Question Connecting a laptop to a Marantz pm6007

[Spuddywuddy]

Hi, I'm new here so please forgive any mistakes I make.

I would like to connect a laptop to a Marantz pm6007 which has a built in dac. But it only has 2 optical in's and a coaxial in, not a usb in. My laptop does not have optical out. Thx in advance

 

[Gray]

You could go from laptop headphone out to a line input on the Marantz.
But something like this might be a better idea:

iFi Zen DAC review

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2020 winner. An accomplished budget digital-to-analogue converter

www.whathifi.com

Note that there's a simple software upgrade said to change its sound very much for the better.
Very few reviews (including the one above) even mention it.

 

[muljao]

Nobsound Douk Audio U2 USB Converter XMOS XU208 Digital Interface TOSLINK Coax DSD 192KHz (Red): Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

Free delivery and returns on eligible orders. Buy Nobsound Douk Audio U2 USB Converter XMOS XU208 Digital Interface TOSLINK Coax DSD 192KHz (Red) at Amazon UK.

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[Spuddywuddy]

So connect the laptop to the zen dac via usb and the go rca to the Marantz? Would i not be omitting the dac in the Marantz then?

 

[Gray]

Nobsound Douk Audio U2 USB Converter XMOS XU208 Digital Interface TOSLINK Coax DSD 192KHz (Red): Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

Free delivery and returns on eligible orders. Buy Nobsound Douk Audio U2 USB Converter XMOS XU208 Digital Interface TOSLINK Coax DSD 192KHz (Red) at Amazon UK.

www.amazon.co.uk

Yes, significantly cheaper than the Zen DAC.
(And your're not paying for unnecessary headphone amp and balanced output).

 

[Gray]

So connect the laptop to the zen dac via usb and the go rca to the Marantz? Would i not be omitting the dac in the Marantz then?

That's how you would connect it yes.

But see Muljao's better suggestion above.
Which would make use of the Marantz DAC (and give you the choice of optical or coaxial connection to it).

 

[jjbomber]

Behringer UCA222 to convert the laptop USB to optical output. Cost about £21. Toslink cable to required length. No brainer. You need to take a digital signal from the laptop and use the superior Marantz DAC.

Behringer UCA222 U Control USB Audio Interface at Juno Records.

Buy Behringer UCA222 U Control USB Audio Interface at Juno Records. In stock now for same-day shipping.

www.juno.co.uk

 

[Spuddywuddy]

Thank you al for your suggestions.

 

[Haddo85]

With apologies for resurrecting an old thread, may I ask a couple of follow-up questions? Same issue as the OP.

The PM6007 manual says, on digital audio input: 'Do not input non-PCM signals, such as Dolby Digital, DTS and AAC. ' - Is this something I'd need to worry about when running audio from a laptop USB to the amp's optical input (via a converter)?

And if going the other route of USB to RCA, which port is best to use on the amp? There is no 'Aux' RCA port like there was on older models, just CD/Network/Tuner. I guess 'Network' , but does it matter?

Many thanks!

 

[Gray]

With apologies for resurrecting an old thread, may I ask a couple of follow-up questions? Same issue as the OP.

The PM6007 manual says, on digital audio input: 'Do not input non-PCM signals, such as Dolby Digital, DTS and AAC. ' - Is this something I'd need to worry about when running audio from a laptop USB to the amp's optical input (via a converter)?

And if going the other route of USB to RCA, which port is best to use on the amp? There is no 'Aux' RCA port like there was on older models, just CD/Network/Tuner. I guess 'Network' , but does it matter?

Many thanks!

Answer to question 1: No.
Question 2: No again. All those you've listed are electrically identical, you could use any one 👍

 

[Haddo85]

Thanks! 🙂