Marantz AV8801 Preamp/Processor Official Owner's thread - Page 58

Go with putting the two in rear close to each other and then treat them as if they are one sub. Plug those into one sub out. The front into another. Audyssey EQ (subEQ) to your hearts content. Attempt first to set the rears at an equal sound level. That way you will get the most even sound from your rear wall-o-subs. IMO, this is ideal, however you could seperate the two rears as you see fit; just recognize Audyssey will see these tow subs as one and your results in EQing may be a bit more strange.

I am actually going to do this same process with an old M&K 15 inch dual sub in the rear corner and what will be two stacked B&W ASW2500's this weekend. If you want I can pm you with my observation, good, bad, or ugly. I have am older M&K to play with and more bass is to me anyway, mo better.

I got the GUI back - VERY obscure issue - I discovered the the problem was with my DirecTV signal, which actually is routed through a four port Octava hdmi matrix and then to the 8801.

The other three sources on the matrix, when activated, had no problems with the GUI working on the 8801 - but when I switched to the directv source on the matrix, I had no GUI - audio and video were fine.

Powercycled the directv which brought the gui back. Talk about a frustrating troubleshoot....
Edited by thrang - 1/9/13 at 8:49pm

That's the purpose of the second subwoofer output.

How well it works?....you'll have to tell us.

Generally speaking, it's better to use identical subs. But having a second non identical sub may or may not be an issue depending on how well Audyssey performs.

Since you already own it, it'd be worth a try. Just have to figure out how to run that extra XLR cable.

Well. sort of.... Rather than run a different XLR, just daisy chain the rears. I stink at explaining stuff but it is not that hard. Front sub fed by Sub 1 out, Back subs 2 and 3 fed by Sub 2 out to one sub and then send the signal to sub 3 via whatever cable works for your sub and/or makes you happy. Or just use some kind of splitter from Sub 2 out to both rears. It's fun and easy....

What he does will depend on whether or not the thought was using the sube to extend the lower end of the "small bookshelf speakers" or as additional LFE.

In any event it sounds like just two subs in play here so no need to daisy chain anything. For two subs daisy chaining seems to be counterproductive since the 8801 has dual subwoofer EQ

Are any folks using the 7.1 Analog inputs with an Oppo Blu-ray player.

How is the analog section?

- Rich

I was think of using it to extend the lower end of the bookshelpf speakers, but maybe I should try the sub 2 output of the 8801. I thought a second identical sub or one very close in size needed to be used for sub 2 output. My additional sub is a lot smaller compared to my SVS sub.

What do you think is the best way, extend the bookshelfs or sub 2 output?

I plan to connect an Oppo BDP-105 to my AV8801 via- 5.1 EXT INP's, 2ch (balanced) INP's, HDMI, as well as digital coax

Hi Rich, I'm set up in 5.1 for the time being. My 8801 is hooked up via XLR to a Sunfire cinema grand (200 WPC version) I'm listening to an SACD through my Oppo BDP-93. I just got done playing with the Oppo's settings and I'm really pressed. My PSB original golds have never sounded so good. I am hooked up through hdmi though.

I am also contemplating buying the 8801. I have a Sunfire TGP - 2, which just gave up the ghost. My amp is the Sunfire Cinema Grand (5 channel, 200W/channel). Is this the same amp you have and if so what connections did you use?

Thanks, thats what I learned also that its not the pin hook up but the pin polarities are reverse. So yes no special custom cable needed since the pins will line up but was concerned about pin polarity not matching. I called Marantz to ask about this specifically and they confirmed that they use the european method and that the polarity is in fact reverse for the US method but that you could still connect it with no issues. I have no idea how you can have reverse polarities connected and have it work the same but I am not an electrical person. On my amp the middle pin is "-" with pin 1 "G" and 2 "+".

I have also read that people using XLR reporting how hot the 8801 gets, some to the point that they question if its suppose to run this hot. My previous Lexicon preamp had very little heat.

Hi, it looks like we have some of the same gear. I just traded my TGP-5 to a dealer in DE for the AV8801. I have it connected via XLR cables to the same Sunfire amp as you have, mine is a 2007 model I believe. It was a perfect match for me, no problems at all. The sound quality is so much better. I'm not as qualified as some on here, that being said, everything is so much cleaner and clearer. It's like night and day from my TGP-5, as it should be it was over six years old.

I have my 105 currently using the Balanced, RCA and Hdmi 2 outs to the 8801 ( what ever you do don't run the 105 straight to the amps to compare, the 105 is a Beast ), My dealer told me an interesting point I'm beginning to believe is real, but oh well here goes. The balanced inputs on the 8801 are some what digitized albeit minimal and after adding bass mgnt to it (even pure direct) I now believe him, don't get me wrong it sounds good. But the only way he says to get the purist analog path is the 7.1 inputs( no bass mgnt.) After A/B the two I still prefer the balanced inputs.

Does anyone have more info on this? I plan on giving Marantz a call to be 100% sure!

No problem Ozzie, for my Sunfire amp the polarity wasn't even reversed, when I put them back to back all the pins matched up. What I'm hearing on here is that it's not an issue if the polarity was reversed, as long as all of them are reversed the same way. You're pin layout is like most and the same as my Sunfire amp and I'm pretty sure it will match up without changing any polarity issues at all. I think it gets a little warm when connected through the XLR's, but I wouldn't call it hot. But yeah warmer than my TGP-5. I have a fan going anyway, heats a killer in my expirience.

Thanks for the help. My Sunfire is even older than yours. Got it ~ 2004. I was amazed when I first hooked up the Sunfire back then (coming from a Pioneer elite receiver); sounds like this upgrade should be even more dramatic.
I haven't used XLR connections before. Any pluses and minuses to consider?

Thanks again

Edited by comfynumb - 1/10/13 at 12:19pm

It would be interesting to compare a HDMI direct mode to the analog?
This will give you an apples to apples way of comparing the sounds of the analog conversion in 105 versus the 8801.

- Rich

Use HDMI if you can.

HDMI can transport high-bitrate lossless multichannel bitstreamed, SACD DSD and PCM audio. Optical and digital coax can transport only lossy multichannel bitstreamed and lossless stereo PCM audio -- not lossless multichannel nor DSD. Optical provides some ground and noise isolation which coax can't, but the two transport the same digital signals. It depends... Set it to bitstreamed if you use S/PDIF (optical or coax) for multichannel audio; either bitstreamed or PCM if you use HDMI. (DVDs don't have multichannel lossless audio tracks -- that's a consideration only for Blu-ray players.) The decoding should produce the same audible results, whether it's done in the player or the pre/pro. It should be able to expand any audio source which has fewer channels than the number of speakers you have so it uses all speakers, similar to DPL-IIx. Audyssey room equalization can't be applied to the 8801's multichannel analog intputs. The sonic improvement provided by Audyssey should be quite noticeable, which is a reason for using a digital connection (either HDMI or S/PDIF) instead of multichannel analog. Of course, that'll use your side-surround channels. Neo-X or DPL-IIx will expand 5.0 or 5.1 soundtracks to use both sets of surround speakers -- both side and back. If you don't like that, you might consider getting an external speaker switch. Or connect both HDMI and multichannel analog and switch the receiver between the two inputs depending on which sounds better to you. My understanding is that most of the current model D&M equipment run hot because of their video circuitry.
If the same control code doesn't work for the 8801, you might consider connecting the analog stereo connections to a different logical input -- CD, for example.
Always set all of the speakers to Small so that bass management is enabled, and raise the speakers' crossover frequency to 80Hz if it's lower. (Don't lower it if it's higher than 80Hz.) Neither change will disturb the calibration.

Audyssey provides the frequency at which the speakers' response is down by 3dB. Code provided by the equipment manufacturer decides if that's low enough to call a speaker Large. For details, please consult the Audyssey FAQ at http://www.avsforum.com/t/795421/official-audyssey-thread-faq-in-post-1 A setting of -12 means that Audyssey turned down the 8801's gain as far as it could, but the subwoofer was still too loud. You should keep turning down the sub volume and recalibrating until you get a reading close to 0. Audyssey provides a large enough signal so that you'll hear the bass intended by the person who mixed the audio tracks. If you still find it too low for your preference after a week or so, turn up the subwoofer's gain in the 8801, not on the subwoofer. Use the processing which provides the best picture The 8801's video processing is not supposed to degrade the video coming from the player, so leaving it enabled should be fine. Using a separate video cable connection from a player to the display device (if that's what you're doing) usually is needed only because the receiver or pre/pro can't handle high bitrate 3D or 4K signals. The 8801 can handle both.

Yes, I want to compare that myself.. I'm using the 93 and I'm sure your 105 has better specs though. There's always something to upgrade it seems.

HELP!!! I did a quick hookup of my system with the 8801 (without looking at owners manual) and for the first time ran everything, including the video, through the 8801 processor. My Bluray is an OPPO BDP-95. The first bluray I tried is Mad Men. Unfortunately, although I got sound out of the initial chapters of the Mad Men disc, which consisted of a few ads in Dolby Digital, when the actual episode started and the OPPO switched from DD to DTS-HDMA, there was no sound at all. I switched to CD input (analog cables) and I got 2 ch sound, so I disconnected the OPPO HDMI cable from the 8801 and put it directly into the TV so I could get picture as well. Anybody have any idea what's going wrong here? Thanks so much for any help/advice you can give.

I recently bought the AV8801 and have it hooked up to a Sunfire Cinema Grand amp using XLR cables for the center, rears, and surround back channels. I have run the Audyssey setup a couple of times and it always has given an error indicating those 5 speakers are out of phase. I have checked the wiring on both ends of all the speakers and they are connected correctly. I have the main left/right speakers hooked up via XLR cables to a separate amp and there is no phase error indication during the Audyssey setup. When I get time, I will try running the setup again after switching connections on the Sunfire amp to RCA cables to see if that will change the phase error.

Did you seriously just say, "Without looking at owners manual"? Why so averse? I've owned no less than 10 Marantz products at one time or another, including 3 different AVRs and 2 pre/pros. Even I don't set up anything without consulting the manual. Sometimes when caught up in the thrill and excitement of getting new equipment people occasionally miss a step. Grab your manual. Use it as a checklist. Step by step, go back and connect your TV + 8801 + amp + Oppo + speakers + whatever components you have. Be sure to properly configure the 8801 and the Oppo where necessary. I'm betting under calmer conditions you'll figure out the issue. And it wouldn't surprise me if the manual highlights some of the potential pitfalls and new content for your edification. Relax, take your time, breathe and enjoy it!

Same thing happened on my first movie. Got sound on the menu, not from the movie. I swapped the OPPO 93 to PCM and let it do the decoding and got sound.

After the movie was over I moved my Oppo to connect directly to my projector from video one and sent video 2's HDMI cable to the Marantz and put the Oppo back to bitstream. Problem was solved. I haven't tried troubleshooting any further since I want it set up this way anyway.

The Marantz AV8801 processor replaced my Sunfire TGP-5. With the Sunfire, I had to use 7.1 analog connections from the Oppo to get audio BluRay discs, and I also went HDMI direct to TV for video. The Marantz 8801 offers audio/video/switching over HDMI, so I went HDMI (from Oppo HDMI 1) into the Bluray input on the processor, assuming I would get both audio and video via that input. I also hooked up stereo and mch analog connections as well as a coax connection between the Oppo and the Marantz processor. I have the Oppo set to Bitstream output, and auto for everything else I believe. Not sure what else I should be considering within the Oppo to check.


Ha, yes, I did say that. but the basic hook-up is pretty straight-forward. I did just now spend a lot of time going through the manual, and it is as I thought: unless I'm missing something, the 8801, when set to auto, should simply recognize the signal at the input and adjust accordingly. The 8801 did in fact work when the Oppo output only DD (Dolby Digital), but failed when the actual show started and the Oppo output changed to DTS-HDMA. The 8801 failed to recognize/process the DTS-HDMA signal.


I will try that, but I was really hoping I could do all the audio/video switching within the 8801. I've been manually selecting inputs on my Samsung LN55 C650 for two years now between the BRP, Cable box, and Xbox, and it's slow and a pain in the butt. I was sooo looking forward to a more efficient, one-source switching scenario. Also, I would expect that separating the audio and video signal could lead to lipsync issues (which I DID have with the previous set-up).

Anyone have any ideas, fixes?

ALL FIXED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Talked to OPPO, and it's all fixed. So embarassing...... Forgot to look at HDMI Options in the Oppo set up! I’m sooo stupid. I had it set to "video only" because I didn't need it in old set-up. Changed it so I can get both audio and video via HDMI 1, and that is exactly what just happened. Sound, and DTS HDMA displayed in the 8801 window.

Thank you for indulging my stupidity, LOL, and THANKS!!!

Hi, I have the same Sunfire amp as you, I just connected the 8801 to it via XLR cables two days ago. The way I see the pins on both, it's a perfect match. So I don't what the problem could be. I actually spent a lot of time looking at it before I hooked it up as i heard about the european configuration before I purchased it. I didn't run Audyssey yet because I have a Christmas tree in the way, haha. Mine sounds perfect so I'd be surprised if anything was out of wack as far as connections go. Let me know how you make out.
Edited by comfynumb - 1/10/13 at 4:13pm

There isn't. The only problem is the statement by Marantz about the "European configuration" that has virtually no practical significance.

What are your thoughts about Audyssey coming up with an out of phase error message for his setup?

I had no phase errors.