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This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
In our condo in Florida I have a 5.1 setup consisting of:
Beolab 18 front ---- wireless
Beolab 19 sub ------ wireless
Beolab 15 rear ----- wireless
Definitive Technology Center - wired
All inputs ( TV, 3200 etc) are connected to Marantz SR 6013 and then to Transmitter 1 which in turn sends signals to all speakers except Center.
For my Clearaudio turntable, I have a separate Clearaudio Nano V2 phono stage which is plugged into an analog input on the AVR.
My question really is about the phono aspect.
In order to have the best possible sound from my vinyl, should I:
A) continue to go the way and maybe just upgrade the phono stageI or
B) should I buy a real high end pre-amp with phono and attempt to find a way of getting a signal directly into the Transmitter 1 and thus into the Beolab 18's. Some of these pre-amps do have a volume control. Of course that would mean coming up with some sort of splitter that would allow the use of the Marantz for all operations other than vinyl.
I would be very interested in your thoughts and suggestions.
As for upgrading the phono stage, I can’t comment on that one.
Listening (without being influenced by ‘more expensive is better than less expensive’) is the only way to tell, what you should choose.
Question! Why aren’t you content with the Nano V2?
On the Transmitter you have two inputs (and the PL, which you probably won’t use) = optical and analog L/R, whereby the optical has priority.
Since there (probably) is no optical output on the Marantz, you already use the analog input of the Transmitter.
It that case, you will have to use some sort of splitter, which lets you manually select between the two devices.
However, you must know that the connected phono stage must have its own volume control.
In the end you might like the direct connection of a phono stage better.
Maybe not so much because of an ‘upgraded/highend’ phono stage, but because this way you would leave the circuit of the Marantz out of the way.
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
BS Moment, BS Core, BG 4002, BC 4500, BS1, BL18, BL19, BL8000 + RCV1, A6, M5, M3, A1, P6 (tks Botty), H5, TR1
I got kinda spoiled this summer when in our DC home I installed a dedicated all analog, all Audionote, stereo specific system.
There is nothing wrong with the Nano, and maybe upgrading a bit to a Clearaudio Basic V2 and continuing to run it through the Marantz may suffice.
I just have the sense that using the Marantz which is really a nice AVR is a bit of a compromise wanting to listen to vinyl.
Hence the thought of being able to switch between the Marantz for 5.1 home theater purposes and a yet to be bought high end phono pre-amp - once again considering Audio Note the M2 which is a tube amp with volume control.
What kind of splitter could you see working to achieve that?
The phono stage on the Marantz is really not that great. It is perfectly "adequate" but really does not bring out the best. That is why i bought the NANO and it is already quite an improvement.
I have spent this year learning and re-connecting with vinyl.
It is a fantastic media, unfortunately it is also very demanding of the components, otherwise you just end up with mediocrity.
The Beolab 18's are really quite excellent, both in appearance and audio capability, and so are my TT, Arm and Cartridge. The "weakest link" so to speak is the amp/phono stage and that is what I am trying to improve upon.
There is nothing "wrong" with how it sounds now, but the system is clearly capable of better and that is what I am working on.
Tifoso48:The phono stage on the Marantz is really not that great. It is perfectly "adequate" but really does not bring out the best. That is why i bought the NANO and it is already quite an improvement
Yes they are and the debate I am having with myself is:
upgrade phono stage and continue to go through AVR to Transmitter
or
buy a separate pre-amp with high quality phono and find a way of connecting it to T1 with some kind of switch which allows the alter between AVR or Phono Pre-amp.
That is what sounds best to me but I am not sure that kind of animal actually exists.
Tifoso48:buy a separate pre-amp with high quality phono and find a way of connecting it to T1 with some kind of switch which allows the alter between AVR or Phono Pre-amp.
Since the stereo output (front, L/R) of the Maranz (probably) is connected to the L/R analog input of the Teansmitter....and this is needed for a phono stage with volume control, it simply will be the wuestion of switching between these two sources with.....
.....simething like this:
Thank you - that sure looks like it would do the trick.!
Millemissen:Since the stereo output (front, L/R) of the Maranz (probably) is connected to the L/R analog input of the Teansmitter..
mbolo01: Millemissen: Since the stereo output (front, L/R) of the Maranz (probably) is connected to the L/R analog input of the Teansmitter.. It is not
Millemissen: Since the stereo output (front, L/R) of the Maranz (probably) is connected to the L/R analog input of the Teansmitter..
Since the stereo output (front, L/R) of the Maranz (probably) is connected to the L/R analog input of the Teansmitter..
It is not
How is it connected then?
(Maybe the Tifoso48 could tell us, since he did not state it in his posting).
Millemissen:How is it connected then?
Tifoso48 already answered, PL ports are used to achieve the 5.1 which is the right way with a TR1
mbolo01: Millemissen:How is it connected then? Tifoso48 already answered, PL ports are used to achieve the 5.1 which is the right way with a TR1
Sorry, but I don’t see that mentioned anywhere.
The way it is connected:
Front = pl1
Rear= pl 2
Zone 2 = pl 3
Sub = Pl 4
Center = wired
So, based on what I am hearing I am envisioning Millemissen's suggestion would work is this this.
All I am trying to do is to get the fronts to respond to a second device like a dedicated phono - pre amp with volume control.
I would connect both the AVR front pre-amp out and the Pre-Amp out to the switchgear and connect the out from the switchgear to the PL 1. Then depending on need I would use the selector to chose the one or the other.
Am I understanding this correctly and will that work?
Just to be extra specific
Front preamp out = PL1
etc, etc
Tifoso48:Am I understanding this correctly and will that work?
But why don't you connect the Pre-Amp to the Optical or RCA IN of the Transmitter 1 as shown in the doc I provided the link to?
Tifoso48: Just to be extra specific Front preamp out = PL1 etc, etc
Thanks, that explains all.
So now I’d say - do as mbolo01 advices.....use the analog in, the L/R of the Transmitter 1 for the new phono stage (with its own vlume control.
Millemissen: mbolo01: Millemissen:How is it connected then? Tifoso48 already answered, PL ports are used to achieve the 5.1 which is the right way with a TR1 Sorry, but I don’t see that mentioned anywhere. MM
Fyi: Tifoso48 replied on Mon, Oct 12 2020 9:52 PM
If I do that will not all the speakers respond?
Remember, I just want pure front stereo.
Of course if this would just trigger the front speakers that would indeed be the simplest and most efficient way to go.
Tifoso48: If I do that will not all the speakers respond?
I guess no, the TR1 will play stereo only, so fronts.
The doc says: "The BeoLab Transmitter 1 has four RJ45 inputs with Power Link / Line-in connection which have both a left and right sound channel. This means you can connect as much as 8 sound channels as input of which one can be a subwoofer in the room. In addition there is an optical stereo TOSLINK TM input (S/P-DIF) and two RCA (Line-in) for connection stereo sound channels of an audio system."
But you are better placed than us to test with a device which has volume control such as an iPhone, assuming you have the right cables.
And don't forget: "Active sources are prioritised in the following order: 1) POWER LINK; 2) TOSLINK; 3) Line-in (via RCA connectors or RJ45 connector)."
Will be interesting to hear about the result.
One may just hope that the Marantz will not produce so much background nouce in the line-outputs, that it will keep the TR1 in Powerlink mode.
We will be back in Florida and I will test this with some analog device and report back.
my personal worry that is that all three sets of speaker will react to this new input.
i will keep the Marantz “off” to minimize feedback.
my fallback plan would be Millemissen’s suggestion with he switchgear and feeding directly into PL1 which would guarantee the use of front speakers.
let’s keep our fingers crossed and a big thank you !