Use Marantz PM7001 KI sig as a preamp?

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howduz1

83 posts

Master Geek

#91224 8-Oct-2011 17:24

Greetings,

I have just bought an Onkyo TX-SR608 AV receiver (and am loving it!), however it sort of makes my Marantz amp superfluous (or does it?).

I'm not really an audiophile as such but I like nice gear. I was about to list the 7001 KI on (a popular auction site) but then had a thought about using it as a preamp for the Onkyo.

Would this achieve anything or even degrade my audio? My only inputs so far would be a CD player, DVD player and the freeview box. I also have a Project turntable which requires a phono preamp, which the marantz has but sadly the Onkyo does not. It would seem to be a bit of an overkill just using it as phono preamp.

Can anyone enlighten me on the pro's and cons of preamping and if it would benefit my system (it seem's to go pretty damm well at the moment and I'm only on polk RT12 fronts at the mo - need cabling to hook up polk centre).

Cheers
Steve

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#530949 8-Oct-2011 17:39

I wouldn't think it's possible and certainly not necessary.
You can't feed 70w or so speaker output into a low level input. Probably get lots of smoke from both units?
I have a turntable that requires a pre amp and solved the problem by installing a Jaycar preamp kit inside the turntable enclosure. Works perfectly.

howduz1

83 posts

Master Geek

#530951 8-Oct-2011 17:47

Thanks B1GGLZ,

The Marantz actually has a couple of PRE OUT outputs so wouldn't be feeding full monty speaker output.

Cheers

howduz1

83 posts

Master Geek

#531201 9-Oct-2011 17:04

Never mind, change of plans - have put up for sale on TM if anyone is interested.

Thanks anyway.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#531247 9-Oct-2011 19:55

Just checking here... but were you looking to use your Marantz as a power amp?
If so... the Onkyo doesn't allow you to do so does it (not overly familiar with the connectivity, or lack thereof with the Onkyo).
The Marantz should certainly out perform the Onkyo for musical performance (while they rate the power of their amps very conservatively, you would trust that it would offer a much lower level of distortion than a sub-$1000 h/theatre amp.

howduz1

83 posts

Master Geek

#531259 9-Oct-2011 20:35

Hey dunners,
Thanks for the reply. Yes I was wondering if the marantz caould be used as a pre amp as it has PRE OUT's on it (the onkyo has no PRE OUT's) but unsure of the benefit (if any) of doing this?

i.e. CD player -----> marantz ------> onkyo ------> polk fronts and centre

Would this be a waste of a marantz 7001 KI sig amp? To only use the pre outs?

I haven't had that much to do with audio to know all the in's and out's (so to speak) about it. Although the more I get into it the more I like it!

Yes the marantz should outperform the onkyo in the music stakes but on wiring up the onkyo (bi-amped) to the polk RT12's, I was quite impressed.

As I want to move towards a home theatre for movie and concert DVD/blu ray's, as well as audio CD's I though the onkyo would do it all quite well.

Is there a way I could run the 2 amps side by side to get the best out of both worlds (good stereo amp and good 5.1 for movies/concerts etc)? Would I need to look at some sort of elaborate speaker switch box?

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#531273 9-Oct-2011 21:17

In an ideal world you would have bought a different home theatre receiver, so you could vertically biamped the two units.
That way, the Marantz would connect to the Onkyo via the Pre-outs. You would then utilise the speaker ports on the Marantz, and bi-wire them to your Polk speakers, while the Onkyo would drive the centre, rears + control the subwoofer. However, your Onkyo doesn't allow this, but hey, sometimes that's life.

ilovemusic

1439 posts

Uber Geek

#531421 10-Oct-2011 10:57

If your Marantz doesn't have a Home Theater pass-through loop it's a bit of a palaver to hook up an AVR.

You could use the Marantz' tape loop but you would have to preset the Marantz' volume control to the same level every time you used the AVR in order to maintain correct channel balance.

Unless you're a hardcore audiophile the inconvenience probably outweighs the performance gains.