NAP V175 + Marantz AV7005 Pre?

To correct my post:  I really do want the HDMI, even though Component performs very well.  I see also there is the Denon DN-A7100 pro model at $1K.  One peculiarity to my setup is that while watching HD sources, the Pre will need to simultaneously output SD over composite to other displays.  My current Denon supports Component and Composite simultaneously; and my Oppo BDP-95 and TiVo Premier XL deliver both.  My older Pioneer Elite DVD changer makes you choose one or the other.  HDMI may be yet another story.

Nick

I looked at the Marantz and the Onkyo recently ....I don't think they challenge the AV2 for what I want, which is an emphasis on music and atmosphere. I think other decoders can do the sound steering in a more in your face way - which is NOT damning with faint praise, on a lot of action/sci-fi films this can be great.

AV2 - yep, I have a small auto switcher for HDMI, and use an Oppo with onboard decoding for the HD codecs.

Using the Marantz into the 175 I'm sure will not be an issue. I have used a variety of decoders into my Naim power amps over the years to good effect. Although plugging in the AV2 was a VERY quick win; I borrowed it for the weekend and it didn't go back.

If you have any doubts about output/input levels you can always call/email Naim HQ. For me it has always been a matter of reading the manuals, getting the cables made up and keeping the volume low whilst testing/setting up.

M

Hi, 

I'm using a zector switch with my av2. It is automatic, but sometimes it does not switch if both channels are active, I guess they switch by sensing a channel becoming active. To get round this I was able to program the infrared codes for the switch. So I have programmed the channel connected to my sky box to be selected by the one of the buttons on my sky remote and the bluray channel to be selected by the play button on my bluray remote. They've discontinued my model (HDMI5), but I'm sure it is not just a feature on my particular switch, I've found this feature very useful. 

The switch also switches the spdif signals, so I don't have to switch channel on AV2 when I change the source to my TV.

I've seen AV2s going very cheap recently (or a lot less than I paid for mine!), they are a very good multichannel preamp.

Hope this helps,

Rich

I had a look earlier and there are some cheap v175 going on a second hand Naim site.

If your doing distribution to other rooms, you might want to have a look at some of the ethernet products out there that allow distribution of HDMI over ethernet. Some now even do it successfully over a single cat 5e cable. There's quite a lot of these about now and they are better quality than composite video. But might mean some rewiring!

Have a look at octava, atlona and Vision HD.

Good luck.

Rich

Hi Nick,

Auto HDMI switch?

Yes .....but, as Rich pointed out it can be a bit less than perfect with > 1 active source, and as I leave my NS01 permanently on this can be problematical. Not with the Oppo, but with the Naim.

I had a fellow Naimee pointed in my direction by a friend a couple of weeks ago, he had a listen to my AV2 and then went and bought one off ebay.

A year ago a saw a coupel going for £500, but the seem to have become very scarce ....and for good reason I think.

M

Thanks again, M and Rich,

Some rewiring looks inevitable, but there may be a good time to tie that in with some other remodeling.  Best to sort out the optimal AV plan before it is under way.  If I can get a hold of an AV2 I think I will.  Low risk if it does not work out for any reason.

Cheers.

Nick

I bought a Pioneer plasma a couple of years ago, so was considering a Pioneer LX 71 or 81 AV receiver to match. This would have done the rears and centre channels, leaving the Naim kit to do the main fronts. Mentioned my plans to a dealer who advised me to look out for an AV2 instead. Found one on eBay and later added a used NAP 175 from another dealer. The combo cost me just over £1200, which was less than the Pioneer receivers i'd been thinking about where anyway. 

So glad i went with the AV2. It hooks up easily with the Naim kit using the Unity Gain feature. They are out there, you've just got to keep your eyes peeled!

Hi Rackkit,

Glad you got hold of one. I do think that if you are music centric there is no other processor that touches it.

M

I only wish the AV2 had 5.1 analog-in; that would make it future-proof enough for me.  My BDP-95 has a processor Oppo are proud of; it would be nice to have the option to use it.  (I won't know for sure if it is any good until I actually have five channels all working at the same time again, this coming Wed, I hope, with the arrival of my dealer with a P/L NAP V175 under his arm.)

For now, I will use the 175 with the old Denon receiver pre-out, which DOES have 7.1 analog-in; I hope the blown on-board amp is not a fire hazard.

In the mean time, I will troll for an AV2 to try, and/or consider using that budget for even more interesting stuff like a Qute, nDAC, or ND5XS for the "main event".

Thanks for the input, all!

Nick

Hey Nick, the AV2 does 5.1 analogue in - it'll actually do 7.1 too.

Might be worth a download of the manual so you can see the full specs: http://www.naimaudio.com/userf...anual_av2_manual.pdf

You have the 175, it's just crying out for a used AV2 to partner it. 

Thanks, rackkit.  I looked at the manual closely, but, evidently, not enough so!  I will review.

Rediscovering all of the great features of the AVR-4800, as long as I am satisfied with component video from no more than two sources, and use the 5.1 analog-out from the Oppo, once I get to five Naim-amplified channels, I am in a pretty good place to contemplate better sources for the 2.0 part of the system.  nDAC, NDX, and ND5 xs are the next projected ports of call.  "Sorry, AV2, I hardly knew ye. . . "

Nick

Hi Nick.

Don't know if you're still interested and I'm not allowed to post links but if you Google: Naim AV2 Pink Fish Media (it shows up as a post dated 23/09/11 in the results), there's an AV2 for sale as part of a complete system but they normally get broken up, so could worth a message to the seller and see how you go from there.

Cheers,

Rack.

I use a Gefen EXT-HDMI 442 4-in-2-out HDMI switch which gives me a pair of HDMI outs for feeding to my plasma TV and projector simultaneously. It also has an electrical S/PDIF output that feeds straight to the AV2. The AV2 therefore remains (mainly) on just the one input.

The only problem I've got with the Gefen is it is a bit finicky - I have two of them and one just doesn't pull audio out of the HDMI connection correctly whereas the other one does and when I contected Gefen about getting it repaired they simply quoted me a flat rate cost of 50% of the new value which basically to me means "We won't actually bother looking at it we'll just throw in a new board and send you it back".

I also have a couple of Octava HDMI switches which are a little slower at actually switching but are quite a lot more stable ... they also have an optical output rather than electrical which means that I don't lose S/PDIF sync when I raise and lower my screen (which I do with the Gefen switch). Their HDMX71-UK will extract Dolby Digital and DTS from the HDMI feed or decode 7.1 LPCM from the HDMI feed for piping into the AV2 7.1 analogue input.

Overall I'd probably say that I'm happier with the Octava than the Gefen - mainly because I've had very good support with the Octava kit. Unfortunately I don't think I'm allowed to say which particular dealer it is that I got mine from but Google for "Octava HDMI" and they come up - you just need to be able to understand a "North Of The Border" accent.

Phil

Speaker setup (Large vs Small) trumps "Pure Direct".  Sounding MUCH better, now that I am getting full range signal into the KEF Q50's.  2.0 vs 2.1 is controlled by setting LFE or LFE + Main, respectively.  I hope to see and hear an AV2 someday.  Time marches on, though; and the Marantz is a comprehensive, relatively cheap solution that integrates decently, and lets me get back to the music.  And, once tamed, it is reasonably family-friendly.  I am won-over, after a bad first-impression.

Fresh Aire 3, and Chick Corea, "The Leprechaun", both on LP into 2.1 (Planar3/Exact > Fono > Marantz > NAC 112 > NAP 150) got an enthusiastic response from wife and daughter alike - a first since I began disrupting the status quo in May.  A StageLine direct into the NAC would be nice, someday.

Thanks to all for the helpful advice.

Nick

Glad you've got something that hits the spot for you.

M

Nick,

Are you going to have a play with the DLNA client on the Marantz?

M

Bye bye, Marantz.  Welcome back, Denon.  Goodbye to many wonderful new features I enjoyed.  After a couple of weeks of effort, I simply could not get near the SQ I was used to with the old 4800, which is, admittedly, a somewhat higher-order piece than the new one.  I spent a couple of hours configuring the Audyssey system, to some good effect.  But for direct, un-EQ'd listening, I could never get the bass to sound substantial in 2.0. whether I set the main speakers to Large or Small, set the sub to Off, toggled LFE / LFE + Main, etc.  Additionally, I was surprised at the decrease in Zone2 SQ:  I hate to say it, but even ceiling speakers seem capable of delivering PRaT when the pre (even an older Japanese example) is up to it.

I will never take the pre section for granted again.  Who knew that an old receiver could better a newer, dedicated pre-processor?

I hate returning stuff like this; and what a chore swapping in and out.  Now I am a little gun-shy; and I think the next step up at the Marantz dealer is a big Denon or Mcintosh for relatively huge $.  Maybe providence will deliver an easy-to-demo p/l AV2, if I am patient and lucky.  

Nick