Marantz AV8801 Preamp/Processor Official Owner's thread - Page 143

Originally Posted by RichB 

It is good that you did not hear a difference bi-amping.
You should not have. The only purpose would be to prevent clipping from the bass affecting the highs.

Sunfire amps are not easily clipped

- Rich

Originally Posted by Bill222 

Given that firmware updates are fairly rare - I have a perfect short-term solution for problems like this.

Buy a long ethernet cable (50 foot, or 100 foot, or whatever you need). And simply string it from your nearest physical ethernet connection directly to your Marantz. Just let the cable drape over the middle of the floor, the couch, the dining room table, whatever. Then - after the firmware update is done - remove the cable, bundle it back up, and put it back in the storage closest where it belongs.

I've actually done this a number of times when needing a "temporary" internet connection in a location in the house that just didn't want to play well with my wireless network or whatever the problem was.

Alternatively I guess you could always physically move the Marantz next to an ethernet hub - just for the amount of time it takes to do the update. You don't need an attached monitor to perform the update. The display window on the front of the Marantz gives you all the details you need to step through the firmware update. I just think "really long ethernet cable" is a simpler stop-gap measure.

Originally Posted by AlxG 


Thanks Kal,

I was studying ARC (HDMI phase lock loop) circuit and find it very useful for clock recovery while minimizing jitter at bay. Do you feel AV8801 HDMI signal path is good enough for playing high res music, or do I have to rely on a much better Blu-Ray player via its analog path?

Originally Posted by denaliman 

Damn! i have no connection set up yet. I haven't figured out the best solution since I cannot run cat 5 cable directly.

Originally Posted by randman 

I have so many devices in my home theater that need Ethernet connectivity that I snaked a CAT 6 cable to my hem theater. Beats WiFi and temporarily stringing Ethernet cables!

Originally Posted by RichB 

I have the XLR assigned, COAX, HDMI, and 7.1 all assigned to the Blu-ray input.
I switch by sending the direct input codes from my Pronto.
Switching is <1 second so it is very easy to compare without delay.
I stand by my observations.

What makes you think that Pure Direct does not digitize the XLR inputs.
Bass management and all other features work.
Did you open the case and observe the path of the bits?
The manual is vague.

- Rich

Originally Posted by RichB 

I looked in the dust and could not find your sound

- Rich

Originally Posted by audiofan1 

Sounds to me you should've gotten a preamp with a hometheater bypass say a P7 or such, do to the fact 90% of what the 8801 is capable of in your setup is not used proper setup and patience have put my setup in the SOTA and my ears are reaping the benifits and as soon as the 'Dust ' settles you can find your way to sonic nirvana

Originally Posted by RichB 

Honestly, if the P7H came with HD format decoding an 6 HDMI inputs, and black, I would be on it.

- Rich

Originally Posted by audiofan1 

Sounds to me you should've gotten a preamp with a hometheater bypass say a P7 or such, do to the fact 90% of what the 8801 is capable of in your setup is not used proper setup and patience have put my setup in the SOTA and my ears are reaping the benifits and as soon as the 'Dust ' settles you can find your way to sonic nirvana

Originally Posted by Bill222 

Given that firmware updates are fairly rare - I have a perfect short-term solution for problems like this.

Buy a long ethernet cable (50 foot, or 100 foot, or whatever you need). And simply string it from your nearest physical ethernet connection directly to your Marantz. Just let the cable drape over the middle of the floor, the couch, the dining room table, whatever. Then - after the firmware update is done - remove the cable, bundle it back up, and put it back in the storage closest where it belongs.

I've actually done this a number of times when needing a "temporary" internet connection in a location in the house that just didn't want to play well with my wireless network or whatever the problem was.

Alternatively I guess you could always physically move the Marantz next to an ethernet hub - just for the amount of time it takes to do the update. You don't need an attached monitor to perform the update. The display window on the front of the Marantz gives you all the details you need to step through the firmware update. I just think "really long ethernet cable" is a simpler stop-gap measure.

Originally Posted by denaliman 

I have considered the long cable approach. My ethernet is on the second floor where my home office is, my HT is in the basement on the opposite side of the house. My 8801 is in my middle atlantic rack so it's not that east to get to and pull out.

Originally Posted by denaliman 

I have considered the long cable approach. My ethernet is on the second floor where my home office is, my HT is in the basement on the opposite side of the house. My 8801 is in my middle atlantic rack so it's not that east to get to and pull out.

Originally Posted by RichB 

Can you use one of the power line Ethernet products?

Originally Posted by AlxG 

Thanks Kal,

I was studying ARC (HDMI phase lock loop) circuit and find it very useful for clock recovery while minimizing jitter at bay. Do you feel AV8801 HDMI signal path is good enough for playing high res music, or do I have to rely on a much better Blu-Ray player via its analog path?

Originally Posted by WestCoastD 


I have employed NetGear PowerLine AV200 adapter's (4 total) in multiple rooms within my house, it actually has functioned pretty good for me (better than I thought it would). I have three separate systems, in separate rooms, linked by AV200's, to one Linksys router. I even have NetGear switches connected to AV200's, which then multiple components are daisy-chained from.

Originally Posted by RichB 

That sound good.
I ran a Cat-6 and have a FIOS via gig Ethernet/FIOS wired to all fixed computers and to
the entertainment system:

• 8-port Netgear switch connecting the following:
• ASUS Wireless N router
• AV8801
• TiVo Premiere
• Oppo BDP-105
• Oppo BDP-95
• Apple TV
• Dune HD
• HTPC

It is amazing how this list has grown over the years.
I also have an outdoor Wireless G routine (hardwired) in the Garage attic so I can listen to music while blowing Snow (sometime for hours).

I keep the wireless reserved for portable devise: 4 iPads, 2 iPhones, and two laptops, and the visitors.

These days, someone has to become the Home IT specialist

- Rich

Originally Posted by comfynumb 

So you have the switch coupled to your router via one Ethernet connection Rich?

Originally Posted by RichB 

I disconnected the FIOS router and have them activate the Ethernet jack (No coax).
In the basement, I have a Cisco RV042 router handling all DHCP and no other device dolling out IPs.
This device is also setup as a VPN which works very well with my iPhone and remote desktop connections (no need to pay for GoToMyPC).

The RV042 connects to a 24 port (dumb) switch that serves the entire house.
This has mostly home run connection except to the home entertainment center where the 8-port Netgear Pro-safe switch is used.

I did the wiring when we bought the house and renovated.
I have two more TiVo's and BD players setup in other rooms with NetGear 4-port switches for each.

I am three switches deep in some cases, and never have any problems achieving giga-bit speed.
I reserve wireless for portable devices since switches are cheap and fishing1 home run per entertainment system was not difficult.

- Rich

Originally Posted by comfynumb 

It sounds complicated.

Originally Posted by Woof Woof 


http://us.marantz.com/DocumentMaster/US/mz_av8801_u_eng_bg001.pdf

While not stating it is ARC compliant, there i mention of:
Hybrid PLL jitter reducer for accurate audio clock

Originally Posted by RichB 


I disconnected the FIOS router and have them activate the Ethernet jack (No coax).

Originally Posted by Kal Rubinson 

Not the same thing.  PLL is often used for this purpose with HDMI and other links.  ARC requires both the source and receiver to be compliant.

Originally Posted by Kal Rubinson 

My apartment is wired for coax and, as it is constructed of reinforced concrete, retrofitting with CAT5/6 would be a nightmare.  So, I kept the FIOS router and use MOCA taps wherever I need ethernet.  Works quite well.

I ran CAT6 in my woodframe house (basement access) with equal results.

Originally Posted by jdsmoothie 

In some cases, when having difficulty with a firmware update, it is indeed best to wait for a few days after the initial release as the D&M servers can be overloaded in the first few days.

Originally Posted by joerod 

Indeed. It can be like a crapshoot sometimes.

Any advice on getting it out of update mode?