Pioneer SC-71 Zone 2 help

[bospider01]

New to the forum, thank you for getting a beginner in at ground zero.

I recently moved into a new home and hired an AV guy to install a receiver (which he sold to me),5.1 surround in my living room, and speakers/ TV out on my patio utilizing Zone 2 for playback. Currently everything works as it should. My receiver Zone 2 is set up this way: via the Pioneer app I can use Spotify, Pandora, AudioCast, and the internet radio that is all offered. The AV guy connected my Vizio smart tv to the receiver through the audio outputs so I can push the tv audio out of the patio speakers. This was done as follows: RCA red/white from tv outputs-> to a single coax male-> coax female to wall plate-> coax from wall plate inside through house-> back out to RCA red/white that are plugged into the "CD" input on the back of the receiver. in order to hear the tv or anything playing from it (cable, fire stick, etc...) I choose the "CD" input on the app and presto, audio to match the video feed on the tv. again, it works great!

Here's what I want to do that is different from the current set up... I was gifted a projector and screen. I want to have movie/game night in the backyard for my kids and I would like to utilize the patio speakers vs the impossible to hear projector speakers. I am now aware that the connections on the projector are all inputs so the video and audio needs to come from an external source. this took me a while to figure out. I was plugging in a firestick into the HDMI in and getting video and audio but noticed there wasn't an output that I needed to push the audio back to the receiver. so, my troubleshooting started. I brought the projector inside and started trying to hook directly into the receiver so I wasn't fumbling around with a million cables. I noticed a HDMI Zone 2 output that wasn't being used (which I was surprised that wasn't being used by my current set up). I tried an HDMI cable going from Zone 2 output to the HDMI port on the projector and selecting an source that was working on zone 1 like another firestick. I got no picture or audio. to confirm the projector worked, I unplugged the Zone 1 output that was going to the tv inside and used the same HDMI cable to go from Zone 1 output to the projector and got both video and audio.

I am sorry for the long post but I wanted to give as much information on the front end as I could. I am baffled why I am not getting anything from the Zone 2 output. maybe I have something hooked up wrong somewhere or there is a setting I need to change... either way I am pulling my hair out and before it gets into the 90s here in Texas, I would like to get the kids outside for a movie! please and thank you for your consideration in helping a newb.

 

[lovinthehd]

Did you turn on zone 2? You don't specify and that would be first step....

 

[bospider01]

Did you turn on zone 2? You don't specify and that would be first step....

Are you being serious right now?!?!?! Of course I turned on the receiver. Of course I turned on Zone 2. I hope I was able to fully address your question and concern.

 

[lovinthehd]

Are you being serious right now?!?!?! Of course I turned on the receiver. Of course I turned on Zone 2. I hope I was able to fully address your question and concern.

LOL, had to ask...after all, you did hire a guy to plug it in....

ps Did you check the manual for any zone 2 restrictions/troubleshooting?

 

[bospider01]

I hired a guy for a full install including a MXHomePro. It's a pretty neat system, just FYI. I'm obviously not an AV guy, and while I can run wires & hook speakers up, receivers are not my thing. I've read the zone 2 pages back and forth but still don't know what I'm missing.

 

[lovinthehd]

What does the installer say as to how to hook that up or does he want an additional fee to answer such a question? I'll take a look at your manual later....

 

[BMXTRIX]

Zone 2 of most receivers does not support digital audio. This is why your AV guy plugged in the TV audio using red/white analog audio connections.

To get zone 2 audio from a HDMI only source you will need to use a HDMI audio extractor and plug in the audio via red/white RCA connections.

There are tons on Amazon and are under $20 for a 1080p compliant model.
https://www.amazon.com/Extractor-Op...3&s=gateway&sprefix=hdmi+audio,aps,126&sr=8-5

Set the dip switch on it to 2-channel so it lets the source (Firestick) know that you need stereo audio, and the RCA outputs of the audio extractor will be connected to your receiver and will allow it to play audio to the patio speakers.

Welcome to the TOP reason why I think HDMI sucks.

 

[bospider01]

What does the installer say as to how to hook that up or does he want an additional fee to answer such a question? I'll take a look at your manual later....

I can't seem to get him back out. He was so good at the initial install and now has pretty much dropped off the face of the Earth. I've even offered to pay him for his time. But I must be pretty low on the totem pole when it comes to how much is getting paid for other jobs.

 

[lovinthehd]

I can't seem to get him back out. He was so good at the initial install and now has pretty much dropped off the face of the Earth. I've even offered to pay him for his time. But I must be pretty low on the totem pole when it comes to how much is getting paid for other jobs.

Bmxtrix is an experienced installer and confirms my thoughts about restrictions on zone 2 for digital content, which is a common issue (which sometimes can be resolved if your source has both digital and analog outputs that can be connected to your avr simultaneously).

 

[bospider01]

Turns out I have three zones, Main, Zone2, HDZone

Zone 2 of most receivers does not support digital audio. This is why your AV guy plugged in the TV audio using red/white analog audio connections.
I I do think i recall reading that it is analog only for Zone 2.

To get zone 2 audio from a HDMI only source you will need to use a HDMI audio extractor and plug in the audio via red/white RCA connections.

There are tons on Amazon and are under $20 for a 1080p compliant model.

Set the dip switch on it to 2-channel so it lets the source (Firestick) know that you need stereo audio, and the RCA outputs of the audio extractor will be connected to your receiver and will allow it to play audio to the patio speakers.

This this is where I start to get a little confused. every connection on the back of the projector I assume is an audio / video IN, correct? So I think I understand what you're saying though about an audio extractor. That is only going to take the audio source of whatever I have plugged into it out to the speakers. How do I get the video outside to the projector? For my current setup, the TV is my video and I'm just taking the analog RCA back to the receiver via the coax.

Welcome to the TOP reason why I think HDMI sucks.

 

[bospider01]

This is the back of my receiver. Why is there a HDMI output for zone 2 if there's no digital? There are RCA outputs as well. Things I have plugged in are a WiFi audio cast and fire stick.

 

[lovinthehd]

This is the back of my receiver. Why is there a HDMI output for zone 2 if there's no digital? There are RCA outputs as well. Things I have plugged in are a WiFi audio cast and fire stick.View attachment 29269

What is the wifi audio cast unit? Curious mostly and I still haven't looked at your manual (have you?).

 

[bospider01]

What is the wifi audio cast unit? Curious mostly and I still haven't looked at your manual (have you?).

The audiocast is a WiFi audio receiver. allows me to play music from my phone through WiFi vs Bluetooth. I like it but it does have limitations. I've looked at the manual but it's kinda Greek to me.

 

[lovinthehd]

The audiocast is a WiFi audio receiver. allows me to play music from my phone through WiFi vs Bluetooth. I like it but it does have limitations.

I meant what specific unit (always helpful around here to be specific with make/model of gear so we can look things up separately), is it from these guys? https://audiocast.io/. Or did you get the Pioneer adapter (AS-WL-300 WiFi adapter) I see on the SC71 overview page? Just curious as I mentioned....

Glancing at your manual now...

 

[bospider01]

I meant what specific unit (always helpful around here to be specific with make/model of gear so we can look things up separately), is it from these guys? https://audiocast.io/. Or did you get the Pioneer adapter (AS-WL-300 WiFi adapter) I see on the SC71 overview page? Just curious as I mentioned....

Glancing at your manual now...

Nailed it, that's exactly what I got (Christmas gift).

 

[lovinthehd]

Did you use just zone 2 or have you tried to use HDZone functions?

 

[lovinthehd]

Nailed it, that's exactly what I got (Christmas gift).

Looks like something to consider now that the Chromecast Audio has been discontinued (which I use on my older gear that doesn't have wifi built-in)

 

[slipperybidness]

This is the back of my receiver. Why is there a HDMI output for zone 2 if there's no digital? There are RCA outputs as well. Things I have plugged in are a WiFi audio cast and fire stick.View attachment 29269

I'm not so sure that is a "Zone 2" HDMI output.

What I see says "Out2" and "selectable".

I'm agreeing with the other folks, your AVR likely will ONLY output ANALOG to Zone 2.

Read the manual!

 

[bospider01]

I appreciate the help yall are giving me! please continue to be patient with me as the reason why I joined this forum is because I am AV ignorant. Ive read the manual and I still don't get some things. I am a mechanical guy by trade so electrical, signal, and things of the like are challenging for me. Again, that is why I am on here, for help.

Last night I sat behind the receiver and tried hooking up the projector (InFocus IN3106) again. I tried an HDMI cable from the OUT 2 (HD ZONE) but couldn't select HD ZONE on the remote. so that got me nowhere. then I tried RCA cables from Zone 2 RCA out to the projector and got the receiver menu (video) but nothing else. it wouldn't recognize the firestick or the cable box.

 

[slipperybidness]

I appreciate the help yall are giving me! please continue to be patient with me as the reason why I joined this forum is because I am AV ignorant. Ive read the manual and I still don't get some things. I am a mechanical guy by trade so electrical, signal, and things of the like are challenging for me. Again, that is why I am on here, for help.

Last night I sat behind the receiver and tried hooking up the projector (InFocus IN3106) again. I tried an HDMI cable from the OUT 2 (HD ZONE) but couldn't select HD ZONE on the remote. so that got me nowhere. then I tried RCA cables from Zone 2 RCA out to the projector and got the receiver menu (video) but nothing else. it wouldn't recognize the firestick or the cable box.

Yeah, at this point, all the evidence suggests: "Analog ONLY on Zone 2 out". And, by my experience, very few AVRs will output a digital signal to Zone2.

So, what you are trying to do likely won't work due to hardware limitations.