Marantz AV8801 Preamp/Processor Official Owner's thread - Page 83

I just received my custom made MA rack shelf face plate today. MA doesn't have a AV8801 or 8077 yet, and I don't like their design anyway. Theirs looked better than the factory rack mounts, but it left the "curves" too far in, exposing too little of the face. You lost the beauty of the unit IMO.

For this model I've had our own part number created. I notched the hole at the top where the plastic is a little taller, I included the notch at the bottom to just clear the door when opening. Mine lets the unit stick out a little further and IMO, looks much better. I need to do one for the amp now, too. Here's some photos of mine and one of the MA stock rack mount for the amp with fatter faceplate sides.

My customers can contact me for a special deal on one, Others, happy to get you one, too.

The pictures don't do it justice, but the unit sticking out a little more looks way better I think.

Face view


View showing the unit extension


MA type smaller opening shown on a 8077 amp. (Making one to match the other one next)

Video issues with the PS3 and other BDPs can often be resolved by setting the "Deep Color Output" setting to OFF.

My AV8001/MM8077 arrive in the next few days. As also an owner of a Denon AVP/POA combo, should be interesting. Although the two will be in different setups. SJ

Interesting indeed! let us know your findings!

Are you referring to the 12 volt triggers? Use mono plugs. They're cheap (maybe $3 in Radio Shack?), so best to just get it and not worry about it.

Mr Smooth...
That's twice you have responded to help me out. For that I thank you.
As i stated earlier I am new to the audio world. It is becoming increasingly clear to me that there is a plethora of trial and error that come with this potentially expensive hobby.

Anyone using this AVR with a miniDSP? I cannot get my input voltage to be high enough. Just looking for some suggestions. My input voltage on the miniDSP with my sub at +12 trim level is -40. I cannot put the amp high enough for it to work. Could this be because Audyssey is on?

Diesel,

is the +12 on the sub or in the 8801's speaker level's setting?

Interesting Tidbit that I learned from Marantz:

Pure Direct bypasses all internal processing with exception of the bass management and volume control.

So bass management is in effect for Pure Direct.

I would love to see an addition of a true "Analog Bypass" where the 8801 have a complete unaltered path, although, I understand it would benefit only a very small number of folks.
Still, it might eliminate the need for an analog preamp...


I need to do some more testing but, Audyssey set my Center channel (Revel Voice) to small and since then even on the 7.1 inputs the dialog on TV and disks has been astonishingly bright. I means snake-like S's are unpleasant. I also found the dialog was drowned out by ambient sounds.

I then switched it back to large and upped the level to match the mains and it sounds great.
I guess the moral of the story for me, run the setup and then decide what sounds best

- Rich

Went to have a look at the deep color setting and discovered that I again was having the same problem. Only this time I was getting no display of any kind on my television. I was not even able to see the marantz set-up menu's displayed. I tryed a couple different sources, turned the sources and my Marantz on and off several times. I tryed unplugging the Marantz and found no change. There was still nothing being displayed. As a last resort, I switched out my HDMI cable and the problem was immediately solved. All display was back functioning properly. Just for shitz and giggles I re-hooked up the first cable and again things were functioning properly with full display. This makes no sense to me.

The sub amp is about a quarter turn from zero. This is what was needed to set the trim level at -6db for audyssey. When I plugged in the miniDSP I was guessing it would not cut my sublevel, but I was wrong. The only way I can get the miniDSP to read a decent signal is the go into the marantz setup, go to speakers/manual/levels. Crank the receiver to +16db and then set the level to +12. I am using the balanced version of the miniDSP with RCA jacks. I also moved the jumper over to make it more sensitive. I did not think I would have a problem using the miniDSP.

¨
I've have this problem with my Oppo 93, and the AV8003 from Marantz, but only when I switch from my HTPC which uses Optical input, and to the Oppo, where I use the HDMI 2 output for sound.
Anything else works fine. So I think there either is a problem withing the Marantz, or most likely a HDMI handshake problem.

What did you do before the sound died, switched inputs? For me I can replicate the problem almost everytime. Just don't hope I get the same problem when my AV8801 arrives monday

Go into the Logitech software, and setup the Marantz again. Tell it that it uses a different button for On and Off, not a power toggle.
Then go inn and change the Power On button to which ever input button you like. Use the one you most often uses.

Then it should work fine as I have under stand.

Something really weird is going on then. Minor sound quality degredation because of imposed bass managent would be expected, especially on your high-end setup. What you describe is something of a different order.

How would you describe sound quality without bass managent (=all speakers to large) in the Marantz compared to connecting the Oppo straight to your amp?

I compared some 2 channel CD's.
The Oppo Direct to Amp is a 10 (at least until there is a new 10:) ).
The Oppo connected 7.1 I ranked 8-9 varied on content.

The Direct connection was a bit better resolved on sounds like bells or the attach of a stick on a drum.
It did this with a less sibilance in the voices.

The Marantz was a bit brighter. Don't get me wrong, via the Marantz was excellent.
It is not something, that would ever cause me to feel I was missing something.

- Rich

Ah, I thought your previous comparison (Oppo: 10; Marantz: 8-9) was between direct/7.1 and the Marantz through HDMI (using the DACs of the 8801).

The 7.1 inputs bypasses all including bass mngt, not the xlr's go figure on that one non the less in my comparisons I still prefer the sound of the balanced inputs over the rca's on the 7.1 inputs, as for the dialog try dialog enhancement on low it also brings the voices back into the fold to match the mains and ambient sounds, to much siblance try the HT eq setting to tame it down and smooth it out a bit.

Sorry for the confusion. To be clear, I was comparing the following:

A) Direct to amp: The Oppo BDP-105 dedicated unbalanced (RCA) 2-channel outputs connected directly my amp (Oppo is doing the volume control)
B) Marantz Analog: The Oppo BDP-105 dedicated unbalanced (RCA) 2-channel outputs connected to the Marantz 7.1 analog inputs and the Marantz Balanced outputs connected to my Amp.

I was not comparing the HDMI inputs because I prefer the Oppo analog outs.
The Marantz HDMI inputs are very good.

LPCM playback is a special case.
I have programmed my remote to select COAX, HDMI, and analog so I can quickly switch between these connectsion and all sound different.
Analog and HDMI sound very good, I cannot recommend COAX from the BDP-105 (LPCM) to the Marantz.

DD or DTS are a different story.
There should not be an transmission or clocking issues so you should only hear the difference in the analog sections and processing.


Of course, if you are or plan or need to use XT32, none of this matters.
Just use HDMI.

- Rich

Sounds good.

Accoring to Marantz tech support:

"Pure Direct bypasses all internal processing with exception of the bass management and volume control"

- Rich

^^
There is no bass management using either Direct or Pure Direct which is confirmed in the Owner's manual p. 169. Note that the only difference between Pure Direct and Direct is that Pure Direct shuts off analog video processing (HDMI still works) to include shutting off the front panel display.

HDMI is surely a fickle technology which is why many will glady rejoice when it finally gets replaced.

Only 7.1 is a pure path, the xlr's do allow bass mng in pure direct as well!

^^
The XLR "stereo" inputs are treated just as the RCA "stereo" analog inputs. Just to confirm we're on the same page, bass management means that when the FL/FR speakers are set to SMALL/80Hz, and the 8801 is receiving a stereo 2.0 signal, the lower frequencies < 80Hz are sent to the sub. Setting the sub to LFE+Main is not bass management, rather simply a work around for the fact that there is no active bass management. Perhaps I missed the post where one of you owners has contradicted the Owner's manual regarding this?




Edited by jdsmoothie - 2/2/13 at 1:23pm

This in direct contradiction to what Rich discovered/heard. Did you try setting the speakers to small (or large) to determine if it changes anything at all through 7.1? (While listening to stereo in Pure Direct)

Bass-management could also maybe explain why people were getting weak bass on the balanced inputs (?) in pure direct.

My Marantz AV8801 has been delayed to wednesday (hopefully).

I'm not! yes it's fickle but replacing at this point, means everyone's receivers, players, TV's, projectors are now rendered to the scrap heap and we're all in debt to our eyeballs again I've already got one obsolete HDTV with component & DVI that's now in a 2nd room because of HDMI. I have no desire to see the industry adopt yet another connection and make all my existing very expensive gear obsolete, too.

what a thing to wish for, jd or or (can't decide which is more appropriate )

Considering that Onkyo and Pioneer recently joined the HDBaseT Alliance along with Sony, LG, and Samsung ... it won't be long now.

subscribed: have one on order

I just repeating the information that Marantz tech support sent me.
Sometimes there is a difference between the documentation and reality.
I will test this when I get a chance. It seems like any owner could.
Just set you speakers to small and play a CD. Is the sub moving?

Not sure, but I can tell you this. When you select the XLR analog inputs, you can apply Dolby Prolog II.
Prologic Dictates that the signal had to be digitized since there is no way they have an analog version it.

- Rich

^^
Correct. Which is also the result when using any of the RCA stereo analog inputs as well. It's only the multi channel RCA analog inputs that are not digitized.

10.2Gbps through ethernet in a low cost commercial device? It seems unlikely for the near future. Such technology is still very expensive ($500 per connection in pc's, if not more).