Marantz AV8801 Preamp/Processor Official Owner's thread - Page 91

I have been following this thread as a potential buyer but it seems to confirm my previous observations on AVRs. Onkyo/Integra seems to get the technical part better than Denon. My 4310 is quite glitchy where my TX-NR1008 and now Integra DHC80.3 are pretty solid. Reliability concerns are there but so far I have not experienced them. I have heard the Bryston SP3 which has me wanting but the price is just a bit crazy. Right now it makes that incremental gain not so inviting but I will continue to follow as I don't know of any reasonably priced options.

It will be interesting to see if Marantz is responsive in fixing problems and receptive to improvement requests.

I hope so.
ONKYO has more sophisticated and a better configuration options.
IMO, Marantz is better sounding.
ONKYO must be severely beaten up publicly before they will fix a product with a firmware update.
Their TX-NR818 receiver corrupted 23.976 frame rate by treating it as 24p and it took oaths to get them to admit it and the fix is currently available by request only.

- Rich

based on other Marantz gear I have owned I would expect so: it is a new model and the issues identified so far should be resolvable by a firmware update

Very true. And this was the first Super Bowl in 10 years or so I didn't have an Onkyo hooked up! The latest Denon and this Marantz still have me more than satisfied.

I think it would be helpful we if gathered an "official" bug report to help others and send to D&M. We may want to keep it to major bugs so action is taken.

I don't mind compiling a list if you guys want to chime in with the known bugs.

-Brian

I have the Harmony One also. I just edited the CBL/SAT command to learn it from the Marantz remote. Think I had to do that also for the Media Player input if I recall right.

A fix or a solution for the zones would be nice.

Just read through the manual and there is conflicting info on DSD support. On one page it states DSD is converted to PCM, further on in the manual it clearly states that it supports DSD in Pure Direct mode, which typically means no conversion to PCM. This aligns with locked out surround modes when running in Pure mode, so I would think that it would decode DSD and output analog.

Can anyone confirm the DSD pure mode behavior?

After some fiddling and not hearing much, if any, difference between Pure "XLR in" and "7.1 in" on the Marantz I decided the "XLR out" of the Oppo BDP-105 was better served straight to my power amp into the Danley SM60F's.

With that I now have two setups: a HT setup with Seaton CAT12's, and a stereo setup with the Danleys physically stacked on top of my fronts.

The Oppo running 'Pure' combined with the Emotiva MPS-1 are very energy friendly, performing extremely well within the limitations of the Emotiva and not using a sub. I can quite easily add my excellent SubMersive subs, if needed, and am anxious to find a (tube or equivelant) amp to replace the Emotiva in the stereo chain. Ever since hearing the extremely detailed and delicate sound of a Melody tube amp on my Danleys I am left wanting something at least as good, but haven't yet found it.

Pure Direct is a marketing concept with some basis in reality.
What it actually does is dependant on the source and only truly understood somewhere in Japan

The 7.1 input cannot be converted to PCM.
The XLR can be but we are not sure if they are always or sometimes converted to PCM.

All the processing, including Audyssey are in PCM.
So the product does convert DSD to PCM, at lease sometimes.

In Pure Direct it is possible if the DACs go directly to the output stages.

I am currently using the BDP-105 directly connected to the AMP.
I much prefer DSD directly converted over the PCM mode and this is all within the OPPO before it sends it to the AMP.

So I guess it comes down to, do you like the sound?

- Rich

This is my experience as well.
I am still waiting for my replacement 8801 so I am directly connected to my Sunfire 7400 amp to the Revels. I never find the sound overly bright as I had with the 7.1 inputs and the Marantz in Pure Direct mode.

I have not found a case where this is inferior to having the Marantz in the chain.
Using the BDP-105 as a preamp is a clunky. The HDMI1 input is pretty slow to lock-on to a signal.

When I get the replacement, I will re-evaluate.
If I want the direct sound, then I have two choices.
Get a reasonably priced two channel analog preamp or replace my Lumagen Mini with a Radiance XS acting as a switch.

The 8801 is a nice piece with a ton of functionality but I am growing a little weary the wide swings in performance of HT preamps when you switch modes: Pure / Pure Direct / Stereo, etc.
With all settings flat, that should not be the case.

Not to mention the varied performance listening to CD's via COAX and HDMI.
Apparently, digital does not sound remotely the same depending on the delivery mode.

- Rich

Sounds good. Add the bugs Thrang & I have encountered. I myself am calling marantz tomorrow to report mine, which I found in two separate units.

Once compiled, you may want to PM the thread starter "exm" to have him place these major issues in post #1 along with the firmware changelog information.

Right ... major issues only as I do with the Denon threads.

I never experienced the brightness you mentioned, nor significant differences between Pure Direct and Direct during the limited comparisons I did. The unit stays warm regardless, giving no indication of any circuitry being switched off. I did hear differences between using the Marantz as an analog pre-amp and using only the Oppo. The Oppo straight to the power amp is smoother (no added grain as you put it). Audyssey is where the Marantz shines.

I read the raving review of the Oppo 105 on Audioholics, and love the fact that you can use bass management on the "7.1 out" without disturbing "XLR out". I do find that I have a hard time keeping the Oppo's video circuitry off (Pure mode). One reason it leaves Pure mode I found is switching devices on or off which are connected through HDMI. Other reasons yet escape me. I have not yet found a way to check the status of the Oppo through IP control, nor a way to (visibly) browse files that way. I hope these are added in the near future somehow.

How does the Marantz AV8801 and Parasound A51 sound together?

Hi guys! here's an update after what I would indeed consider a rather lengthy settling or burn in on the 8801 and some overall views on my take of the 8801's audio processing as I don't use it for video as of yet. Let me start by saying the 8801 has been a real sonic treat , It has performed admirably at all sources I could throw at it and did it with style and grace. We shall first discuss its redbook performance, here I wasn't really expecting a lot from the 8801 as I had an Oppo 105 in the setup to cover shiny disc and , to my surprise the 8801 has neutral sound on redbook with great rhythm drive and pace and has an uncanny ability to preserve tonality and harmonics what do I mean by that it doesn't sound "digital" and this from recieving bitstearm from the 105 via hdmi . On a side note using its analog inputs yielded great performance from my 105 but this is about the 8801.
Next up lets talk multi ch processing, At the moment I'm limited to 5.1 but the with the 8801 (with Audyssey engaged) at helm creating an room disappearing bath of sound an dropping you in the middle one can easily close their eyes and remember why we spend the money do and effort to obtain a moment of fleeting audio fidelity! Classical Sacd has layer upon layer of depth and delineation of brass and strings and well defined placement of instruments, I fully at first expected Audyssey to do a little harm if not much for music, I was dead wrong its not thin its not flat its not bright it preserved the image and in most cases revealed trailing nuance most likely smeared before its correction ! As a man of few words and a bit straight off the cuff, the 8801 has a few quirks as all newly released gear does but none that hinder its musicality and performance . The 8801 is a beast and ready to take on all comers and does some things they now have to measure up to.

Simply lovely with my Halo A21

Paired with both an A51 and A52. Sound quality is best I have heard to this date.

Halo's are in my future

They look nice. Never heard them.
I have trouble considering amps that do not power double into 4 ohms.
The Salons dip into the 3 ohm terratory and like current.

- Rich

There a many geat amps, but none so good to repair the damage that can be done by a preamp

- Rich

I am less inclinded to upgrade amps and such as my house has been very demanding.
Viessman furnace, bay window, gas firepalce, new doors...

For me, it's speakers first
It is an odd turn of events that lead me to Revels.
I first heard speakers that opened my eyes in Phoenix when I listened to JBL XPL speakers.
They had a titanium dome midrange that was so dynamic it was astonishing.
They hi-end’sh shop had a CD player hooked directly to the amp. I didn’t think much about it at the time.

It was about 2000 and I spent many weekends auditioning center channels looking for a match for my JBL's.
I would NEVER have considered spending this kind of money on a speaker.
My girlfriend, at the time, got so tired of it, she went with my friend (a Revel owner) and bought me a Revel Voice center channel for my birthday.
I was so impressed that a year later we were engaged, I bought the Salons and Studios.
I was using them with a Sony TAE-9000ES preamp and an older Sunfire amp.

I ended up in a different place than many enthusiasts who seem to spend 50/50 on electronics and speakers.
When asked, I recomemend putting the bulk of your budget into your speakers because electronics change more often and are far easier to upgrade.

I am not ruling out a new amp, there is still time (I hope)

- Rich

yes, nice set-up's. Very close to what I have as well

Rich:

I believe your thinking is logical and sound...pun intended. Speakers are the most important single piece. But I would caution that audio is a chain, and the weakest link can limit the overall SQ. I have heard the 8801 with Parasounds and I have a SIM. The sound is captivating.

So you are an angel ?

then you need to get a pass labs X350 or X600 mono's, and then you'll REALLY see it's performance!