Zone 2 possible with Denon AVR-486s

[gvwbus]

I am looking for a new AV reciever that can do separate zone 2 in the house while 5.1 surround in the theater room.
There is a new Denon model AVR-486S I found at Best buy in Canada. My question is will this do separate sourse for zone two. This looks a lot like the 485 but it has A/B speaker switching along with Zone 2 switch. Denon does not have any information on their site on this model number. I am hoping to use the Linkplayer2 to feed MP3's around the house.
Any help is appreciated. If someone know another solution please let me know.

Thank you,

 

[jcPanny]

Creating a Zone 2

Gvwbus,
See attached link of audioholics feature summary for the Denon 486:
http://www.audioholics.com/news/editorials/DenonHTRReceivers.php
There might be a few feature differences from last years 485 description and manual posted on the Denon site.

According to the Audioholics specs, this receiver (and any other model) can implement a Zone 2 using the record output signal. This is a line level signal and requires a seperate 2 channel amplifier for connection to the speakers in remote zones.

All Denon receivers have a speaker A and B outputs. You could use the powered speaker B outputs to connect to your remote zone, but only run A (main system) OR B(remote zone) and not both at once.

Your receiver has enough power to easily run 2 sets of speaker off the B connection and probably a max of 4 sets. Look into impedence matching volume controls to properly distrubte the power amoung multiple sets of speakers.

 

[AVRat]

That preliminary spec sheet shows 1 source/2 zone capability. For your situation you may have to upgrade to the 686 model. What is your budget? The Pioneer 1015 would also work.

 

[gvwbus]

Thanks for your replies jcPanny and AVRat.

I was hoping not to have to use a separate amp. I need this system to be as easy to use for everyone as possible. Is there anyway I can watch a movie with 5.1 and MP3's/ CD's upstairs on the same amp?

The only difference I can see with the 485 and 486 is they have renamed the "rear surround" button "zone 2", but I don't know that this mean internally.

I looked at the Pioneer 1015 and according to Bestbuy it is not multi-room capable. What should I be looking for, to give me separate outputs?

As for budget. Does it make sense saving $200 on separate zone 2 amp, to get a better model that does what I want.
Thanks again.

 

[MDS]

If you want to be able to play 5.1 in the main room and stereo in zone 2 (without an external amp), you need to look for a 7.1 receiver that has 'multi-room/multi-source' capabilities. Multi-room is the generic form of zone 2 - with the same source to two locations. Multi-source means two different sources to different zones.

Every brand has a model with those capabilities; eg Onkyo's with those capabilities start with the 702 and up. The 602 has zone 2 and is multi-source but will only allow stereo to both zones.

 

[gvwbus]

Will the Denon AVR-686S give me 'multi-room/multi-source' capability? It is only a 6.1 but according to the link provided by pcPanny the 686 does "2S/2Z
" 2 source/2 zones?
MDS suggests I need a 7.1?

Any thoughts/ suggestions.

I am hooking this up to infiniti theater box speakers (5), PSB large front speakers, I am still looking for an sub, and I am still trying to decide on inwall speakers for upstairs (looking at the infiniti).

I am more looking for the full house music experience over perfect sound.
Thank you

 

[MDS]

You will have to obtain the manual to know for sure, but if it is a 6.1 receiver then there aren't enough amps to do 5.1 in one room and stereo in the other - you are one channel short. You can do it if the receiver has a zone2 line out, but then you need an external amp, which I thought you wanted to avoid.

 

[AVRat]

Sorry, my mistake

The Pioneer 1015 is only 1S/2Z. This is similar to the Denon 486 which is a 7.1 unit. It's difficult to keep all the info straight. As I mentioned, according to the preliminary specs the 686 handles 2S/2Z, but like MDS said, we won't know for sure until we see the manual. BTW, all those units have 7 channels and they do 6.1 decoding. This is the type unit that wil work for you, but as I'm sure you're aware, more features more $$. Do you have a budget in mind?

 

[gvwbus]

I stopped by a local stereo store tonight. The saleman suggested the Denon 2106 for Cdn$900 in order to do zone 2 and power my speakers.
I have 4*100W Infiniti (really infiniti 140 bookself speakers they sell in a surround package), 100W infiniti Centre, 2*PSB 50MkIII fronts(unknown watt). I still need a sub, and 2 inwall speakers for upstairs.

I was hoping to spead cdn$500 on the amp but now it looks like it will be more...
Should I just be looking for a simple AV reciever and purchase a separate amp?
For $900 I can buy 2 AVR-486S for the same price and not worry about zone 2. Of course that will be the end of my dream of whole home sound from my music libary of cd's, records, and networked mp3s?
Are there any other model's brands I should be looking at?
Everyones comments have been very helpful.

Thanks again.

 

[AVRat]

If you are still interested, some of your fellow countrymen are still finding the Yamaha 1500 available, for under C$700. This unit is more robust than the 686.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15077