I have the denon 3801 rec running a set of speakers to my deck set up as "zone 2". The manual say to turn zone 2 off by selecting "source - source" on the function knob. However, this does not turn off zone two! It keeps playing whatever I was last listening to in that zone; CD, Tuner, whatever. Anyone have a clue how to turn this funtion off? I've been turning the volume all the way down or selecting a source not being used.

That is the way I do it - I turn the volume all the way down. I have not found any other way to do it!

Imagine my surprise when I thought I had turned off Zone 2 by changing the source to "Source", and then walking in to my backyard, late at night to let my dog in, and there were my patio speakers, blaring away for all the neighborhood to hear!

The owners manual is not very clear on this point (and many others as well). What you are really doing by setting Zone 2 to Source is turning off the Multi-zone function (i.e. two different sources to two different zones), but the second zone is always on, just playing the current source selected in zone 1.

Bryan

I have a 3801 and I hooked up a speaker switch box. I have speakers in the front yard and on the back deck being run by the 3801 multi-room amp. When I am not using either sets of speakers I turn them off via the switch box and don't have to worry about blasting the neighbors.

John

Thanks guys! Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something here.

I dunno if this will work, but you got nothing to loose by trying. In order to turn off zone 2 on my onkyo rec., I hit the surround mode button for zone 1, and it automatically turns off zone 2. Good luck.

As far as I know, the Denon 3801 has 7(!) amlifiers, which let it play zone 2 even if zone 1 uses 5.1! Therefore you probably can't use the Onkyo-trick. I've got an Onkyo too, but I'm thinking of buing the Denon - and I'm very interested in knowing more about Denons zone 2 feature. I'm using zone 2 a lot on my Onkyo. Can you use you remote from zone 2 (through some kind of repeater) ?

KASO - yes - you are correct - the Denon has 7 channels of amplification built in. So if you don't use the surround back channels (the 6 or 7 in 6.1 and 7.1), you can use them to independently power zone 2.

What is cool is that you can be watching one source in zone 1 in 5.1 surround sound, and have zone 2 playing a totally different source at a different volume.

The remote control has different modes to control the receiver. So you put the remote in Multi, and it controls the inputs, volume and tuner channels for the 2nd zone. This alone sold me on this receiver! Of course the incredible sound quality and processing didn't hurt either! :)

So if you wanted to, you could get an IR repeater in the 2nd zone, with a programmable remote, and teach it the Denon's 2nd zone commands. They actually have a diagram of this in their manual.

Go to www.denon.com and check out the 3802. They have the manual (PDF) online. I am upgrading to that this week, as it adds DPLII, and some more refinements to the power supply and circuitry. They took an incredible product and made it better!

Sound & Vision tested the 3801 and the power was 92W X 5 all channels driven, 125W X 2 and 85W X 6 all channels driven. There aren't many 100W receivers out there that can even push 5 speakers with 85W all channels driven. The Yamaha RXV1000 comes to mind - it "only" pushed out 78W X 5. So yes, these Denon receivers are really as good as everyone says they are. At least in my BIASED opinion. :)

Bryan

3802 looks very interesting!! Thanks for your info!