Using a Yamaha Aventage 3070 as a preamp

[GT Banna]

Ok, thanks. I shall try that. No harm in looking into an option that may work.

 

[Kingnoob]

I’m really I’m unsure what a pre amplifier is /

Preamplifier - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

I’ve only ever had stereos or avr??


Reptilians invading in year 2025
Tesla spoken to them

 

[John Parks]

I’m really I’m unsure what a pre amplifier is /

Preamplifier - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

I’ve only ever had stereos or avr??


Reptilians invading in year 2025
Tesla spoken to them

So, you have an AVR? Then you have a preamplifier. A preamp controls source, volume, balance - all the neat things your AVR can do. Add amplification and a tuner in one box and you have a receiver (or AVR). So, if one's AVR is equipped with preamp outputs for each of the channels, one can hook up a stand alone amplifier, making the AVR a preamp (actually, it becomes an AV processor at this point). Confused? So am I!

 

[John Parks]

BTW, that Wiki definition, though accurate, is kind of confusing, especially do someone not experience in what we are talking about. Imagine your SO, who cares nothing about this hobby, asking (to be nice) what a preamp is and you give him or her this. Eyes will glaze over and forever gone will be the chance to involve them in our little obsession...

 

[lovinthehd]

So, you have an AVR? Then you have a preamplifier. A preamp controls source, volume, balance - all the neat things your AVR can do. Add amplification and a tuner in one box and you have a receiver (or AVR). So, if one's AVR is equipped with preamp outputs for each of the channels, one can hook up a stand alone amplifier, making the AVR a preamp (actually, it becomes an AV processor at this point). Confused? So am I!

OTOH a pre-amplifier can be a simple passive device (like a phono pre-amp or one without multiple inputs, switching, tone controls, etc).

 

[Verdinut]

OTOH a pre-amplifier can be a simple passive device (like a phono pre-amp or one without multiple inputs, switching, tone controls, etc).

If it was a passive device, it wouldn't amplify and couldn't qualify as a preamp, right?

 

[lovinthehd]

If it was a passive device, it wouldn't amplify and couldn't qualify as a preamp, right?

They exist, never wanted one nor know its limitations/conditions.....just that the phrase "pre-amp" covers a wide range of gear.

 

[Truthslayer]

TheYamaha's AV inputs 1 thru 4 allows for switching sound from analog, coax and hdmi. But not for xlr. Not sure if it is the same with Denon. As for watching TV without sound while listening to music. That's a personal preference. We love to watch sports. Can't see why that would be an issue. I can use my eyes while still enjoying great sound.

This still seems weird and strange. There should be no reason why you can't listen to the XLR audio input and still pass video content to your tv. I think I would try and speak with someone else at Yamaha.
At the very least, you should be able to hook up zone two out HDMI to the tv and use it that way, while still being able to listen to your XLR audio input.

 

[GT Banna]

Agreed it's strange but thats how the receiver was designed. You are correct to note that hooking up via zone 2 to get a video signal would work. One would then have to have a second TV in the room. Yamaha says that on the main zone only the AV 1 thru 4 inputs would allow for the potential to switch (select) various audio sources connected to a specific input. For example I can switch audio sources (hdmi, coax or RCA) in AV 1. The same is true for Av 2,Av 3 and AV 4. The xlr input on the receiver is affixed to AUDIO 4 and cannot be reassigned. I have, in fact, spoken to Yamaha on multiple occasions regarding this and the best I got for an answer was that perhaps in a future software upgrade, the ability to reassign the xlr input might be made available.

 

[PENG]

OTOH a pre-amplifier can be a simple passive device (like a phono pre-amp or one without multiple inputs, switching, tone controls, etc).

Phono preamps are typical not passive though. The so called passive preamps can be good for dacs, tuners, cd players etc., if short interconnects are used.

 

[Truthslayer]

Agreed it's strange but thats how the receiver was designed. You are correct to note that hooking up via zone 2 to get a video signal would work. One would then have to have a second TV in the room. Yamaha says that on the main zone only the AV 1 thru 4 inputs would allow for the potential to switch (select) various audio sources connected to a specific input. For example I can switch audio sources (hdmi, coax or RCA) in AV 1. The same is true for Av 2,Av 3 and AV 4. The xlr input on the receiver is affixed to AUDIO 4 and cannot be reassigned. I have, in fact, spoken to Yamaha on multiple occasions regarding this and the best I got for an answer was that perhaps in a future software upgrade, the ability to reassign the xlr input might be made available.

You wouldn't need a second tv to do what you want. Just hook up the Zone 2 to a another hdmi input in your tv.

 

[John Parks]

Phono preamps are typical not passive though. The so called passive preamps can be good for dacs, tuners, cd players etc., if short interconnects are used.

For a brief interlude in the late '90s early '00s, I had the McCormack Line Drive TLC-1:

It was a passive unit lauded for its transparency, blah, blah, blah. I will never go passive again...

 

[PENG]

For a brief interlude in the late '90s early '00s, I had the McCormack Line Drive TLC-1:
View attachment 33246
It was a passive unit lauded for its transparency, blah, blah, blah. I will never go passive again...

Of course, there are many passive "preamps" to choose from. My point is simply that they are typically not for phono that hd alluded to. I suppose it could be done, but I would to see links to some, especially good ones and I suspect any such animal will be restricted for use with very high output cartridges (e.g. ceramic cartridges) and the passive compensation/equalizer circuitry better be good.

 

[John Parks]

Of course, there are many passive "preamps" to choose from. My point is simply that they are typically not for phono that hd alluded to. I suppose it could be done, but I would to see links to some, especially good ones and I suspect any such animal will be restricted for use with very high output cartridges (e.g. ceramic cartridges) and the passive compensation/equalizer circuitry better be good.

Oh - sorry! Yeah, I was just talking about regular line preamps and mentioned the TLC because it was passive and I don't like passive. Agreed, phono preamps are not passive as they need to amplify the (very) small signal to RIAA standards.

 

[lovinthehd]

Of course, there are many passive "preamps" to choose from. My point is simply that they are typically not for phono that hd alluded to. I suppose it could be done, but I would to see links to some, especially good ones and I suspect any such animal will be restricted for use with very high output cartridges (e.g. ceramic cartridges) and the passive compensation/equalizer circuitry better be good.

I just gave phono as an example, not that all of them were that way....read my post again . I didn't say they were particularly useful either.

 

[3db]

I think your original plan of just adding a two channel, or even 3,5 amp would have been a better way. It would have a little better specs, and balanced inputs that you may not use. Obviously, if the price you couldn't refuse was <$1,000-$1,200 then it is a different story.

Upgrading to the CX5100 make sense but won't give you audible benefits so unless you can sell the 3070 for more than you will pay for the CX5100, I don't see any point. I have a Marantz prepro, a flag ship model at the time, and wish I had stayed with the AVR+a 2/3 channel amp route and not wasted my hard earned money.

Hey PENG, You usually give solid advice but how would choosing the matching preamp be a benefit if there is no sonic difference? IHO, I would say use the 3070 as the pre-amp and save some coin.


As far as XLR inputs go, unless one is truly in a noisy EMF environment, there is no advantage going that route.

 

[PENG]

Hey PENG, You usually give solid advice but how would choosing the matching preamp be a benefit if there is no sonic difference? IHO, I would say use the 3070 as the pre-amp and save some coin.


As far as XLR inputs go, unless one is truly in a noisy EMF environment, there is no advantage going that route.

I said it made sense only because he said he had bought the MX-A5000. That is a 11 channel power amp right? I did qualify my suggestion by saying "unless you can sell the 3070 for more than you will pay for the CX5100, I don't see any point. " So I guess we are actually in agreement aren't we?