Marantz AV8801 Preamp/Processor Official Owner's thread - Page 13

The AVP update also got 3 new fast DSP's i would not be shocked is its the same basic design as the 4520 (and so 8801). We already had 12 channels so your guess that its needed for xt32 and the new extra formats (width and height channels) aint a bad one. For the upgrade board i think we calculated it was 4x more power than the old 3 dsp's it replaced (we guessed between 7000 and 8000 MFlops).

Daniel.

PS: Picture i made last year about the dsp's : http://cdn.avsforum.com/b/b0/b0b87035_vbattach228715.jpeg

Just following this thread and trying to figure out a way to get this new Pre in the rack and up and running before the misses notices much of a change. . I will be running all 11 channels and utilizing 2 Emotiva XPA-5s and an XPA-1 for the front center channel. Presently I have 3 XPA-1s powering the main fronts and frankly, I probably got a bit carried away with external amplification. Nearly 375 pounds of amps is a little too much. So, if anyone wants two great condition XPA-1s, PM away.

The Marantz amps, frankly underwhelm a bit. That is not a very large transformer. I like an amp with a lot of reserve power, don't see that with the Marantz. So, for me, I'll be sticking with my admittedly Stalin era aesthetics China built Emo's. I have been very pleased with the Amps since I went full Pre-out mode with my 4311. Amplifier sound is often explained in subjective terms. I am not one to argue with the amp is an amp is an amp crowd but I can say the Emotiva's are capable of making my all B&W system sound great at low and high volumes. The system has never clipped, the speakers have never had issue and if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Now, if I were to do it all over again, I'd seriously consider lighter and more attractive amplification. However, an amplifier can be stuffed somewhere or buried behind glass ( as are mine) and you should never have to worry about them again.

Last thing, I hope we get interesting analysis on this thread of features once the first owners get the new toy. I am most interested in Neo-X and all the other sound related issues. I've never been of the camp that wants heavy video tweaking coming from an AVR or Pre. That is the job of other parts of the chain. IMHO.
Edited by SeattleHTGuy - 11/8/12 at 10:43am

I'm just about at the 95% mark on my purchase of 8801 due largely in part to construction, you had me at the size of the transformer which is a thing of beauty, now only if it sounds as good as it looks then win win my dealer plans to loan there floor sample first before they order me one:p if it does not surpass my current Anthem setup (mostly via analog inputs, which is my default position/safety net) Then the Onkyo 5509/Integra 80.3 it is and pocket the change, but I suspect plan 'A" may just deliver!

audiofan, your dealer is going to loan you their floor sample? That's awesome! How soon do they expect to get it? Assume you will post your impressions as they are happening:)

Sometime in Dec, and yes impressions will be posted indeed!

Seattle, I use 1 Wyred4Soumd ICEBox MC 6xASP500 delivering 500W into 4ohms for my surround, surround back and wides. Bel Canto REF500M for centre and Electrocompaniet Nemos 1200W into 4ohms for my front LR

I decommissioned the two Bel Canto REF1000Ms from the front but haven't gotten around to hooking them up to the surrounds so I can use the spare ones from the W4S to drive the heights (currently still with my 4810 internal amps).

Maybe the Marantz will get me off the couch

Wow Woof Woof. That's a lot of light, little, crazy powerful amps. (OK Not the Nemo's - they aren't light or little). The W4S stuff looks really interesting and the Bel Canto's are supposedly great too. I don't know much about the others but certainly you are ready to go from the 4810 to this new PreAmp. When the kids are in skiing, I will have 6 hours to rip apart my system and rebuild it. Let the snow fly!!! I hope to have you buy this Pre first though. So time to definately get up from the couch.

I have no clue when this will be out in Oz tho

Product arrives "early" Dec in US. No hard date yet.

Click on the Link and at the top of the page there is a Link of the PDF of the new upcoming Processor and Amp. I just put my order in! Anyone thinking about purchasing this unit that doesnt have a local authorized Marantz dealer near them send your business here. I can't say enough good things about Robert at Value Electronics. 1st Calss all the way.

http://www.tc-p65vt50.com/
Edited by mankite - 11/9/12 at 4:25pm

I was disappointed to see that the MM8077 is rated only for 6-8 Ohms according to the printing on its back panel. That it's made in China, unlike the AV8801, is another disappointment, although minor.

When I asked Marantz about this for the MM7055 they stated it would handle a 4 ohm load, but they didn't get the rating. Though I ended up with 8 Ohm speakers anyway. I would still exercise caution, cause usually amps aren't rated for 2 ohms because the heat sinks aren't big enough, etc. But yes, at this price point may as well go with a Parasound Halo A52 now that they will be coming with a black faceplate.

I haven't seen any reference to Audyssey LFC in the literature. The Denon 4520 on which it is based has that. Odd that the Marantz doesn't mention it considering it's the next big Audyssey buzzword.

^^^

in all likelihood, it's there...

fwiw, lfc "works"... however, it also works in the room as well... it doesn't "contain" the bass, it reduces it...

This is a great combo, I have been selling Parasound for years and the A52 is a great amp, I intend to pair the 8801 with mine.

A few pages back someone mentioned a group buy. I'm game. ;)

Been waiting quite a while to replace my Outlaw 990.

I am running an A21 and A23 on my center PSB Synchrony Two C and front l/r speakers PL200s. I will be adding a NAD 975 for the next 6 channels and a Emotiva UPA 200 for the last two channels. What do you think of that combo for the AV8801?

I tend to use the same amps on surround systems but using the same up front is more important but certainly a choice. There is a Halo 3 channel amp and the A51 is an incredible 5 channel amp for surround. I have Jc1 monoblocks and they now have pass through on the JC2 preamp for use with theaters giving the best of both worlds! I actually run two systems, JC1s with a JC2 and Thiel 3.7s, Then a 7005 with an A52 (very adequate) with celling speakers and a JL SUB. Will be swapping the 7005 for a 8801. The non-halo line is also a very good choice for a lower price with little compromise.
Edited by sfav - 11/13/12 at 8:56am

Oops! I meant A52 not A23. It's an impressive 5 channel amp. I will be getting a demo 8801 ASAP.

I just got a smokin quote from Robert for a package with free shipping and of course no tax(if you are not in NY) , you need to call and talk to him as he has 6 units allocated so get you name on the list fast!

Is it really all that important to have the Height speakers and amp all the same as the fronts? I have never had height speakers befroe- so I am asking from anybody who has them. My fronts are...well...expensive and heavy. There would be a VERY low WAF on mounting something big and heavy up high. I thought the heights were just basically sound effects - am I missing something?

There's no one right answer. It's best for all of the speakers to be identical. This often is impossible to do. Look through the catalog of the manufacturer of your current speakers for similar designs.

Height and width audio channels are derived by processing other channels. They are intended to make the sound-stage more enveloping and realistic. All of your speakers need to have similar timbre so that their sounds aren't noticeably different when a sound source seems to move from one speaker to another. That said, Audyssey does a reasonably good job of matching speaker timbre, since it's trying to make all of your speakers have a flat frequency response. Still, it's best for all of your speakers to have similar drivers and crossover designs.

So long as they aren't driven so hard that they start to distort or clip, which amps you use don't matter (except in so far as your emotions are involved). More efficient speakers are a better bargain than more powerful amps.

True, speakers are far more important then amp matching in a surround system and most of the fine details on electronics and cabling will not be important to the vast majority of consumers. Matching the power output of the amp is the factor not the brand. Too often I see huge power imbalances in theater systems overdriving one amp and barely loading another.
Edited by sfav - 11/13/12 at 9:35am

^^^

well, you are partially correct, anyway...

Which portion is not correct?

No, you are not missing anything, you are right on the money. I have B&W M1s mounted in the upper right and left corners of my living room, they are so small you hardly notice them. Well maybe the Wood will but they sound awesome and are a perfect match for my Monitor Audio PL200s in the front l/r.

I also found that mounting the front highs as far to the left and right and as high as possible also increased the front sound stage to where movies with lots of movement like Transformers sound totally awesome.

So what ever smaller good sounding speakers the Woof might like give them a try. If you get them from some place with a easy return policy then you have no worries if you or the Woof don't like the way they look or sound.

^^^

let's just say that the part about amplification was correct...