Linking QUAD67 CD Player to Denon S770H

[tkray111]

Dear all, a second question for your contemplation.

I had a QUAD67 CD player for many years which linked to a Denon AVR1911 via both the Phono outputs and the TOSlink cable (which I ended up using more).

I recently replaced the old amp with a new Denon S770H. Unfortunately it has no TOSlink input and it refuses to connect with the RCA phono audio (supposedly analog) inputs. There is no configuring option either for those inputs.

Any suggestions about how I may overcome this obstacle will be gratefully received.

Tony

 

[j_garcia]

Phono and line level RCA aren't the same thing. This player does not have phono outputs; it has regular line level RCA outputs. Which analog inputs did you use on the 770? The assignment for that input selection (CD for example) to use analog is likely buried somewhere deep in the menus, making it not obvious, as I have experienced with my Marantz. Does the Denon have a "pure direct" mode or something similar that would force analog?

*edit - Looked at your model. It shows two analog inputs as assignable. That is what you should connect to and you will need to assign it to the input selection you want to use. It will not work with the Phono input.

 

[lovinthehd]

Agreed, call them rca inputs. Phono is a specific application on an avr, as it will include an appropriate gain stage and RIAA eq for generally moving magnet (MM) type cartridges on turntables. In any case the Denon 770 doesn't have a phono input, just two analog rca inputs (media player and cbl/sat).

With modern avrs you may need to look at the input assignment menu of the avr for the analog rca inputs you're trying to use, they generally start with an assumption of digital input for automatic assignment. See page 173 of the pdf manual for the avr.

You do have toslink inputs, but they are of the optical variety. I imagine there are converters from digital coax to optical to accommodate your old player, tho I would just use the available analog out from your player to analog inputs on the avr.

 

[j_garcia]

S770H does have a MM phono input next to the two analog inputs, but it obviously won't work for the CD player.

It also has a coaxial digital input, which is the only digital output the Quad 67 seems to have. The orange one right in the middle under Digital in on the AVR (if this is the correct image). So either RCA to the analog inputs or Coax should work once assigned to a given input selection.

 

[tkray111]

Thanks, @j_garcia and @lovinthehd for the suggestions and for explaining the difference between RCA and Phono.

@j_garcia: Currently I'm using the Analog input RCA inputs. The I'll try the Pure Direct Input. I hadn't understood it could use analog inputs. Unfortunately, as @lovinthehd says, the settings for the Analog Assignable inputs work only for the HDMI inputs CABLE/SAT and Media Player. The RCA analog inputs don't seem to be alterable for CD players - or at least there don't seem to be any or don't appear on the audio input section.

However, I hadn't thought of using the CBL/SAT inputs and assign them to optical and I think that's a brilliant idea in your most recent post. I'll definitely try that tomorrow (time in the UK is nearly midnight). Thanks!

@lovinthehd : Page 173 is for the HDCP setup for each HDMI input, and I don't see how that would influence the Analog RCA inputs. All the same I'll first try changing to optical and see if it works.

Thanks for this helpful support

Tony

 

[lovinthehd]

S770H does have a MM phono input next to the two analog inputs, but it obviously won't work for the CD player.

It also has a coaxial digital input, which is the only digital output the Quad 67 seems to have. The orange one right in the middle under Digital in on the AVR (if this is the correct image). So either RCA to the analog inputs or Coax should work once assigned to a given input selection.

Yep, that separate box for analog inputs for phono threw me off when I looked at the rear panel pic. I didn't see the coax digital input either so suspect I looked at the wrong rear panel!

 

[lovinthehd]

Thanks, @j_garcia and @lovinthehd for the suggestions and for explaining the difference between RCA and Phono.

@j_garcia: Currently I'm using the Analog input RCA inputs. The I'll try the Pure Direct Input. I hadn't understood it could use analog inputs. Unfortunately, as @lovinthehd says, the settings for the Analog Assignable inputs work only for the HDMI inputs CABLE/SAT and Media Player. The RCA analog inputs don't seem to be alterable for CD players - or at least there don't seem to be any or don't appear on the audio input section.

View attachment 77707


However, I hadn't thought of using the CBL/SAT inputs and assign them to optical and I think that's a brilliant idea in your most recent post. I'll definitely try that tomorrow (time in the UK is nearly midnight). Thanks!

@lovinthehd : Page 173 is for the HDCP setup for each HDMI input, and I don't see how that would influence the Analog RCA inputs. All the same I'll first try changing to optical and see if it works.

Thanks for this helpful support

Tony

Did just look again at the pdf manual I downloaded....p.173 is input assignment. PDF download is usually different than their web view manual, tho. The media player and cbl/sat analog inputs would be the only ones to use with your disc player's analog output in any case. The labels don't matter much, its that it's analog output from player and analog input to avr is more important (and avoiding the specific phono cartridge input). Looks like you found the right table in any case.

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks, @j_garcia and @lovinthehd for the suggestions and for explaining the difference between RCA and Phono.

@j_garcia: Currently I'm using the Analog input RCA inputs. The I'll try the Pure Direct Input. I hadn't understood it could use analog inputs. Unfortunately, as @lovinthehd says, the settings for the Analog Assignable inputs work only for the HDMI inputs CABLE/SAT and Media Player. The RCA analog inputs don't seem to be alterable for CD players - or at least there don't seem to be any or don't appear on the audio input section.

View attachment 77707


However, I hadn't thought of using the CBL/SAT inputs and assign them to optical and I think that's a brilliant idea in your most recent post. I'll definitely try that tomorrow (time in the UK is nearly midnight). Thanks!

@lovinthehd : Page 173 is for the HDCP setup for each HDMI input, and I don't see how that would influence the Analog RCA inputs. All the same I'll first try changing to optical and see if it works.

Thanks for this helpful support

Tony

According to the specification your AVR does have two assignable RCA line ins and a Digital coax in, which are all assignable. Your Quad 67 has an analog out and an RCA digital out. I would be inclined to use the RCA digital connection.

 

[j_garcia]

1) RCA from Quad to media player. This will work; Uses the player's DAC
2) Coax to the coax digital input and select cable/sat. This will also work. Uses the Yamaha's DAC.

While the player is a tank, the Yamaha probably has a better DAC.

 

[TLS Guy]

1) RCA from Quad to media player. This will work; Uses the player's DAC
2) Coax to the coax digital input and select cable/sat. This will also work. Uses the Yamaha's DAC.

While the player is a tank, the Yamaha probably has a better DAC.

It may well, due to age, but using the analog inputs there may well be two digital conversions as receivers often convert the analog inputs to digital. So I would use digital coax.

 

[tkray111]

@TLS Guy : Thanks for the continuing help.

The problem I have been pondering over since it was suggested is that the digital output from the CD player is single coaxial, but there are two assignable inputs - L and R - and no digital single RCA ones. Would that work if I just used one of the single digital inputs and still achieve stereo sound?

Tony

 

[j_garcia]

There IS a digital input. The orange one that I already mentioned, labeled coaxial; aka coaxial digital.