Marantz AV8801 Preamp/Processor Official Owner's thread - Page 128

I set mains to SMALL for most all movie surround, but usually LARGE for multi-channel music (SACD's, DVD-A's, BluRay-A). Although using my one sub (JL Audio F110) isn't bad either (with mains set = SMALL).
Edited by WestCoastD - 3/12/13 at 1:11pm

Hey Rich,

Thanks for trying the Furman. I love them for my systems. My main system uses two Furman Elite 15-PFi's.

One Furman 15-PFi is in the "front" of the room, on a 15-amp circuit. This "front" Furman provides power to the TV, all of the system components (Marantaz 8801, Oppo's 105 and 83-SE, PS3, HTPC, Cable, a pair of PS2s, LaserDisc, etc.), and three of my amps (a two-channel Aragon, another two-channel Aragon, and a three-channel Aragon - so that's the two channels of front, two channels of surround, and a center channel - with two channels left open on the 3-channel amp).

The other Furman 15-PFi is in the "back" of the room - on a twenty-amp circuit - powering yet another 2-channel Aragon amp for the rear-surrounds as well as powering the one-and-only Epik sub to finish out the 7.1 system.

When I first tried these amps with the Furman it sounded horrible. But that was hum. Then I "cheated". I used those cheap, little grey-converter plugs that let you take a 3-prong plug (such as - the plug from the amp) and convert it down to a 2-prong plug - before plugging it into the Furman. (Yes - I know - it's like I clipped the 3rd prong of the plugs on my amps.) After that, the sound was great. At least, to my ears.

I've just ordered that CD you linked with the Peter Gun theme. It will arrive tomorrow (Wednesday). I'll try your A/B experiment then (first listening with my current setup, then listening with amps plugged directly to the walls).

To match your A/B test - what sound mode should I be using? (And how many speakers? Just a pure 2-channel test? Leave the rest of the amps off?) Also - do you have an SACD to recommend for sound quality playback testing? I have a few of those - not many - but a few.

Thanks,
Bill


@WSE - I'm the one who recently mentioned living in Florida. Central Florida. Home of the regularly scheduled thunderstorms. And the irregularly scheduled power fluctuations and (usually) short blackouts. The strange thing is - most of those power fluctuations (the ones bad enough to make my UPS systems chirp and complain) - they happen when there's not a cloud in the sky!
Edited by Bill222 - 3/11/13 at 10:02pm

This is what I'm trying to get across You've got to love getting enjoyment from all your gear and having this much power to deliver an all out assault on the State of the Art (for the moment that is) way to go on the exploreration of your killer setup WestCoastD

I listened to my Outlaw 7500 plugged into the wall direct and through my Furman IT Reference 15i (different model than Rich's):

so far I do not discern any difference in sound quality and that is what I expected

You Mac amps are likely high class-A biased so the draw is constant.
For example, if they are 10 watts class A, you would have to draw significantly beyond that to see any potential effect.

You would need to go Pure Direct and get to a high DB level to get to A/B mode.
I do not know the bias of the Outlaw but it uses 12 transistors per channel in A/B so I expect its demand is less constant. The Sunfire is very efficient which is achieved by drawing the power as needed.

- Rich

I recommend 2-channel Pure Direct and a fairly high volume (in the 90's) to get the amp drawing current. This makes it easier to identify the sound change.

- Rich
Edited by RichB - 3/12/13 at 6:07am

That is good to know.
After all, it costs more than the Outlaw

- Rich

Can the front display illumination be turned off on this unit?

Ahhh - my Aragaon amps are probably in the same boat as his Mac amps (that is - highly class-A biased).

From an eBay guide to Aragon amps -

http://reviews.ebay.com/Classic-Aragon-Amps-A-primer?ugid=10000000001149810

I'm running both 8008BB and 8008 MK II amps - so that's still 12 transistors per channel, but I'm in class A up until around 26 watts - maybe slightly off from that since I'm not sure what level the repair shop re-biased the amps at when they needed repairs.

SO I have to go significantly beyond 26 watts per channel to notice Furman-induced sound degradation with these amps? I may go more deaf than I already am....

I just went to mine and turned the display off, but the blue ring around the porthole stayed on. Not sure if that turns off with time or another setting.

I do not believe that ever turns off when the power is on.
It does not turn off in Pure Direct mode either.

It does not bother me at all, it is not all that bright.
Light-dims could be used if you are good a cutting circles.

- Rich

 

Interesting, how can that be electrical storms!

They aren't. They're simply old/bad equipment failing. Animals eating into power lines, trees falling, transformers just giving up and going "boom" (I've heard at least 3 of those transformer explosions from my house in the past few years).

Not so easy. I can hear it in a showroom but we all know this is not the same thing. I should keep it a week or so in my house, with my amps, speakers, electronics and do some roomeq.
Ths is why i was asking if someone had the oppurtunty to hea/ownr both Denon AVP-1HD and Marantz AV8801 and give a first hand opinion.

I've owned both, but separated by a couple of years, and the A1 did not have the upgrade, so tough for me to comment...But I would not go back to the A1 I owned from the 8801

Sounds correct.

I have decided not to put this Furman Elite15 PF:


In front of this Outlaw 7500:



Because it dramatically reduces the sound quality.

For other components, I understand the desire to protect your components.
The Outlaw has no gauges. It is just an amp and it is a tank.
A great sounding tank

- Rich

You can.

It's in the manual.

Open the flap, press and hold "Display" button until the blue light turns off.

Nice. It works and it is remembered on power cycle.
I did it again to turn it back on. I missed it

- Rich

I hear you, I somewhat feel the same, now I just have to find a four outlet 20amp so I can replace the two

I just had my A1 replaced with av8801, but to be short, I think av8801 sounds more detailed and neutral to my ears
A1 blends in the sound more or harmonic if you put, but I like detailed sound, again at least to my ears

I happened to have an 15 amp circuit in the neighborhood so I used it for my other components.
I may still have my electrician come by and run another 20 amp to the box.

You can get doubled up breakers if you need space on your box.
That may be cheaper than multiple line conditioners.

- Rich

Agreed I found what I was looking for http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/HUBBELL-WIRING-DEVICEKELLEMS-4-Plex-Receptacle-6C567

you should probably fix a safety-net under your house for those "sink-holes" as well

Well, not using a line conditioner means this is what you've got:



Okay, I couldn't resist, sorry....

Here is a leviton plug at Amazon that goes into your current receptacle.

EDIT: Here is the Leviton 20 amp plug.



Best Regards,

Rich
Edited by RichB - 3/12/13 at 1:25pm

yeah, I'm trying to extract total enjoyment. The JL Audio F110 sub's (for a single 10 inch) exude's beautiful, articulate, bass. My room is 11 X 11 X 8.

By the way, that Ken Kreisel sub looks intriguing, never heard of that brand.
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/subwoofers/subwoofers-reviews/ken-kreisel-dxd-12012-dual-12-push-pull-subwoofer.html

Fair enough.
But you need the fantasy cover to go with it:



Then we can have the same functionality.

Seriously, I already have one of these:

http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/whhosusupr.html?utm_source=whhosusupr&utm_medium=shopping%2Bengine&utm_campaign=googleproducts&gclid=CO_O4oiD-LUCFQZV4AodqmMANw



- Rich
Edited by RichB - 3/12/13 at 1:34pm

it is somewhat startling seeing one of these popular Furman PF-15i unit's "un-clothed", much less inside than I imagined (in bulk) I assumed it would employ a much larger coil?

... but it hums like the big boys

- Rich

First time I ever heard a "plug" for a plug Rich.