Marantz AV8801 Preamp/Processor Official Owner's thread - Page 117

Originally Posted by jdlynch 

+1

I still have not decided to keep the Lexicon or the Marantz. I still have a few weeks left on the return period to decide.

Originally Posted by Razvanel 

Is $2800 a good price for the AV8801 or I could do better?

Thank you,

R

Originally Posted by Big Screen 

Because I have two subs, I waited for a processor like the 8801 (XT32) verses obtaining the Marantz 7005 and I'm so happy I did!

The initial Audyssey setup went well, so well, that I was amazed with the results. My music DVD's sound superb, coherence from bottom to top (between the subs and stand-mounted monitors) is significantly better and center channel dialogue has improved considerably.

My room is anything but rectangular, so a correction system like the Audyssey, was one that I considered vitally important, and it didn't fail to impress. Of course, I was replacing a quite long-in-the tooth Lexicon MC1 processor, so my baseline wasn't nearly as good as most on this forum. Nevertheless, so far (without trying all the ancillary whistles and bells), I'm really satisfied with the 8801's purchase.

I have enjoyed following this thread and appreciate all the help that it has contained....

Originally Posted by wyliec2 

I kept both! But then the 8801 replaced an 8003 that I'd been using in combination with my MC-12 since 2008....

Off topic...I'm presuming SMR is gone for good...???

Originally Posted by jdlynch 

+1

I still have my old fat pS3 as well as my new Oppo 103. I have them both for the reasons cited above; Though my Oppo has never failed to play a disc. My lexicon MC-12 is the non-hd version, so, I need the analog outs of the Oppo to feed my Lexicon with the decoded lossless soundtracks.

I still have not decided to keep the Lexicon or the Marantz. I still have a few weeks left on the return period to decide.

Originally Posted by Bill222 

I love Oppo players. But they (and all players) have that exact problem I described. If a new "problem" disc comes out, you might not be able to watch it. I've had that problem a few times. 

Originally Posted by RichB 

Have you tried the analog outs from the 103 into the 7.1 analog in's on the Marantz?
If so, what do you think of that configuration compared to your Lexicon?

- Rich

Originally Posted by jdlynch 

Unlike the MC-12, the 8801 does not allow me to use room correction and digital processing (ie., Logic7) when using the analog inputs. I am 95% movies...

I am sure it is just my subjective opinion as I find the 8801 to be an awesome sounding processor. However, at this point I "prefer" the sound of my Lexicon. I don't require HDMI inputs/switching. and, I don't use airplay, ethernet, tuner, and the other extras provided. Also, Lexicon's room EQ is sufficient for my needs.

If any of the above were important to me it would be an easy decision to keep the Marantz.

Originally Posted by comfynumb 

Interesting view. Why the decision not to go HDMI for movies? I would think if I watched that percentage of movies I'd want to take advantage of the height and wides of the 8801 not offered on the Lex. Just wondering.

Originally Posted by jdlynch 

The Lex has the side channels. I have never experienced heights or wides; maybe I am missing out?

Originally Posted by exm 

JD... I'm a former Lexicon owner (and I hope SMR won't be closed. When they transitioned from the old to the latest forum I was the 5th member or so to join ), and as much as I loved the Lexicon, I made the decision a few years ago to move on. I had the Lexicon hooked up to a AV8003 at the time and switching back and forth between them, really made me wonder if it's placebo that the Lex sound different (I also have to note that before the AV8003 I had the Onkyo Pro 885/Integra 9.8 and that unit sounded awful compared to the Lexicon). I decided that the hassle of having 2 pre-amps, not using HDMI, or more than 7.2 channels was not worth it.

Sometimes I "miss" my Lexicon. I think. I was hoping for a new model. But for now and the foreseeable future I am happy with the Marantz.

Originally Posted by Bill222 

Update on my -12db Audyssey odyssey.

When using the balanced/XLR connections from the Marantz to my amps-that-have-no-gain-control, my fronts, center, and surrounds were all trimmed by -12db by Audyssey. Which is a no-no. It means Audyssey failed to build its filters properly for those speakers because it hit a hardware limitation on the trim...

Following what was suggested here - first I ordered line attenuators - but they're still a week or two away from delivery. So last night I followed the other suggestion and replaced the XLR connections with good, ol' fashioned RCA connections. (I died a little inside as I performed the replacement. Especially given how old my RCA cables are. They are Monster RCA cables! It's been over a decade since I wasted money buying Monster cables...)

Anyway - when I ran Audyssey this time - I have acceptable trims. Fronts are -7.5/-7.0. Center is -7.0. Surrounds are -9.0/-9.5. All much better than -12.0 db. So - yes - switching over to RCA did the trick for Audyssey with my combination of efficient speakers, speakers close to the main listening position, and sensitive amps.

I dug a little further into the specs and I think I found the root of problem. On the 8801 Audio specs it states:

Rated output:
- Unbalanced pre-output: 1.2 V
- Balanced pre-output: 2.4 V

But for my amplifier, the specs state:

Input Impedance:
- Single Ended 22K ohms
- Balanced 44K ohms

Input Sensitivity:
- 1 Watt Output 120mV
- Full Output 1.68 V

So my amps will run full-out at 1.68V, but the 8801 is feeding them up to 2.4V on the XLR inputs. Scary. Basically this particular Marantz isn't meant to be used with amps as sensitive as mine? Or are line attenuators standard between pre-amps and amps? I was hoping to avoid line attenuators or anything that alters the signal. I really wish the 8801 had a max-voltage setting on its pre-outs.

Originally Posted by jdlynch 

Unlike the MC-12, the 8801 does not allow me to use room correction and digital processing (ie., Logic7) when using the analog inputs. I am 95% movies...

I am sure it is just my subjective opinion as I find the 8801 to be an awesome sounding processor. However, at this point I "prefer" the sound of my Lexicon. I don't require HDMI inputs/switching. and, I don't use airplay, ethernet, tuner, and the other extras provided. Also, Lexicon's room EQ is sufficient for my needs.

If any of the above were important to me it would be an easy decision to keep the Marantz.

Originally Posted by RichB 

That is a tough one.
If you have a couple of balanced cables hanging around you could try those into the Marantz.
At least for 2 chanel, it gives you the option of digital processing and room correction.

- Rich

Originally Posted by jdlynch 

Maybe I'm wrong Rich; I will research further to see if I can run the Oppo analog outs into the Marantz and still get Audyssey to apply room correction and speaker management.

David

Originally Posted by RichB 

Analog unbalanced (RCA) 7.1: There is no A/D so there will be no room correction.
Analog balanced (XLR) 2.0: A/D is available so you should be able to perform all functions.

- Rich

Originally Posted by audiman 

Hi Bill,

i have the same -12db problems.

I reran the audyssey and same results. I'm connected to Mcintosh amps and will later try the av8801 connected to the MM8807 (balanced connections) and report my findings.

Originally Posted by jdlynch 

The Lex has the side channels. I have never experienced heights or wides; maybe I am missing out?

Originally Posted by jdlynch 

So, for home theater, I need to use digital in to get room correction and speaker management.

Thanks Rich-

Originally Posted by comfynumb 

I'd have to go with Rich on this one. -1 Rich can't have a conversation with himself lmao.

Originally Posted by Roger Dressler 

Thanks, Mark. Nice to see someone with authority corroborate one's own opinion. Sometimes we get so fixated on numbers and forget about how it sounds.

Link to my plot which shows exactly the response difference you describe.

Originally Posted by RichB 

I thought we were doing fine

- Rich

Originally Posted by comfynumb 

I'd have to go with Rich on this one. -1 Rich can't have a conversation with himself lmao.

Originally Posted by Roger Dressler 

Thanks, Mark. Nice to see someone with authority corroborate one's own opinion. Sometimes we get so fixated on numbers and forget about how it sounds.

Link to my plot which shows exactly the response difference you describe.

Originally Posted by StanFL 

Thanks for the PS3 info! I really like everything that it does!

Does my "Fat"PS3 play 3D blu-ray?

Originally Posted by RichB 

Analog unbalanced (RCA) 7.1: There is no A/D so there will be no room correction.
Analog balanced (XLR) 2.0: A/D is available so you should be able to perform all functions.

Originally Posted by dahlgren 

Just so I'm clear on this, I have my mains, center and surrounds XO @80hz & LFE @120hz, your saying it would clear up the low frequencies even further setting the LFE to 80hz.