if I'm using a subwoofer, which is mono, then it wouldn't matter in this case if the inputs were not buffered.

Or are you saying using a Y connecter on those inputs would somehow make the whole receiver mono?

 

[TLS Guy]

OK, but if I'm using a subwoofer, which is mono, then it wouldn't matter in this case if the inputs were not buffered.

Or are you saying using a Y connecter on those inputs would somehow make the whole receiver mono?

Yes, unless those outputs are buffered which I doubt, then if you sum the left and right zone 2 outputs the whole receiver will be mono. So unless those outputs are buffered you will have to buffer them. The manual is silent about this.

You can do a test. Jump the left and tight zone two outputs with an audio cable. Then just connect a source to either one of the left or right inputs but not both. Then see if the sound comes out of both speakers. If it does you have mono and you will have to provide the buffering.

 

[Cristofori]

You can do a test. Jump the left and tight zone two outputs with an audio cable. Then just connect a source to either one of the left or right inputs but not both. Then see if the sound comes out of both speakers. If it does you have mono and you will have to provide the buffering.

I plugged some cables into the Zone 2 inputs and plugged one into my CD player, but no sound came out at all. Did I do this right?

 

[TLS Guy]

I plugged some cables into the Zone 2 inputs and plugged one into my CD player, but no sound came out at all. Did I do this right?

No. Connect zone 2 left and rights together with a jumper cable. Then connect your CD player to the CD left input only. Then see if you get sound out of both speakers. If you do, the left and right preamp sections are summed by the jumper cable and you need to buffer.

 

[Cristofori]

No. Connect zone 2 left and rights together with a jumper cable. Then connect your CD player to the CD left input only. Then see if you get sound out of both speakers. If you do, the left and right preamp sections are summed by the jumper cable and you need to buffer.

OK, I did that, but sound only came out of one speaker.

 

[TLS Guy]

OK, I did that, but sound only came out of one speaker.

In that case your dealer is correct and you can use that zone 2 output to power an active sub.

 

[Cristofori]

In that case your dealer is correct and you can use that zone 2 output to power an active sub.

Well that's good to know, in case I want to do that. I guess this Sony ES receiver went the extra mile with the buffers. Too bad they don't make it easy to figure out.

If it wasn't for Crutchfield printing this in the specs (which Sony does not on their own website), I never would have known about this feature. Thanks for helping!

By the way, is a THD of 0.09 (or 0.07?) considered good for a receiver in this class? Sony gives two ratings for this:

1. 2 Channel Power Rating: 95W x 2 Amp Power (8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz, THD 0.09%)

2. 105W x 2 Amp Power (8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz, THD .7%)

3. Impedance : 8 Ohms


Why the two different power ratings for the same 8 ohms, and does this mean it cannot handle 4 ohms (once again, Sony does not say)?

I just got this receiver and it sounds very good, definitely cleaner, fuller with more detail then the vintage 40 wpc Pioneer receiver I was using, although my speakers are nothing to write home about at the moment.