Help me find the right receiver...

[roshi]

Hi everyone,
I'm looking at buying a receiver. I was originally going to go with the Yamaha RX-V1800, but then I found out that you can't play digital sources in zones 2 and 3, which is something i need it to do. So here are my requirements:
- 100W or more per channel (7.1)
- 2nd and 3rd Zone (must play digital sources, 2nd zone can be the extra 2 from the 7.1, I only use 5.1 in my living room)
- It needs to be able to have HDMI in for the video & SPDIF for Audio, so that I can hook up a computer with DVI to HDMI out plus the Audio in the SPDIF format
- Total of 4+IN and 1+OUT HDMI
- A nice On-Screen Display from the HDMI OUT (The receiver will be in a closet, so the OSD shows me what is going on.)
- RS232 would be really nice, but not an absolute must

I think that's about it. Thanks a lot for any help, I really appreciate it. Oh before I forget I want to spend under 1000$ if possible, but I wouldn't mind buying it of eBay, for example the RX-V1800 I found for around 800$.

Thanks!

 

[AVRat]

No available receiver in your budget will allow digital signal sources through to zone2/3. All sources that will be used for zone 2 need a stereo analog signal feed.

 

[bandphan]

if you can find a pioneer 92, zone 3 has digital output via optical....

http://www.digitalcraze.com/Details.asp?Source=Froogle&ProductID=3075

 

[roshi]

if you can find a pioneer 92, zone 3 has digital output via optical....

http://www.digitalcraze.com/Details.asp?Source=Froogle&ProductID=3075

Did you mean a digital input via optical?

What I'm looking for is hooking all my sources up digitally, either over optical or hdmi. These sources I want to be able to play through zone 2 and 3. Is that even possible with receivers, or should I possibly wait for the new Emotiva UMC-1? I'm a little bit confused....

With regards to the pioneer, I've actually been thinking about the 92 and 94...

Thanks for your help.

 

[bandphan]

Did you mean a digital input via optical?

What I'm looking for is hooking all my sources up digitally, either over optical or hdmi. These sources I want to be able to play through zone 2 and 3. Is that even possible with receivers, or should I possibly wait for the new Emotiva UMC-1? I'm a little bit confused....

With regards to the pioneer, I've actually been thinking about the 92 and 94...

Thanks for your help.

It has an optical output for zone three, which is unpowered, typically used for signal to a second surround system. As stated above if you are using the internal amps to power a second zone, you cannot pass digital that way, in the price segment, the avrs do not have the dacs for it. Unless you have a second surround system, there really is not much need for it to play "digital". Having sold and installed many systems, it is standard practice to hook analog and digital for each source when running zones. Hope this helps

 

[roshi]

Hmn,
well this creates an issue. I wanted to hook up my airport express to the avr and then be able to hear it in my living room as well as on my patio... Any thoughts on how I could do that?
Thanks!

 

[bandphan]

the AE can be used as either digital or analog, so you should be good to go

 

[mnnc]

If zone 2/3 are for the bedroom/outdoor deck, etc...then just use analog stereo left/right cables out of your cdp/dvd to pump music to them. When you are listening to main zone you will be all digi...when you switch to other zones you will be sendind signal through you analog outs of player and then to the respective spkr's...is that not acceptable?

An audiophile at heart...analog is better anyways. Give me some Wilson's, Classe amps/pre, and my Rega cdp...all wired with Signal Cables...bliss.

When I want to watch a movie I'll go back to the digital rig.

Fact of the matter is that most people don't and probably will not ever realize that in order to get the most out of your theater, music, multi-zone, ipod, wireless/streaming, etc, and do it from one rig = Problems, issues, and frustration and requires much more money than 95+% of members here have or are willing to spend. That includes myself btw. But one day...one day!

 

[roshi]

the AE can be used as either digital or analog, so you should be good to go

So i would have to hook it up analog to be able to hear it on the zone 2, right? There is no way to hook it up both ways?

Thanks.

 

[bandphan]

So i would have to hook it up analog to be able to hear it on the zone 2, right? There is no way to hook it up both ways?

Thanks.

not that im familiar with, the analog out will sound the same as your digital out, the avr will do agreat job of processing the audio

 

[roshi]

Thanks a lot for all the help. Now since there isn't really a receiver that can do the digital to 2nd zone, I'm back to the RX-V1800. But what about my other question: Can I run HDMI for video into it and optical for audio, so I go DVI to HDMI from my computer and optical audio out. Obviously I want to see the picture on my TV through HDMI and want the sound to come out of my speakers... Is that something I can do, with the RX-V1800 or any other receiver in that price range?
Thanks!

 

[bandphan]

Thanks a lot for all the help. Now since there isn't really a receiver that can do the digital to 2nd zone, I'm back to the RX-V1800. But what about my other question: Can I run HDMI for video into it and optical for audio, so I go DVI to HDMI from my computer and optical audio out. Obviously I want to see the picture on my TV through HDMI and want the sound to come out of my speakers... Is that something I can do, with the RX-V1800 or any other receiver in that price range?
Thanks!

The DVI/HDMI with optical could work, or you could have HDCP issues. I cant run the dvi out on my pc with an hdmi adpater thru my receiver. You could run vga/component adapter and that should work without issue. Or run video direct to the tv, but their could be HDCP issues there also, unless your tv has a input specific for PC input. The VGA solution is one that works and provides a picture of the same quality as DVI. Hook both either via the digital or analog out of the PC, again the same issue would apply with zones.

 

[jcPanny]

Audio connections

So i would have to hook it up analog to be able to hear it on the zone 2, right? There is no way to hook it up both ways?

Thanks.

Yes, for a source like the DVD player, you can use a digital connection for the main zone and an analog connection for CD playback on Zone 2 or 3.

You should be able to use HDMI video w/ digital coax or optical audio on any receiver.

 

[mnnc]

So i would have to hook it up analog to be able to hear it on the zone 2, right? There is no way to hook it up both ways?

Thanks.

What do you mean bith ways...? The recvr's out there today don't have the circuitry/chips to process/send digital signals to other zones. I'm no wizard but seems to me another part or two inside would fix that. In the meantime as jc also said use the digi audio(coax or optic...coax is more robust and jitter free...go with digital coaxial cable if your cd/dvd has coax out for audio). From the same player connect the stereo l/r (the white/red) rca's to the zone 2 inputs on recv'r. Remember red=right. That's it.

 

[roshi]

I found a solution! I don't really need Multi-Zone capability. If I get a PIONEER VSX-92TXH I can use the Back-Surrounds for Speaker B. This way it can play digital sources as well.

Thanks everyone for your posts!

 

[bandphan]

I found a solution! I don't really need Multi-Zone capability. If I get a PIONEER VSX-92TXH I can use the Back-Surrounds for Speaker B. This way it can play digital sources as well.

Thanks everyone for your posts!

No its not going to work the way your think You should get the term "digital" and throw it away, beacuse playing music off your computer isnt going to sound better in digital or analog audiably. dont let digital be your brick wall

 

[roshi]

Nice picture. I'm not totally set on the digital, i was just wondering if there is any way to hook it up this way. I'm just gonna go and buy a receiver (probably the Pioneer) and then play around with it. I bet i can find a way to make it work for what I want it to do. Thanks for all the help!

 

[bandphan]

Nice picture. I'm not totally set on the digital, i was just wondering if there is any way to hook it up this way. I'm just gonna go and buy a receiver (probably the Pioneer) and then play around with it. I bet i can find a way to make it work for what I want it to do. Thanks for all the help!

Enjoy the new gear

 

[roshi]

I just read through the Denon 2808 manual and found out that it and also the 2809 can play digital input in 2nd zone as long as it is 2ch Stereo PCM. It can't do HDMI but coax or optical.
I think i'm gonna go with the 2808, it does everything I want from a receiver. Thanks for the help guys.

 

[roshi]

Haha, just when you think you found the right kind you realize it only has 2 HDMI inputs. Looks like I have to get the 2809. Hmn, hopefully I can find a deal sometime soon....