Power supply to all 7 speakers

[BobD]

I was reading,and correct me if I misunderstood the specs, that the Denon AVR-789 has something called "equal power". Says that the unit has a dedictated amp for each speaker channel. I'm going to be running a 5.1 system with 2 speakers outside on my deck so this equal power thing seems like a good idea. Are all receivers like this or is it a Denon feature only?

 

[Haoleb]

Its more a tagline their marketing dept. came up with than anything else. From what you have said about your application what you really need is something with the Zone2 feature which is what that, and most other denon recievers have, Although you can get a last year's model reciever for less money thats actually better. Denon rolls out with a new line every year and you can save quite a bit if you get last years model. Look for model numbers ending in 8, such as 2308 or 1908 or whatever. Or even 07 models if you can still find them.

 

[TLS Guy]

I was reading,and correct me if I misunderstood the specs, that the Denon AVR-789 has something called "equal power". Says that the unit has a dedictated amp for each speaker channel. I'm going to be running a 5.1 system with 2 speakers outside on my deck so this equal power thing seems like a good idea. Are all receivers like this or is it a Denon feature only?

Every receiver has to have a separate amp for each speaker channel. Add people should be shot at dawn!

 

[highfigh]

Its more a tagline their marketing dept. came up with than anything else. From what you have said about your application what you really need is something with the Zone2 feature which is what that, and most other denon recievers have, Although you can get a last year's model reciever for less money thats actually better. Denon rolls out with a new line every year and you can save quite a bit if you get last years model. Look for model numbers ending in 8, such as 2308 or 1908 or whatever. Or even 07 models if you can still find them.

How is it just a tagline? The rear surrounds are assignable, so they can either be that or Zone 2. The Zone 2 output when using the internal amp is adjustable for 0dB, -20dB, -40dB, so if you don't want to use a different amp to have continuously variable volume control for the outside speakers, you'll need a volume control on the wall. Any amp will work if you use the Zone 2 Pre-amp outputs and that will let you switch inputs and adjust volume. It actually works very well and Zone 2 commands are separate from Zone 1. Zone 2 commands are found on the back of the remote, under a door. Last year's models had a really long delay after turn-on before the receiver would respond ot a command. The new ones only have about 2 seconds and turn on with pressing the source button. This makes macros a lot easier if you're using a universal remote controller.

If you have a Circuit City closing near you, haul your butt down there and buy a receiver. Here in MKE, the 588 was selling for $199 - 15% and they also had the 788 and 988. IIRC, the 788 was $399 - 15% and the 888 was $400 - 15%.

 

[BobD]

The rear surrounds are assignable, so they can either be that or Zone 2. The Zone 2 output when using the internal amp is adjustable for 0dB, -20dB, -40dB, so if you don't want to use a different amp to have continuously variable volume control for the outside speakers, you'll need a volume control on the wall.

I don't really understand the part about volume control. If I get a 7.1 surround receiver and hook up 2 outside speakers I won't be able to control the volume of those speakers from the receiver? All I want from this system is to be able to run the outside speakers as if they were speaker "B" on the reciever. Like right now I have a Yamaha RX-777 stereo receiver and I run Cambridge Soundworks M80's in the living room and Ensemble III's in my 3 season room. I can have either set on or off. Can I not do that with surround sound system?

 

[highfigh]

I don't really understand the part about volume control. If I get a 7.1 surround receiver and hook up 2 outside speakers I won't be able to control the volume of those speakers from the receiver? All I want from this system is to be able to run the outside speakers as if they were speaker "B" on the reciever. Like right now I have a Yamaha RX-777 stereo receiver and I run Cambridge Soundworks M80's in the living room and Ensemble III's in my 3 season room. I can have either set on or off. Can I not do that with surround sound system?

Not all Zone 2/3 setups will allow "on the fly" volume control of the speakers in those zones because they will often be viewed as "distributed audio", which will often have more speakers in other locations, like kitchen, bath, foyer, patio/deck or other areas where it's just ambient music. If this is the case, on-wall volume controls work best because they eliminate affecting the volume in the rest of the rooms when it's turned down.

If you will only have the one pair of extra speakers, you'll need a separate amp for the Zone 2 volume to be controlled like the main. If you have one, an older receiver or integrated amp would work great for this.

As far as Speaker B use, if you set up the main speakers for home theater use, any EQ and filter settings will apply to Speaker B, too. This may not sound good.

 

[Haoleb]

How is it just a tagline? The rear surrounds are assignable, so they can either be that or Zone 2. The Zone 2 output when using the internal amp is adjustable for 0dB, -20dB, -40dB, so if you don't want to use a different amp to have continuously variable volume control for the outside speakers, you'll need a volume control on the wall. Any amp will work if you use the Zone 2 Pre-amp outputs and that will let you switch inputs and adjust volume. It actually works very well and Zone 2 commands are separate from Zone 1. Zone 2 commands are found on the back of the remote, under a door. Last year's models had a really long delay after turn-on before the receiver would respond ot a command. The new ones only have about 2 seconds and turn on with pressing the source button. This makes macros a lot easier if you're using a universal remote controller.

I have probably installed about 50 of these things, I know how they work. Its just something else the marketing dept thought up to throw in their little bullets list of things to attract people who dont know anything about recievers that look at it and think wow. Just like digital cables that say high speed or a cd player that says "digital" on it. It simply a fancy way of saying each channel has its own transistors vs something really really crappy with something like multi channel ic's for an output.

 

[Haoleb]

I don't really understand the part about volume control. If I get a 7.1 surround receiver and hook up 2 outside speakers I won't be able to control the volume of those speakers from the receiver? All I want from this system is to be able to run the outside speakers as if they were speaker "B" on the reciever. Like right now I have a Yamaha RX-777 stereo receiver and I run Cambridge Soundworks M80's in the living room and Ensemble III's in my 3 season room. I can have either set on or off. Can I not do that with surround sound system?

If you use the zone2 outputs you can adjust the volume for them on the reciever itself. Most denon recievers come with a seperate smaller zone2 remote, the 789 does not. With zone 2 you can have the speakers at a different volume than the main zone and you can also play a different source. So lets say you can be watchin tv in the main room and listning to a cd in your zone 2 area. Its a little more complicated but also more flexible than hooking your speakers to the B outputs because everything with zone2 is independent. I really cannot reccomend this 789 model for what your needs are. One reason being the way it controls volume.

If you decide to get something better than the 789, You do not need an extra amplifier and volume controls for a system like you want, if you wanted speakers in a bunch of rooms its a different story, and i would reccomend an entirely different system alltogether but with just two speakers all you need is the reciever. After looking more at the 789 i would reccomend getting something higher up like i said, in last years lineup. Something like a 1708 or 1908. Because it does have a seperate remote for zone2 and more flexible. One reason being the way it controls volume.

The only thing most people find out the hard way about zone2 operation is that you must have stereo analog cables connected for it. You cannot use a digital source for zone 2. So you would simply run digital for your surround sound and then a second set of analog cables for your zone2 speakers.

 

[highfigh]

If you use the zone2 outputs you can adjust the volume for them on the reciever itself. Most denon recievers come with a seperate smaller zone2 remote, the 789 does not. With zone 2 you can have the speakers at a different volume than the main zone and you can also play a different source. So lets say you can be watchin tv in the main room and listning to a cd in your zone 2 area. Its a little more complicated but also more flexible than hooking your speakers to the B outputs because everything with zone2 is independent. I really cannot reccomend this 789 model for what your needs are. One reason being the way it controls volume.

If you decide to get something better than the 789, You do not need an extra amplifier and volume controls for a system like you want, if you wanted speakers in a bunch of rooms its a different story, and i would reccomend an entirely different system alltogether but with just two speakers all you need is the reciever. After looking more at the 789 i would reccomend getting something higher up like i said, in last years lineup. Something like a 1708 or 1908. Because it does have a seperate remote for zone2 and more flexible. One reason being the way it controls volume.

The only thing most people find out the hard way about zone2 operation is that you must have stereo analog cables connected for it. You cannot use a digital source for zone 2. So you would simply run digital for your surround sound and then a second set of analog cables for your zone2 speakers.

I'm not a big fan of the one remote having everything on it and while I know cost is the reason they don't supply a second remote for the extra zones, it has to be cheap enough at the level they buy parts that it shouldn't add much to the total for the receiver.

In the 3 digit series, the 989 does have Zone 2 volume control that works the same as the Main control. The 889 may have it, too. URC also has a small remote for limited operations that's pretty cheap, so that's another option. The 989 now has direct access tuning for radio, too.

There are enough choices available that it doesn't have to be this one, although it does work pretty well within its range.

 

[BobD]

So it's just not as simple as my existing stereo setup to have the deck speakes. Maybe I should just split the systems. Buy the 5.1 reciever for the tv and keep my Yamaha rx-777 for the deck speakers.

 

[highfigh]

So it's just not as simple as my existing stereo setup to have the deck speakes. Maybe I should just split the systems. Buy the 5.1 reciever for the tv and keep my Yamaha rx-777 for the deck speakers.

That would work. Then, you can connect your sources to both and be totally independent.