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Author Topic: Marantz PMD 661 - mic xlr input level??  (Read 4466 times)

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Offline yates7592

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Marantz PMD 661 - mic xlr input level??
« on: March 21, 2014, 01:25:36 PM »
Reading the spec it says the 'input sensitivity' of the external mic (xlr) input is 1.2mVrms. I am calculating an equivalent of -56dBu. I assume this is a nominal (not max) value but even so this is TINY, is it correct?? Does anybody have anymore info other than that published by Marantz? I checked the main 661 thread and could only see more info for the xlr line input.

Offline cd2go

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Re: Marantz PMD 661 - mic xlr input level??
« Reply #1 on: March 21, 2014, 10:57:36 PM »

Offline datbrad

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Re: Marantz PMD 661 - mic xlr input level??
« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2014, 10:31:25 AM »
If you are recording music with an average peak sound pressure in the 85db-95db range, and occasional transients hitting 100db+ you need to dial the sensitivity mic in all the way back to -18 on the deck, or you will get overload distortion. But if you are recording much softer music, or nature, you face noise from the internal preamp, so you need to bump the sensitivity just enough to get above the noise floor. While modified units with upgraded input capacitors and more robust opamps do lower the noise floor and increase headroom, it's still required to set the sensitivity right to get any benefit. A stock unit properly adjusted for mic input sensitivity will sound better than a modified 661 set up at the wrong sensitivity. One reason I like outboard mic pres is you can tape every show without having to go into the deck's settings menu and make changes.
Hope this helps
« Last Edit: March 22, 2014, 10:39:00 AM by DATBRAD »
AKG C460B w/CK61/CK63>Luminous Monarch XLRs>SD MP-1(x2)>Luminous Monarch XLRs>PMD661(Oade WMOD)

Beyer M201>Luminous Monarch XLRs>PMD561 (Oade CMOD)

Offline yates7592

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Re: Marantz PMD 661 - mic xlr input level??
« Reply #3 on: March 22, 2014, 04:41:45 PM »
Thanks for the replys, but I am struggling to see how anyone can tape going mic-in with xlr's on a 661, modded or not. If -56dBu is the nominal input level, and even if you apply the -18dB attenuation setting, that still only gives you -38dBu as a safe nominal input level. So I think I am missing something here.

Online aaronji

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Re: Marantz PMD 661 - mic xlr input level??
« Reply #4 on: March 23, 2014, 10:48:25 AM »
I think input sensitivity is the voltage that yields 0 dBFS at maximum gain.

Offline TSNéa

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Re: Marantz PMD 661 - mic xlr input level??
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2014, 11:51:51 AM »
+1

Offline yates7592

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Re: Marantz PMD 661 - mic xlr input level??
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2014, 02:07:15 PM »
Ah got it, so thats not the figure I was looking for. So does anybody know the nominal and peak input level in either volts or dBu?

Offline MBHOTAPER

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Re: Marantz PMD 661 - mic xlr input level??
« Reply #7 on: January 27, 2018, 04:47:58 PM »
So mic in 18db is recommended. On line in does it even effect it? Noticed line in preset from my apogee mmp has been set for years at 12db. Thinking it is moot since it is line in anyway. Any thoughts?
« Last Edit: January 27, 2018, 04:50:40 PM by MBHOTAPER »

Offline datbrad

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Re: Marantz PMD 661 - mic xlr input level??
« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2018, 02:03:11 PM »
Attenuation has no effect when input switch is set to Line. Nothing to worry about.
AKG C460B w/CK61/CK63>Luminous Monarch XLRs>SD MP-1(x2)>Luminous Monarch XLRs>PMD661(Oade WMOD)

Beyer M201>Luminous Monarch XLRs>PMD561 (Oade CMOD)

 

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