marantz pm6005 built in dac?

[Chr78]

Hey.

i have just bought the pm6005, and it is supposed to have a bulit in dac? I primarily listen to music via my computer through airplay/apple tv connected to my amp via optical cord. Someone explain to me how i use the dac, and what will get from it? Also is there a better to listen to my music than to do it via airplay apple tv and optical cord?

Best regards Christian

 

[spiny norman]

If you're connecting the ATV to the amp using an optical cable, then you're already using the PM6005's internal DAC. The only disadvantage with the Airplay/ATV set-up is that it resamples the music, so you're not getting exactly the same signal as in the music files you're playing. For most people that's not a problem, but it's not the most purist way to play the music.

The alternative would be to use a converter between the USB output on your computer and the digital input on the Marantz: this simply translates the USB output into a form the amp's digital input can accept, but of course need a hardwired cable connection from computer to amp.

Have a look on eBay for 'USB SPDIF converter' and you'll find lots of these, starting at £20 or less. Might be worth trying one of these and seeing how you get on.

 

[Chr78]

Hey norman.

Thanks for your help.

Could you elaborate about usb from my mac to my amp?

I have never heard about that. How does it work "in lamens terms" And what do i need?

It sounds good though.

 

[ID.]

Seeing as you have a Mac, you can take the digital signal from your computer using the optical out (it is combined with the headphone jack) and using an optical cable to connect the computer directly to your amp that way. If you use the app Bit Perfect it will ensure a bit perfect digital signal is provided, but this isn't really necessary. It just saves you the hassle of changing the output settings to match the original bitrate of the file you are playing.

One thing is that I think I've read somewhere that some of the macbook airs don't have an optical out, so the headphone jack may just be for headphones only.

 

[spiny norman]

Could you elaborate about usb from my mac to my amp?

I have never heard about that. How does it work "in lamens terms" And what do i need?

It sounds good though.

As I said in my previous answer, you need a USB to SPDIF converter, and then it's simples: USB on computer –> one of these –>optical or coaxial lead to the digital input on your amp. And that's it.

 

[chebby]

Which 'Mac' are you using?

As ID said, you might only need a mini Toslink --> standard Toslink optical cable (with no ATV or convertors).

 

[spiny norman]

When I gave my first answer, the OP hadn't, I think said he has a Mac.

Yes, you can use an optical out from many, but not all, MacBooks, using that combi 3.5mm optical/headphone socket. But IME that optical out can get a bit flaky over time (as in not working, rather than anything to do with sound quality) and so a USB/SPDIF converter may prove more reliable.

Just my 2p's worth.

 

[ID.]

When I gave my first answer, the OP hadn't, I think said he has a Mac.

Yes, you can use an optical out from many, but not all, MacBooks, using that combi 3.5mm optical/headphone socket. But IME that optical out can get a bit flaky over time (as in not working, rather than anything to do with sound quality) and so a USB/SPDIF converter may prove more reliable.

Just my 2p's worth.

He hadn't mentioned he has a Mac.

To derail the thread ever so slightly, spiny norman, with regard to the optical out getting flaky over time, is that based on personal experience or just something that seems to come up on the web a lot? I ask because I am considering running my set up off the optical out from a Mac Mini. Hopefully it won't happen so easily if it is connected all the time and I'm not constantly inserting and removing the cable. I could always switch to USB if it does fail.

 

[spiny norman]

with regard to the optical out getting flaky over time, is that based on personal experience or just something that seems to come up on the web a lot?

Personal experience: happened on an old MacBook I had, which was carted around a lot, so pulgged and unplugged all the time, sometimes with optical, sometimes with headphones. In the end it gave up.

Of course, if the plug is connected once and left in, chances are it might not happen. Just sounding a note of caution.

 

[ID.]

with regard to the optical out getting flaky over time, is that based on personal experience or just something that seems to come up on the web a lot?

Personal experience: happened on an old MacBook I had, which was carted around a lot, so pulgged and unplugged all the time, sometimes with optical, sometimes with headphones. In the end it gave up.

Of course, if the plug is connected once and left in, chances are it might not happen. Just sounding a note of caution.

Thanks, good to know. I'll keep it in mind for my MacBook too.

 

[Bromiley]

I'm sure using the USB connection on the MBP bypasses the Mac's internal sound processing. So, USB to optical is far better and leaves the sound to be dealt with by an external DAC.