Streaming through Marantz Pre/Pro

@spenav 

+1 on room acoustics and multiple subs. The OP's equipment is all top notch.

OP, our setup is very similar. The steps I took to take it up a notch were to add room treatment following the acoustic recipe of anthony grimani following a video he posted on youtube which I can link to if you like. The next thing was upgrading to the paid version of audyssey with a calibrated mic. You already have the separate streamer and DAC. 

A power conditioner really helped me lower the noise floor.

As for the handshake/hdmi issue try reaching out to marantz tech support, they likely have had other customers with similar issues.

Check at the :49 minute mark in the video for the acoustic recipe:

https://www.youtube.com/live/G0ekssXX7rE?feature=share

@johnread57

Been there, done that.

I would highly recommend a separate 2 channel system that would also connect with your Marantz AVR via its pre-outs to the ’front’ channel/speakers.

You could find a very good integrated with HT pass-through which when turned on, would power your ’front’ main 2 channel speakers, or when off, would provide the source for you music. Your Marantz would always provide power/signal to your center and rear speaker in HT mode.

Your streamer could probably be connected to both a new 2 channel integrated via the analog outputs, and also the Marantz via a digital out should you want that flexibility. Your streamer also has its own DAC, so you don’t *need* a separate DAC, but that is always and option.

In this way, all your 2 channel listening would be via the new 2 channel integrated (or separate 2 channel preamp and power amp). In HT mode, the Marantz is used for powering all but the ’front’/main speakers and 2 channel analog sources.

I tried doing similar to your setup, and used it for both 2 channel and HT, but the 2 channel SQ was always compromised. Initially I got a separate power amp to use for the fronts, that helped. A little. But the real change was when I went to a dedicated 2 channel preamp with HT pass-thru, and connecting all my 2 channel components to that, not my AVR. The sound quality increase was substantial.

I now have the ’best’ of both worlds. When I want to watch TV, or the Berlin Philharmonic in HT mode, it sounds great, and when I want to just listen to 2 channel music, that is now great too, as I got the AVR out of that chain with components designed and built specifically for that purpose.

@bkeske 

Thanks for your feedback and suggestions here. It’s a line of inquiry I may continue to pursue as I acclimatize to the system.

Out of interest which preamp power amp combo are using today? Speakers?

@johnread57

Out of interest which preamp power amp combo are using today? Speakers?

I have a Yamaha AVR for HT, a Belles Aria Signature preamp with HT pass-thru input from AVR pre-out. 2 Belles MB200 monblock amps. Vandersteen Treo ‘front’/main speakers connected to the Belles mono blocks (used for both HT and 2 channel), Vandersteen 2CE Sigs as rear speakers in HT, and a ELAC Debut 2.0 center speaker. The rears and center connected to the AVR.

Also an iFi Zen Stream for streaming, a Denafrips Ares II DAC, a Audiolab CD transport, a Nakamichi tape deck, and a SOTA turntable with Hagerman Trumpet phono pre. All only connected to my Belles 2 channel preamp, thus not in the AVR chain at all.