That Button on the Marantz PM6002?

[Tesler]

Years ago, (not telling you how many) I used to work for a specialist HiFi retailer, In those days we sold various makes of mainstream HiFi kit but JVC and Technics were the names of choice at the time, I remember every Amp came with a "Loudness" button.

Some years ago whilst reading WHF I observed that a Loudness button was something that was frowned upon and was disliked. I notice that the new Marantz amp has the afore mentioned button, but on your review there is no reference to it and no indication on whether the amp was tried with loudness on or off.

Can i just ask someone at WHF if indeed a comparison was made whilst listening to the amp with loudness in both positions and what the outcome was?

Is there a reason why it wasn't mentioned?

Thanks and have a wonderful day.

Tesler

 

[Andrew Everard]

Wasn't in on the testing, but know for a fact listening would have been done with loudness off.

We always have a quick listen with such controls on, realise they make the product sound horrid, switch them off and forget them.

 

[JoelSim]

What is the point of a loudness button anyway? Surely you just turn the volume up if it isn't loud enough?

 

[Thaiman]

Loudness acting like a preset graphic Equalizer , normally lift mid range and bass level for more exciting listen....I lucky enough not to own such a button!

 

[JoelSim]

I wouldn't purchase anything with a button like that on it, it shows a company isn't interested in real hifi sound.

 

[Cypher]

BTW, can anyone tell me which amplifier won the grouptest ? Rotel or Marantz ?

 

[Andrew Everard]

[quote user="JoelSim"]What is the point of a loudness button anyway? Surely you just turn the volume up if it isn't loud enough?[/quote]

It's not really designed to give a more exciting listen, but rather to give some bass boost and treble lift when listening at very low volumes, to compensate for the smaller amounts of air being shifted at those low levels

 

[JoelSim]

Ah, makes a little more sense now. Still wouldn't want one though. If you have to listen at really low volumes then there's not much point in hifi

 

[professorhat]

[quote user="JoelSim"]Ah, makes a little more sense now. Still wouldn't want one though. If you have to listen at really low volumes then there's not much point in hifi[/quote]
Indeed - get headphones I think is the answer!

 

[JoelSim]

And not having a hifi would mean that it was more unlikely to wake up on the sofa on a Thursday morning

 

[professorhat]

[quote user="JoelSim"]And not having a hifi would mean that it was more unlikely to wake up on the sofa on a Thursday morning[/quote]

Where's the fun in that?!

 

[drummerman]

[quote user="JoelSim"]
Ah, makes a little more sense now. Still wouldn't want one though. If you have to listen at really low volumes then there's not much point in hifi
[/quote]

Ahem, I disagree if I may (I'm sure you did'nt expect any less from me

). Unfortunately I dont live in a detached dwelling. That, my job and a sleepin g/f mean that fairly often I listen at very low volumes. Still prefer that to headphones. Thats also where I miss my valve amps though one is on the horizon. I find a good Tube amp works better at low volumes than SS.

 

[professorhat]

Would you use a loudness button though?

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="JoelSim"]And not having a hifi would mean that it was more unlikely to wake up on the sofa on a Thursday morning[/quote]

with a hangover...

 

[drummerman]

No[quote user="professorhat"]Would you use a loudness button though?[/quote]

No

 

[JoelSim]

I too live in a flat, and quite often listen while g/f is asleep, as well as baby.

But hey!

 

[JoelSim]

[quote user="jimwall"][quote user="JoelSim"]And not having a hifi would mean that it was more unlikely to wake up on the sofa on a Thursday morning[/quote]

with a hangover...[/quote]

I too had a mighty hangover yesterday, not helped by the fact I was chatting to Professorhat on this forum at 2am in the morning while then having to get up at 6:30am to go to a client meeting (a 5 hour meeting too).

 

[professorhat]

6.30... ouch! Fortunately I just worked from home and no one was any the wiser!

 

[drummerman]

[quote user="professorhat"]6.30... ouch! Fortunately I just worked from home and no one was any the wiser[/quote]

Well, you inflicted your warble on me

 

[professorhat]

[quote user="drummerman"]
Well, you inflicted your warble on me
[/quote]

Mmm, apologies for that! I meant no one at work...

 

[Anonymous]

According to the manual: "The LOUDNESS switch compensates for human hearing characteristics by boosting the bass and treble response at low volume levels to achieve a more pleasing tonal balance." So it would appear that our ears are fundamentally flawed.
The button does tend to make the sound a bit leaden even at the lower volumes for which it was intended, but can be safely ignored, after all. Less of your hi-fi snobbery, this type of reasonably low-end kit still provides enjoyment for us mere mortals who can't afford better. Yet. ;-)

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="Cypher"]
BTW, can anyone tell me which amplifier won the grouptest ? Rotel or Marantz ?

[/quote]

Best buy the mag. After all, that's what funds this forum.

 

[Cypher]

I always buy the mag, I'm just curious.

 

[drummerman]

[quote user="Cypher"]I always buy the mag, I'm just curious[/quote]

Try reading the magazine after you buy it.

 

[Cypher]

I will, thank you for the advice.