Marantz AV8801 Preamp/Processor Official Owner's thread - Page 89

+1 for static IP

Please thoroughly measure the unit. I'm anxious to see how this bad boy measures!

-Brian

I don't do the measurements, our lab does. Rest assured, it will be put to the test.

got the Insta Prevue mode working:

displays up to 6 HDMI sources at once: one on main screen and up to 5 other HDMI inputs as thumbnails: it requires at least 2 live sources to work

You can change position of thumbnails and select all or one at a time

PQ in thumbnails is limited by size and there is some delay/ jerkiness but it works for a thumbnail

feature toggles off whenever you change an input

I also see issues with the CX7000ES:had it with the Denon AVR too: also it did not work with the Darbee in the chain

I don't see how this is of much value. Why would I need to preview my other sources? To see if my DVD has loaded, dumb. Too many gimmicks. Even all the web services seem silly on a high-end processor, just add a Sonos. Manufacturers are trying too hard to compete with the "do everything" product which just drives up costs. GIve me good audio and video quality and the rest is fluff.

interesting for me as you can see all your sources simultaneously, and it helps with setup

DVDO just announced the Quick6 HDMI switcher that also has InstaPrevue

I'd like to see measurements of Pure Direct to get your take its performance as a 2 channel pass-through system as well. Many folks want to know if they can ditch their analog preamp.

I would have liked to see an analog direct mode since pure direct has gone they way of direct flights;)
It would be nice to have a non-stop path to the amps like the Emotiva Preamps.

- Rich

I couldn't agree more, Sonos always works great for streaming via web services or off your own NAS drive. And simple plug and play, intuitive interface, quick and easy to find you songs.

Gotta say, love the sound of my 8801 but honestly, I will never use 90% of the features or even see the need for them. I also just ordered an Oppo 105, to replace my BD 83 which crashed. Obviously great reviews on both the 103 and 105 however there seems to be too much redundancy these days ie: video processing between pre pros, oppo BD players, TV's, projectors, (which one do you use?) etc or access to network services ie: oppo BD players and the 8801. Very confusing!

Years ago there was a survey that claimed the majority of people couldn't figure out how to set the clock on their VCR's! .........I wonder how those people are making out today? :-)

At the end of the day, high quality sound and vision is really all that counts.

Can someone comment on the quality of sound, in their opinion of using the 8801 to stream music, from either their computer or an external hard drive? And what they think sounds better going through a capable player like the Oppo or straight to the Marantz? To add to this, my HD is esata, of course the Oppo is also. For now i would like to plug my laptop or hard drive directly into the 8801, is this possible? I'm changing my network around and it isn't available right now. Thanks.
Edited by comfynumb - 2/8/13 at 7:21am

[Soap Box ON]

I agree with sfav and dannic.Too many crap-tastic features.
The Oppo and Roku do most of them better.

I tried listening to Airplay to my Yamaha Aventage RX-A820. It was awful. Unlistenable.
I have not tried it yet on the Marantz. Yet, folks buy product based on this feature.
I suppose there is nothing to be done about that.

Marantz is heading down the wrong road when they added the Ethernet switch.

We have come to a point where you are higher-end if you do not have video processors, switches, apps galore.

Concentrate on the sound and features related to quality reproduction.

Create a truly pure path. I think the difference between Pure Direct and Direct is silly.
You turn off the front display. Actually, this is annoying most of the time because you cannot turn it on with the info button.
Anyone notice any drop in fidelity when changing the volume?

I understand folks wanting the display off, but that has nothing to do with sound quality.
You may want it off when watching movies in Audyssey. Right?

Pure Direct does not turn off the Ethernet switch.
I hope that manufacturers step away from the pure marketing features.
Concentrate on the real sounds quality features and advertise them.

Unfortunately, there is a battle for the most logo's on the box.

[Soap Box OFF]

- Rich
Edited by RichB - 2/8/13 at 7:54am

Both my CX7000ES were solid with my 4311CI.

So Pure Direct in Denon does not offer an analog direct or bypass option? when did this change?
IIRC, didn't Denon 5805, 5308 & AVP do true analog direct in Pure Direct mode? or did I assume this all along?

I am just going by the information provided my Marantz Tech support:

However, the behavior may be different between analog and digital sources.

Can someone test their speakers set to small and sub on and play two channel content to test via HDMI and Analog?

- Rich

^^
if bass management is on, then it doesn't bypass all digital processing so cannot be an analog bypass.

Really surprising if Denon & Marantz no longer have an analog direct as part of Pure Direct.

interesting. I'm with you, be nice if someone in this or 4520 thread can confirm really how they implement Pure Direct. I would suggest also turning audyssey off for an analog input as part of the "experiment". that way all forms of digital processing really are off.

and I also agree, things like turning off the display is so trivial, why bother.
Edited by ss9001 - 2/8/13 at 8:58am

Yes they do its a little work to get them to 100% turn all digital off but it is possible and tested. The 5800/5803 and the avp (not sure about the 5805 and 5308) also have a analog crossover to do some bassmanagent even in analog mode.

Like i stated before i don't think there is any 'clear' way denon defined direct and pure-direct over the last 10 years what it does has changed over time and depends on the model. The analog crossover started on the 5800/5803 since that at first didn't have any ADC on its external inputs so the crossover had to be analog and they left this in when they added on the later models.

If you search the avp thread (sticky) you will find how to get the avp and 5308 in full analog modes over the different inputs.

Daniel.

I can turn off the video circutry on my Oppo BDP-105 and I have never head any difference.
No reviewer has bothered measuring the product with the display off.

For Marantz, I have programmed my pronto to send Status commands.
There is no change in the sound quality.

The Marantz Auto display off for Pandora is a great feature.
It turns the display back on for a moment when a new song starts.
Again, with not adverse effects on sound quality.

- Rich

thanks, Daniel

I thought they both did. and the old 5805 manual specifically states that all dig processing is turned off for analogs, if you select the EQ off option for Pure Direct. This is also the way Pioneer implemented it in all the flagship receivers, including Susano SC-09. I'm not 100% sure if the new SC-68 does it exactly same, since I don't have analog inputs into it but I did select its CD input, selected analog as signal input & in Pure Direct, Analog Direct is displayed, just like in all other Pio flagships. Selecting their MCACC preset Off was an extra precaution that also bypassed all channel level & distance adjustments. so it really was an analog bypass.

if D&M isn't turning off digital processing, as the manuals imply, then that's changed. current manuals only state they turn off video processing circuitry & display, & tone controls (Direct). unless they aren't stating the details, which is very possible, it may not be the same as it used to be.

I don't know how you can confirm this if the display is turned off and there's no indication if audyssey is off probably doesn't matter to 99.99% of owners especially in an HDMI world.
Edited by ss9001 - 2/8/13 at 11:01am

In my testing on the "Analog Direct" modes only the 7.1 inputs truly bypass the bass mngt and all processing. However though the balanced inputs can include bass mngt, upon A/B the two I hear no ill effects my guess is Marantz felt this way yielded the best sound allowing the Hdam to touch the signal before out putting it , my Anthem avm 20 use to allow the balance( some digitizing) control to work while in its Analog Direct mode with no ill effects as well . Interesting enough with the 105 around and having run it direct to my Halo A21 , the difference was great but not by enough for me to negate the use of the analog inputs on the 8801 which says how good I feel they are! but measurements indeed would be nice:)

Are the side panels 4U or 5U height? Did you remove the feet (although maybe for you it doesn't matter since you don't have a device under the AV8801?

Thanks.

Well, on my AV8801, on either the "7.1 in" or "XLR in" there is NO sound coming from the subwoofers in DIRECT or PURE DIRECT. I do get bass management using "XLR in" in STEREO (=Auto).

I used Track05 of my "Stonehenge 4" cd, streamed from USB on the Oppo 105. This track makes checking stereo bass management rather easy.

^^^

Thanks Ettepet.

I am unsure what he the tech support was trying to say.

- Rich

Hi

For all you 8801 and Oppo 105 guys out there.

Just awaiting for the arrival of my Oppo 105 to be coupled up with my 8801. I am displaying to either an RS 20 JVC projector or 50" Samsung Plasma TV. Video source material will obviously be either the Oppo 105 or my HD Cable feed. Audio source material will again include the Oppo 105, Sonos streaming music from Rdio and my CD's stored on a NAS drive and occasionally my Marantz DV 9500 DVD player (for comparison purposes).

I assume the best HDMI hookup coming out of the 105 (HDMI output set to "split A/V") would be #1 directly to the projector (video only-best quality) and #2 to the 8801's BluRay HDMI input (best sound)?

In this configuration, if I wanted to take advantage of the video processor in the 105 for my HD cable feed, I could route this into the 105's rear HDMI input and then the audio/video signal would be output via HDMI 2 to 8801's "BluRay" HDMI input and then onto my 50" plasma? When set this way, does HDMI #2 still output video ?

I assume the switching between the cable and BluRay feeds is now done in the 105 and not the 8801?

As well that same cable feed into the 105 would also be fed to my projector via HDMI #1(video only)?

Or is the video processor in the 8801 equivalent to the 105? Seems like a lot more hassle to do the video switching in the 105 vs the 8801. Please correct me if I am missing something.

Same thing for Sonos streaming and NAS drive content, better to input into 105 DACs via digital coaxial or let the 8801 do the work?

Sorry, one last question, in regards to audio out of the 105. I have a decent collection of SACD and DVD-A which I am looking forward to hearing on the Oppo 105. In your experience with the 8801 and 105, whats the preferred hookup? Via analog 7.1 output or via HDMI ?

BluRay's............(bitstream or LPCM) over HDMI?

I hope this makes sense, just trying to wrap my head around this before the 105 arrives on Monday.......can't wait :-)

Thanks in advance.

Well, if he also deals with Denon gear he might be smart talking about the wrong features. Matching your "strange tales" so to speak. Stuff he remembers from higher end (Denon) gear.

Not 4520 but with 4311, depending on 2CH Stereo setting, sub woofer is bypassed or not with Direct. With Pure Direct, no video display, no 4311 display and no subs.

Does the usb input only work with ipods and iPhones? My galaxy s3 just will not connect via the usb. Is blue tooth lossless if I
buy the reciever? Will the marantz pass video over blue tooth?

The sound obtained by streaming directly into the 8801 is excellent but, imho, seriously limited by the range of formats and by the number of channels.  As a result, I prefer going through the Oppo 103.

Wow! your right was this corrected with the update? upon first testing this in all the modes mentioned when I first got the 8801 there was indeed bass or I'm seriously loosing it:D

This makes me feel a lot better about the xlr path in pure direct! sweet!

I am just ending a long day of setting up the Oppo and Marantz, trying to get picture and sound out of the combo, getting used to buttons on the various remotes (IR and IP), and a lot of watching, listening and comparing.

In brief I am displeased with the user interface of the Marantz, the level of control and information it offers, and its lack of intuitiveness in numerous areas. Sound quality is very good sofar and excellent with movies.

Small mistakes and ill choices are present throughout the user interface. Like during Audyssey setup when you cancel a measurement (because of external noise) and want to repeat it, some button descriptions are incorrect and in my case I even got dropped back 2 measurements.

IP control is poor, at least through the various apps. Besides more control I would like to know more about what the Marantz is doing so that I don't need to switch on my tv or projector for that.

I estimate I wasted about 2 hours today trying to resolve matters that could have gone a lot smoother. Like getting no picture or sound, or both, for various reasons and from several sources.

Tomorrow I will continue my exploration, assesment and familiarisation with both devices.

Ettepet,

I feel your frustration on ip control - I suggest you send your complaints to marantz, I have but the more that do so will help the course.
HC