zone 2 input?

I have a TX-NR616 coming and I am trying to plan for all the cables I will need for the hook-up. I am a bit confused by a reference to inputs to zone 2 and 3 must be analog. Tell me that this doesn't mean all connection to the receiver via hdmi can't have their audio sent out zone 2 or 3? I might send the receiver back instead of having to run analog cables along with hdmi for all the devices i want to listen to in other rooms if this really is required.

Hi sigfreund,

You are in fact correct in that you will have to use analog cables in order to get audio to zone-2. Zone-2 will not accept a digital signal which HDMI, Optical and the digital coaxial outputs are.

What about sending audio from Pandora or my DLNA network drive, I will not be able to listen to these sources in zone 2 or 3?

Hi sigfreund,

By default these connections are analog so you will be able to play DLNA and any network audio to zone-2 as well as any USB audio. As long as the inputs are not digital like previously explained you will be able to have audio in zone-2.

Why with the push to use hdmi for everything (isn't that the reason the 616 has 8 hdmi inputs) would anyone limit zone 2 and 3 like this? I could possibly understand limiting one source of digital at a time (even though decoders are cheap enough that even this seems short sighted) but no digital audio at all being sent to zone 2 or 3 is a deal breaker for me. The receiver is going back. I am convinced this omission will be fixed in a year or two so I will hang onto my 609 a bit longer. Wake up and embrace the new world, it is digital! BTW - USB is only digital.

If zone 2 and 3 are unable to accept a digital source, what does "With connection 3(optical and coaxial), you can enjoy Dolby Digital and
DTS. (To listen in Zone 2/3 as well, use 3(optical and coaxial)" from manual page En-17. It seems to suggest that zone 2 and 3 can play sources connected to optical or coaxial.

Hi sigfreund,

It says "(to listen in zone-2/3 as, use [3] AND [6])", if this were able to play digital in zone-2/3 it would say "OR" not "AND".