Multi Zone receiver for $500 ?

[ned174]

I listened to the builder and had him install ceiling speakers in the kitchen and dining room and outdoor speakers on the deck (2 in each zone). I decided he wasn't the best source for advice. I have 2 bookshelf speakers and a powered sub in the tv room. At a later date I plan on upgrading to h/t speakers and my wife loves the idea of whole home audio, but for now my budget is only $500 for the receiver. Any suggestions on which receiver to get?

 

[jcPanny]

Zone 2 output

In your price range, you should be able to find a new Yamaha RX-V657 that has a line level output and assignable amps for Zone 2 speakers. You could also get a refurbished RX-V2500 for under $500.

The Zone 2 feature allows you to play a different (analog) source in zone 2 then you are playing in zone 1. Some receivers will also offer volume control for zone 2 and assign 2 off the amplifier channels. Keep in mind that any entry level receiver with a tape output or B sepaker connections could be used to power a single pair of speakers for the patio.

 

[jcPanny]

Additional info.

Concerning the Yamaha RX-V2500, it is basically a mid-fi receiver that sold last year for $1k. The refurbished price is <$500. I would only recommend buying refurbished from authorized delaer sites like e-cost and ubid that offer a manufacturers warranty.

Good luck on your project. If you are still in the construction stage, I would recommend that you invest in some belken 12 or 14 awg speaker wire and run it from the receiver to the speaker locations in the main room for a 7.1 speaker system. Westlake electronic is a good source for the 5000UP wire in bulk.

 

[drunkmunk]

ubid is not an authorized dealer

The yamaha rx-v2500 goes for less than 500 on ubid as was already stated but they are not an authorized dealer so they only offer a 30 day warranty through ubid. (otherwise i'd be the proud owner of a great yammy )

I would look at the harman kardon ebay store. they offer alot of great prices on their receivers and offer a factory direct 2 year warranty. check out the avr-635. it has multizone with assignable amps and a way to hook up a remote at the far location via cat V cable. (this is my other choice as i am in the same boat as you)

 

[NotherNewbie]

nother option on multi zone speakers

another option to tide you through would be to consider a speaker selector box.
I got a Niles unit that handles 6 pair of speakers, single input, with on/off and volume control for each pair. (SSVC6) - got it on ebay for less than $200
(make sure you look for the VC.. Niles also makes speaker selector switches without volume controls)

Russ sound makes a unit (PRO-6HP) that handles 2 inputs, with each speaker's source selectable.. runs about $200 on ebay

 

[Herr D]

Onkyo does 500$ AV receivers with Zone 2

 

[JonBaker99]

Denon 686/1706 and 786/1906 both do powered Zone 2 at that price point. Couple that with a good impedance matching speaker selector (I would use Russound) and you've got everything you need.

 

[Haywood Jablomi]

Most multi-zone receivers only handle one additional zone and a lot of them are line-level only. If you really want three or four zones, I'd look around for something used that was built for that purpose. Niles was a good suggestion. The other option would be A-Bus, which is very flexible and not terribly expensive.