how to set up 2nd zone? (onk 876)

[Sounds Good]

i just picked up a set of klipsch kho7's for my patio... i am going to run them as a second zone and i was wondering how you set it up in the receiver if my 5.1 set up is tuned for a sub, will my second zone cut the lows from my out door speakers and send it to my sub in the house?

 

[Lordoftherings]

i just picked up a set of klipsch kho7's for my patio... i am going to run them as a second zone and i was wondering how you set it up in the receiver if my 5.1 set up is tuned for a sub, will my second zone cut the lows from my out door speakers and send it to my sub in the house?

It is all well indicated in your manual how to set up the Zone 2 in the Zone's section, near the end on your manual. It is very simple to set up. You just connect them to the Zone 2 speaker's terminals, and you setup your Main Zone as a 5.1-channel configuration, disabling the rear surround channels. But you can still run your Main Zone as a full 7.1-channel setup in your setup menu, when the second Zone is inactive (you just can't run both together as a full 7.1-ch. setup, only if set as a 5.1-ch. setup). Your second Zone is also available with it's own sub (same for the Zone 3). Also, you have control of the bass and treble for the two additional Zones.
The Onkyo 876 is a fantastic state-of-the-art receiver.

And no, you won't have the lows cut of from your 2nd Zone, and there will be no lows sent to the sub in your Main Zone.

Remember that Zone 2 (and Zone 3) are only available from the analog sources connected to your 876.

Bob

 

[Sounds Good]

Remember that Zone 2 (and Zone 3) are only available from the analog sources connected to your 876.
Bob

humm... so my dish receiver hooked through optical cable wont play audio to zone two?

 

[Lordoftherings]

humm... so my dish receiver hooked through optical cable wont play audio to zone two?

Nope, only from analog sources. Just connect your dish receiver from it's two analog (Left & Right channels) outputs, voila!

Keep the Optical plug in for the Main Zone.

 

[Sounds Good]

i ran into a snag....

i have my dish reciever hooked opticaly to the 876, and i have it rca'ed to the tv... so you dont have to have the reciever on every time you want to watch tv...

but on the rear of the dish reciever there is tv2 rca unused... so hopefully i can use thoes... but then i think everytime i want to listen to zone 2 ill have to put the dish reciever in dual mode... no biggie i guess... just an extra step...

 

[Sounds Good]

ok in the manual it says

(pg130. ...set the "Speaker Type: Front (Speaker B)" setting to "Not Use"...

but i only have the option to ajust front, i dont have a front a or b... only front...

i just left that setting on front:normal

 

[Lordoftherings]

ok in the manual it says

but i only have the option to ajust front, i dont have a front a or b... only front...

i just left that setting on front:normal

Connect the RCA jacks out (red & white) from the back of your dish receiver to your Onkyo RCA jack inputs, and you are in business to listen to your dish receiver in your second zone and any other analog sources connected to your 876.

The speakers for your second Zone are the ones indicated by Zone 2 in the rear of your 876 (extreme left and right positions).

If you are using the Main Zone and the 2nd Zone at the same time, you have to disable the rear surround speakers from the speaker setup menu in your 876 (so you'll have a 5.1-channel setup in your Main Zone and a 2-channel setup in your 2nd Zone).
And if using only one Zone at a time, leave your setup the way it is; full 7.1-channel for the Main Zone and 2-channel listening for the 2nd Zone. No need to change anything in the speaker setup menu, only set the Zone 2 to ACT (activated). You also have separate access to the volume control for Zone 2.

For better understanding and clear procedures, read attentively the section related to Zone 2 in your manual, near the end. It is well explained with graphs and various setups for different possibilities.
Your 876 is extremely flexible, learn more about it by reading the manual.
Take the time to do it and you'll be amply rewarded.

All you want is in there (your 876 + your manual).
That's how I learn myself, by reading my manual. So, that's why I highly recommend the same for others.

Cheers,

Bob

 

[MDG]

Well I did read it, several times but still needed to resort to various fora.

When it says 'you must set "Speaker Type: Front(Speaker B)"' on page 130 but in a separate column to the instruction on how to do this on page 61 it casually states in a generic box, 'The onscreen menus ... may be different', it is unnerving when you don't get the option at all.

Anyway having spoken to Onkyo on the phone I realised I had set up zone 2 correctly but that my issue was that with a possibly inadequate signal it will not 'lock' onto the required source and thus won't set itself up.

What I am doing is feeding i-tunes from my i-mac to an airport express (AE) and from it's 3.5mm stereo jack into the CD input on the Onkyo. Although I had a green light on the AE, when I changed the channel it all worked.... until yesterday. The issue I now have is that if I select CD on the button on the front of the 876 it happily locks onto the AE feed and i-tunes comes out of my surround sound system. If, however, I switch on zone 2 and try and select CD input, it cannot sense the very same feed that the CD selection happily played a moment earlier.

Page 46 says 'with connection a, you can listen to and record audio from the CD player (in my case an AE) or listen in zone 2...'. I know I am getting a good analog signal as it plays through CD but why won't it lock on in zone 2? Any ideas gratefully received.

 

[Lordoftherings]

Response from above post ^

^ Is your "Powered Zone 2" set to "Act" (Activated)?

And if your Speaker Type is set to Bi-Amp or BTL on your 876, Powered Zone 2 cannot be used.

And don't forget about the volume level adjustment for the Zone 2.

Just read very carefully the Zone 2 section from your 876 manual (near the end), it is very well explained.

I'm sure you'll get it.

LOTR

 

[MDG]

Thanks LOTR but zone 2 is 'ACT'ivated and I am not BTL(bridg)-ing or bi-amping.

Although it did not work initially, it did when I selected another wireless channel to transmit the signal from my i-mac to the AE. I assumed, therefore, that the signal being received from the AE was not sufficient for the Onkyo until the channel change despite another AE in another room happily feeding powered speakers in that room. What is curious now is that I know I'm getting something to the Onkyo as when I select CD on the front panel it 'sees' the CD analog input from the AE and connects all by itself through the home cinema (main) set up but the same signal does not seem to be able to be 'found' and 'held' when I switch on zone 2 and press until CD is flashing as the potential source. Incidentally I am unable to set zone 2 from the remote as it says I should and instead have to use the buttons under the front flap on the Onkyo. Is this relevant? The zone 2 light comes on the remote but the Onkyo does not respond.

In addtion, is there something about the volume that is relevant? I am unable to get a 'lock' on to the CD input with zone 2 so cannot adjust zone 2 volume as far as I am aware. It just flashes CD and eventually jumps to something else (as if there was no analog signal being received). I have moved the input from the AE to 'tape' in case it was somehow locked onto the CD main button but the same happened - it locked on by itself and played when front panel 'tape' was selected but would not 'lock' onto zone 2 'tape'.

I appreciate your advice but the manual pages are dog eared I have read them so much and still zone 2 only worked on one day. Its probably something simple but it escapes me.

 

[Lordoftherings]

MDG, you got me confused.

It should work, unless something is very wrong.

Your AE first, should be connected to the analog inputs of your 876.
You select Zone 2, CD input, then the sound (analog only) should play in your Zone 2 and with access to it's own volume. You got it ACTivated (Zone 2), good.
Try to push some other buttons that might get that freakin' Zone 2 working.
Did you try other sources from different inputs (like the Tuner for example)?
Did you try to connect your AE into a different input?
Did you select the right source connected to the corresponding input (from the setup menu "Selecting Inputs", on your 876)?
Do you have a connection made from the Trigger Out Zone 2? If yes, unplug it and plug it back. And make sure it is plugged all the way.
Your manual is the same than mine, there is nothing else that I can tell you that it's not in your manual.
Just try a bunch of different alternatives till you get it.
Unless something is wrong with your AE (Airport Express)!

I don't know what to tell you anymore, I did mentioned I believe the most important factors. And you seem to know quite well about it too.

* Keep in touch or try "AVForums" in the UK (Check the "Onkyo 876 owners thread *Part 3*", and ask "Kingfats" or "Namuk", they should be able to help you out).
--> AVForums.com >> http://www.avforums.com/forums/index.php

Or directly to the ditto thread:
--> http://www.avforums.com/forums/onkyo-owners-forum/995518-onkyo-876-owners-thread-part-3-a.html

Let me know how you're doing,

Bob

 

[MDG]

Hi again LOTR

Thank you for your patience.

Before leaping to other gurus I thought I'd update you. I feel there must be something obvious I am overlooking as it did work on one occasion but not before or since.

Your AE first, should be connected to the analog inputs of your 876.
It is; to the CD in.

You select Zone 2, CD input, then the sound (analog only) should play in your Zone 2 and with access to it's own volume. You got it ACTivated (Zone 2), good.
Zone 2 words illuminate on the panel but the source (CD) won't lock on and it flashes until it switches out.

Try to push some other buttons that might get that freakin' Zone 2 working.
The words illuminate but Zone 2 does not 'hold' or 'lock' onto a source.

Did you try other sources from different inputs (like the Tuner for example)?
I attached an aerial wire and got a reasonable FM signal (when FM was selected on the front panel) but the same happened i.e. it didn't 'see' it or 'lock' onto it in zone 2. I also tried connecting the headphone output of a cd player. Again with the CD selected on the front panel it played through the main system but would not achieve a zone 2 'lock' on.

Did you try to connect your AE into a different input?
i tried the AE in the 'Tape' input but the same happened i.e. it didn't 'see' it or 'lock' onto it. Again if I pressed 'Tape' on the front panel, the AE was picked up and the music played happily through the main (zone) theatre system.

Did you select the right source connected to the corresponding input (from the setup menu "Selecting Inputs", on your 876)?
Not sure what you mean by this as I don't have this menu. I have 'Input/Output Assign'. Which one from the menus on page 92 do you mean?

Do you have a connection made from the Trigger Out Zone 2? If yes, unplug it and plug it back. And make sure it is plugged all the way.
Nothing used here.

Unless something is wrong with your AE (Airport Express)!
Don't think so. I have subbed it for another one and in any case with the CD button pushed on the front panel the Onkyo plays the AE output through the main system.

Is there something odd in that the remote won't allow me to control zone 2 selection. Also as I can't get anything locked on, I can't adjust the volume. Is that perhaps relevant? Is there a different signal input strength requirement between analog inputs such that the main zone front panel buttons are more sensitive but zone 2 inputs less so? I only have 5.1 but is there something I needed to do to make the Onkyo aware that it is not in 7.1 mode?

Cheers for now

 

[Lordoftherings]

More solutions

Did you select the right source connected to the corresponding input (from the setup menu "Selecting Inputs", on your 876)?
Not sure what you mean by this as I don't have this menu. I have 'Input/Output Assign'. Which one from the menus on page 92 do you mean?

Is there something odd in that the remote won't allow me to control zone 2 selection. Also as I can't get anything locked on, I can't adjust the volume. Is that perhaps relevant? Is there a different signal input strength requirement between analog inputs such that the main zone front panel buttons are more sensitive but zone 2 inputs less so? I only have 5.1 but is there something I needed to do to make the Onkyo aware that it is not in 7.1 mode?

Cheers for now

*** Ok, try this: From your manual in the section "Selecting Audio Inputs", press "Audio Sel" in the very bottom, 2nd button from the left of your remote control, to select the analog input, till you see the "Analog" indicator appears on the display.

** And this: From your manual in the section called "Specifying the Digital Signal Format", press the "Audio Sel" on the front panel of your 876, and with the flip door open, press the "<" or ">", under the "Level" and "Tone" buttons; until you get "Auto (default)" showing in your display.

* And just in case that you are using the Zone 2 connected to another amp (which I doubt you do); the Zone 2 volume must be set on the Zone 2 amp.

* Finally, the Zone 2/3 speakers only output sources that are connected to an analog input (but you already knew that). Check to see if the source component is connected to an analog input (but in your case, I'm sure it is).

* Make sure that the "Pure Audio" listening mode is OFF.
(The Pure Audio listening mode cannot be selected while Zone 2 is on.)

* Make sure you select an Analog Audio output from your AE (Airport Express).

-> I bet that the first option marked by *** will solve your problem.
And that it will also give you access to the volume control for Zone 2.
If your main system is a 5.1-channel configuration (without the rear surrounds), you have to set it as such, by enabling now these two rear surround speakers as your Zone 2 speakers, and set the speaker selection in the menu of your 876 as such. And I guess that I don't have to tell you that your speakers for Zone 2, do in fact have to be connected to the rear surround speaker binding posts on the back of your 876.

If you still encounter a problem or no definite solution to your issue, don't hesitate to let me know. And if you do get the issue resolved, let me know also.

Hope that this time you'll get it, and Cheers,

Bob

 

[MDG]

Hi LOTR

I am hesitant to say so but I think I'm there.

Like all these things its not that straight forward. Here's what I have discovered (with additional acknowledgment to Shaun at Genserve - Onkyo's UK help people).

1/ Page 134 has titles to select input sources to zones 2 & 3 and to turn off zones. There is no title to turn zone 2 on. So the first title should (imho) also say to turn zones on. It does say that in the text below picture 2 but not in the title. Now as you know I had no control of zone 2 from my remote. This is because you need to press either:

a) Receiver, then zone 2, then the main yellow 'ON' button or

b) Receiver, then zone 2, then the input you desire (in my case key 9 [CD])

Pushing 'receiver' is not mentioned in the manual on p134 (or in the list of appropriate buttons in the last image on p 133) and I had been previously told by Genserve to do sequence a). But if you do that, whilst it does turn zone 2 on you cannot then select an input and you're left feeling as I did that the remote isn't functioning anymore in zone 2.

If you follow b), it turns on zone 2 and then allows you to immediately select the input you desire in my case CD by pressing 9 [CD]. It goes onto to say that 'the name of the input selected appears on the display.' Well it doesn't on mine. Just like it doesn't freeze the flashing CD when trying to do this manoeuvre on the front panel. Both of which leave you with the impression that it is not working. All I ever see are the words 'zone 2' in a box just under the speakers icons.

What happened though was that I did b) [thanks to Shaun], thought it hadn't worked as I saw no CD input selection on the panel and walked away to have another cup of tea. As it happens, out of frustration I had previously left the volume on the CD player up full just in case. Similarly when I used zone 2 on the one and only occasion it worked, it had been left on low volume. Thus when I walked past the two speakers (which are in the garden) I could faintly hear something. I rushed in doors and tried turning zone 2 up using the level+ button. As I had followed b) it was all working although with the volume turned down I didn't realise it. Remember that when using a) I could not select the input and without the right (any) input the volume did not vary.

So to use zone 2:

1) Connect the speakers to the left and right most posts (zone 2 L and zone 2 R)

2) With a 906 set speaker type Front(Speaker B) to "Not use". Ignore this on an 876 and the image in box 3 on page 61 as you will not see this option on your TV

3)Remember set up must be 5.1 and you are NOT using bi-amp, BTL or with a 906 Speaker B (see last bullet point on column 1 page 130. Also you can't use pure audio if you want zone 2 (p134).

4) Hardware menu 7.2 must be accessed to set powered zone 2 to 'ACT' and zone 2 out to 'variable' (if you want the Onkyo to control the volume)('Fixed' if you have another downstream device that'll control zone 3 volume)

5) Plug a suitable analog output into an input - Tape or CD seem fine but there are several you can choose.

6) Press 'receiver' then 'zone 2' then your chosen input (probably one of buttons 5 to +10)

7) Adjust volume with the level- and level+ keys

8) To adjust bass, treble and balance, use the Onkyo front panel. Press 'zone 2' then 'tone' once, twice or thrice and each time using the < > keys you can tweak the sound.

Now I must find some de-stressing music to sit and relax by.

Thanks again for your support without which I'd have given up.

Mervyn

 

[Lordoftherings]

Hi Mervyn,

I'm very glad that finally you did get some help (Shaun), to get you going.
And Thanks for posting the recipe right here for future stressed owners.

Did you visit AVForums from the UK side?

Enjoy the music in your patio.

Bob

 

[MDG]

Bob

Thanks for your help too; without which I would understand less and have given up.

Oh and yes I'm 22 miles south of London where today it should reach 23°C and the music will flow.

Cheers for now.

Mervyn

 

[Lordoftherings]

Hi Mervyn,

Here it's 25 degree Celsius, on the west side of Canada, on Vancouver Island, in Victoria, British Columbia.

Got to cut my grass too (it's about 2 feet high! ).

Enjoy the nice weather too and never give up.

Bob