I have a Marantz 4320 receiever I bought in 06. This morning the volume control got fucked up and doesn't work
so
1- is it worth trying to fix?
2- If not, what should I look for in a new one? I'm not interested in high end, audiophile, just a good receiver (current is 80 W per channel and has enough power for me)
Quote from: slslbs on August 23, 2014, 10:07:36 AM
I have a Marantz 4320 receiever I bought in 06. This morning the volume control got fucked up and doesn't work
so
1- is it worth trying to fix?
2- If not, what should I look for in a new one? I'm not interested in high end, audiophile, just a good receiver (current is 80 W per channel and has enough power for me)
After some great discussions with our resident audio expert, Hicks, I landed on a Denon that I have been really happy with.
my marantz is crapping out on me too. only a couple years old.
the only place in town that is an authorized marantz repair shop really bends you over.
so im kinda pissed.
It's really disappointing. There are so many 30+ year old Marantz amps out there still plugging away like brand new while the last 15 years of Marantz systems are all crapping out.
Hmmm that sucks, but a volume knob should be a pretty easy fix, it might just have dirt in there.
My Marantz from 2010 is still going strong. ::knocks on wood::
I would say with current build qualities it isn't realistic to expect mass market receivers to last longer than 10 years these days after heavy use.
They truly don't make em like they used to.
Onkyo, FTW. I bought mine around the same time(2006) and my parents that they gave me(purchased in 1985ish) is still going strong.
I also have a basic 2-channel Onkyo that's at least 15 years old and going strong.
very strange
it's working fine now
The problem started when I tried to increase the volume with my Harmony remote from another room. At 1st, nothing happened, then it suddenly topped out. I tried to get it down with the remote, no dice.
I ran from the kitchen to the family room and manually turn it down, which worked, but then it didn't go up. I turned it off, waited a while, the volume would go up a little and then on it's own go back down back to 0 (or, according to the dial, - 80). Turned off, turned on, repeat, same problem.
left the house, came back a few hours later, just for kicks tried it again and it's fine.
I also was afraid that going to full juice would have blown a speaker, but fortunately it didn't.
I guess something temporarily shorted and then fixed itself
:ghost in the machine.
Quote from: PG on August 23, 2014, 10:10:31 AM
Quote from: slslbs on August 23, 2014, 10:07:36 AM
I have a Marantz 4320 receiever I bought in 06. This morning the volume control got fucked up and doesn't work
so
1- is it worth trying to fix?
2- If not, what should I look for in a new one? I'm not interested in high end, audiophile, just a good receiver (current is 80 W per channel and has enough power for me)
After some great discussions with our resident audio expert, Hicks, I landed on a Denon that I have been really happy with.
I'm in the market for a new stereo receiver that I will run surround sound and a lot of audio out of. PG, what kind of Denon do you have?
I've had a basic Pioneer for about 25+ years. It's been an absolute work horse, so I may be looking to go Pioneer again.
Any thoughts? Paging Mr. Hicks.
Quote from: anthrax on October 13, 2014, 10:37:11 AM
Quote from: PG on August 23, 2014, 10:10:31 AM
Quote from: slslbs on August 23, 2014, 10:07:36 AM
I have a Marantz 4320 receiever I bought in 06. This morning the volume control got fucked up and doesn't work
so
1- is it worth trying to fix?
2- If not, what should I look for in a new one? I'm not interested in high end, audiophile, just a good receiver (current is 80 W per channel and has enough power for me)
After some great discussions with our resident audio expert, Hicks, I landed on a Denon that I have been really happy with.
I'm in the market for a new stereo receiver that I will run surround sound and a lot of audio out of. PG, what kind of Denon do you have?
I've had a basic Pioneer for about 25+ years. It's been an absolute work horse, so I may be looking to go Pioneer again.
Any thoughts? Paging Mr. Hicks.
I have this one that has since been discontinued. I'm sure there is a new version.
Link: http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B004Z50L6E (http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B004Z50L6E)
It's great because it has a little microphone that you can place in the "sweet spot" of the room and it will automatically calibrate your surround sound speakers for that spot - that said, I wish it was more customizable as far as EQ, etc.
Quote from: slslbs on August 23, 2014, 10:07:36 AM
I have a Marantz 4320 receiever I bought in 06. This morning the volume control got fucked up and doesn't work
so
1- is it worth trying to fix?
2- If not, what should I look for in a new one? I'm not interested in high end, audiophile, just a good receiver (current is 80 W per channel and has enough power for me)
My circa 2011 Marantz had an issue with the volume. When I used the knob instead if the remote, it jumped all over the place. Like Hicks said, it could be a little debris. I popped off the knob, hit it with some compressed air, spaced out the little dial thingy with a flathead so it would fit tighter and it's been 100% since. Super stoked on my Marantz, I love it.
Found one of these at a decent price. Just curious if anyone has any experience with these and if it would make much of a difference to my vinyl listening.
Rega Fono Moving coil phono pre-amp
(http://img.canuckaudiomart.com/uploads/large/473654-brand_new_rega_fono_moving_coil_phono_preamp.jpg)
Quote from: Buffalo Budd on April 24, 2015, 10:55:00 AM
Found one of these at a decent price. Just curious if anyone has any experience with these and if it would make much of a difference to my vinyl listening.
Rega Fono Moving coil phono pre-amp
looks pretty sweet. what do you currently use to drive your turntable?
Quote from: mbw on August 23, 2014, 10:37:17 AM
my marantz is crapping out on me too. only a couple years old.
the only place in town that is an authorized marantz repair shop really bends you over.
so im kinda pissed.
UPDATE:
so, i brought my marantz in shortly after this post to the hell shop.
they gave me the runaround for
6 months , before finally telling me it can't be repaired cause marantz doesn't have the parts anymore.
i have read that they will charge you a 'bench fee' if they can't fix it so i have just decided to abandon it there.
if you would like to read some of the worst yelp reviews for any business out there, check out Just Service (http://www.yelp.com/biz/just-service-chicago).
bought a Denon from Crutchfield and it arrived the other day and so far it is great.
just in time for the MSG 95 release. yep, haven't spun a record until the other day for 6 months.
feels good to be back.
That's really shitty mbw, you'd think you'd get some more service with a name like Marantz.
I'm currently using a Pioneer receiver with a Pioneer equalizer, Technics SL-220 table..
Hoping to ditch the receiver and EQ in favor of a new Pro-ject Debut Carbon and this Rega. I'm just really clueless when it comes to some of this stuff so I was hoping to get some input from those in the know.
What do you use the EQ for? Unless you're listening to tapes, hate your speakers, or have weird acoustics in your room you're probably doing more harm than good.
I'd bet that the Rega phono pre-amp connected to your Pioneer would sound pretty good...
Quote from: mattstick on April 24, 2015, 01:40:41 PM
What do you use the EQ for? Unless you're listening to tapes, hate your speakers, or have weird acoustics in your room you're probably doing more harm than good.
I'd bet that the Rega phono pre-amp connected to your Pioneer would sound pretty good...
I have 5 presets on my receiver and I find that it's hard to get the sound I want out of those settings. So I adjust the EQ for pretty much every record I play. I have a technics set of speakers (center, 2 x bookshelf and 2 x main speakers). They sound pretty good but I have them all set up facing forward instead of in each corner of the room due to aesthetics and speaker wire and a wife ; )
The dude at my local stereo spot, where I'll probably grab the Pro-ject table, says I shouldn't need any presets or EQ as I should be listening to vinyl as it was recorded. I'm just trying to get the perfect balance and not have to fuss with my setup every time I flip a record.
It probably doesn't sound like you expect because you have 5 speakers playing back 2 channels, there's probably weird phase issues being introduced.
Can your amp flip between 5.1 and stereo?
Quote from: mattstick on April 24, 2015, 06:24:18 PM
It probably doesn't sound like you expect because you have 5 speakers playing back 2 channels, there's probably weird phase issues being introduced.
Can your amp flip between 5.1 and stereo?
Sorry, to clarify, I've been playing primarily stereo just through the 2 main speaks lately with the EQ setting my levels.
Different EQ for every record?
Sounds like you need better speakers bro, just let me know when you are ready! :wink:
Quote from: Hicks on April 24, 2015, 09:30:11 PM
Different EQ for every record?
Sounds like you need better speakers bro, just let me know when you are ready! :wink:
It almost sounds like you're still in the speaker business.
Quote from: PGLHAH on April 24, 2015, 09:47:35 PM
Quote from: Hicks on April 24, 2015, 09:30:11 PM
Different EQ for every record?
Sounds like you need better speakers bro, just let me know when you are ready! :wink:
It almost sounds like you're still in the speaker business.
in other news, hicks recently bought a white van.
Thanks for the input. Never thought to upgrade the speakers as that seems like the steepest price tag to replace. I was told on a limited budget, I can't really go wrong with Paradigms so I've kept an eye out for a used set.
I'm currently running...
Technics
2 x SB-2744
3 x SB-C938
Pretty sure it's shit but was given the set when a friend moved.
Quote from: PGLHAH on April 24, 2015, 09:47:35 PM
Quote from: Hicks on April 24, 2015, 09:30:11 PM
Different EQ for every record?
Sounds like you need better speakers bro, just let me know when you are ready! :wink:
It almost sounds like you're still in the speaker business.
I worked there for six years and my discount was 50% of cost on returns. I stocked up.
So taking everyone's opinion into consideration, I'm leaning towards grabbing these towers for $350:
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-electronics/moncton/paradigm-monitor-9-v-3/1067067833?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true (http://www.kijiji.ca/v-electronics/moncton/paradigm-monitor-9-v-3/1067067833?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true)
(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjAwWDgwMA==/z/kVUAAOSwBLlVOnxw/$_27.JPG)
And then with the money I saved, may go with a pre-amp to eliminate the EQ.
Paradigms are aight.
Quote from: Hicks on April 25, 2015, 11:28:13 AM
Paradigms are aight.
I'll take aight for my price range.
Quote from: Buffalo Budd on April 25, 2015, 12:21:23 PM
Quote from: Hicks on April 25, 2015, 11:28:13 AM
Paradigms are aight.
I'll take aight for my price range.
Yeah $350 is pretty cheap for a pair of towers.
Quote from: Hicks on April 25, 2015, 03:38:55 PM
Quote from: Buffalo Budd on April 25, 2015, 12:21:23 PM
Quote from: Hicks on April 25, 2015, 11:28:13 AM
Paradigms are aight.
I'll take aight for my price range.
Yeah $350 is pretty cheap for a pair of towers.
I'm open to suggestions if you think I'll just want to upgrade these in 5 years.
Here's how things look at my house...
Quote from: mattstick on April 25, 2015, 07:32:49 PM
Here's how things look at my house...
That's actually a big help.
So you prefer the bookshelf speaks over the towers?
Got towers in the next room wired to the same amp. Mostly use those if people are over for dinner or whatever.
Hicks hooked me up with these Aperion bookshelves and I love 'em.
I have a pretty large area that I am trying to fill so the towers may suit my purposes a little better.
I'll add some decent bookshelves later on down the road.
I think I'll still grab a decent pre-amp for my turntable, which should make a big diff.
Different EQ for different records is not as crazy as it may sound. Despite the existence of the Standard RIAA eq curve since '55 or so, it seems that different mastering houses played a little loose with the standard.
Even if your collection doesn't go very deep you may have some that would benefit from some different curves.
A little bit about the varying' EQ curves can be found here (on a page designed to sell a Graham-Slee phono-stage): http://www.gspaudio.co.uk/78rpm-riaa-equalization.htm
And a detailed chart that makes the bold assumption that all labels got on board with the RIAA standard on or about '55: http://www.shellac.org/wams/wequal.html
I was speaking with someone last week who had demo'd the first unit below and found that even post '55 LPs from Columbia, EMI & Deutsche Grammaphone all benefited from alternative EQ curves. This applied even to 70's Columbia records that were tested.
Of course that all comes at a cost:
http://www.zandenaudio.com/product/m120.php
http://www.masterdigital.com/24bit/vadlydmd12.htm
http://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/micro-iphono/
http://www.gspaudio.co.uk/revelation-phonostagepreamp.htm
My dad was a serious audiofile guy back in the late 70s/80s and he always swore by his EQ.
But I find more and more people dismiss them these days. I find it has really improved my current setup but that could be due to the poor speakers and amp. I think if I pick stuff up piece by piece over the next year or so, I should be able to assemble a good rig. Started with the towers, next will probably be a phono pre-amp, then a new table.
Really appreciated all the input here.
My post can really be disregarded unless you are putting together a serious high-end rig (in which case you really want this one: http://www.fmacoustics.com/products/phono-linearizers/fm-223/ ) or if you play 78s.
I think most listeners probably won't hear the variations in the post-50s lps.
Your plan of new speaks and and phono stage will get you well on your way, I suspect.
So my wife informed me of some speakers that she had picked up in 94/95 when she worked at the local high end audio shop in town. She had some Paradigm 7SE speakers that were just collecting dust. I hooked those up to my Technics receiver and they sound mint. So I am back to where I started (full circle) to thinking I should upgrade my table as my Technics tables are hurting. My SL-220 has an issue with the left output and my SL-B2 has an issue with arm not raising high enough. It's fine for perfect records but anything with a warp rubs when I pull the arm across. Still keeping my eye out for some sweet bookshelf speakers to round out my system.
So my vintage Sony receiver has bit the dust and my wife has given the green light to splurge on a serious upgrade for an amp.
I am currently looking at the Yamaha A-S501 but wanted to check in with you phono audiophiles as this will be primarily used for listening to my record collection. Is there anything I should be looking for to optimize my sound in a medium to large room under $1,000?
Quote from: Buffalo Budd on March 08, 2021, 09:29:32 AM
So my vintage Sony receiver has bit the dust and my wife has given the green light to splurge on a serious upgrade for an amp.
I am currently looking at the Yamaha A-S501 but wanted to check in with you phono audiophiles as this will be primarily used for listening to my record collection. Is there anything I should be looking for to optimize my sound in a medium to large room under $1,000?
I actually have the previous model of that receiver, the A-S500. I love it, for the money, it's excellent. I don't have a record player, though, so I can't chime in there. But it effortlessly drives my bi-wired Polk RT35i. Sounds very crisp and has good detail. My setup lacks a little on the low end, but I think that's my speakers. They need a tune-up and maybe new caps on the crossover boards to bring them back to life.
My room is smaller, but I have had this same setup in a bigger room in the past and it sounded great. In my room currently, I hardly ever have the dial past 40-50%, and again that's with bi-wired speakers, which have higher impedance.
Quote from: Buffalo Budd on March 08, 2021, 09:29:32 AM
So my vintage Sony receiver has bit the dust and my wife has given the green light to splurge on a serious upgrade for an amp.
I am currently looking at the Yamaha A-S501 but wanted to check in with you phono audiophiles as this will be primarily used for listening to my record collection. Is there anything I should be looking for to optimize my sound in a medium to large room under $1,000?
Hmmm...That's a decent budget. Few ways to go. I think first thing you need to determine is whether or not there is a chance you will ever want capability to run video through it. As well, figure out if you want capability to stream through your phone/device (Spotify, whatever). Honestly, I think you can something great for half that, and I would sink the rest of the budget into pre-amp, or cartridge upgrade, depending on what you currently have in those areas. If you were using a vintage Sony, I'm going to assume you don't have an outboard phono-pre? So you will need to factor that it in as well when choosing new amp or receiver .
Thanks for the input guys.
No, I am currently not using a phono pre but have tossed around the idea of a tube pre and then lower end 2 way amp.
I don't plan on using it for running video but bluetooth would be nice as an option.
I do love vintage gear and a guy in town has a 70s Sansui completely rebuilt so I that is making me rethink the Yamaha plan.
Quote from: Buffalo Budd on March 09, 2021, 07:49:10 PM
Thanks for the input guys.
No, I am currently not using a phono pre but have tossed around the idea of a tube pre and then lower end 2 way amp.
I don't plan on using it for running video but bluetooth would be nice as an option.
I do love vintage gear and a guy in town has a 70s Sansui completely rebuilt so I that is making me rethink the Yamaha plan.
The Sansui will kick the Yamaha in the teeth in terms of sound.
Yamaha is good for digital....not so good with pure analog sources. If you do go with the yamaha, make sure you spend good coin on a phono pre-amp. There are specific things to watch out for with a pre-amp, and if you need some deetz just lemme know. Lots of things come into play....cartridge type etc...to decide which preamp to get....although....this is a decent pre that I know a few people who have and are very satisfied with because it covers both MM and MC types:
https://bit.ly/3ezvV8x
at $129.00 is a damn good deal....
I ended up getting the Sansui and it sounds good, especially for the price point.
Then I see this tube come up for sale in the city.
Yarland Tube 50W M34-IV
China made but it gets pretty decent reviews. Just wondering if it's worth the $975 price tag. I wouldn't pay a dime over $900 but even then, I wonder if it would be worth that much with what I'm running for speakers (refurbished Paradigms).
Anyone with any knowledge on these rigs?
Quote from: Buffalo Budd on April 20, 2021, 04:16:35 PM
I ended up getting the Sansui and it sounds good, especially for the price point.
Then I see this tube come up for sale in the city.
Yarland Tube 50W M34-IV
China made but it gets pretty decent reviews. Just wondering if it's worth the $975 price tag. I wouldn't pay a dime over $900 but even then, I wonder if it would be worth that much with what I'm running for speakers (refurbished Paradigms).
Anyone with any knowledge on these rigs?
Nice on the Sansui, hope it's doing well for you. Not sure about Yarland, not familiar, but it looks bitchin'. But 900-975 is a price point with a lot of good options, especially if you just need power amp.
Good work! I'd just enjoy the Sansui for a while. I bet that speaker/receiver combo sounds great.
Looks like that tube amp is 25 wpc, and you'll get it and then want new speakers, then new tubes, then...
Agreed folks, thanks for the voices of reason.
I ended up taking the vintage Sony receiver apart and cleaned up all the circuitry, replaced the MDF with stained spruce boards on each end and it works like new. So that is being used for my second TT setup currently.