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Playing Vinyl through an Marantz SR7007, is it analog or digital?

9K views 14 replies 9 participants last post by  Badouri 
#1 ·
Hey there everyone and a pre-emptive thanks for any help. I have an Marantz SR7007 with a phono input. I want to add a turntable to my system so I can get that rich analog sound. However I have a couple questions. I know the Phono will add the right profile to the incoming sound from the turntable. However, am I gong to lose the intended richness of the analog approach sound as it passes through the Marantz? Is the Marantz going to convert it to digital then apply all the filters, etc.? I want the Marantz to act as the amplifier without digitally processing the analog sound. Is that possible? What about with pure direct? Do I have to just go get another analog amp and forget the whole thing?


THANKS!!


Chad
 
#3 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ratman  /t/1472302/playing-vinyl-through-an-marantz-sr7007-is-it-analog-or-digital#post_23303896


Plug it in and select the "phono" input and set to "stereo" on the receiver. Pure analog. No need for a new amp.

No, manual p.80: stereo mode engages the sub, therefore implying AD conversion.


It's direct or pure direct but without looking at the schematics you can't be sure if it still goes through the digital circuit. Whether it matters is a separate issue.
 
#4 ·
Almost every AVR is digital internally, ie analogue inputs digitised then processed in DSP.

Forget about 'analogue richness', it's an audiophool conceit.
 
#5 ·
The signal path may or may not involve digital conversion. The quality of the ADC and DAC would determine whether any lessening of the sound quality occurs, but the processing does have the potential to do so.


To find out for sure you would probably have to look at a detailed schematic or contact a technical support person at Marantz.


The bottom line is sound quality.


In general, the phono preamp stage in an HT receiver is not very good (if it even has one), so I would get the turntable and a good phono preamp like the Musical Fidelity V-LPS.


Hook it up and listen.


If you are not satisfied, you could get a better receiver.


The Harman-Kardon 3490 stereo receiver is much better-sounding than what you have IMO, and is available for around $400, which is a steal. It has much better amplifiers and power supply, and does have a built-in phono preamp too. There is definitely no digital processing in the signal path with it. Highly recommended.


The Music Hall 2.2 turntable is one of the best lower-priced turntables.
 
#7 ·
"In General" would be considered a qualifying statement by anyone with the intelligence to think about it for a few seconds.


I didn't say "every" or "always", did I??


I make a statement because I have an opinion based on experience.


It's quite possible to simply read what I say and not get your knickers in a knot.
 
#8 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by commsysman  /t/1472302/playing-vinyl-through-an-marantz-sr7007-is-it-analog-or-digital#post_23306848


In general, the phono preamp stage in an HT receiver is not very good (if it even has one), so I would get the turntable and a good phono preamp like the Musical Fidelity V-LPS.


Hook it up and listen.


If you are not satisfied, you could get a better receiver.


The Harman-Kardon 3490 stereo receiver is much better-sounding than what you have IMO, and is available for around $400, which is a steal. It has much better amplifiers and power supply, and does have a built-in phono preamp too. There is definitely no digital processing in the signal path with it. Highly recommended.

I know your stuck in the past but digital doesn't automatically mean poor sound quality. Do you know what preamp is in the Marantz SR7007? So you have experience with the Marantz? How do you know if the Marantz has a lesser quality amplifer and power supply? You did a direct comparison with the HK 3490 against the Marantz or again is this just your typical "bash everything to push your stuff" kind of post?

Quote:
Originally Posted by commsysman  /t/1472302/playing-vinyl-through-an-marantz-sr7007-is-it-analog-or-digital#post_23306894


"

I make a statement because I have an opinion based on experience.

Great. So you have direct experience with the Marantz SR7007? What about it is lesser quality? Or is this just your typical rant against HT receivers and bashing all things digital.
 
#9 ·
I think there is a little too much emphasis on the analog vs digital thing. Good DACs are pretty cheap these days.


As far as vinyl goes, unless it was a legacy recording where the master tape was used for the vinyl pressing it has probably spent some time in the digital domain anyway. The Beatles recent vinyl re-releases where not authored from the original master tape, but from the digital master (44.1/24) that was produced from the restored master tape. A 192/24 exists but for some reason that was not used.
 
#10 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by commsysman  /t/1472302/playing-vinyl-through-an-marantz-sr7007-is-it-analog-or-digital#post_23306848


The Harman-Kardon 3490 stereo receiver is much better-sounding than what you have IMO, and is available for around $400, which is a steal. It has much better amplifiers and power supply, and does have a built-in phono preamp too. There is definitely no digital processing in the signal path with it. Highly recommended.

From HK 3490 stereo receiver owner's manual:


"DSP Mode: Each press of this button switches the digital signal

processing mode as follows: Dolby®Virtual Speaker Wide, Dolby Virtual

Speaker Reference, Stereo."

http://www.harmankardon.com/resources/Brands/harmankardon/Products/ProductRelatedDocuments/en-US/OwnersManual/HK_3490_OWNERS_MANUAL.pdf
 
#11 ·
"stereo" should require no digital processing (DSP). Analog in... analog out. Why any AVR, that provides a "phono input" would apply AD to DA conversion for stereo is beyond me.

Maybe I'm wrong? Who knows? Who cares?


OTOH, if someone is that critical about 100% pure analog signal/sound from the TT to the speakers.... get a standalone preamp/amp for the turntable. Not that it will make that much of an audible difference to justify the expense. But.... that's just my opinion
 
#12 ·
You are implying that DSP must be on at all times in the 3490, which is not true. Read more carefully.


When the STEREO position is selected, there is NO digital signal processing.


The DSP only takes place when a Dolby mode is selected.



Quote:
Originally Posted by Badouri  /t/1472302/playing-vinyl-through-an-marantz-sr7007-is-it-analog-or-digital#post_23309832



From HK 3490 stereo receiver owner's manual:


"DSP Mode: Each press of this button switches the digital signal

processing mode as follows: Dolby®Virtual Speaker Wide, Dolby Virtual

Speaker Reference, Stereo."

http://www.harmankardon.com/resources/Brands/harmankardon/Products/ProductRelatedDocuments/en-US/OwnersManual/HK_3490_OWNERS_MANUAL.pdf
 
#13 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by commsysman  /t/1472302/playing-vinyl-through-an-marantz-sr7007-is-it-analog-or-digital#post_23311885


You are implying that DSP must be on at all times in the 3490, which is not true. Read more carefully.

The same goes for majority of hometheater receivers. Most have a "pure mode" or "direct" that shuts everything off. The Marantz is no different than the HK3490. Just like the HK you can shut everything off on the Marantz.


Actually do you even read the original post? I mean your copy paste responses are just bizarre, he has the Marantz why would he down grade to a not so great stereo receiver? What is so different about the HK compared to the $2000 Marantz which by the way your Hometheater Magazine gave it 5 stars for sound qualty and value so it I would say its pretty damn good receiver.
 
#14 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ratman  /t/1472302/playing-vinyl-through-an-marantz-sr7007-is-it-analog-or-digital/0_100#post_23311636


"stereo" should require no digital processing (DSP). Analog in... analog out. Why any AVR, that provides a "phono input" would apply AD to DA conversion for stereo is beyond me.
Because from and engineering POV, it's simply easier and cheaper. Use an ADC with a source selector (mux) and do all processing in the DSP that's already present makes commercial sense. So that way tone/loudness controls and other features are still available for the cost to the manufacturer of some coding and no additional analogue circuitry.

Pure/Direct modes in some AVRs I've seen the schematics of some units means that the DSP simply does no processing, not that it's bypassed.
 
#15 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by commsysman  /t/1472302/playing-vinyl-through-an-marantz-sr7007-is-it-analog-or-digital#post_23311885


You are implying that DSP must be on at all times in the 3490, which is not true. Read more carefully.


When the STEREO position is selected, there is NO digital signal processing.


The DSP only takes place when a Dolby mode is selected.

There is a Pure Direct mode on the SR7007.


BTW, the quote is from the 3490 owner's manual.
 
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