Questions about multi zone

[Daylightdon]

Does anyone have experience with connecting and using multi zone receivers?

Can I have TV in one room and dvd in another etc?

[MrBoylan]

Does anyone have experience with connecting and using multi zone receivers?

Can I have TV in one room and dvd in another etc?

Hi, Don,

Yes, you can have a TV in one room and DVD in another. Not all multi-zone receivers support audio *AND* video to the secondary zones but some do. Typically the secondary zones are limited to composite or (at best) component video outputs, not HDMI, but some higher end receivers and switching components can support HDMI to a second zone. What specifically are you trying to accomplish?

-CB

[Daylightdon]

Hi Chris, I have a friend who wants one receiver to do the work of two.
He wants HDMI 5.1 in the LR and HDMI stereo TV/FM in the BR.
And he wants me to hook it all up for him!
Thanks
Don

[MrBoylan]

Hi Chris, I have a friend who wants one receiver to do the work of two.
He wants HDMI 5.1 in the LR and HDMI stereo TV/FM in the BR.
And he wants me to hook it all up for him!
Thanks
Don

Well, it can be done, but keep in mind that most of the multi-zone receivers (at least most of the ones I've tested and played around with) require that you have an analog connection for the secondary zone sources. So if you do (for example) want to access 5.1 surround from the main zone and 2-channel sound from the same source in a secondary zone, then you will probably need to connect the source both digitally (e.g., HDMI) and via an analog stereo connection to a different input - the HDMI input would be used for 5.1 in the main zone and the stereo analog input would be used for the secondary zone. Most of the multi-zone receivers won't even convert a standard fiber or coax digital input to analog for the secondary zones so you'll need the analog connections for secondary zones in most cases.

I know the Onkyo receivers work this way, and I think Denon and Yamaha do as well. Not a big deal, really since your sources will probably be located close to the receiver, but it does make the connections a little more complicated.

-CB