New pre-amp with older receiver.

[Mdorman]

Looking for advice to see if this is worth doing. I currently own and use a Marantz SR-18 receiver. It obviously is an older unit that does not have all the new tech (hdmi, lossless audio, ect.). The amps are rated at 140w per channel and sound very good in my opinion. Can I buy a newer pre-amp and connect it to my receiver? At least until I can afford to replace the receiver with external amps. Thanks

 

[-Jim-]

Yes, there are pre-outs and inputs on the rear of the Marantz SR-18 receiver, but it may be simpler and more cost effective to buy a new Home Theater Receiver. I find Separates are not as competitively priced.

 

[sterling shoote]

Looking for advice to see if this is worth doing. I currently own and use a Marantz SR-18 receiver. It obviously is an older unit that does not have all the new tech (hdmi, lossless audio, ect.). The amps are rated at 140w per channel and sound very good in my opinion. Can I buy a newer pre-amp and connect it to my receiver? At least until I can afford to replace the receiver with external amps. Thanks

You could do what you want to do if the preamp has a bypass feature, like that found on the Parasound P6. If I was in your shoes, I'd buy a Marantz 2.1 NR1200 Network Receiver. It has Airplay, a nice DAC, and a low pass filter to accommodate a subwoofer.

 

[PENG]

Looking for advice to see if this is worth doing. I currently own and use a Marantz SR-18 receiver. It obviously is an older unit that does not have all the new tech (hdmi, lossless audio, ect.). The amps are rated at 140w per channel and sound very good in my opinion. Can I buy a newer pre-amp and connect it to my receiver? At least until I can afford to replace the receiver with external amps. Thanks

You can definitely buy a "newer pre-amp" and use the SR-18 as a power amplifier but why would you want do that?
If you meant buying a newer preamp/processor such as the Marantz AV7705, 7706 or other preamp/processor and use it with the SR-18 until you are ready to buy a multi channel power map, then I think it is a good idea.

 

[Mdorman]

You can definitely buy a "newer pre-amp" and use the SR-18 as a power amplifier but why would you want do that?
If you meant buying a newer preamp/processor such as the Marantz AV7705, 7706 or other preamp/processor and use it with the SR-18 until you are ready to buy a multi channel power map, then I think it is a good idea.

Yes it is to save cash and not blow it on both a pre-amp and power amp for a 5.1 setup.

 

[Mdorman]

Yes, there are pre-outs and inputs on the rear of the Marantz SR-18 receiver, but it may be simpler and more cost effective to buy a new Home Theater Receiver. I find Separates are not as competitively priced.

I have thought of this but find that today's receivers are compromised between bells and whistles and putting any effort into their amp sections. I know what I have with the SR-18 in terms of power and sound quality. I know that receivers of today are handcuffed with spending money on licensing fees. My Marantz comes from a time when all then engineering went into a robust chassis, powerful internal amps and sound quality as the main focus.

 

[Mdorman]

You can definitely buy a "newer pre-amp" and use the SR-18 as a power amplifier but why would you want do that?
If you meant buying a newer preamp/processor such as the Marantz AV7705, 7706 or other preamp/processor and use it with the SR-18 until you are ready to buy a multi channel power map, then I think it is a good idea.

You hit the nail on the head my friend. I just want to save some cash and not buy something I already have.

 

[PENG]

You hit the nail on the head my friend. I just want to save some cash and not buy something I already have.

If the back of yours looks like the following, when used as power amp, be sure to remove those jumper plugs and connect your new receiver's pre outs to the "main in"s on the SR18.

 

[Wardog555]

If your reciever is incompatible with your use case. Eg hdmi and lossless audio needs. Then yes upgrade your reciever. Why use old equipment that doesn't meet your needs for the formats being used today? You are losing out on the increase of audio quality. And don't forget about 4k hdr support too.

 

[lovinthehd]

You may need a flagship level avr for equivalent amp sections. Kinda depends what your goals are, many avrs just powering 5 speakers backed up by a sub should work well.....what are your speakers particularly? Some interesting notes on amp rating in this AH preview https://www.audioholics.com/av-receiver-reviews/marantz-sr-18-first-look. Any avr with a full set of pre-outs could work as a pre-amp or are you considering getting a dedicated pre-pro and better power amp than a receiver down the line?

 

[-Jim-]

I have thought of this but find that today's receivers are compromised between bells and whistles and putting any effort into their amp sections. I know what I have with the SR-18 in terms of power and sound quality. I know that receivers of today are handcuffed with spending money on licensing fees. My Marantz comes from a time when all then engineering went into a robust chassis, powerful internal amps and sound quality as the main focus.

How about you tell us exactly what you plan to use this setup for; and the gang here will chime in with suggestions?

How many speakers, Subs, TV, connected? (If you have the make / model numbers for those, please advise.) Then advise what source material you plan to use, and a guess as to the percentages of each. It's your $$ but a 20 year old receiver is probably going to fail in the near term, even if you are using it just for it's amplifier section; so I don't see it as a wise direction to go. I was a huge fan of Marantz way back (do you remember a 2325) when their amplifier sections and power supplies were built like tanks. I loved it then but I certainly don't use it now.

 

[Mdorman]

If your reciever is incompatible with your use case. Eg hdmi and lossless audio needs. Then yes upgrade your reciever. Why use old equipment that doesn't meet your needs for the formats being used today? You are losing out on the increase of audio quality. And don't forget about 4k hdr support too.

I'm not asking if I should upgrade or not. I am asking if I can incorporate a new pre-amp with an existing receiver to get all the new tech and still have a 5 channel amp without spending the money on both at the same time.

 

[Mdorman]

You may need a flagship level avr for equivalent amp sections. Kinda depends what your goals are, many avrs just powering 5 speakers backed up by a sub should work well.....what are your speakers particularly? Some interesting notes on amp rating in this AH preview https://www.audioholics.com/av-receiver-reviews/marantz-sr-18-first-look. Any avr with a full set of pre-outs could work as a pre-amp or are you considering getting a dedicated pre-pro and better power amp than a receiver down the line?

I have read that article probably 50 times since it was written back in 2002. It is a great article. I am planning on doing this upgrade in stages because of money. I want to upgrade the pre-amp section first. Obviously I will get more bang for the buck this way.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I'm not asking if I should upgrade or not. I am asking if I can incorporate a new pre-amp with an existing receiver to get all the new tech and still have a 5 channel amp without spending the money on both at the same time.

Which preamp were you thinking of getting or have gotten?

 

[Mdorman]

How about you tell us exactly what you plan to use this setup for; and the gang here will chime in with suggestions?

How many speakers, Subs, TV, connected? (If you have the make / model numbers for those, please advise.) Then advise what source material you plan to use, and a guess as to the percentages of each. It's your $$ but a 20 year old receiver is probably going to fail in the near term, even if you are using it just for it's amplifier section; so I don't see it as a wise direction to go. I was a huge fan of Marantz way back (do you remember a 2325) when their amplifier sections and power supplies were built like tanks. I loved it then but I certainly don't use it now.

View attachment 53616

No offence but I wasn't looking for advise that concerns my setup. I have a 5.1 setup with speakers and a t.v. that I love. My SR-18 has been serviced by Marantz and is in top working order so no concerns of it going down anytime soon. I just wanted to make sure if I bought a new pre-amp that I can use my receiver for the time being until I can afford the amps I want. As far as a 2325, I own one too and it still sounds fantastic, to say you wouldn't use one now doesn't make sense to me but to each their own.

 

[Mdorman]

Which preamp were you thinking of getting or have gotten?

I haven't gotten one yet. As far as which one I want....I'm not sure yet. Thought about sticking with a Marantz. I also like the offerings from Anthem. I wish I could custom order one....lol. I look at the back of a Marantz and see all the old connections like component video or 11-13 channels of connection and wonder if I am paying for things that I will never use. Would love to have a pre-amp with just want I want and see the price of that. lol wishful thinking.

 

[PENG]

No offence but I wasn't looking for advise that concerns my setup. I have a 5.1 setup with speakers and a t.v. that I love. My SR-18 has been serviced by Marantz and is in top working order so no concerns of it going down anytime soon. I just wanted to make sure if I bought a new pre-amp that I can use my receiver for the time being until I can afford the amps I want. As far as a 2325, I own one too and it still sounds fantastic, to say you wouldn't use one now doesn't make sense to me but to each their own.

As I mentioned before, there is no problem doing what you are intending to do. I think people are trying to help but they may not know the SR18 has a very capable power supply and output devices. So to them, it is just an AVR that typically can't compare with a real "separate" power amps.

The SR18 AVR is not rated for 4 ohm, but given that it has a good size toroidal transformer, a total of 112,000 uf 71 V storage caps and output devices rated 17 A vs the typically 15 A rated for mid range to flag ship AVRs including the flag ship class SR8015, RX-A3080, and AVR-X8500H etc. I would have no concern using the SR18 with 4 ohm speakers as long as one doesn't go crazy with the volume.

I just found a review with some measurements that Marantz apparently provide to Gene:

Marantz SR-18 Follow-up | Audioholics

Based on that, I would say the SR18 should be at least as capable as the MM8807.

 

[Mdorman]

As I mentioned before, there is no problem doing what you are intending to do. I think people are trying to help but they may not know the SR18 has a very capable power supply and output devices. So to them, it is just an AVR that typically can't compare with a real "separate" power amps.

The SR18 AVR is not rated for 4 ohm, but given that it has a good size toroidal transformer, a total of 112,000 uf 71 V storage caps and output devices rated 17 A vs the typically 15 A rated for mid range to flag ship AVRs including the flag ship class SR8015, RX-A3080, and AVR-X8500H etc. I would have no concern using the SR18 with 4 ohm speakers as long as one doesn't go crazy with the volume.

I just found a review with some measurements that Marantz apparently provide to Gene:

Marantz SR-18 Follow-up | Audioholics

Based on that, I would say the SR18 should be at least as capable as the MM8807.

Thank you very much, this is exactly what I was hoping to hear and thank you for the detailed answer. This is what I also expected comparing today's mid to high level receivers. Not saying that they aren't good but compared to a time when the most important thing was build quality and sound quality it is extremely difficult for today's manufacturers to give us this and provide all the bells and whistles.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I haven't gotten one yet. As far as which one I want....I'm not sure yet. Thought about sticking with a Marantz. I also like the offerings from Anthem. I wish I could custom order one....lol. I look at the back of a Marantz and see all the old connections like component video or 11-13 channels of connection and wonder if I am paying for things that I will never use. Would love to have a pre-amp with just want I want and see the price of that. lol wishful thinking.

What are the only features you want in your pre-pro?

 

[Mdorman]

What are the only features you want in your pre-pro?

I would like to have as many of the new audio formats as possible for both music and movies. I currently have a Denon DVD-2900 sacd/dvd-a player connected with analogue cables. I have a Sony a80j oled for movies and music steaming. I would like the ability for a second subwoofer connection and possibly more channels for atmos one day (7.2.4). But that is last on my list. The speakers I use are wide dispersion, omni polar. They fill the room amazingly.