A weird Receiver and 5.1 system question...

[Matty Red Sox]

Okay, I am probably (95% sure) going to buy a Pioneer Elite VSX 01 or 03 receiver - but might not if convinced...

Our new apartment has an absolutely stunning view and huge floor to ceiling windows. The wife and I decided to keep the view sacred, and instead of having any large furniture or objects blocking the view, we are putting in Japanese tatami floors and cushion seating... no couches or nonmobile furniture. We are also mounting the TV (which we checked out for glare/reflection and other concerns) on the wall opposite the windows.

Here's the issue...I have no problem having our speakers mounted for the 5.1 system with the three speakers along the wall opposite the window as the center and main L/R and the two satellites along the window wall. The problem is that I listen to a HUGE amount of vinyl and would prefer to listen in 2.1 stereo using the two satellites as the main speakers as I want to look out the window and have them in front of me. Is there a receiver that can automatically switch these speakers - or do I have to do have to swap the wires at the connections on the receiver every time? The speakers are Orbs, so they are all the same size.

Thanks!

 

[Adam]

I don't know if there's a receiver that can do exactly what you want, but here is some info that might be useful:

1. Several receivers, including the VSX-01 (and I'm assuming the 03), can assign the surround back speaker terminals to a separate zone. That would mean that, if those rear speakers were actually your surround back speakers in a 7.1 system, then you could just go into the menu on the receiver and switch them over to play music as if you were in a second zone. In a 5.1 system, though, the surround speakers would use the surround left/right speaker terminals.
2. You can buy switch boxes that would let you have those surround speakers connected to both the surround left/right speaker terminals and the surround back (programmed to be for Zone 2) speaker terminals at the same time. Instead of swapping wires, you'd just push a button on the switch box. I'd have to search for those again (because I think that they are different than the boxes that let you hook up multiple pairs of speakers to one set of speaker terminals), but I wanted to mention that they exist if you become interested in that.

 

[Matty Red Sox]

Thanks Adam!

Anybody else got any ideas - or know the name of the type switch that he's talking about?

 

[Lordoftherings]

If I was you, I just get a nice set of small monitor speakers and mount them at exactly the spot where a 2-channel stereo plus subwoofer would be ideal.
And connect them as the Zone 2, just like Adam propose in his #1 suggestion.

The Pioneer Elites have already the extra amps for them.
A speaker switcher will introduce some noise anyway.
Don't you have an extra pair of small speakers?
Seems to me that will be your best bet and easiest solution.

Bob