About AV receiver as power amplifier?

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I pulled out my Denon avr 5800, planning to add it to my 5.1 HT setup as a power amp with the marantz receiver as pre amp.

Denon 5800 will drive front and center speakers (3 spks), while the surrounds are still connected to the marantz.

Have 2 question.

1, Usually how to adjust the volume? Actually both receivers can be operated.

2, How to calibrate speakers with microphone on marantz, because 3 spks are connected to Denon, what volume level can i preset on Denon?

Thank you very much.
 
1. Use preout (assuming your Marantz does have a preamp output else you wouldn't be asking this) of the Marantz to connect to discrete 7.1 in on the Denon, and preset Denon to 0dB volume level. I know Marantz receivers can default to a certain volume level not sure if Denon can. If they can, that default volume level should be set to 0dB.

2. Use the Marantz to calibrate with the volume level on Denon set to 0dB. The Marantz will work play a -10dBfs tone (VERY LOUD!) so wear ear protection. I've used this many years ago to approximately work out EQ for powered speakers - which have no gain control at all and are always at 0dB gain - and it works just fine. As long as you run out of the room just before hitting the calibrate button. The IR signal bounces nicely off a mirror or smooth wall.

After doing this, just use Marantz volume control for overall control. If there is any gain differences between the two amps the calibration system should factor that in for the saved calibration files.
 
Set volume on the Denon to about -20 to -16 dB, which should be what it takes to get levels equal to the Marantz. If you are unsure, connect the left front speaker to one receiver and the right front speaker to the other, play a (near-)mono signal, and adjust levels until balance is fine. Then leave volume on the Denon there.

It may be useful to deviate from this a bit if one should one receiver be appreciably noisier than the other.

It is not critical to match levels to a fraction of a dB, speaker calibration would be able to compensate for limited differences anyway.
 
Pardon the question, but exactly what are you expecting to gain - isn't
the Denon's substantial DSP capabilities sufficient for your needs, not to mention the rear panel intimidating enough?
DenonAVR-58002.jpg


Mind you, looking at the above, my first reaction is "no HDMI", and parsing through the instruction manual it's also noted that all speaker level and distance adjustments are manual, something that chased me out of the surround system experiment for more than a few years. So, it's assumed that the Marantz has at least a more user friendly interface and calibration system?

As much as one can "love" a piece of home entertainment equipment in non prurient manner, I quite enjoy the Audyssey system on my Onkyo TX NR818

To allocate the Denon's power amp channels to be used with external sources, does it need to be connected to a TV monitor to scroll through the numerous menu options, or does the tri-corder like remote control do all of that?
 
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Thank your for all your instruction about, I will test out at different volume levels on Denon receiver to see what I want.

I want to use my marantz sr7007 to do most jobs, while denon does power supply to the front and center channels only. I think it is logical enough?

Another question is which receiver should I hook the subwoofer to? both have sub-out.
 
I think you'd want to use the Marantz for all your front end processing, including the sub outs. My daughter and son in law bought a similar model about a year ago, and as I noted above, the Audyssey system makes speaker set up an absolute breeze. Mind you I've never used any of the 7.1 line outputs it or my Onkyo with outboard power amps - i.e. just the LFE out. To be honest, I wonder if your life could ultimately be a lot simpler with just basic stereo or even mono power amps for the front row.

Even if you de-rate the Marantz's specs to only 100WPC - unless you have a huge room and /or very inefficient speakers, that should be plenty.
Are you aware that this model allows for passive bi-amping of L&R front mains, by re-allocating one pair of amp channels otherwise available for surround (page 90 of manual) . That's a feature that we were able to take full advantage of when setting up Jen & Reid's B&W floorstanders. Hell, some recent models even have on-board digital XO capabilities for bi-amping in the front row. While it takes a few minutes to set up, the simplicity of fewer boxes and wires is something I very much appreciate.


Getting to the appropriate set up menu in the Denon to allocate its amp stages to line input only could be complicated, and if only use three its channels you'd be wasting a lot of its capabilities.

Oh yeah, one inadvertent "keystroke" on the second receiver's remote could cause a ton of grief.
 
I think you'd want to use the Marantz for all your front end processing, including the sub outs. My daughter and son in law bought a similar model about a year ago, and as I noted above, the Audyssey system makes speaker set up an absolute breeze. Mind you I've never used any of the 7.1 line outputs it or my Onkyo with outboard power amps - i.e. just the LFE out. To be honest, I wonder if your life could ultimately be a lot simpler with just basic stereo or even mono power amps for the front row.

Even if you de-rate the Marantz's specs to only 100WPC - unless you have a huge room and /or very inefficient speakers, that should be plenty.
Are you aware that this model allows for passive bi-amping of L&R front mains, by re-allocating one pair of amp channels otherwise available for surround (page 90 of manual) . That's a feature that we were able to take full advantage of when setting up Jen & Reid's B&W floorstanders. Hell, some recent models even have on-board digital XO capabilities for bi-amping in the front row. While it takes a few minutes to set up, the simplicity of fewer boxes and wires is something I very much appreciate.


Getting to the appropriate set up menu in the Denon to allocate its amp stages to line input only could be complicated, and if only use three its channels you'd be wasting a lot of its capabilities.

Oh yeah, one inadvertent "keystroke" on the second receiver's remote could cause a ton of grief.

Yes, a little bit more complicated for setup and operation. Days ago I tested both receivers with bi-amping to Kef q900 only for 2ch stereo playback. I could obviously feel the difference, not sure if it is sound quality difference. But denon 5800 is quite strong and deep even at low volume levels, while the detail is still very nice. That's why I am willing to have a serious test.

One year ago I used denon 5800 to drive polk audio rtia9s, since I got rid of rita9s, the receiver sit in the storage room for a long period of time. probably It can be made use of once again. If it doesn't do the right job, I guess I will give it to somebody who needs it.

Thanks.
 
When I connected Yamaha AVR to marantz,I set marantz volume to near zero(say -10).Then use Yamaha as pre.Connected Subwoofer directly to Yamaha.That worked perfect.But the issue is there will be ADC in chain.Your Denon may not be truely poweramp as AVR volume control will be digital and come into the action.So preout from 7007 will be perhaps converted to digital and again to analog.
 
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