Have a client that already owns one and wants to do a few keypads off the room 2 output. I am trying to figure out if I should push him in to something that I know will work or experiment with his.

Thanks in advance

Steve

i used to use marantz. they work fine. if i recall right, you need a xantech interpretor to use the rear ir port.

if its going to be an economy type job, id use what he has. if its going to be a little higher end, since you said keypads, how about a reciever with 2 extra zones. Might be worth it to upgrade. that will depend oon the design of the job.

I unfortunately have some experience. The MULTI preamp outputs need to feed an amplifer for the additional rooms. There is a MULTI IR jack on the back for IR control. The god news is that alll of the discrete codes from the remote can be sent only to the zone2 IR input. The bad news is that the jack for this input is an RCA jack. Also, many times we have not been able to get the keypads or IR sensor to talk to the zone 2 IR input reliably. We had to use a Xantech interface with standard IR input and RCA output which is made just for this application. I have several of these laying around if you need one.

What keypads were you hoping to use? How many rooms?

We've done a bunch of the Marantz models of this vintage with the multi-room, and they work quite well. The Xantech 794-50 is a must, in that the multi-room IR input is looking for demodulated IR commands; the Xantech piece strips off the 38KHz modulation. From that point the multi-room is looking for the same power, input and volume commands as the front panel window. Make a point of understanding how the Marantz is looking for the commands - it will only accept a volume +/- command for a period of time after a multi-room input or power command is issued.

I've installed this setup many times, its quite functional, though not as cost effective as it use to be following the introduction of the low priced multiroom systems on the market. You still need amplification, keypads, and volume controls. For a while I was using Sonance AVC volume controls to kill 2 birds w/ one stone. The Xantech 794-50 (ground 2 goes to the Marantz chassis) is the key to reliable IR control. I always had good luck with Xantech PM110/LM110 keypads in these setups once I had the Marantz codes learned right, they're RC5. The only real quirk is that the tuner cannot be operated in both the main zone and zone 2 at the same time, the main has priority. Both can listen, but only the main zone can change the channel when its selected in both locations. Set the 2nd zone out to fixed volume (its in the setup menu).

jcmitch

This message was edited by jcmitch on 06/24/05 14:54 ET.

It will work with no problems. You need a Xantech 794-50 and power supply for it, and it comes with the cable you need to plug into that multi-in rca jack in the back. Use the Zone 1 IR codes and you will be fine. Russound K2 or Xantech Smartpad 3 work will do a nice job but I'm sure the B&K or Sonance keypads are great as well. Consider using a URC MX850 with the MRF 300 as an alternative

i'd use a few sonance k2s and a yamaha rxv2500. powered zone 2 and unpowered zone 3. full discretes.

This is not entirely correct, the input and volume commands are time limited when switching the multi room on from the IR reciever on the front of the amp ( as the unit returns to main zone control a small period of time after zone 2 is turned on). When you use the 2nd zone control input on the back, there is no problem selecting source or adjusting volume at any time ( yes use the Xantech device suggested in the other posts).

Simon.