Marantz PM6005 and Dali Zensor 3 too loud??

[Al ears]

Primary E phono has a switchable phono stage. It could be going through two phono stages.

If it is. The OP insists it is the basic Primary E. See also Scenario 3
One way to find out for sure is the power lead. If it plugs directly into the wall it's the basic E, if it has a wall-wart block it is the E Phono

 

[Gray]

Primary E phono has a switchable phono stage.

Does it?
That was my first thought, but unless I missed it, the WHF review doesn' t mention one.

 

[Gray]

We will get to the bottom of this if it kills us (we haven't reached 100+ posts yet, which we once did sorting a problem).
There's a suggestion it may be your amp.
Perhaps you can clarify that in all your scenarios it was your 6005 and never theirs being used.

 

[Al ears]

Does it?
That was my first thought, but unless I missed it, the WHF review doesn' t mention one.

These are two different turntables....
Need clarification as to whether it is actually the basic E or the E Phono

 

[Al ears]

We will get to the bottom of this if it kills us (we haven't reached 100+ posts yet, which we once did sorting a problem).
There's a suggestion it may be your amp.
Perhaps you can clarify that in all your scenarios it was your 6005 and never theirs being used.

Scenario 3 again mentions using a different amps phono stage and this worked fine which does tend to make his amp the culprit

 

[LukeKngs]

We will get to the bottom of this if it kills us (we haven't reached 100+ posts yet, which we once did sorting a problem).
There's a suggestion it may be your amp.
Perhaps you can clarify that in all your scenarios it was your 6005 and never theirs being used.

I can clarify it was my 6005 that was used.

I appreciate everyone's help so far, glad it's not just me pulling my hair out!

I am 100% certain I have the basic primary E and not the phono. I've checked every inch of the turntable and it does not have the line/phono out switch.

 

[Al ears]

If it was the E Phono it would have something like this where the phono cables attach and would have a wall-wart type power supply block

 

[jjbomber]

It might be worth a go at plugging the turntable into the AUX in rather than the Phono in. See what happens; nothing to lose.

 

[nopiano]

We will get to the bottom of this if it kills us (we haven't reached 100+ posts yet, which we once did sorting a problem).

It’s obviously the cables! ;-). That’s how we get to 100 posts!!

 

[Al ears]

It’s obviously the cables! ;-). That’s how we get to 100 posts!!

I'm glad you said it not me

 

[Gray]

I can clarify it was my 6005 that was used.

I appreciate everyone's help so far, glad it's not just me pulling my hair out!

I am 100% certain I have the basic primary E and not the phono. I've checked every inch of the turntable and it does not have the line/phono out switch.

That concludes the enquiries.
From all that you've said, your Marantz amp has an intermittent fault.
Direct from your cartridge, It's phono input has been variously OK and unbearably loud.
Via a working phono preamp, its line input has been the same, OK and unbearable.

As you've proved, intermittent faults are the worst. They don't do service engineers any favours either - problems can be tricky to find and, sometimes, to reliably cure.
On the other hand, the cause could be very obvious on internal inspection.
If you decide to get it looked at, I advise you to try for somewhere that will do free estimates.
Importantly, check that there would be a guarantee on any repair that's done.

 

[Al ears]

I don't think it's intermittent. He clearly start in scenario 3 that it only worked in ' different amps phono input '
This is the only time it has actually worked as it should, unless he has not written scenario 3 accurately.

 

[jjbomber]

This is the only time it has actually worked as it should, unless he has not written scenario 3 accurately.

Possibly because it was the only time is was connected correctly to the Aux input! That's my theory and I'm sticking to it.

 

[James83]

I don't think it's intermittent. He clearly start in scenario 3 that it only worked in ' different amps phono input '
This is the only time it has actually worked as it should, unless he has not written scenario 3 accurately.

Scenario 3 was with a different amp.
Which backs up the theory it is his Marantz.

The repairman managed to have his amp working fine. Intermittent? Unless jjbomber is onto something.

 

[TrevC]

Use one of the other inputs. If it sounds fine the deck must have a built in preamp.

 

[Al ears]

Scenario 3 was with a different amp.
Which backs up the theory it is his Marantz.

The repairman managed to have his amp working fine. Intermittent? Unless jjbomber is onto something.

however, not so intermittent for the OP

 

[Al ears]

Use one of the other inputs. If it sounds fine the deck must have a built in preamp.

I think the OP might have found it by now if it did, it is a small switch however. Still waiting for him to get back regarding the type of power cable it has that will determine if it is the Phono version of not.
I don't believe he has reported back yet on what happens if he connects turntable directly to the Aux input either.

 

[Gray]

I don't believe he has reported back yet on what happens if he connects turntable directly to the Aux input either.

Losing track a bit now, but I think somewhere he mentioned connecting TT to a line input and it being 'quiet and flat'.

 

[Al ears]

Losing track a bit now, but I think somewhere he mentioned connecting TT to a line input and it being 'quiet and flat'.

that's true, he did, which was when I suggested it didn't have a fitted preamp...... Doh!
It would still be nice if he came back with a reply regarding the type of power cable it has though.

 

[Markmaguire]

If the volume is too loud on the phono input and on a line input using an external phono preamp then the issue could be in the amplification stage of the Marantz rather than the internal phono stage. I don’t know if this model has a discrete headphone amp or uses the main one but try listening through headphones and see if the problem persists. Either way I think we can rule out the turntable (assuming it’s the model without built in preamp) and also rule out the speakers.

could also be an issue with the volume control pot. The volume control is essentially an attenuator which if faulty could be letting full(er) signal through. The volume using the phone through line input or Bluetooth may not be noticed if the phone doesn’t have its volume at maximum, so outputting a lower than line level signal.

 

[Gray]

.....the issue could be in the amplification stage of the Marantz

Certainly seems that way.
....think it's a first for the fault symptom on this forum.

 

[James83]

however, not so intermittent for the OP

It is odd I know!

 

[Al ears]

To prove an issue with the amplifier you could try connecting a different turntable to it, which I don't think has been done.

 

[TrevC]

could also be an issue with the volume control pot. The volume control is essentially an attenuator which if faulty could be letting full(er) signal through. The volume using the phone through line input or Bluetooth may not be noticed if the phone doesn’t have its volume at maximum, so outputting a lower than line level signal.

Nope.

 

[Markmaguire]

Nope.

Care to elaborate?