Marantz AV8801 Preamp/Processor Official Owner's thread - Page 35

 

I have experienced what you describe by swapping in a 5channel Emo amp for a Bryston.  The output levels were uniformly high but, when recalibrated, they were the same as with the Bryston.  It is not a matter of power but of input sensitivity.  The EMO amps have high sensitivity and Audyssey will reduce its levels to calibrate the system to the standard.   That would not affect the settings for the other channels since their levels would not need to be reduced.

HDMI for sure.  The only time I use analog from my Oppos is for reviews in consideration users like you.  I see no reason not to use HDMI/room correction for music since the room is the same.  

Is your view on active room correction widely shared? My music room (for two channel stereo) is treated with cylinder bass traps- 9" for side reflections and 16" for standing waves. I've invested a decent sum into speakers and supporting electronics and I'd be hesitant to insert another component into my chain. I do wonder if I'd take the same approach with a 5.1 dedicated HT room or if active correction would be applicable!?

Quality speakers in a well designed room are always what you need to start with to get the best sound. Quality room EQ software then should be able to provide that last little bit of accuracy to the sounds you hear. "Preference" often can trump "reference" in such situations, though. The difference between using EQ software and not using it should be subtle.

Sadly, however, judging from the bench-tests in many of the speaker reviews I've read in Stereophile, too many high-end speaker systems really don't provide highly accurate sound. Too many of them seem to have anechoic frequency response curves that look like saw blades. Room design and EQ software should tend to take care of many of those irregularities, though.

Quite a few audiophiles have complained about room EQ software degrading their musical experience. Unfortunately, I don't recall seeing any accompanying spectrum analysis plots showing the room response with and without EQ for those having that experience. Maybe I've just overlooked them.

So you're saying that even though the input sensitivity is reduced on the Emo amp, you still able to drive it to it's max power output while keeping it linear with the other amps in a given system?

Ultimately I just swapped everything out to the same amps (four XPA-2 @ 300W RMS into 8 ohms) and used my BK in a different room, but the question came up again for me recently because I could buy an AVR with amplification for just about the same price as an 8801 and get extra amplification for cheap to run 11.2 speakers, or I could buy a lower powered 5-7 channel amp (XPA-5?) for "extra channels" without shooting myself in the foot on my 5.1 power. It just feels like Audyssey is reducing my available power from my Emo's!!!

Seems like the Marantz will work better for you if you don't mind giving up 7 dB of S/N quality in return for the other gains.

joerod,

Nice review. Quick question concerning the 8801 vs. the 4520...is it $1100 better than the 4520. I know it is subjective but I have the 7005 which is great and I want to go to 11.2 so it is either the 4520 or the 8801. I also would like to go to a front projection and getting the 4520 will allow me to go that route but the 8801 will not. I am pretty much 75% movies and 25% straight two channel.

Is there a big difference in the surround formats between the two?

Thanks and keep them coming.

I was finally able to order my AV8801 from Magnolia!!! Hope it gets here before XMAS but I know its wishful thinking!

Why won't the 8801 allow you to go to a front projection setup?

I have a dedicated theater room that I am considering the 8801 for, and I'm not sure I agree with your comment, but maybe I'm missing something?!? I will definitely be using a front projector.

I'm assuming its the extra $1100 that would otherwise go towards the cost of a projector....

Just got mine to test. Doing a firmware upgrade at the moment. Could have done without the silly coper plated screws on the top. Marketing fluff.

Oh, 'tis the season! Get both the 8801 and the projector. You deserve it! Well, if you don't have a projector now, that will make an overall bigger improvement to your system than not getting it but getting the 8801 over the Denon. My $0.02.

That would make sense, didn't look at it through that lens.

I'm thinking of borrowing my Bro-in-law's cheap little crappy projector and going with an 8801, so that I can go 4k in a few years. But I would need an interim solution, like a $3k sony/jvc/epson

It is widely but, certainly, not universally shared.  And, yes, physical treatments such as what you (and I) have are the way to go but, in my experience, rarely do people go far enough unless they have a dedicated and purpose-designed room.   I am an advocate of using both physical and electronic means since my rooms, although treated, are not completely dedicated.

 

Also, if your sources are digital, there is no reason you must "insert another component into my chain."  Just do the DSP while it is still digital and passing through the processors anyway.

 

You mention going to 11.2. Would you also need to purchase another AMP? If it came down to also getting a projector I would opt for the 4520 at this time. If you already had one and an extra AMP then I would say go for it. Though the 4520 would allow you to get a projector and push 11.2 speakers immediately so for me that's the route I'd take.

According to what I was told, it is "an ongoing bundle price."

That's what it says, "ongoing". Like space and time. I ordered the bundle but will be selling the amp as I have one already. If anyone needs one I will have a spare NIB (never in a black hole) at a good price.
Edited by sfav - 12/18/12 at 9:54pm

Right now I do not have a projector but a Mitsubishi DLP 73" TV but want to go the projector route. I would need to buy a three channel amp to go with 11.2 with the 8801 but not with the 4520 at first. I'm just thinking that the 4520 will probably sound close to identical to the 8801 when it comes down to it for Dolby True HD and DS Master Audio. Critical two channel might be another story but but rarely I listen critically anymore with two kids and a dog in the house.

My thinking right now is that a 120" front projector screen and projector with 11.2 sound from the 4520 would best a 73" DLP with a "little" better sound with the the 8801. Plus I can also swing dual subs as well. If anyone thinks this is a mistake please chime in.

^^^

nope, that ain't a mistake...

all of the kerfluffle about possible sound differences aside (my opinion is already well known on that, and i will not beat the dead horse)...

there is one thing we KNOW for certain, and that is that 120" projection acreen will make a 73" display look positively tiny...

^^
IF I had to choose, for budgetary reasons, between a 8801 or (4520 + PJ) no doubt in my mind which way to go

there is a mystique about separates but...not sure it's a definable, quantifiable difference since these 2 platforms are soooo close to the same. copper plating & the increased isolation, HDAM probably do add something but how audible is it? that is the question

I respect all opinions on this topic, because I have heard subtle differences between player A and player B on certain pieces of music, even with digital transfer to same AVR, and a subtle difference between 2 amps. I am mostly objective but with a touch of the subjective in my view of audio, call it a 80/20 or 90/10 ratio

it comes down to - will the Marantz "enhancements" compensate for both the loss of the amps plus cost $1K more?

I know your view, chris

for me, the Marantz & Denon products are more of an intellectual thing, me keeping informed on what's available.

when the sites & mags get their hands on this, we know we aren't really going to get an objective M vs D comparison because that's not in the mag's & reviewer's interest to do so. what would really be interesting is to get a M - D - P comparison but chances of that happening are very slim other than anecdotal comparisons by us forum members, I'd be surprised to see a professional published reviewer put his neck out on that

omnimic or xtz measurements for Audyssey vs MCACC vs (MCACC + ext sub EQ) are really what's needed and that means someone has to have both products in his rack at same time - that's the rub, at the same time, which is something 99.999% of us can't do or have the money laying around to do as an "experiment". but we can dream
Edited by ss9001 - 12/19/12 at 5:15am

Wife, 2 kids and a dog.....go with the 4520. It's not like you'll be able to hear the difference with all that going on.

....typed thinking about how the new wife likes to talk when I'm watching a movie. lol

LOL
good point!

Is there an issue using a projector with the AV8801?

Not at all. The question was either a 4520 and a projector (for the money) or an AV8801 and a TV plus investing in an extra AMP. I would take a bigger screen (hence the projector).

That's how accidents happen.

^^^
If I had to decide between the two I would advise to get them both!

Just a day or 2 on the new 8801- changed out from a 7005. Wonderful.