New Marantz Pre-amp

[RUR]

Looks nice and the price isn't bad - wonder what scaler is inside.... Does the DTC 9.8 have balanced outs?

The BD player shows 20 June @ Musicdirect.

[navyman]

How does this work. I am very new to this audio stuff and all I have so far is an entry level onkyo home theater in a box. I took a look at the website and saw the preamp and then the amp. Do you just combine the 2 instead of one reciever? And where do you connect the subwoofer. I am a few years away from building a high end system probably 4-5 years when my pay reaches the 6 figures level, but I would like to start learning about it now.

[RUR]

Originally Posted by navyman

How does this work. I am very new to this audio stuff and all I have so far is an entry level onkyo home theater in a box. I took a look at the website and saw the preamp and then the amp. Do you just combine the 2 instead of one reciever? And where do you connect the subwoofer. I am a few years away from building a high end system probably 4-5 years when my pay reaches the 6 figures level, but I would like to start learning about it now.

Yes, Pre/Pro+Amp=Reciever (or AVR, as it is commonly called), though there are advantages to both approaches. An AVR means fewer boxes and less connections. Probable higher WAF, if that's important in your household, as it is in mine.

Amp technology changes very slowly, so a good amp now will likely continue to be a good amp for years to come. Pre/Pro technology changes much more rapidly. Within the past year or so, we've seen HDMI 1.3 and the addition of DTS HD MA and TrueHD decoding. This means that folks who buy separate Pre/Pro and Amp ("separates", as they're called), need not re-buy an amplifier when they upgrade their Pre/Pro. In theory, this saves money over the long haul. There are usually audio quality benefits via separates, but that may not be true in all cases.

[MatrixS2000]

Originally Posted by RUR

Does the DTC 9.8 have balanced outs?

Yes.

[RUR]

So, aesthetics aside, what benefits does the Marantz offer vs. the Onkyo/Integra?

[ryoohki]

Well it's 800$ more than the 9.8... why?

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by RUR

So, aesthetics aside, what benefits does the Marantz offer vs. the Onkyo/Integra?

They build better components for better sound quality, but obviously I haven't auditioned this latest incarnation from them, but from what they have produced in the past, they make very good components. I'm saving up my pennies for new Rotel Separates, and mono-block amps.

The speakers obviously make a HUGE difference, so I'll give this analogy....

The Speakers are the CAR..... the components are the GAS..... obviously buying a Ferrari over a Mustang gives you WAY more power, etc. but once you get that power, both can benefit by being fed High-Octane fuel.....

In the same respect, just giving high-octane fuel won't turn your Mustang into a Ferrari which makes me scratch my head when people spend $1,000 on a new receiver and connect their $2,500 speakers..... to each their own though.

[RUR]

^^^^
Preaching to the choir and I guess I should have been more specific. What significant features does the Marantz offer vice the Integra? Also, it would be nice if we could determine what upscaling solution the Marantz will use.

LOL, I'm in the market for a couple of Audio Research monoblocks for my 2ch system. If you're going 5/7 monoblocks for a HT, that's a lot of pennies!

[richteer]

Originally Posted by RUR

^^^^

LOL, I'm in the market for a couple of Audio Research monoblocks for my 2ch system. If you're going 5/7 monoblocks for a HT, that's a lot of pennies!

I'd like a pair of ARC Ref 200s for my stereo system, but for now I'll have to "make do" with my PrimaLuna Prologue 7s. :-) (The ARC Ref 610T rather too big for my needs, and the $40K price tag is breathtaking!)

[RUR]

Originally Posted by richteer

I'd like a pair of ARC Ref 200s for my stereo system, but for now I'll have to "make do" with my PrimaLuna Prologue 7s. :-) (The ARC Ref 610T rather too big for my needs, and the $40K price tag is breathtaking!)

Poor you! Ref 200's would be great and I'd pick up a pair for the right price, but I'm looking for something to drive a pair of Vantages and 140's should do the trick nicely for ~half the price. Rogue 150's are also interesting and have received some excellent press.
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/rogue2/m150.html among others.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by RUR

^^^^
Preaching to the choir and I guess I should have been more specific. What significant features does the Marantz offer vice the Integra? Also, it would be nice if we could determine what upscaling solution the Marantz will use.

LOL, I'm in the market for a couple of Audio Research monoblocks for my 2ch system. If you're going 5/7 monoblocks for a HT, that's a lot of pennies!

I only want to push the fronts with mono-blocks so three of them I guess..... but I haven't looked that far into it.... I'm still in the saving pennies stage!!!!