Topic: PMD 661 MKll

[fmaderjr]

Got an answer on this...

The PMD661MKII is a separate model from the PMD661.  Version 2.03 is the latest firmware for the PMD661.  There are no plans to release a new firmware version for the PMD661 that includes the new features present on the PMD661MKII.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT
D&M Professional
1100 Maplewood Drive
Itasca, IL 60143

Well I was pretty sure they'd say that even if they could have done a firmware update to the original (and their response that there are no plans to do a firmware update actually implies that they could have done one if they so desired). They are probably just hoping that a number of owners of the original will "step up" to the MKII. I'll be interested to hear what changes were made in the MKII that couldn't possibly have been done with a firmware update. Improved preamp? Better S/N ratio?

[spyder9]

D&M  = lazy

PMD 661 mkii

They should have at least ditched the analog meters and made the thing smaller.  They didn't even have the guts to add USB 3.0 or SDXC compatibility.  Releasing an exact replica and putting a new sticker on it is absolutely ridiculous.  It's stupid.  The people who buy these products are not the mainstream consumer.  This is a marketing disaster.  Someone will lose their job over this.  Maybe their career.

PMD 620 mkii

Nice paint job



 

[DigiGal]

A new Taperssection member posted this in the 661 thread, he photoshopped this concept back in May 2012 and he pitched the idea to Marantz.  Of course it won't happen but the form factor of his concept is much nicer than what Marantz developed.  If they could have adopted it then that would have made a sweet MKII.  Don't know if improved the mic pre's in the 661 for MKII, haven't checked to see if the specs changed but that would be an improvement too.  Otherwise what's the real point of the MKII moniker, seems like current models should be able to be upgraded with firmware release but Marantz says it can't so there must be some form of hardware revision.  Basically Marantz produced a big yawn of an upgrade as far as it appears. 

[fmaderjr]

What's the real point of the MKII moniker, seems like current models should be able to be upgraded with firmware release but Marantz says it can't so there must be some form of hardware revision.  Basically Marantz produced a big yawn of an upgrade as far as it appears. 

According your your previous post, the way I read it, Marantz didn't actually say the old 661 couldn't be updated to the new features with a firmware upgrade. They said they were not planning to release such an upgrade.

Got an answer on this...

The PMD661MKII is a separate model from the PMD661.  Version 2.03 is the latest firmware for the PMD661.  There are no plans to release a new firmware version for the PMD661 that includes the new features present on the PMD661MKII.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT
D&M Professional
1100 Maplewood Drive
Itasca, IL 60143

[DigiGal]

Yes, that was a direct quote from the response so no they didn't actually say they couldn't but believe it or not they actually consider the MKII to be a completely separate model hence no firmware update for 661.

It'll be interesting if they release a firmware revision for the MKII down the line to see if can be installed on the PMD661.  I won't be the guinea pig to try it would you?

[fmaderjr]

It'll be interesting if they release a firmware revision for the MKII down the line to see if can be installed on the PMD661.  I won't be the guinea pig to try it would you?

Me neither, although I also though of that.

If you make sure you have a copy of the old 661's last firmware on hand, you could probably reinstall that if something went wrong, but it's a big risk especially when the new features aren't really all that useful.

[DigiGal]

It'll be interesting if they release a firmware revision for the MKII down the line to see if can be installed on the PMD661.  I won't be the guinea pig to try it would you?

Me neither, although I also though of that.

If you make sure you have a copy of the old 661's last firmware on hand, you could probably reinstall that if something went wrong, but it's a big risk especially when the new features aren't really all that useful.

Yeah, there's potential to brick the machine.  A firmware update might not even install though if it performs a check of the model number.  If that's the case it may be possible to hack in with a terminal program, change the model number then install said update.  As mentioned though it's unclear if they actually changed any hardware, I'd guess no but you never know.

There was one PMD661 owner in one of the 661 threads who bricked his machine during an update.  He had to send it in to Marantz to get it working again.

[jb63]

So this is the long-awaited next step?

>sigh<

I can't believe these updates matter to anyone outside of law enforcement, so there must be a market there.
If they had AT LEAST modded the units in some way...

The 620 to do 24/96 or at maybe given it a volume knob.
Updating it to do 24/96 would have sold a lot of units, I think.
The 661 is practically perfect for what it is. What changes do you guys think it needs?

[DigiGal]

Just checked the published specs and there's NO CHANGE from 661.

The update doesn't justify considering this a separate model.  The Law Enforcement features don't mean a thing to tapers but I suppose this does open a door for them to a new professional market.

The card check compatibility feature and Linear style Retake record function of the MKII could be useful.

As far as improvements that could have been made assuming the same form factor/layout. . .  Improved preamp performance with lower S/N, more powerful headphone amp, longer battery run times, digital output, USB 3, and some would argue increasing the sampling rate.

[DSatz]

Has anyone confirmed the recorder's dynamic range specification of 65 dB (yikes!) for the mike inputs and 85 dB for analog line inputs?

If those numbers are correct, the option to record 24-bit from the analog inputs seems strange--there would be no improvement over a 16-bit recording.

--best regards

[DigiGal]

Has anyone confirmed the recorder's dynamic range specification of 65 dB (yikes!) for the mike inputs and 85 dB for analog line inputs?

If those numbers are correct, the option to record 24-bit from the analog inputs seems strange--there would be no improvement over a 16-bit recording.

--best regards

This is one reason why I picked up a MixPre-D to feed my stock PMD661 a digital signal.

MKII is the same spec Marantz Professional listed for PMD661, so no change, it seems like they could/should easily have improved this for the MKII.  As listed the MKII is a lame revision but according to Marantz Professional a firmware update will not be available to bump a 661 up to a MKII which would seem to imply some sort of hardware change was made.

Don't know if the Oade modded units change that spec, guessing yes since they at least change out the op amps.  If the Oade mods do improve this then what's their new spec for: Super, FET, Concert or Warm mods that they offer?

[cd2go]

Don't know if the Oade modded units change that spec, guessing yes since they at least change out the op amps.  If the Oade mods do improve this then what's their new spec for: Super, FET, Concert or Warm mods that they offer?

I wasn't aware that Doug posted specs for his mods?

[DigiGal]

Don't know if the Oade modded units change that spec, guessing yes since they at least change out the op amps.  If the Oade mods do improve this then what's their new spec for: Super, FET, Concert or Warm mods that they offer?

I wasn't aware that Doug posted specs for his mods?

It sure would be nice to know what they are if he could list specs on the various mods offered. 

[datbrad]

Don't know if the Oade modded units change that spec, guessing yes since they at least change out the op amps.  If the Oade mods do improve this then what's their new spec for: Super, FET, Concert or Warm mods that they offer?

I wasn't aware that Doug posted specs for his mods?

It sure would be nice to know what they are if he could list specs on the various mods offered.

I asked Doug what the improvement for the 661 would be when I was about get the warm mod from him in March 2009 due to the well below 24bit performance published for the stock unit. He told me that he raises the mic input ref level on the 661 to -46 and since the chips the stock 661 uses are THD down -95db, the ones he uses for the cmod are down -125db, and the warm are down - 115db.
 

[DigiGal]

Thanks Brad, good to know.