Looking for New AV Processor

Hi Everybody,

Just wanted to report back after purchasing a Marantz AV8805A ($2,250 + shipping). Pleasantly surprised in the improvement in sound quality, the main differences I’m hearing are:

• Noticeably more detail
• Much more seperation between the instruments (& vocals).
• Improved stereo imaging for music
• Improved 3D sound imaging for movies
• Much warmer tones including much more weight at the low end

Couldn't be happier!

The first thing I did was update the firmware, it went through two update cycles. I then tried using the Audysey setup but the outcome sounded a little compressed, so I reverted back to a manual setup. Here’s where I’m at:

• Front speaker set to small and crossovers - 60Hz
• Rear speaker set to small and crossovers - 80Hz
• LFE + Main
• LPF - 120Hz
• Pure Direct on

There’s lots of conflicting info out there on topics like LFE only or LFE + Main, so open to further advice on setup.

Kevin

There’s lots of conflicting info out there on topics like LFE only or LFE + Main, so open to further advice on setup.
 

For context I have the AV-7705. There’s a pretty good Audyssey thread on AVS Forum that I had followed some years ago. LFE was the consensus. Otherwise your subs and mains could cancel each other out in the lower frequency range with LFE+Main. Additionally, having the processor crossing over the mains at say 80Hz typically provides greater headroom from your separate amp while reducing distortion during demanding home theater moments. 

The “double bass” via LFE+Mains looks great in the menu setting, but it’s actually counterproductive when attempting to avoid nulls while maximizing impact of the subs and integration with the Mains.

Question: Pure Direct On for just listening to music or is it always on? I understand Pure Direct looks great on paper, but in practice it was never a preference (for me), especially for HT usage. And I could be wrong, but Pure Direct bypasses Audyssey room mitigation (correction).

Yes, Pure Direct bypasses Audyssey corrections but I didn’t like that setup anyway.

Regarding LFE only, my understanding is the sub will only deliver LFE channel sound, so if listening to two channel stereo the sub will be inactive. I’ll have to dig through the manual and see if I can save different setups for different content.

I’ll play around with the crossover also, but I think the right crossover depends on how competent your speakers are at delivering the low end.

Diving into the manual a bit more, so long as the speakers are set to "Small" (as I have), the sub will still be active for frequencies below the crossover when set to LFE only, which is contradictory to other "web info", so I've reverted back to LFE only not LFE + Main. Now I need to play around with 60hz vs 80hz crossover and then dial in the sub again.

Second hand, you say? Go upmarket and get a Datasat, which by now have depreciated and are available. I picked up my LS10 for ~$2500 18 months ago and it continues to do wonders. I just don’t route video through it.