Topic: Nickspicks: Marantz PMD660 w/Oade ACMod review

[spyder9]

good enough
you'll get more time than you'll ever need.

True.  2700 mah should get me solid hours.  8 hours, ya think, with phantom on? The 480s and 853s don't draw much.

yeah man, your flash card will run out before your batteries do, no doubt!

Woot!   

[spyder9]

Did a battery test w/ the following setup AT853RX > 660. 

1) Used a set of Duracell Alkalines.

2) Kingston 2GB CF

3) phantom on

4) 44.1/16

5) button lock engaged 


Results: 3 hours and 16 minutes in recording time.   

Had to stop the recording, for I only had 1 minute and 40 seconds left on the card.  Battery indicator was showing "empty". 

Nice results for Alkalines powering the AT853RXs.  Still waiting on the Power2000 2700mah rechargeables.  I'll report on this thread when the test on those are done.

[spyder9]

Sh&t!  660 is having problems w/ rechargeables.     Get major distortion in the left channel.  Ran in separate tests, Power2000 and Energizer rechargeable bats and get the same problem.  Even ran separate tests with the AT853RX and AKG 480 mics.  Same deal.  So I know it has nothing to do with the mics or the bats.  Alkalines ran perfect in my tests.

I sent an email to Doug.  Gonna have to ship it back for a tweek.  Anybody have such problems with theirs?   

[tfs8271]

No problems like that....you sure everything is connected ok? Doesn't sound like a battery problem, but I don't know much. All I know is I haven't had that problem but I have problems with the contacts using rechargables. Let us know what is up. +T

[spyder9]

No problems like that....you sure everything is connected ok? Doesn't sound like a battery problem, but I don't know much. All I know is I haven't had that problem but I have problems with the contacts using rechargables. Let us know what is up. +T

Definitely not batteries.  Both sets are by different manufacturers, and are brand new.  Bought this from another TS member.  There was an issue with external powering.  Had him send it in to Doug, who had to order a part from Japan. 

I also, made sure I had "Nimh" set in my preset.  The biz-card mod in the battery sled was done by the previous owner.  He had no problems running rechargeables.  Something must have been missed when Doug was fixing the external powering issue. 

Not too worried.  Doug should be able to fix it.  Just want to get it right.  I do love the sound on this thing.  Nice warm sound.   And quiet too.  Very quiet. 

[Nick's Picks]

hmmm...
thats fucked up Dan.

I can't see how batteries would to that.
try using only two cells in one end of the sled, and then try two down in the other two slots.  maybe you can further isolate the issue before sending it off.
damn...and you just got it back!

fwiw, there should be paper shims in the battery sled already.

[kgreener]

aw man, this sucks big-time Dan, really sorry to hear this.  as a process of elimination, have you tried pulling all the batteries and used the AC adapter plugged into the wall as another test to see if you get the same distortion?

big +T for your troubles.  there's gotta be an explanation for this and i'm sure Doug will be all over it to help you.

[spyder9]

Yup, plugged in the external battery.  Everything worked fine.   I'll try running it with 2 rechargeables at lunchtime, see if I can isolate it.  Paper shims are still there.

One thing that does happen:  once the batteries start to drain, the distortion goes away.  But it varies when it goes away.  Last Thursday it was 15 minutes.  Saturday night, it was an hour.  Strangely, the distortion returned at the 2 hour 6 minute mark on Saturday.   
 

[Nick's Picks]

I realize doug disables the factory line inputs when he does the ACM to the 660. 

my question is, can the xlr inputs on an ACM accept a line level signal?  for example, sbd > 660 ?

also, can one run an external pre be front of the ACM 660 ?

as for a sbd feed, probably.  there is a 20db pad in there so once activated i'm sure that will work out.
as for the external pre, same boat.  no line input.
also, why would you want an external preamp after paying for a preamp modification?
you wont want one once you hear it anyway.

[tfs8271]

I realize doug disables the factory line inputs when he does the ACM to the 660. 

my question is, can the xlr inputs on an ACM accept a line level signal?  for example, sbd > 660 ?

also, can one run an external pre be front of the ACM 660 ?

as for a sbd feed, probably.  there is a 20db pad in there so once activated i'm sure that will work out.
as for the external pre, same boat.  no line input.
also, why would you want an external preamp after paying for a preamp modification?
you wont want one once you hear it anyway.

Nick is right...you won't need a preamp in front That is the beauty of Doug's mod.
SBD feed is fine with the XLRs, but run it with the -20dB pad. I only had one problem running a SBD feed and I suspected it was the feed that I was getting was too hot and clipping. I had my levels low enough, but I remember I was running with the pad and had the noods at about 10% to 20%. When I run SBD feed from my home venue the noobs are 50-70%.

[Unitmonster]

Has anybody ever had problems running the 660 at Max gain?  Is noise typically introduced?

[Nick's Picks]

no real line in after the Oade mods, but there is a stereo mini input on the stock units.
XLR input, through mic preamps.  -20db pad option in the menu
headphone out (mini)
line out (mini), and its very quiet....or at least mine was.