Marantz SR5011 as a preamp

[MarkTheShark]

So, I have been running my Rogue Audio Sphinx Integrated amp with two Martin Logan Motion 15s using a Maranz SR5011 AV receivers pre-out as the Sphinx input. Is this taking anything away from the sound of the Sphinx and the Motions?

 

[Verdinut]

What were you using to drive the Rogue before you decided to use a Marantz SR5011 as a preamp-processor? The SR5011 has an excellent sound performance and, depending on the voltage gain of the Rogue amp, I believe it should normally output a non distorted signal voltage of between 1.5 and 2 volts at least.
I understand you have been listening to this configuration. What makes you suspect there is something wrong with the Marantz pre-outs? If the preamps were clipping, you would certainly hear it.

 

[lovinthehd]

Seems odd to use an avr as well as an integrated amp in this way; avr only as pre-amp and the integrated amp only as power amp.....why?

 

[MarkTheShark]

What were you using to drive the Rogue before you decided to use a Marantz SR5011 as a preamp-processor? The SR5011 has an excellent sound performance and, depending on the voltage gain of the Rogue amp, I believe it should normally output a non distorted signal voltage of between 1.5 and 2 volts at least.
I understand you have been listening to this configuration. What makes you suspect there is something wrong with the Marantz pre-outs? If the preamps were clipping, you would certainly hear it.

Hello Verdinut, I was using the Rogue amp in a separate system with separate speakers. Using the SR5011 and the Amp, the sound is good, with no distortion. I was just curious if there were any drawbacks to this configuration.

 

[MarkTheShark]

Seems odd to use an avr as well as an integrated amp in this way; avr only as pre-amp and the integrated amp only as power amp.....why?

Hello Lovinthehd, I wanted to get the cleanest sound using the Rogue Sphinx, yet I do like all the bells and whistles of the 5011. I am using the system with 5 channel surround, Video, phono, NAS, ipad in, and different modes of equalization. The surround and center are fed from the AV 5011 and the primary front speakers from the amp when only listening to music.

 

[j_garcia]

Other than a little more complexity, I don't see a drawback to that setup. How are the speakers wired though? I hope you are swapping speaker cables when you go from movies to music because if you connect both amps to the speakers and accidentally have them both on at the same time with signal, you will fry both.

 

[MarkTheShark]

Other than a little more complexity, I don't see a drawback to that setup. How are the speakers wired though? I hope you are swapping speaker cables when you go from movies to music because if you connect both amps to the speakers and accidentally have them both on at the same time with signal, you will fry both.

JGarcia, the fronts are always wired to the Rogue Amp. The Rogue amp line in is from the 5011 pre-out. The surround and the center channel speakers are fed from the AV amp. I don't physically swap wires back and forth. There are no tone settings on the Rogue amp, and even though I am trying to get clean "pure" sound, having some tone control via the AV amp is nice.

 

[j_garcia]

OK, you are basically using the Rogue as an amp, should be fine.

 

[MarkTheShark]

I am moving the system into another room this month and upgrading the front speakers and using the Martin Logans for surrounds. I am curious how the Marantz SR5011 with react when trying to calibrate using the Audyssey software. Will the fact that the fronts and sub are connected to another amp than the 5011 effect the calibration?

 

[MarkTheShark]

OK, you are basically using the Rogue as an amp, should be fine.

Yes, exactly. There's just so much going on with the Marantz AV receiver, it's not a simple pre-amp. My thought was that the more items you put in the circuit, your run the chance of degrading the sound from source to speakers.

 

[j_garcia]

I am moving the system into another room this month and upgrading the front speakers and using the Martin Logans for surrounds. I am curious how the Marantz SR5011 with react when trying to calibrate using the Audyssey software. Will the fact that the fronts and sub are connected to another amp than the 5011 effect the calibration?

It shouldn't know the difference. Do you adjust volume on the Rogue or only on the 5011? I'd avoid adjusting it there after calibration.

 

[lovinthehd]

Why did you get an integrated amp over a simple power amp? Or already had it?

 

[j_garcia]

Sounds like it was already in hand.

 

[lovinthehd]

Sounds like it was already in hand.

Yep, see it now. Sometimes I go to the last post rather than the last-read post....

 

[vsound5150]

It shouldn't know the difference. Do you adjust volume on the Rogue or only on the 5011? I'd avoid adjusting it there after calibration.

Sorry to butt in, this made me curious. On another forum, I read to turn vol down on both the AVR and amp and then increase amp until you hear hiss and then back off until hiss disappears and the amp vol is set and to control vol from AVR going forward. Is that the correct way for the initial setup? I have a new amp and want to make sure it's setup right, I forgot to try this adjustment last night but was also wondering what to do if there is no hiss.

 

[j_garcia]

If the amp has gain control, yes that sounds right. Since this is an integrated, if it doesn't have main amp inputs (which should bypass the pre section and use it llke a dedicated amp), then that's how I would do it. Even with no hiss, I'd probably back it off a bit from full volume. AFAIK most separate amps don't have common gain controls anymore.

 

[MarkTheShark]

If the amp has gain control, yes that sounds right. Since this is an integrated, if it doesn't have main amp inputs (which should bypass the pre section and use it llke a dedicated amp), then that's how I would do it. Even with no hiss, I'd probably back it off a bit from full volume. AFAIK most separate amps don't have common gain controls anymore.

At 200amps @ 4ohms I probably wont be hitting full volume at any point. But why would I need to back it off? The Rogue Sphinx has no gain control, just volume.
This raises another question. Alhough the signal is going through the AV receiver, the volume control will always be limited by the max output of the Rogue Sphinx amp. The power of the AV receiver is not added to the power of the amp when used as a pre-amp to amp configuration. (?)

 

[j_garcia]

At 200amps @ 4ohms I probably wont be hitting full volume at any point. But why would I need to back it off? The Rogue Sphinx has no gain control, just volume.
This raises another question. Alhough the signal is going through the AV receiver, the volume control will always be limited by the max output of the Rogue Sphinx amp. The power of the AV receiver is not added to the power of the amp when used as a pre-amp to amp configuration. (?)

Volume is technically gain. I back it off because I don't want full gain. That's just me. If you don't have hiss and it isn't overheating, you're OK. When I used my 4 Ohm speakers I could crank them to levels that were uncomfortable without distortion too, so I'd say you are fine as is.

That is correct, all the power the speakers see is from the Rogue only.

 

[lovinthehd]

At 200amps @ 4ohms I probably wont be hitting full volume at any point. But why would I need to back it off? The Rogue Sphinx has no gain control, just volume.
This raises another question. Alhough the signal is going through the AV receiver, the volume control will always be limited by the max output of the Rogue Sphinx amp. The power of the AV receiver is not added to the power of the amp when used as a pre-amp to amp configuration. (?)

200 amps? Yow

 

[Aaron Bilger]

Yes if it has pre-out you can definitely use it as a preamp I use a av receiver as my preamp it's the most common way as most people do it.