Question for more experienced AVR minds than mine - hope to use Airplay on a Denon X2100 in the following manner – is this viable, or might we experience a loop/feedback issue with the following?

1. Multizone amplifier’s (RTI AD8x) PREAMP output into Denon’s CD source input (the Denon serves as amplifier for zone 3 of the multizone amp)

2. Denon zone 2 preout into RTI AD8x source input 3, to allow Airplay via Denon to be sent to the multizone system as a source.

Any potential issues with this approach, since the Denon is acting both as a source device and amplification device? e.g., when source input 3 is selected at RTI multizone and sent to zone 3, the stream goes from the Denon, to RTI source 3, out RTI zone 3, to Denon CD source input and finally to Denon main zone speakers.

Is this viable, or am I asking for a headache?

If you are selecting airplay as the source for the denon zone why not just program the denon to turn onto Airplay rather than going through the DA system?

To add to SWO's question, let's back up: what are you trying to do and why do you propose to do it the way you suggest? That is, why not "do it" instead of "do it in the following manner"?


Just to mention, when thinking through something like this, it helps the mind to simplify it by following the path of the signal. In that case, you'd reverse the order in which you consider your 1 and 2 here.

Anyway... Denon Zone 2 preout into RTI Source 3 in. That gets Airplay into the RTI. Got it.

PRE always means there' volume control on the device, so adjustment of the Denon Zone 2 volume raises and lowers the output of RTI Source 3. So this part could work, with that complication...
Then RTI's preamp out into Denon CD. Same thing here: volume controls interact.

If you select CD on the Denon and Source 3 on the RTI, and the two volume controls are set for a gain of 1 or higher, there will be feedback. This won't be the kind of audio feedback that is irritating. Chances are excellent that you won't hear a thing except for the sound of tweeters bursting into flames, or perhaps the magic smoke from one or two amplifiers.


If you can lock out that wrong connection, this should work. It's like supporting a bridge with a pile of dynamite sticks, but it should work up until it violently doesn't.

I think it should work. There may be a delay if you played Airplay both out of Zone one on the receiver and also fed it via zone 2 and the multi room controller, and finally into a room that is adjescant (if there is one).

I just finished an install where a multi room controller feeds an amp directly, and also a Marantz receiver (via the CD input) in the room next door and there is no delay created by the Marantz receiver which makes me think your Denon would act in the same way.

Craig

Delay should only come about if there's accompanying video. Analog to digital conversion might also cause a delay, but it's less likely than when there's a video signal.

Want to be able to route the Airplay to other zones as well, which are only connected to the RTI AD8x.

FWIW, zone 3 on the RTI (line level out going into Denon CD source input) will be set for FIXED volume output; so 'zone 3' volume will only be controlled by Denon.

I see what you mean about the Denon as Airplay source, though - increase/decrease Denon volume would do same for airplay source, so that when Airplay to RTI source 3 is feeding into other zones, then both Denon and RTI volume controls are in play - is that right?

I understand that reasoning but for the specific room that the denon is powering why make it more difficult than it has to be?

Do you not need to turn on Airplay in zone one, get it working, and then select it for zone 2 much like you would with a tuner? It would seem like quite a process to do this. I know the feature is already built into the Denon but I would be inclined to just put an Airport Express onto the AD8x. It would very much simplify it.



Craig.