Powered Zone 2 or Speaker "B" scenario

[flytact]

One of my deciding factors on a receiver is to be able to listen to it outside through another set of speakers. With the old receiver (dead) I was able to select A/B or both. If we were outside and the kids wanted to watch TV or a movie then we selected "B" and turned up the sound on the TV.
Original setup:
cable box -->receiver via optical
cable --> TV via HDMI
DVD --> TV via HDMI
DVD --> receiver via optical

If I go with a receiver without a powered zone 2 and run an all hdmi setup through the receiver will I still be able to select "B" and play a DVD or watch TV through the TV speakers?
Do I need a powered zone 2?
Here I thought I was ready to buy....

 

[popotoys]

Most, but not all, recievers with extra zones will allow independent input\output operation but you will need to confirm this first. Some will be powered zones, some will allow you to assign the extra speaker outs if using 5.1 instead of 7.1, some will need amps. You will have to do some research and ask the right questions before buying.

 

[flytact]

OK, let me clarify. Reading the reply made me want reword the original question.
If I use a non-powered 2nd zone receiver( sr4002, Pio 918, etc...) AND run everything via HDMI, will I lose the ability to watch a DVD with TV speakers? Will I need to hook up a DVD to TV connection for this or will the DVD to Receiver to TV pass through allow for sound to via the TV speakers?

The reasoning being that I can go up a model and get that 2nd zone, multiple source, but I don't really need to. A "don't know what you're missing if you haven't got it" sort of thing.

 

[AVRat]

I think it will work if the receiver can play different sources simultaneously in the main zone. Some receivers need the sources to be designated as either video or audio. Generally the cable box and DVD are considered video sources. This may be circumvented by running digital or stereo analog connections from the DVD player to the receiver configured for a CD source which is a purely audio source.