Marantz M1 Streaming Amplifier Review

[SoySalsaPicante]

I made the experience that low cost implementations of room correction make things worse whereas good implementations as in minDSP are worth every cent. They can change the listening experience a lot especially in bad rooms. So to me the Dirac option in the M1 is actually the killer argument for the M1.
If they add Dirac to the Wiim there is no more way around it.

I've said the same thing before, but it's as if the majority of people fully dismiss the benefit of DIRAC integration on this. To be fair, Bluesound offers DIRAC integration on their streaming amps as well, and as crappy as BluOS is, it is still better than HEOS.

 

[paultownsend5384]

So my scenario is I get bloated, uncontrolled bass through my monitor audio silver 100. Mostly, unsurprisingly, with synthesised music. Underworld etc. And of course at higher volumes.

1. It’s the rear ports interacting with the room. If I bung them it’s 100% all good but low frequency output and depth is obviously curtailed.

2. Now I use a Node n130 which has the combined LPF/HPF. Set to 40hz and it cuts the lowest frequencies through the Arcam A25 into speakers. It’s 95% there. Tight, accurate bass.

3. Now. I also have a BK XLS200 sub ran with the high level speaker input. Oddly, the sub works very well in the room. Tight, deep bass. But with the node filter in play obviously the sub won’t work as there’s little low frequency being sent to the Arcam. Cant connect it to the sub output on the node as there is no volume control.

So option 1 currently works the best. And thats free. But in isolation the speakers with a 40hz HPF applied sounds better than the speakers with the ports bunged.

I feel an amp that can apply HPF and LPF is the way to go.

 

[mon]

A good room correction will do miracles for you I am confident.
Best way is although always to correct the room itself if you can (e.g. helmholtz resonator bass trap to work against your room mode).

What caught my eye is that your speakers are quite tight to the wall. They might need more space in the back. Try to move them away from the wall a bit.
Also alter your hearing position as the room mode is like a still standing sinus curve in your room. Therefore moving away or towards the speakers will alter the bass a lot for you (walk around in the room while hearing. you will remark it).

Last but not least. For a perfect hearing, you should follow the stereo triangle principle. Your speakers do not stand angled to your hearing position. Try to point them exactly at where you sit.

 

[Jarl]

and as crappy as BluOS is, it is still better than HEOS.

To be honest, the only time I interact with HEOS is when I want to change volume. Being without a multiroom system, I haven't come across another use for it.

 

[paultownsend5384]

A good room correction will do miracles for you I am confident.
Best way is although always to correct the room itself if you can (e.g. helmholtz resonator bass trap to work against your room mode).

What caught my eye is that your speakers are quite tight to the wall. They might need more space in the back. Try to move them away from the wall a bit.
Also alter your hearing position as the room mode is like a still standing sinus curve in your room. Therefore moving away or towards the speakers will alter the bass a lot for you (walk around in the room while hearing. you will remark it).

Last but not least. For a perfect hearing, you should follow the stereo triangle principle. Your speakers do not stand angled to your hearing position. Try to point them exactly at where you sit.

Thank you for the above. Unfortunately speaker wise it’s as far as they can come into the room my wife if firm with that! I think it’s a classic case of wrong speaker for the room. Something front ported, or transmission line, may be the option.

 

[mon]

Thank you for the above. Unfortunately speaker wise it’s as far as they can come into the room my wife if firm with that! I think it’s a classic case of wrong speaker for the room. Something front ported, or transmission line, may be the option.

Yeah that might help. But honestly speaking your room looks far from optimal. It is quite narrow as far as i see.

 

[paultownsend5384]

Well well. All after months of trying, it’s fixed. Speakers In the same position but tweeters toe’d in to my shoulders. That listening triangle you all go on about. Ports essentially pointing at the corners rather than the rear wall. Beautifully controlled, fast, deep deep low frequencies.

The smallest change has n me AFD the largest difference.

I have beaten the gods of physics. Underworld- Dirty Epic. Not a hint of bass boom or blob.

Fleetwood Mack - The Chain. The music sound and feels like it’s coming from the room, and not two boxes.

 

[mon]

Great. I am happy that i could help! And very happy for you

Good song. Here is another one, try that: Lou Reed - Walk on the wild side

 

[dankandi]

andrew robinson said the M1 has more power in reserves to drive harder speakers than Wiim Amp Ultra. Is this still correct?

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

andrew robinson said the M1 has more power in reserves to drive harder speakers than Wiim Amp Ultra. Is this still correct?

The M1 has more gain. A LOT more gain. It does not have more power than WiiM Amp Ultra up to clipping. The WiiM simply has much lower gain, so if you have very low sensitivity speakers, you may need to rally crank the volume way up with the WiiM in comparison to the M1 (which, frankly, has WAY too much gain).

 

[SHDK]

The M1 has more gain. A LOT more gain. It does not have more power than WiiM Amp Ultra up to clipping. The WiiM simply has much lower gain, so if you have very low sensitivity speakers, you may need to rally crank the volume way up with the WiiM in comparison to the M1 (which, frankly, has WAY too much gain).

Just out of curiosity. How is the gain too high ?

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

Just out of curiosity. How is the gain too high ?

The M1 utilizes digital volume control combined with a total system gain of almost +43dB, resulting in pretty heavy digital attenuation in order to listen at reasonable levels with the vast majority of speakers. This further reduces dynamic range on an amp/system with already mediocre objective performance.

 

[mon]

The M1 utilizes digital volume control combined with a total system gain of almost +43dB, resulting in pretty heavy digital attenuation in order to listen at reasonable levels with the vast majority of speakers. This further reduces dynamic range on an amp/system with already mediocre objective performance.

Hmm pretty bad for such a renown company as Marantz.

I have although found another plus point of the Marantz in comparison to the Wiim Amp. Wiim does HDMI ARC (1 Mbit/s) only. The Marantz has eARC (37 Mbit/s) for the return channel.

 

[Pauli]

And my »Visual Me« would love to understand why the designers decided to put three different gaps here:

 

[mon]

Probably because they designed the mainboard first