::Rant:: Onkyo 876 2nd Zone...

[Sounds Good]

I find it silly and frustrating that the 876 will only output analog sources through the 2nd zone.... Grrrr


Rant over...



Merry Christmas guys...

 

[Adam]

Merry Christmas!

I hear ya. Are you using the front left/right pre outs? If not, then you could use those for Zone 2 and output digital sources. I'm guessing that the 876 can downmix to stereo.

 

[Sounds Good]

Merry Christmas!

I hear ya. Are you using the front left/right pre outs? If not, then you could use those for Zone 2 and output digital sources. I'm guessing that the 876 can downmix to stereo.

wow.. thats a great idea… but I would need some sort of switch to switch between zone 2 and main room… because I would still need the AV to power my main speakers… I currently am using a 5.1 set up

Looks like I have Zone 2 preouts also… will it send digital to the preouts?

 

[Adam]

Dang, I wasn't thinking about playing different material in two different zones at the same time. Using the pre outs wouldn't let you do that (that I know of). Also, you were ranting about outputting only analog sources through the Zone 2 analog outputs, correct? I should have asked that first.

If you were talking about having a switch only because you wanted to have it power your main room speakers while still outputting a signal to Zone 2, you wouldn't need one for that. It'll send a signal out through the pre outs even if the speakers are powered. It's just that if you have it apply a stereo mode to a surround sound source, then it'll be stereo in your main room, too.

 

[Adam]

Looks like I have Zone 2 preouts also… will it send digital to the preouts?

Also, you were ranting about outputting only analog sources through the Zone 2 analog outputs, correct? I should have asked that first.

Well, that's a moot point. Darn, I thought that digital sources could at least be played through the Zone 2 speaker terminals. From the manual on page 134:

Only analog input sources are output by the ZONE 2
PRE OUT, ZONE 3 PRE OUT and ZONE 2 L/R
speaker terminals. Digital input sources are not output.

 

[Sounds Good]

Well, that's a moot point. Darn, I thought that digital sources could at least be played through the Zone 2 speaker terminals. From the manual on page 134:

double darn…

what a silly design… not very "future proof"

Its got to be a software thing too… maybe Onkyo will make a update..

 

[Adam]

If you can amplify it in another room and don't need to play different sources at the same time, the front l/r pre outs might still work for you.

If not, then I should have just let you rant. Onkyo sucks!

 

[Sounds Good]

Onkyo sucks!

well I dont want to go that far yet… but it certainly is a overlooked feature…

sadly the amount of time and greenbacks that went into my current set up, and the fact that the resale market is not good at all means there is NO WAY wifey would let me get a new receiver…

Even if I could, Ive used Onkyo so long I would feel like I was cheating on my 876 with a mistress… lol

I think when it comes time to upgrade Yamaha might get a good look by me.

 

[gtche]

Have you tried just hooking the both the analogue and digital outputs from your CBL/DVD/etc. to your receiver? I was just hooking up my Zone 2 speakers to my 3008 tonight and I had the same issue with the analogue only. Hooking the analogue audio from my cable box to my receiver solved my problem.

I agree that it is rediculous that you cannot output digital connections to Zone 2 or 3. Do other receiver brands have this issue?

 

[sholling]

I find it silly and frustrating that the 876 will only output analog sources through the 2nd zone.... Grrrr


Rant over...



Merry Christmas guys...

It sound like a great excuse to move the 876 into the bedroom and upgrade to a TX-NR809.

 

[Sounds Good]

I've been thinking about that... unfortunately I have the analog going to the TV and the digital going to the receiver.... but... my cable box is dual tuner so I might try tuner 2 analog out. Or maybe splitting the RCA.


I think when its time to replace this Onkyo I am sad to say I won't be getting another. Onkyo kind of seem a little behind trending features.

 

[Sounds Good]

For those that were following this thread I did find a solution.

I used the zone 2 audio from the dual tuner satellite box.

 

[blackzarg]

For those that were following this thread I did find a solution.

I used the zone 2 audio from the dual tuner satellite box.

Hi, Can you please elaborate on this? I was actually in the same scenario (or similar?) and kind of gave up and just switched it over to analog.

I have an Airport Express hooked up with RCA/mini cables right now, in order to get an analog signal. Ideally I'd like to use a digital signal, and have the same thing be playing in Zone 2 as on the Main speakers.

@Adam: How would the connection go if I were to use the L/R pre-outs?

Thanks!

 

[Brownie]

809 Won't get it either

It sound like a great excuse to move the 876 into the bedroom and upgrade to a TX-NR809.

809 Manual states that only analog can be routed to zone 2.
"Only analog input sources are output by the ZONE 2/3
PRE/LINE OUT and FRONT WIDE/ZONE 2 L/R terminals.
Digital input sources are not output. If no sound is heard when
an input source is selected, verify that the source is connected to
an analog input."

I've spent the last few hours looking for receivers that can send HMDI audio to zone 2 - I want to route the Pandora on my 'Smart TV' to speakers set up on my patio.

So far I have only found this badly needed feature/ability on big buck units and a few mid-line(and up) Pioneers. Yammy has a 'Party Mode' feature on some of their units that lets you play the same HDMI source on all speakers but you can't have one HDMI source in Zone 1 and another HDMI source in Zone 2 - to me that is 1/2 you know what

Have my hopes on a Pioneer VSX-1122 (list 600)

 

[Soccerkid830]

This thread is a few months old but yes, I had the same issue with my 809. Tried to send my cable (hooked up via hdmi) to my zone 2 speakers to no avail. I can send the tuner sound there, or any of the net features in the receiver itself. Also my PS2 sound will get there if I wanted.

But as Brownie said above, no non-analog sound to zone 2