Topic: Marantz 671 in the field...

[it-goes-to-eleven]

The conventional pro-audio (and Taper) wisdom is that a dithered version preserves the quality of the high bit rate source better than simple truncation. However there was a recent artice in Stereophile (http://stereophile.com/features/705dither/) that seems to sugest that the oposite can also be true. I have a feeling that the answer will vary depending on Mics, Position, Room, etc.

Screw stereophile. 24 to 16 bit truncation sounds like ass to me.  It isn't even close.

[lstelie]

hey now...
ok, i've had a chance to use it, and get a feel for its layout and operations.  a couple of quick observations.

Nick,

Did you have a chance to test it without a pream using a mic directly plugged using the onboard preamp (to know if the problem is the same than the 660's one or if the 671 has  really better preamps)

Thanks

[MattD]

Niether do that. I think the AD2K+ is the only one that can output both.

[twoodruff]

for some reason I thought the mme did as well, seems like a complicated process, I know the v3 does NOT

[Nick's Picks]

the MME can output 24bit on USB while set to 16bit for its local digital output jacks.  the USB signal locks onto whatever the software setting is, so yes...it can do both.
the other one is the AD2K.

I have no intention of running "mic in" on the 671 until its mod'd.  It will brickwall, and sound like ass even if it doesn't.  I'm not willing to trash a recording "for posterity".
sorry..

[twoodruff]

doug have the 671 in stock?

[Nick's Picks]

not sure.
I think Chuck said he was waiting for the "next batch"...but give him a jingle and see what he says i guess.

[twoodruff]

can you run microdrives with this unit? anyone doing it?

[twoodruff]

what inputs will be available once the acm mod is done to the unit? is the mod only to the pre?

[Nick's Picks]

yes...hitachi and ibm micros will work...or so i believe i have read here in another thread.
and given the killer battery life..even on 9v, i'm not afraid of any "drain" issues...even running internals.

not sure what inputs are lost durring the ACM mod.  I belive the line-in was lost on the 660..but that does not necessarily mean the same for the 671.
we'll see.

[twoodruff]

your plan is to run it as an all-in-one box once the acm mod is available, correct?

the mod is to the pre?

i know I am full of questions, trying to decide if I should wait on the acm or get one now and run m148>671

[Chuck]

doug have the 671 in stock?

A new shipment of 671's is coming this week. No word yet though.
E-mail Doug, there appears to be a lot of people "in line."
His price on the stock unit is less than I've seen anywhere, so it's a "no brainer" about where to get it from. Especially since you can get it moded only if you buy from him!

[it-goes-to-eleven]

Didn't I read that the 6xx series users were having drive troubles in bass heavy environs? I thought that was with microdrives.

[Nick's Picks]

that could be.
its the drives that have trouble..,not the recorders.   that is why you want to use real solid state flash.

Trey...i'd say buy one now...use it as a ADC.  i'm doing the same thing.  when the parts are in, i'll send it to Doug for the ACM, and then it will be the killerest all in one box there is.
like a V3 w/a CF card.
:-)

[twoodruff]

that could be.
its the drives that have trouble..,not the recorders.   that is why you want to use real solid state flash.

Trey...i'd say buy one now...use it as a ADC.  i'm doing the same thing.  when the parts are in, i'll send it to Doug for the ACM, and then it will be the killerest all in one box there is.
like a V3 w/a CF card.
:-)

but "could" i run the m148 in front after the acm mod??