I'm in about the same situation. I'm leaning toward the
Marantz NR1604 as it has a number of input options and I'm only going to be driving a soundbar (Definitive Mythos SSA-50 prolly). It's a wide open family room/kitchen and while it's pre-wired for 5.1 in the ceiling I don't plan on using that (too much would end up resonated upward into the master bedroom above). Anyway, that's a different issue.
I don't "need" zone 2 playback, however the manual for the NR1604 states:
It is not possible to play the digital audio signals input from the HDMI, COAXIAL or OPTICAL connectors in ZONE2. Play using analog connections (in stereo)
So there's that.
This AVR would be situated exactly where the wiring for the nearby outside speakers are routed. Actually, the same cabinet is intended to house whatever amp would be used for it. Being able to use the AVR to redirect to it would be convenient, but alas not with the lack of digital down-conversion.
I'm not pressed for space, so I don't actually need the slim size of the NR1604 (but I do want the component input). The
SR5007's manual likewise repeats the lack of digital audio output on zone 2.
It's not until stepping up to the SR7007 that you get digital output on the zones. But the manual reads like a bit of gibberish on this. Lots of room for 'assumptions' and
we all known where that has gotten us in the past with AVR 'features' for zones. It does show that it's HDMI output for a second zone does not handle converting component inputs over to HDMI. It does on the main zone, of course, but not additional ones. So "
there's that" again.
So which Denon? The X3000 manual is encouraging here:
Code:
he HDMI audio signal is converted to PCM format so you can listen to HDMI sound from the ZONE2 pre out or ZONE2 assigned speakers.
Alas, the next step down, the X2000 does not share this feature:
In ZONE2, you can select iPod/USB, TUNER, NETWORK or an input source with an analog audio input connector.
Clever how they word it (the lack of HDMI input source conversion, that is).
So for my application is would appear the X3000 is a worth considering.