Marantz AV8801 Home Theater Preamplifier
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #17317 in Receiver or Amplifier
- Brand: Marantz
- Model: AV8801
- Dimensions: 7.40" h x
17.30" w x
16.00" l,
30.70 pounds
Features
- Marantz proprietary audio technologies for superior sound: HDAM and High Current Feedback Technology
- 11.2 channel XLR outputs & RCA outputs
- Toroidal power supply; copper plated chassis
- 7 x HDMI in/3 x HDMI out Lets you connect your HDMI-equipped devices with a single cable; Enjoy high-definition audio and video on up to 3 displays.
- 4K video support (4K video upscaling, video pass-through and GUI overlay)
Product Description
For the ultimate music and home theater surround sound experience, the Marantz AV8801 A/V pre-amplifier is packed with the latest state-of-the-art audio and video technologies, including the highest resolution audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio. As well, the AV8801 features the ability to expand beyond conventional 5.1 and 7.1 channel configurations, thanks to the inclusion of DTS Neo:X and Audyssey DSX technology, which provides up to 11.2 channel playback, with additional front width and front height channels for the most immersive surround sound experience you've ever heard. The video section features a host of video inputs, with a sophisticated video processor that provides up conversion from standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) video to the latest Ultra High Definition (4K) format (3840x2160 pixels) for full compatibility with next generation Ultra High Definition (4K) displays. There are 7 HDMI inputs and 3 HDMI outputs, with dual HDMI outputs for the main zone that outputs the same signal to two displays, such as a flat panel TV and a front projector. A third HDMI output lets you enjoy another program in another room. Equipped with Audyssey MultEQ XT32, the AV8801 automatically configures key acoustical parameters and optimizes total system response. Full networking functionality includes 4 Ethernet ports along with available iOS and Android mobile control apps.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful.
The A/V Controller Purists have been Waiting Decades For!
By NotaSecondTime
BenefitsYou can have it both ways with the 8801: pristine reference sound quality or totally synthesized and manipulated.The Marantz is a reference product offering increased resolution in three dimensional space. If the rest of your system is "good enough", the 8801 allows the different types of individual cymbals of drums to be delineated like never before, including the transient and the envelope. One can hear the fragile tonality and combined resonance of massed violins. There is also solidity to the sound as everything is cut from the same cloth. Chorals hang perfectly in the air. An audiophile's delight!I don't expect this product to become obsolete (a first) and it's good enough to be the last A/V controller I'll ever buy (practical 4K home theaters are a long way off).I had previously evaluated the 8801 sound quality, but the latest Ethernet firmware update largely invalidated those findings. I will elaborate this review in the comments section.LimitationsBass Management: The number one area which the Marantz design has been confusing. The latest firmware update has helped. Purists do not want high pass crossovers inserted and that has been corrected. As long as the speakers are set to Large, the bass now remains intact. Note: the crossover setting for that channel should be greyed-out but is not.However it is beneficial to sum the bass (but again not touching the main channels integrity) as when using PCM stereo sources like foobar 2000 FLAC files (if your subwoofer is positioned between the main speakers). With the latest firmware upgrade the bass is sent to the subwoofer even in the Pure mode. I LIKE this feature (as it will be the default), but still missing is a subwoofer switch on the remote.Inadequate Cooling: Install a 120cm fan on top of ventilation slots. I used a standard quiet low-rpm 12v PC fan powered by my HTPC 5v USB port which always powered, unlike the 8801 back USB port. The extremely low rpm is dead silent and cools just (but optimally) enough. Here is one which turns faster: Coolerguys 120x120x25mm USB Fan with GrillPanel Display Auto Off: there is no way to see what surround mode the receiver is set to. Pressing mute lights the panel display and shows the input but not mode! Pressing the Info on the remote offers the obvious solution but is currently not operational. Note: all video processing is disabled.Audyssey DownsamplingAccording to site search "hometheaterhifi Anthem Room Correction (ARC) System - Part 1" page 9 Audyssey accepts digital signals up to 96KHz but then downsamples to 48KHz. This is a huge yet undocumented limitation and expalians why the 8801 Pure Direct mode sounds best. Further it make you wonder if MUSIC surround sound modes are quietly down-sampled too (though they accept up to 192KHz). The golden rule is to only playback upsampled CD and SACD (176KHz)in Pure Direct Mode. The simplest approach still wins!ConcernsXLR Wiring: Ensure pin2 is hot/positive(+) on your amplifiers which is typically silk-screened on the back panel. The EIA Standard RS-297-A was updated in 2004 recommending pin 2 be hot. In my system both the 8801 and the current Crown 1500 follow this standard. But I have older amplifiers which do not.System ConsiderationsAmplifier Selection: The companion Marantz multi-channel amplifier is not rated to drive a four ohm load. Further the heat generated by the 8801 and projector alone are more than enough to heat up rooms without adding 11 more channels of bulky, inefficient amplifiers!However class D amplifiers can spew their generated RF Interference if not carefully designed. Correctly implemented Class D takes a rather daunting amount of proprietary technology and patents. So steep is the cliff, it is even beyond the reach of Marantz or even parent D&M Holdings. The most sophisticated and cool running class D technology today is perfectly represented in the Crown XLS1500 Power Amplifier which includes a 40db of XLR CMRR. Its superior sound quality and drive capability are a perfect match for the 8801. This stand holds 4-5 with all-important physical spacing between the 8801 and each other:OnStage RS7030 Rack StandMatching System Components: Surrounding support components are of critical importance. For example I switched over to the Redmere active HDMI iMBAPrice - 3ft-36AWG Ultra Slim Series High Speed HDMI Cable w/ RedMere Technology - Lifetime Warranty to relock the jittery HDMI signal. Monoprice 30ft Slim Series High Speed HDMI Cable w/ RedMere TechnologyThe cost is cheap and the difference significant. One bad link in the system degrades all the benefits previously gained - its that fragile! Most are inexpensively available from Amazon.Another example is to use only hospital grade A/C cords and outlets:Conntek 25168 13-Amp 125-Volt Hospital Grade/Green Dot Cord 3-Foot SJT 16/3 105C NEMA 5-15P to IEC 320-C13 Green Dot Power Cord 14 AWG 3 SJT 6' C13 NEMA 5-15P Hospital Grd Clear 15A/125V They cost the same (at Amazon) so the selection is a no brainer!For the Height Speakers here is an excellent mount:Pinpoint AM-40B Side Clamping Bookshelf Speaker Wall Mount (Pair)All these upgrades will keep anyone busy for months. Enjoy the satisfying music!
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful.OMG!!!
By Ken
OMG= Oral Mouse Gemeinshaft!!!Anyway, an awesome sound overall!!!I did not purchase this from Amazon.com or Crutchfield.com, like I normally would have, because I could not spend $3,600 for a Pre-Amp, that is not McIntosh anyway.If you can find this unit for less than $3,000 range, then I strongly recommend you to get this piece as the Pre-Amp for your Home Theatre System! I have kept everything else the same in my 7.2 Home Theatre System Setup, including the Amplifier; I just changed the Pre-Amp to this AV8801, and it has changed my Movie Watching Experience. It must be mostly contributed to the Audyssey XT32 and an ability to calibrate my 2 subwoofers separately; but the sound is so natural and warm, compared to my previous Marantz AV7005.I had been using Marantz AV7005 for a year prior to upgrading to this Marantz unit; and this AV8801's New Sound Calibration system provides an audible aura, compared to the AV7005.I do not use this unit's Front Height or Front Width pairs of speakers and probabily will not anytime soon, if not ever.But, this unit's 36-bits DAC processors, as supposed to AV7005's 24-bits, make a definite sonical difference to my ears!Most of all, this unit's ability to calibrate two subwoofers was one of the biggest reasons that I bought this Pre-Amp, instead of spending almost $3,000 for a new High-Performance Subwoofer, e.g. Velodyne DD Plus 18 with its own Digital Calibrator, but this wieghs over 120 Lbs each, and will be very cumbersome to deal with its proper placement in my apartment).Its Aduyssey XT32 just makes a sonic difference in my opinion; basically the 32 in XT32 means that it processes 32 times more than the XT version on other Marantz models, e.g. AV7005 or AV7701.Did I say that it does make a difference in my setup? Possibly the best investment I have made to my home theatre system to improve its quality, next to getting two Subwoofers. If Marants comes up with a 48-Bits DAC Processors with their Pre-Amp, I know that I will be getting/upgrading to that one for the same reason next time.Thank you.Additional Comment: It has been a busy week; so I have not been able to use it as much.I did XT32 Audyssey Calibration on All 8 positions in my living room and Changed all of my the Speaker Configuration for all of my Bookshelf speakers manually to Small and set HPFs for all of them to 80 Hz; LPF for both of my subwoofers was set also at 80 Hz.Watching a Bluray movie, the sounds in any scenes were so REAL.Chimes blowing through the wind, from the side surround speaker wasn't just a Movie Sound; it was REAL. I thought there were really chimes in my living room.In the middle of the Bazzarr place, I felt that I was REALLY right at the SCENE, surrounded by all the Commotions and Events around me.In the motorcycle chase scene, I felf that a REAL motorcycle was passing by from rear right surround speaker to the center speaker, across my very living room.Of course, I am talking about 007 Skyfall scenes.I set my volume at a meager 45 dB (or -35 dB in relative mode), because my wife and a baby were sleeping three doors down the hall, in my 2-Bedroom apartment; and still it sounded SO REAL. I am just speechless and love this Pre-Amp.My Set-up consists of:1. Sony HX Series 55" (960 Hz MotionFlow model).2. Sony Bluray Player (4K-Capable model, although not using that function).3. Outlaw Audio 7700 Amp (300 wpc x 7 Ch. @4 Ohms, 0.03% THD, driven simultaneously).4. Marantz AV8801 (Upgrade from a Marantz AV7005 that was used for the past one year).5. Polk Audio Bookshelf LSi Series (2 pairs of LSi9s for Front and Rear Surround pairs, LSiC for Center, and LSi Bipolar pair for Side Surround pair).6. Velodyne DSL-5000R Subwoofer x 2 (600 watts RMS Each).Additonal Comment: Music Listening gives a Whole New Dimension to the Meaning of Clarity!!! Again, only difference is this Pre-Amplifier, from my previous Set-up, consisted of Marantz AV7005 priorly. I did not know that a Pre-Amp/Processor can make a Difference in the Overall Sound Quality This Much, in terms of the Clearity of the Sound, as well as the Realism; again, I upgraded to this AV8801, because of its Ability to Calibrate Two Subwoofers that I have; I just did not know or anticipate this kind of Improvements. It must be due to its XT32 Audyssey and/or AV8801's Higher Quality proprietary HDAM, compared to the AV7005's HDAM.CONCLUSION: I am scared! The sound coming out of my Home Theatre System only after I changed to this AV8801 is Too Good!!! Too Good!!! I really feel like I have a Movie Theatre Quality Sound (Maybe Better!) in My Very Living Room!!!I love this Marantz AV8801 as my Pre-Amp/Processor; and I am So Satisfied with it.Did I mention that The Sound is So CLEAR AND REAL?!!!You will definitely notice a DIFERENCE in you HTS setup too!!!Thanks again.Ken.
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