Using Zone 2/3 on Denon 3805 for Audio

[sschen]

Hi

I am trying to wire up two other rooms in the house to use the Zone 2 & Zone 3 outputs of the Denon 3805 for "Audio Outputs Only" . At the moment, I only have two main speakers and one centre speaker in my HT room, with the intention of going to 5.1 setup in this HT room. Not enough space to go 6.1 or 7.1.

I read through the manual and from what I can gather, one of either zone 2/3 speakers need to be connected to an amp? Does this mean that I need a power/stereo amplifier in one of the two rooms? I am only hoping to buy two pairs of speakers for both the rooms, no budget for another amp. If one of the zone requires an amp, I am better off just wiring up only one room.

I am only going to listen to music on both zone 2 and 3, with the source selected as the DVD player connected to the Denon receiver in the HT room. I take it this will not be a problem?

Can someone please confirm what I am wanting to do is possible?

Many thanks
Stephen

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

You can run speakers in two more zones, but you can't listen to them simultaneously. The 5.1 section of the amp can't be broken down to a 3.1 and power two rooms with the 4th through 7th section. That's why they say you need another stereo amp, to make it a 9.1 setup to run all three zones simultaneously - 5.1; 2.1 and 2.1. Hope that helps.

 

[Duffinator]

You should be able to run two sets of speakers off of the single powered zone as long as you have impedance matching volume controls between the receiver and your speakers. You could connect one set with banana plugs and the other with spades. Or purchase an IM speaker selector from Niles, Adcom, or Speaker Craft. You can also purchase an amp for $200 or less. Check out eBay. I'm using a Harman Kardon PA2000 and it works fine.

Also remember to connect your DVD player to your receiver with an extra set of analog interconnects. The receiver will not distribute a digital signal to the other zones.

 

[teeoff1999]

Denon 3805 Zone 2 speaker ...

I need help with zone 2. I did connected a pair of speaker on zone 2 (surround back), I have audio but unable to control it. How can I control it from receiver. I read manual but no answer.

Thank's

 

[Duffinator]

I need help with zone 2. I did connected a pair of speaker on zone 2 (surround back), I have audio but unable to control it. How can I control it from receiver. I read manual but no answer.

Thank's

First make sure you have selected to power zone 2 in the setup menu. Then make sure zone 2 is activated on the remote. With it activated the volume buttons should control the volume of zone 2 not the main room. You also need to select the input for zone 2, it will not automatically play whatever is playing in the main room. And like I said earlier you cannot distribute a digital signal to the other zones, only analog. Good luck.

 

[sschen]

First make sure you have selected to power zone 2 in the setup menu. Then make sure zone 2 is activated on the remote. With it activated the volume buttons should control the volume of zone 2 not the main room. You also need to select the input for zone 2, it will not automatically play whatever is playing in the main room. And like I said earlier you cannot distribute a digital signal to the other zones, only analog. Good luck.

Duff

If I am only to run one set of speakers to zone 2 and forget about zone 3 altogether, since zone 2 can be "powered" based on your reply above, I take it I won't need an amp for the speakers in zone 2? I am trying to do away with getting an amp. If I am to buy an amp, it will be for my main speakers in the HT room first.

Thanks for the input on the digital signal though, this seems quite a shame. This is not outlined in the manual at all? when you say "cannot distribute digital signal to the two zones", does this include digital signal fed through the "Denon Link" to the receiver from say a Denon 3910 DVD player?

Thanks again
Stephen

 

[BMXTRIX]

Stephen - Odds are good, though I haven't tested it myself, that the receiver does not convert ANY digital signals for zone 2/3 use. So, just connect some standard analog audio cables from your DVD, CD, cable, etc. to the receiver and it will still give you excellent music in zone 2/3.

A couple of options to consider that are next to nothing (especially via eBay). You can pick up a speaker distribution/volume control box for 2 zones. This allows you to run both extra rooms off the amplifier built into the Denon and control the volume level and on/off status of those speakers separately. That's what I would do on the lowest level budget.

On the next level budget, I would use impedence matching volume controls in each room that had speakers and hook both rooms to zone 2. That would give you local volume control. Maybe I would go that route first since you can pick them up for about 35 bucks each and you need two...
http://search.ebay.com/volume-control-impedance_W0QQcatrefZC6QQcoactionZcompareQQcoentrypageZsearchQQcopagenumZ1QQfromZR10QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQfsprZ1QQsacatZQ2d1

Just some ideas to add to your thoughts.

 

[Duffinator]

Duff

If I am only to run one set of speakers to zone 2 and forget about zone 3 altogether, since zone 2 can be "powered" based on your reply above, I take it I won't need an amp for the speakers in zone 2? I am trying to do away with getting an amp. If I am to buy an amp, it will be for my main speakers in the HT room first.

Thanks for the input on the digital signal though, this seems quite a shame. This is not outlined in the manual at all? when you say "cannot distribute digital signal to the two zones", does this include digital signal fed through the "Denon Link" to the receiver from say a Denon 3910 DVD player?

Thanks again
Stephen

If you are running only one set of speakers you can go directly from the receiver to the speakers with no impedance matching controls. You should be able to run two or more sets of speakers using a speaker switcher like BMXTRIX showed you. You would only use zone 2 and 3 if you wanted independent sources going to the different zones.

It's a shame that the receiver won't distribute a digital source but the Denon is no different than the other receivers in this price range. You need to step up to "flagship" receivers or seperates to accomplish digital distribution. The Denon Link is digital and cannot be distributed. Maybe the next round of receivers from Denon, Yamaha, and the others will have the capabilities to distribute a digital signal.

 

[teeoff1999]

Volume control ...

Duff,

I do have audio on the zone 2 speakers, I'm able to select the source but unable to ajust the volume in zone 2. What is the problem with me ?

 

[Duffinator]

Duff,

I do have audio on the zone 2 speakers, I'm able to select the source but unable to ajust the volume in zone 2. What is the problem with me ?

There's another setting that selects either fixed or variable. Make sure variable is selected. And double check that the remote is set on zone 2. If not it won't adjust the volume. If you select zone 2 and select it again it toggles to zone 3. Have I mentioned that I hate the remote? Oh yes, about 100 times in other threads.

 

[teeoff1999]

The problem is me !!!

Well, I have to admit that the problem his probably myself. I was trying all the time to ajust the volume with the volume control on the receiver. I found out that we are able to ajust the volume only from the remote. I think it's non mention in the manual. What is the rationnal for not be able directly from the receiver ?

Anyway thank's

 

[Duffinator]

Glad to hear everything is working properly.