Newbie looking for help regarding Zone 2 - and want to run Apple TV

[Dahr]

I'm sure i'm not the first person to run into this issue, but I can't seem to find it here.....

I have recently switched to a iMac with iTunes... and have loads of CD's that I am excited to be able to arrange any way I want... so I go get the Apple TV, so I can run it all through my Home Stereo setup... which includes an Onkyo 805 Receiver with Zone 2 running outside speakers. Up to now, I've never had any issues with this... however, as YOU guys already know (I just figured it out after a bunch of messing with all the equipment) - zone 2 on this receiver only runs off of Analog, and not the HDMI inputs. And the Apple TV does not have Analog output.

Anyone know of any way to handle this? I don't want to run a 2nd set up for just the outside speakers... 1) is there isn't a converter/splitter that I can run the HDMI to? (I want the HDMI to go to the reciever also - as a lot of video/pictures go here also...) 2) is there any way to trick the system (i.e. - run the HDMI in, and go from an "out" to an "in" with RCA cables? - just going with any idea I can think of...), 3)Are there recievers out there that DO allow assignable 2nd Zone inputs without RCA cables? (kind of a pain, as I would have to re-program my Phillips Pronto 7500 to run all of that...)...

Any help from anyone here would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Dahr

 

[macddmac]

Hi Dahr and welcome to the forum, I have a similar issue and solve it in the following way:
Hdmi from atv to 805
Optical from atv to DAC ( fiio D3 is 25.00 on amazon)
Analog cables back to analog input on the 805
Select that input as your zone 2 source.
Cheers, Mac

 

[Dahr]

Hdmi from atv to 805
Optical from atv to DAC ( fiio D3 is 25.00 on amazon)
Analog cables back to analog input on the 805
Select that input as your zone 2 source.
Cheers, Mac

Macddmac - You ROCK! Thanks... let me see if I got this right.. (i'm new to the acronyms here...)
You ran the HDMI cord from the Apple TV to the 805 (like I already have), AND also then ran an Optical cable from the Apple TV to a Digital / Analog Converter box (i.e. - Filo D3)... then ran RCA cables from the Converter box to the 805 (and then just told Zone 2 that whatever input you ran it to, as your output for the Apple TV)...

If I have that all correct - seems easy enough... You are my new Hero!

Thanks!

 

[macddmac]

That's it

 

[-Sidekick-]

Would using a converter cause a delay in audio?

The reason I ask is I may be purchasing a AppleTV and using a setup with a zone 2 as well. Both my zones are in the rec room in my basement. I have a 5.1 setup on one side of the basement by the tv, and a zone 2 setup on the other side of the basement by the bar.

When I watch tv I just have the main zone on. When we hang out at the bar I just use zone 2. Though when I have poker parties I have both zones running at the same time normally playing the same music. So if a converter caused audio delay, I would run into problems running both zones at the same time and maybe a AppleTV wouldn't be a good choice for me.

 

[ACsGreens]

Not Sure

I have tried several brands but to no avail. I hope your luck is better than mine.

 

[Grador]

Would using a converter cause a delay in audio?

The reason I ask is I may be purchasing a AppleTV and using a setup with a zone 2 as well. Both my zones are in the rec room in my basement. I have a 5.1 setup on one side of the basement by the tv, and a zone 2 setup on the other side of the basement by the bar.

When I watch tv I just have the main zone on. When we hang out at the bar I just use zone 2. Though when I have poker parties I have both zones running at the same time normally playing the same music. So if a converter caused audio delay, I would run into problems running both zones at the same time and maybe a AppleTV wouldn't be a good choice for me.

I do not know if it would cause a delay or not, but as a backup for this problem, if your receiver has preamp outs you could feed those back into another input for zone 2 use. This isn't the best solution as it would require you to crank the volume on zone 2, but it should work without noticeable delays.

 

[-Sidekick-]

Would the FiiO D3 work then? Or not because it doesn't support surround sound signals? All of this stuff confuses me.

FiiO D3 - Amazon.com: FiiO D3 (D03K) Digital to Analog Audio Converter With Micca 6ft Optical Toslink Cable - 192kHz/24bit Optical and Coaxial DAC: Electronics

Would I have to go with a higher end model instead?