Topic: Marantz PMD 671 announced (on Oade)

[spyder9]

Hmmm, the 671 is 12v you say.  Interesting.  The 660 is 5v.  I have to start saving some cash.   

[Nick's Picks]

actualy...
i've got my 671 right here in front of me, and its running my 140s and doing some living room ambience tests.....
on my Walmart 9v.
Hmmm......

it even worked w/the same cable as the R4 (which aslo worked w/the Mme).
its a Radio Shack "M" adaptaplug tip.  Doug told me it worked from 10-15v DC.  Looks like we can make that 9-15v DC !
here's hoping this thing runs for a few hours.
:0

[Nick's Picks]

and fwiw...
its about the same size, look and feel as a Sony D-10.
nice meters.  peak and db readout.  "ov" is the over indicator.

[Nick's Picks]

indeed...
its still running.  I recieved an email from doug saying it runs on a 9.6v NiCD pack.  that must be one of the "optional" batteries?
and the 8 AAs it takes...thats 9.6v in NiMH.
and I hear it gets many hours running line in.
way cool.

this is going to be fat. 248>671.  i cant wait to hear it!
STS9 Saturday in Worcester.

[F.O.Bean]

SWEET nick, looks like i'll be selling off the 7.2v's then 

[zowie]

Is this a mod or stock 671 you're playing with?

[Nick's Picks]

stock
only the basic concert mod is available, which I am uninterested in.
the AC mod should be available by EOY.

[spyder9]

Nick,

Could you run a recording time test at 16 bits w/ no Pre?   or 24 bits.  If you have the time of course.

1) internals: w/ phantom on

2) Walmart: w/ phantom on

The tests would come in handy, since the Microtracker has cued most people's interest at TS.  The Marantz', sadly, are getting over-looked, and they shouldn't be.   

Thanks.   
 

[Nick's Picks]

i'll see when i can get around to it...
but i'll run in through the paces.  its running w/the walmart, phantom right now. been 3+ hours and the pack is only one light down.  at 5 hours, i'll stop the test. 
I read on this board from another marantz owner that they get 5 hours running line in.  this is with good nimh AA cells.  Also, the battery tray is an easy RS part.  so you can have several AA sleds ready to pop in the battery compartment. 

power connecter fits nice and tight.

[MattinSTL]

Hey Nick... just for laughs why don't you try running a mic straight in and comment on what you think. I'm curious what somebody of your experience will say.

I did my own tests w/o any mics connected and I don't think that's a valid way to compare because the inputs see no impedence and the noise will be higher, but if you can plug in a mic or plug in an XLR that shows the unit a load then you can get a more accurate hiss test.

And you got a newer one that shows 24e in the RecFormat menu right? As long as that's the case give it a listen with just a mic.

I'll probably never run mine like that, but I'm curious what your impression will be.

[Nick's Picks]

honestly, i know that the preamp is crap.  so i'm not into testing how crappy it is.
and i'm also not fond of livingroom tests to try and get a feel for how a unit sounds. 

as for battery life.
I shut mine down last night after nearly 5 hours on my Wamlart 5500mAh 9v LiON pack.
and the battery was not even 1/2 way down on the "status lights".  so that is good.  looks like this thing will be a snap to power.
I'll be running internal battery tests, but I need a new charger as my NiNH charger sucks ass and appears dead.  so once that is replaced, then i'll go forward.
but for the mean time, its EASY to power, and does not seem power hungry at all.

I was running w/the light on, phantom on and powering my 140s..fwiw

[vince]

Nick,
Could you run a recording time test at 16 bits w/ no Pre?   or 24 bits.  If you have the time of course.
1) internals: w/ phantom on
2) Walmart: w/ phantom on
The tests would come in handy, since the Microtracker has cued most people's interest at TS.  The Marantz', sadly, are getting over-looked, and they shouldn't be.   
Thanks.   

I found TS a while back when getting interested in Taping but had no gear. The MT2496 is what brought me back really. I bought one, and will probably keep it just based on the price though I dont think it is ready fr prime-time. Still I am considering buying an ACM660 or 671 with AKG391s from Oade. This thread has been great as have the others on the MT

All of you folks here kick ass, I have learned soooo much. Now time to spend some $ and get tapin'.

Thanks,

Vince

[zowie]

honestly, i know that the preamp is crap.  so i'm not into testing how crappy it is.
and i'm also not fond of livingroom tests to try and get a feel for how a unit sounds. 

I'm curious whether the stock line input is also subpar, i.e., is the stock deck worthwhile with an external pre.

[JasonSobel]

Doug told me it worked from 10-15v DC.  Looks like we can make that 9-15v DC

FWIW, I recently got a 9.6V NiMH battery to run my MicroTrack with (using a voltage regulator).  when fully charged, it measures somewhere between 10.5 & 11V DC.  so maybe it actually is 10-15V, and you're "9V" battery is actually outputting more than that.  just a thought...

[Chuck]

i'll see when i can get around to it...
but i'll run in through the paces.  its running w/the walmart, phantom right now. been 3+ hours and the pack is only one light down.  at 5 hours, i'll stop the test. 
I read on this board from another marantz owner that they get 5 hours running line in.  this is with good nimh AA cells.  Also, the battery tray is an easy RS part.  so you can have several AA sleds ready to pop in the battery compartment. 

power connecter fits nice and tight.

A Radio Shack part? Really? Wierd...

Hmmm... I may re-think getting the LaCrosse charger w AA NiMH's and go with the Walmart battery...

I'm still waiting for a new shipment of 671's to arrive