3rd Zone on Denon AVR-3808CI

[solomr2]

Does anyone have any idea how to get Zone-3 working?

I have Main setup as 5.1, Zone-2 as Surround Back (amp assign - in a different room), and now I need to connect Zone-3 but I can't seem to get them to work independently of Main (7.1). I want Zone-3 to be in a different room as a separate zone.

The owner's manual is somewhat confusing, it's not clear if I can get this working without a separate amp. Any ideas?

 

[Adam]

Hi. According to the manual, you can assign the two Surround Back speaker terminals to be used to amplify speakers in the other zones. You can amplify two speakers in Zone 2 or two speakers in Zone 3 or one speaker in both zones. Because you are already using those two amplified channels for Zone 2, you can't currently amplify speakers in Zone 3 through the 3808.

 

[solomr2]

Hi. According to the manual, you can assign the two Surround Back speaker terminals to be used to amplify speakers in the other zones. You can amplify two speakers in Zone 2 or two speakers in Zone 3 or one speaker in both zones. Because you are already using those two amplified channels for Zone 2, you can't currently amplify speakers in Zone 3 through the 3808.

Ah, is that so?

Darn, that stinks. So I can only power one other zone besides main? If that is so, then why on page 68 of the owners manual (setting-1 multi-zone playback) are they showing 3 physical different zones?

I guess I'm going to need to be able to switch the amp between zone-2 and zone-3. I wouldn't ever likely use both zone-2 and zone-3 at the same time. Is there a way to do that with the Denon, or do I have to physically switch the cables (external switcher?).

Thanks.

 

[Adam]

If that is so, then why on page 68 of the owners manual (setting-1 multi-zone playback) are they showing 3 physical different zones?

Because you can run two zones, but only if you run one speaker per zone. The total number of amplified channels is limited to two.

I guess I'm going to need to be able to switch the amp between zone-2 and zone-3. I wouldn't ever likely use both zone-2 and zone-3 at the same time. Is there a way to do that with the Denon, or do I have to physically switch the cables (external switcher?).

I can't think of a way to do that with the Denon because of the physical connections that you need to make. An external speaker switch sounds like the way to go, given that you'd only be using one zone at a time. Some people here (like ParadigmDawg and adk highlander, I believe) have wall plates with speaker selectors. They seem pretty slick to me.

 

[solomr2]

Because you can run two zones, but only if you run one speaker per zone. The total number of amplified channels is limited to two.

Wow, that is pretty odd. I am perplexed why Denon decided to do that. The system supports 7.1 outputs on main, but I am only using 5.1, so why not allow the user to redirect the unused amp for the surrounds?

I can't think of a way to do that with the Denon because of the physical connections that you need to make. An external speaker switch sounds like the way to go, given that you'd only be using one zone at a time. Some people here (like ParadigmDawg and adk highlander, I believe) have wall plates with speaker selectors. They seem pretty slick to me.

I've seen the wall switch plates. For me this would be more work than necessary. I just need a simple 2-way A & B switch box. Wish this wasn't the way.