PT: 3 - New Marantz PMD661

[DigiGal]

Thanks Jr., I'll test it out at those settings.   

Never got hit with brick walling before but read that others had.  The meters never went over zero db but there was no headroom range in them, record level was set at 4 as usual.  This was the maiden show for the BSC1's, guess they are quite a bit hotter than the Shure I usually run for mid-side recordings.  The show was quite a bit louder than normal too, it even sounded distorted to my ears while there.

[fmaderjr]

When you brick wall, your levels don't go over 0 dB. They peak at some point well below that, such as -6 dB. It sounds like you did run into brick walling.

Maybe 4/10 isn't the magic number on your machine-test it out if you can. It is 4.5/10 on my Oade mod.

If you set the attenuation at -18 and can keep the levels under 0 dB with the record level at 4.5/10 or above you probably won't get brick walling. From your experience it looks like 4/10 may not be safe for you. If the levels are still over 0 dB at 4.5/10 you may need to add 10 dB attenuators to the chain (or move farther from the source).

[JasonSobel]

here's another wrinkle in the line-in question.  Marantz Tech support finally got back to me about max input levels for the line-in's...

Hi Jason,
We were able to get a response to your inquiry.  Please see the max line input levels for the PMD661 below.

Balanced (XLR) Line In:
1.65 Vrms
6.57dBu

Unbalanced (Line 2) In:
1.98 Vrms
8.15dBu


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

this info from Marantz is obviously a lot different from the approx +15dBu that Doug told me.  Frankly, I don't know what to make of Marantz's reply.  I just ran the Sonosax > PMD-661 oade concert mod (XLR line-in) for the past two nights of Phish.  I had the PMD-661 level knob at 7.  the Sonosax outputs a max of +20dBu, though I didn't come close to that, because the clip light on the Sonosax never came on (it comes on at +14dBu).  Even so, with the amount of gain I had on the Sonosax, I know that the output level must have been higher than +6.57dBu.  but the recordings came out beautifully, no distortion at all.  So I don't know where Marantz got those numbers, but I don't believe them.

any other thoughts?

Doug told me the concert and warm mod increased the headroom on the XLR for both mic and line in. Wonder if that is the difference.

that's interesting, because Doug told me that the concert mod does not change the max input level, although if requested, he could adjust the deck to reduce the amount of gain the deck adds.

[datbrad]

here's another wrinkle in the line-in question.  Marantz Tech support finally got back to me about max input levels for the line-in's...

Hi Jason,
We were able to get a response to your inquiry.  Please see the max line input levels for the PMD661 below.

Balanced (XLR) Line In:
1.65 Vrms
6.57dBu

Unbalanced (Line 2) In:
1.98 Vrms
8.15dBu


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

this info from Marantz is obviously a lot different from the approx +15dBu that Doug told me.  Frankly, I don't know what to make of Marantz's reply.  I just ran the Sonosax > PMD-661 oade concert mod (XLR line-in) for the past two nights of Phish.  I had the PMD-661 level knob at 7.  the Sonosax outputs a max of +20dBu, though I didn't come close to that, because the clip light on the Sonosax never came on (it comes on at +14dBu).  Even so, with the amount of gain I had on the Sonosax, I know that the output level must have been higher than +6.57dBu.  but the recordings came out beautifully, no distortion at all.  So I don't know where Marantz got those numbers, but I don't believe them.

any other thoughts?

Doug told me the concert and warm mod increased the headroom on the XLR for both mic and line in. Wonder if that is the difference.

that's interesting, because Doug told me that the concert mod does not change the max input level, although if requested, he could adjust the deck to reduce the amount of gain the deck adds.

You are right, thinking back, he told me that the headroom increase was for mic in, and for XLR line in, headroom based on the +4db line standard would more than be enough to handle even the hottest preamps and SBD feeds, which has proven to be true in muy experience.

[yug du nord]

^^^^BSC1's are HOT.  Maybe in-line attenuators are needed for BSC1>661??

[johnny9fingers]

Lots of good info

[ben_r_]

So has anyone popped open their Oade Brothers modded 661 to see what parts theyre replacing and with what? Sorry if this has been covered before, but this thread is massive! Im interested in doing the mods myself but would like to see what theyre using and where.

[DigiGal]

So has anyone popped open their Oade Brothers modded 661 to see what parts theyre replacing and with what? Sorry if this has been covered before, but this thread is massive! Im interested in doing the mods myself but would like to see what theyre using and where.

"Ah, Ancient Chinese Secret..."   I'm guessing surface mount OP Amps and capacitors are changed.

I'm happy with my stock unit, but it seems there are more folks running Oade mods here in Taperssection Forums.

[ben_r_]

So has anyone popped open their Oade Brothers modded 661 to see what parts theyre replacing and with what? Sorry if this has been covered before, but this thread is massive! Im interested in doing the mods myself but would like to see what theyre using and where.

"Ah, Ancient Chinese Secret..."   I'm guessing surface mount OP Amps and capacitors are changed.

I'm happy with my stock unit, but it seems there are more folks running Oade mods here in Taperssection Forums.

Well yea, that much im guessing too. In fact, thats what they state they change out. All of which I can easily switch out myself. Im just surprised no one on the net that I have seen so far is an "audiophile" enough to question "hey! what the heck ARE you Oade Brothers putting in my recorder?!". I have been unable to find any pictures of an open unit with the mods done. Thats probably the FIRST thing I would have done upon receiving the unit back from them! lol But maybe thats just me.

[tedyun]

Looks like a new firmware was released last month, and is supposed to increase compatibility with SD cards. It's a whole number upgrade up to v2.03, but the only thing they state they changed is "Expanded SD card compatibility"

Here is a user review of the new FW:

http://dompruitt.com/2011/07/05/err-card-2-fixed-on-marantz-pmd661-with-a203-firmware/

I'll probably install it tonight and report back.

[DigiGal]

Looks like a new firmware was released last month, and is supposed to increase compatibility with SD cards. It's a whole number upgrade up to v2.03, but the only thing they state they changed is "Expanded SD card compatibility"

Here is a user review of the new FW:

http://dompruitt.com/2011/07/05/err-card-2-fixed-on-marantz-pmd661-with-a203-firmware/

I'll probably install it tonight and report back.

Thanks Ted - I'm not having any card problems and have 4 shows in the next two weeks.  I'll wait to do the upgrade don't want to risk introducing a problem just before a run of shows.

Marantz Quote:
"This firmware update increased SD card compatibility with the PMD661.  Most major brands of cards have been found to be compatible.  Please note that we cannot guarantee functionality with any third party product.  For further details please feel free to contact our technical support department at 630-741-0330 option 1 or techsupport@d-mpro.com."

[tedyun]

Please note that we cannot guarantee functionality with any third party product.  LOL LOL

I've probably bought 5 SDHC cards for this thing, tested 2 SDHC cards that I've had for other toys and only 2 have worked fairly reliably which are an 8 GB PNY (same one you've mentioned before) and an old 16 GB Adata, although the Adata failed once during a test, so I am leery of it. I even bought a 32 GB version of the PNY that failed when testing.

But good news so far, I have that 32 GB PNY recording right now (at 24/96), and it has been chugging along for a couple hr right now, knock on wood. Previously, when a card fails, it would do so within the first hour. I'll let it go for overnight and report back. I may test it out a few times before I'm fully confident.

Looks like a new firmware was released last month, and is supposed to increase compatibility with SD cards. It's a whole number upgrade up to v2.03, but the only thing they state they changed is "Expanded SD card compatibility"

Here is a user review of the new FW:

http://dompruitt.com/2011/07/05/err-card-2-fixed-on-marantz-pmd661-with-a203-firmware/

I'll probably install it tonight and report back.

Thanks Ted - I'm not having any card problems and have 4 shows in the next two weeks.  I'll wait to do the upgrade don't want to risk introducing a problem just before a run of shows.

Marantz Quote:
"This firmware update increased SD card compatibility with the PMD661.  Most major brands of cards have been found to be compatible.  Please note that we cannot guarantee functionality with any third party product.  For further details please feel free to contact our technical support department at 630-741-0330 option 1 or techsupport@d-mpro.com."

[dactylus]

I wonder if Kingston cards will work in the 661 now?  Just curious.  I don't really need them to work in the 661 as I have several Sandisk cards that work perfectly well.

[jibooer]

Thanks for the heads up on the FW. I am hoping that all those Sandisk cards that my 661 rejected at Mtn. Jam will be useful! A 32gb option would be sweet too....

[tedyun]

My PNY Optima 32 GB recorded all night (I think I'm at around 12 h right now) with the Digital In.

*Edit to add* I stopped the recording at 14 h! Yay! Nice to have a 32 GB option. I'll repeat this test a few times and if there are any problems I'll report back.

This is the card I used:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820178212

I have this 32 GB Kingston card that I can try out:

http://amzn.to/qpSnxH

It failed with the old firmware so I can see if the updated firmware fixes the problem. My next test will be to tape XLR-in with the PNY, and then I'll try my Kingston.