Has anyone ever tried taking the analog audio out from the TV and feeding it back to an analog audio input on the AVR?  Seems like this might do the following:

1. Provide audio to Zone2 that's in sync with the Main zone because it's taken from the TV after the processing delay caused by the AVR.

2. Provide audio from TV apps like Pandora without relying on ARC.

I don't use Zone2 on AVR's very often, but have two jobs coming up where it would be helpful if I can figure out a way around the Zone2 audio delay without forcing the Main zone out of surround sound mode.

I don't see why this wont' work, but haven't tried it yet.  AVR will be Denon 2112CI or 2312CI.

Anyone have experience trying this?

Cheers,
Paul

Paul,

We have done that on a few occasions (not recently and not with the new internet app enabled TVs) but you need to make sure that a) the analogue out is fixed and b) make sure it outputs audio from external sources and internal sources (apps).

What brand/model tv are you planning on using? To be safe I'd set one up in your shop and test it out to be 100% sure if the set outputs the internal and external sources via that analogue connection.

I've done #2 with a Panasonic plasma to a Pioneer Elite and using ARC I got all sounds from the TV playing anything on Vieracast.

Job #1 will be a 55" Samsung UN55D6400 in a Family Room with Zone2 speakers in a Kitchen that is open to the Family Room.

Job #2 is a theater with JVC Dila projector and and second TV (Samsung UN46D6400) in a bar area with Zone2 speakers.  Plan to use the Denon AVR-3312CI with dual HDMI out to connect projector and TV and can get the analog audio out from the bar TV.

I think the Samsung TVs output everything on the analog audio output, but I haven't tested.  If necessary, I could use a Gefen digital to analog converter to get audio out of the TVs digital optical out.

These TVs have an audio delay setting for the optical digital audio out so this would also provide some additional control.

I guess the question is if anyone knows for sure if the Samsung 6400 Series LEDs output everything on the analog audio output?

Thanks!
Paul

I'm hoping to avoid using ARC.  The only reason is that I don't have any experience using it yet and I know I have to enable HDMI control on the TV and AVR to make it work.

HDMI control is the first thing I usually shut off, so don't know yet how this affects my control solution.

The advice to set this all up and test is the right thing to do, but for now I'm just trying to get both proposals finished up and want to know if the concept is at least sound.

what about skype?

Yamaha receivers have a mode specifically designed to keep the main zone and remote zones in sync. It's built into the receivers. Use Yamaha. I say this respectfully to all the guys who are in love with Denon or for some other reason think Denon is just plain the way to go.

Something about Denon puts me off, but you guys find it's a great brand and you do wonderful things with it. I hear a lot of people are put off by Yamaha, but a lot of installers find it's a great brand and do wonderful things with it. Maybe, since Yamaha has solved this but Denon has not, yet, it's worth giving Yamaha a try. After all, I've installed some Denons!

wow! i cant believe denon has not handled this yet! go yamaha! i very rarely use Z2 anymore but it just seems that any receiver manny should address this.

I would think it would work, but in this installation skype was not setup.

I turn off HDMI control as well. The Panasonic's are nice because you can turn off the auto on/off control that would cause a problem. It didn't try to put it's own onscreen volume graphic on top of the Yamaha onscreen volume graphic as did the Samsung I tried with a Denon rcvr. The Denon volume graphic was onscreen then the Samsung "Anynet" had it's own volume popup at the same time. Looked horrible, so as it is now, stay away from Samsung if you "have" to use ARC. I ended up using an analog audio balun.

I made the switch to Yamaha and have been having great luck. The sound great and work great. I was having issues with zone 2 not outputting content while the main zone was on. Denon was unable to help and blamed the cable company. It happened with two different receivers. I switched to Yamaha and havn't looked back. At first I didn't like the Yamaha menu. I have gotten used to it and actually prefer it now. It is much better then the new Denon OSD.

All Yamaha setup is easier to do and easier to follow than any Denon I've set up. For ten years or more.

I can't imagine anyone preferring denon. They do sound great but I will take ease of use and setup, and reliability anyday. Yamaha seems to have it down but we use Integra/Onkyo.

Does the Integra/Onkyo lineup address the zone2 audio latency?

AFAIK, onyl Yamaha does at this time, and it does it with a mode that you specifically call up when you want both zones to be synchronized.