Pioneer VSX-lx103

[Shek5150]

Greetings . . .

Let me please start with I am not a Pioneer guy (I'm barely an AV guy); but my AV life experiences thus far have consisted of Yamaha, Denon & currently Marantz . . .

Anyway, A friend recently purchased a Pioneer VSX-lx103 (to replace his 100 year old receiver) & he was having problems getting a signal to play thru to his "Zone 2" . . . (((Now, I can read a manual aa well as the next person (or perhaps an 8th grader; but I followed all the prompts (pages 65-67) and for the life of me . . . I could not get the Zone 2 to play anything . . . ).

So, I guess my questions is; can anyone offer up any possible trouble shooting options; so that I may help my friend.

(((Sorry, as I re-read that it sounded like one of those "oh, it's not me . . . it's my friend that has a drinking problem )))

In any case, my thanks to anyone willing to respond to my question.

Steve

 

[lovinthehd]

You turned zone 2's power on? What type of signal are you trying to play? Some digital signals in some avrs are restricted for zone output. You using internal amps in the avr or an external amp? You checked proper speaker hookup accordingly?

There's probably a troubleshooting section in the avr manual, too.

 

[Shek5150]

LovintheHd,

Thx for your reply . . . I did turn on the power for Zone 2, Activated it in the initial set-up menu (along with their EQ software),Selected the Source, Set Volume level & attempted to save it. Seems like something worked as the volume control worked for zone two (as indicated by the GUI); but still, no sound came from the Zone 2. Hope that makes sense.

I think the Zone 2 on the unit will only pass a two channel stereo signal (and that's what we were trying to do; but to no avail); while the main zone was a 5.1 format.

Please forgive me if I misuse the terminology . . . still new to it all my self after several years (just a slow learner I guess).

sorry, I forgot to add . . . the trouble shooting menu (at end of manual) didn't seem to address this . . .

Thanks again thought . ..

 

[lovinthehd]

Go over the whole setup again and make sure you're not missing something. Hard to know since you're not specific. You're using the zone 2 speaker terminals or an external amp? What is the main speaker setup? Were you trying to play the same signal as zone 1 and what was the input for that? HDMI?

 

[Shek5150]

Sorry for the lack of detail; wasn't sure what was relevant????

Yes to Zone 2 Speaker Terminals being turned on & No external Amp involved.\

Signal was a CD in a generic BluRay player (via HDMI) \

Main Zone: 5.1 with Klipsch Chorus II (mains) & Klipsch Heresy I (surrounds). It was the Heresy speakers that we disconnected from the 5.1 (after successfully setting up initially) & attached to the Zone 2 (to check to see if the signal was getting thru). The center was an SVS Ultra Center (just being used to set up his system as he does not yet have a center to better match his Chorus II speakers).

Regarding Zones 1 & 2 signal; we attempted to play the same 2 channel stereo signal . . . as it seems that this unit's zone 2 is limited to stereo mode only (thoughI could be wrong on that).

p.s., did activate Zone two from the initial set up GUI.

My apologies in advance for the bother; but I read & re-read this manual (pages 65-67; with no real trouble shooting help on this issue) & tried about every combination, of these 4 friggin' buttons,I could imagine . .. & though I could gain control over Zone two (as indicated by the volume change in the GUI . . but with no actual sound passing thru to zone 2 . . just the up-down nature of the volume scale . . .if that makes sense.

Thx again Lovinthehd. . . (((judging by your overlord status; I'm guessing these are some fairly pedestrian questions for you; but thanks non-the-less))) . . . whereas Audioholic is likely overstated for me; well, at least the prefix is . . .

 

[lovinthehd]

LOL no worries. I just get the moniker from having made a lot of posts Does the bluray player have analog outs? Try connecting those as well as the hdmi. What I have to do on my older avr that I use a zone with, it won't share hdmi on zone 2.

 

[Shek5150]

that's a good idea . .. his bluray player is pretty low-end; maybe that has something to do with it . . .anyway, I do appreciate your time . . . Cheers.

 

[lovinthehd]

that's a good idea . .. his bluray player is pretty low-end; maybe that has something to do with it . . .anyway, I do appreciate your time . . . Cheers.

They've removed analog outs from some of the newer players so it may not be an option.

 

[lovinthehd]

Found this in the manual regarding zone 2 use (page 66):
The audio from externally connected AV components can be output to ZONE 2 only when the audio is analog signal.