RX-V2600 - Anyone Using Zone 2/3?

[choinga]

I've been using the V2600 for awhile but spent the afternoon running a couple speaker wires out to my deck to run some satellite speakers using Zone 2/3. This has got to be the most confusing thing I've ever tried to do with a stereo receiver. No matter what I've tried I cannot get sound to come through those speakers.

My setup is simple. I'm not using back presense speakers so I can use either Zone 2 or 3. I've gone into the RX menu and enabled the amp for either/both (I've tried Zone 2 then tried Zone 3, etc...) and then tap the Zone 2 or 3 button on the front panel to turn it on and then cranked the volume. I can't quite figure out how to get the source selected properly which may be my problem. There's a dial on the front panel but it appears to be only for Zone 2 - but selecting that to a source that I know is sending audio still doesn't get any sound out of the Zone2 speakers.

Doesn't seem like it should be that difficult but no matter what permutation I come up with I can't get any sound through the speakers.

To make matters worse, I can't find my Zone2/3 remote but the online manual says you can adjust Zone2/3 by using the main remote but the directions on how to do that don't work either. (they suggest that you have the side click selector on amp then use the select up down arrow keys to move through the LED display until you see Zone2/3 - neither of those ever show up on my LED to adjust settings).

Anyway, this is very frustrating and anyone who has set this up - I'd appreciate any guidance. Thanks in advance!

 

[MDS]

There's a dial on the front panel but it appears to be only for Zone 2 - but selecting that to a source that I know is sending audio still doesn't get any sound out of the Zone2 speakers.

How is the source connected to the receiver? It MUST be connected via analog cables or zone 2 will not work. It's ok to also have digital connections from the same source for the main zone. This is a limitation of nearly all receivers with zone2 functionality.

 

[choinga]

Hey Cool - I'm in Austin, TX as well...

Well, one of the sources I tried was a XBOX 360 which has RCA audio cables as inputs to the RX. That didn't work. My cable box is HDMI into my RX so I assume that won't work. :-(

I'm thinking of just grabbing one of those speaker splitter selectors with independent audio controls and just running my outdoor speakers through that. When I want to listen outdoors, I just click a button and I'm enjoying music outdoors. Bad part is, since I'm running 5.1 I'd have to either switch from THX to pure stereo to get a decent sound (assuming, haven't tested yet) to my outdoor speakers. If I just connect my outdoor speakers to my 'fronts', for example, I'm not sure how that would sound since I'd be missing a bunch of stuff out of the center.

I guess another options is to go pre-amp out into a seperate amp and hook the outdoor speakers up to that. Seems like I may be in the same boat as above as I only see FRONT and CENTER pre-outs and that might end up giving me a pretty crappy sound outdoors.

Anyone else do anything like this with this deck? Suggestions?

 

[jcPanny]

Zone 2 speakers

Check a couple things on your Zone 2 speaker setup.

First, you want to use "powered" Zone 2 so setup the receiver for 5.1 + powered zone 2 in the menu.
Make sure that the Zone 2 speakers are connected to the correct set of jacks. It should be the small speaker clips and not the binding post for surround back speakers.
Finally, select an analog source (tuner, xbox, etc.) and turn on zone 2. There should be an LED on the front of the receiver to indicate when zone 2 (and 3) are on. Don't bother with zone 3 because it is only a line level unamplified output.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Yep it is as easy as that.

Turn on the internal zone 2 amp
Run analog cables from the source
Hit the zone 2 button and you are done. You can program the Yammy remotes to control zone 2 just read the manual or you can buy a universal remote that will work everything.

 

[NYyankeeboi]

Ha, it took me a few days to figure out how to adjust the volume for the main system ...I kept messing with the "zone 2 & 3" and I had nothing connected...lol