RZ50 can do 5.1.4 by itself, right?

[Grymlot]

Hey everyone,

I am looking at the Onkyo RZ50 for my 5.1.4 setup, as I'm on a tight budget, and I just want to make sure that it can do 5.1.4 without another amplifier. Is that right? This is the page that's confusing me: Onkyo TX-RZ50 9.2-channel home theater receiver with Dolby Atmos®, Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, Apple AirPlay® 2, and Amazon Alexa compatibility at Crutchfield

It says all 3 of these things at the same time, which feel a bit contradictory. I don't understand what a 'zone' is or what the 'main zone' is though, so maybe that's why I'm confused.

-The Onkyo TX-RZ50 can support up to a 5.1.4, 7.1.2, or 7.1.4* channel Dolby Atmos/DTS:X home theater system.

• 5.1.4Ch: The nine amplifier channels of the receiver are assigned to power a 5.1.4ch speaker system in the Main Zone. The 5.1.2ch speaker system consists of Front, Center, Surround, & two sets of Dolby Atmos speakers. In this mode, Zone 2 and Zone 3 must be powered by a separate amplifier.
• 5.1.4Ch + Zone 2: The nine amplifier channels of the receiver are assigned to power a 5.1.4ch speaker system in the Main Zone and a pair of loudspeakers in Zone 2. The 5.1.4ch speaker system consists of Front, Center, Surround, & two sets of Dolby Atmos speakers. When Zone 2 speakers are active, the Main Zone's Height 1 speakers are inactive, limiting the Main Zone to 5.1.2ch. Zone 3 must be powered by a separate amplifier.

 

[isolar8001]

Hey everyone,

I am looking at the Onkyo RZ50 for my 5.1.4 setup, as I'm on a tight budget, and I just want to make sure that it can do 5.1.4 without another amplifier. Is that right? This is the page that's confusing me: Onkyo TX-RZ50 9.2-channel home theater receiver with Dolby Atmos®, Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, Apple AirPlay® 2, and Amazon Alexa compatibility at Crutchfield

It says all 3 of these things at the same time, which feel a bit contradictory. I don't understand what a 'zone' is or what the 'main zone' is though, so maybe that's why I'm confused.

-The Onkyo TX-RZ50 can support up to a 5.1.4, 7.1.2, or 7.1.4* channel Dolby Atmos/DTS:X home theater system.

• 5.1.4Ch: The nine amplifier channels of the receiver are assigned to power a 5.1.4ch speaker system in the Main Zone. The 5.1.2ch speaker system consists of Front, Center, Surround, & two sets of Dolby Atmos speakers. In this mode, Zone 2 and Zone 3 must be powered by a separate amplifier.
• 5.1.4Ch + Zone 2: The nine amplifier channels of the receiver are assigned to power a 5.1.4ch speaker system in the Main Zone and a pair of loudspeakers in Zone 2. The 5.1.4ch speaker system consists of Front, Center, Surround, & two sets of Dolby Atmos speakers. When Zone 2 speakers are active, the Main Zone's Height 1 speakers are inactive, limiting the Main Zone to 5.1.2ch. Zone 3 must be powered by a separate amplifier.

It will do 5.1.4...it has two height speaker outputs.
It won't do 7.1.4 without a separate amp.

 

[Trebdp83]

A 5.1.4 configuration means all nine amplifiers will be available to the Main Zone at all times. Zone 2 speaker terminals can be used to play two channel audio in a separate area. With only nine amplifiers and a 5.1.4 + Zone 2 configuration, sending audio to Zone 2 means losing the pair of Height 1 Speakers in the Main Room while doing so.