Is there a way to setup a 5.1 system for multi-room?

[KASR]

Like the title says - is there a viable way that sounds good?
Thanks in advance!

 

[agarwalro]

I guess this is so that you dont have to buy another set of sources for the second 5.1 setup?

I dont know of any mid range AVR that has a Zone 2 analog outs for 5.1 setup in the other zone. Then you would only need a dedicated amp to drive the speakers.

IMO, the best way to achieve this is to have 2 independent 5.1 AVRs. Then get the main AVR that can do 5.1 digital out to Zone 2 and have it feed the slave AVR along with a Zone 2 trigger. You will also need a RF converter or IR repeater to get control of the main AVR from the other room.

 

[KASR]

Thanks for the response! I guess if I'm able to just feed two more speakers into a different room and have sound in there (it can be playing whatever the receiver is playing) that would be fine too. Is there a way to do that using the composite A/V outs? What about the coaxial digital out? http://manuals.harman.com/HK/HOM/Quick Start Guide/HK_AVR154RearPnl.pdf

 

[adwilk]

Does your receiver have speaker A and B... you could run speaker B in the second room.

 

[agarwalro]

Oh man, I thought you wanted 5.1 in the other zone. If not and stereo zone 2 is sufficient, most mid range AVRs have zone 2 capabilities. But (from looking at the back pannel) not the HK 154.

Also, I doubt the HK downconverts HDMI to Component. So this might restrict what 154 can do for you. Any chance you can put a link to the complete manual?

That said, there is no reason why you cannot run Coax and Component (or HDMI) outs to a receiver in the second zone and have it be 5.1 as long as you are playing the same source in both zones. I guess turn the volume in the main zone off and have the coax out not be a variable out.

There is no trigger out on the 154 so you will have to manually power on/off the second receiver. I think the 154 makes a great zone 2 receiver and buy a different receiver to run the main zone and make the 154 a slave to it.

 

[KASR]

Any chance you can put a link to the complete manual?

http://manuals.harman.com/HK/HOM/Owner's Manual/AVR_154_OWNERS_MANUAL.pdf

 

[agarwalro]

Still cant tell if the analog and digital outs are variable or not. (On pg 37 under the Recording heading, it does not ask for the volume to be turned up, so I assume the are fixed) The manual states that only 2 channel PCM audio is available on the digital audio outs. So if you are playing multi channel audio via digital input, it will only send L, R signal to digital outs if the incoming signal is decoded by the source. Also, HDMI and Component signals cannot be cross sent. So your main display will need both connections if you have sources that have a mix of the two video connections.

A better option is to run analog L, R and get a 2 channel AVR to drive the zone 2 speakers.

But, this still leaves the zone 2 video to be handled.

IMHO, the 154 is not geared towards multi zone and therefore it makes the task at hand difficult. Upgrade time .

 

[BMXTRIX]

That is not a multi-zone receiver and is not at all geared to doing anything more than very limited local 5.1 audio. The price basically dumps it towards the bottom of the entry level receiver list with 1,000 other similar competitors.

Nothing wrong with that, but don't expect, or ask, it to do anything else.

If you want more from your receiver, then you need a receiver which is designed to do more. Some 7.1 receivers can do zone 2 without issue and will run 5.1 and the extra 2 channels of amplification no problem.

That receiver just isn't the one to do it.

 

[KASR]

Thanks for all the input - just trying to squeeze a little more out of the 154....time to move up to the 254!

 

[BMXTRIX]

Thanks for all the input - just trying to squeeze a little more out of the 154....time to move up to the 254!

I would strongly recommend that you do your homework and look well beyond the HK brand. There are many great choices out there!

 

[KASR]

I would strongly recommend that you do your homework and look well beyond the HK brand. There are many great choices out there!

I have been hunting around...one that caught my eye is this Denon

I'm budget handicapped due to a recent move...

 

[bigspur1984]

I have the AVR-2309 and love it, the 1709 will give you analog stereo on the back surround channels as the zone 2. My only complaint with the Denon is the on screen interface is clunky and not the most intuitive.