Marantz AV8801 Preamp/Processor Official Owner's thread - Page 59

Originally Posted by Geronimo.USMC 

I had no phase errors.

Originally Posted by comfynumb 

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

Originally Posted by whoaru99 

Dunno...

I have 7005 that has the same caveat and I have no phase errors using QSC pro audio amps for power. They are all pin 2 hot which has been the standard around the world for a long time. There may be some vintage gear still around with pin 3 hot but that connection scheme is obsolete.

Originally Posted by comfynumb 

Hi, what kind of amp do you have it connected to, and did you use XLR's?

Originally Posted by Geronimo.USMC 

A pr. of W4S SX-1000 Monoblocks, and a W4S SX-500 Monoblock for the front 3 via XLR. One Emotiva UPA-500 via RCA for the 4 rears.

Originally Posted by planetbrian777 

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?

Originally Posted by comfynumb 

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

Originally Posted by Selden Ball 

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.

Originally Posted by JimP 

Audyssey will sometimes report out of phase when either there isn't a phase problem of if one of the drivers are wired out of phase.

It will make you crazy trying to track it down and sometimes you just have to say that it's Audyssey being squirrely.

Originally Posted by comfynumb 

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

Originally Posted by jdsmoothie 

As noted on p. 40 in the Owner's manual .... visually inspect wired correctly, and if yes, just SKIP to next speaker.

Originally Posted by whoaru99 

It could be it's just acting squirrely, but in the case of someone using two different amps there certainly could be the case where one inverts polarity regardless of the pin 2 hot or cold thing. Some amps do that and not everyone tells you their amp does because in most cases it doesn't really matter, absolute polarity that is, until you get to something like this that can detect it.

Again though, that's not a fault of pin 2 hot or cold thing. Amps inverting polarity is a completely separate matter.

Originally Posted by buckley44 

I kind of have the same question as the post above, im using a older ps3 for a blu ray player with the 8801 and whether set to bitstream or pcm i can not get the 8801 to display true hd or master audio at all, does this have to do with the ps3? i coming from an Anthemd2 and still having a hard time making the change to the Marantz. I know the Marantz has more features so i will keep listening, Any help would be appreciated.

Originally Posted by buckley44 

I kind of have the same question as the post above, im using a older ps3 for a blu ray player with the 8801 and whether set to bitstream or pcm i can not get the 8801 to display true hd or master audio at all, does this have to do with the ps3? i coming from an Anthemd2 and still having a hard time making the change to the Marantz. I know the Marantz has more features so i will keep listening, Any help would be appreciated.

Originally Posted by adidino 

Do you have the latest firmware on the ps3? Although, I don't believe the PS3 can bitstream the latest the hd codecs. I can test on my Classe to confirm it though but I don't believe this is a Marantz issue.

Originally Posted by mookie b 

Pretty sure the older PS3s can't bitstream so you won't see it displayed on the processor...although PCM will get you the same sound (arguably ). The PS3 slim definitely can, but the older ones couldn't...

Originally Posted by buckley44 

Does it matter in sound quality which unit does the decoding the 8801 or the ps3?

Originally Posted by jdlynch 

Is anyone using a PS3 for their blueray player along with their 8801? How do you have the 8801/PS3 configured for the best possible sound of the latest codecs?

Originally Posted by adidino 

Do you have the latest firmware on the ps3? Although, I don't believe the PS3 can bitstream the latest the hd codecs. I can test on my Classe to confirm it though but I don't believe this is a Marantz issue.

Originally Posted by wse 

Hell, How can you do that in your signature! I have stuff I want to sell and would love to do the same kind of banner

Originally Posted by wse 

Hell, How can you do that in your signature! I have stuff I want to sell and would love to do the same kind of banner

Originally Posted by SeattleHTGuy 

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.

Originally Posted by ultra 150 pilot 

I have seen a ot of guys on here saying " it's here" but still waiting for the reviews

Time to report back! Lol