cisamcgu said:
Thanks, and yes, I understand about the Marantz and the opical input - my question was really aimed at the solution I would need if I didn't have an amp with an optical input - a NAD or ROTEL for example.
Cheers
Andrew
OK, I understand.
You have three choices, the 'line outs', 'pre-amp' outs and 'digital'.
If you want to use both the CD and the tuner you would have to check that the tuner signal is present at the digital output, to be honest this is unlikely but worth checking.
The 'line outs' are fixed level and suitable for any amplifier. The Denon volume is out of circuit so the volume will be controlled by the second amplifier. Functionally it will be the same as the setup you heard. You will be able to listen to both the CD and tuner as you wish, selected on the Denon in the usual way. If you have anything plugged into the other inputs on the Denon then you can listen to them too.
Either method will work fine though I suspect, as I said, that the digital out will be CD only. In theory the dac in the Marantz should be better, but the difference may be quite small. Connect both the digital and line outs to your second amp (if it has a dac of course) and try it, see if there is a worthwhile difference.
Avoid the pre-amp out in this instance, both the volune controls on the Denon and the second amp are in circuit and could cause confusion and possibly damage.
To be honest it depends where you are going with this, using the Denon as a source will work fine with a second amplifier as you heard but it is not a big step up, you need better sources to get the best from the Marantz and as you also heard, better speakers too.