Marantz MODEL M1 Wireless Streaming Amplifier

[MelodiousThunk]

I just received an email from Marantz concerning the hissing and pulsating that is experienced when using certain speakers with the M1. Here’s what it said:

“With the Model M1, we are working on a solution and we hope to have a firmware update to address this matter for the remaining affected models very soon.”

 

[MelodiousThunk]

Maybe but it sounds better to me. Also gives you better eq capabilities. Honestly I just like the volume knob. It works well and has an app with your pc. Overall more pleasant usability.

Going through usb to dac pretty much avoids any sound processing from the pc and it occurs within the element 4. I assume that the m1 has its own processing as well which is the redundancy you’re talking about. At the end of the day it sounds better to me… don’t know why.

If the m1 has an rca out it should work without issues. This can’t be that hard.

I was thinking that the redundancy I spoke about earlier could possibly be the problem. Have you called Marantz at all? I am guessing that you have.

 

[Ramez7151]

Not redundancy or else what is the purpose of an rca in. The same issue happens with nothing connected in the rca input at all. It’s a firmware problem. I let them know and they were able to reproduce it. So fix should be coming.

 

[MelodiousThunk]

Not redundancy or else what is the purpose of an rca in. The same issue happens with nothing connected in the rca input at all. It’s a firmware problem. I let them know and they were able to reproduce it. So fix should be coming.

I was thinking that the DAC may be redundant.

 

[MelodiousThunk]

FYI: There was a firmware update released for the M1 today.

I am not sure what was included in the update. Maybe it fixed some issues people have been experiencing? When I have more free time, I’ll hook up a set of the speakers that I know have had hiss and pulsing issues to see if the update may have addressed that.

 

[Ramez7151]

The issue was unrelated to redundancy. It happens with optical in as well. It’s an issue with the device coming out of standby. Leaving it on quick start solves the issue but obviously they should have the options available to the device be functional.

Anyways they said my issue was reproducible and they are working on it.

 

[ccjl6-1]

They’ve tried it in store and can’t replicate the issue. It’s very strange. They’ve offered me an option to get a new replacement or choose another amp. Not sure what to do now.

 

[MelodiousThunk]

They’ve tried it in store and can’t replicate the issue. It’s very strange. They’ve offered me an option to get a new replacement or choose another amp. Not sure what to do now.

At least you now know that it is either a fault with your other gear or a compatibility issue. You would have to swap in and out different components in order to pinpoint the problem.

 

[Ramez7151]

They’ve tried it in store and can’t replicate the issue. It’s very strange. They’ve offered me an option to get a new replacement or choose another amp. Not sure what to do now.

I actually bought another one tested it had the same problem and returned the one I tested. Also the marantz tech people were able to reproduce it. It’s an issue coming out of deep standby. Leaving it in quick start essentially fixes my issue.

My other question is it better to have it come through optical or hdmi?

 

[risandipra]

Is it possible that this related to residential electricity circuitry? Maybe Ground/ No Ground instalation could affect the device problem stability.

[I know some of the latest medical grade equipment could be malfunctioned and need to be restarted if connected to non-grounded circuitry (and one of the first check-list from the technicians is to ruled out grounding problem/avalibility at which the device is connected)]

 

[Ramez7151]

Is it possible that this related to residential electricity circuitry? Maybe Ground/ No Ground instalation could affect the device problem stability.

[I know some of the latest medical grade equipment could be malfunctioned and need to be restarted if connected to non-grounded circuitry (and one of the first check-list from the technicians is to ruled out grounding problem/avalibility at which the device is connected)]

If that was true it wouldn’t completely resolve with a restart or just keeping it in quick start mode. It’s possible it’s just a firmware issue…. Which is the most likely scenario.

 

[risandipra]

Then, I hope the problem would be resolved quickly

 

[Ramez7151]

Then, I hope the problem would be resolved quickly

Do you know if it’s worth the effort of trying to get pc to work as hdmi audio? Essentially on a 2.1 system does it make a difference using hdmi vs optical.

 

[risandipra]

Do you know if it’s worth the effort of trying to get pc to work as hdmi audio? Essentially on a 2.1 system does it make a difference using hdmi vs optical.

I guess it depends on several things to consider
1. the DAC into which the HDMI/Optical output get connected
2. your current setup regarding the complexity that you will encounter and whether you are willing to do that or not




I heard that HDMI output from a PC is considered as a second monitor:

1. I tried dual display from a PC using DP Port and HDMI simultaneously (set as mirroring display) (HDMI to TV, TV to DAC through Optical then integrated stereo amplifier; and another scenario from the TV to an old AVR without HDMI port, using Optical) to no problems.

2. I tried to connect my laptop (hence, already got built-in monitor) to my AVR using HDMI to no problem sending the sound from laptop to AVR, and that HDMI connection is set as mirroring display (my TV is connected then to the AVR output, so no problem if I just turn the TV off).

3. I haven't tried to use something like Wiim Amp that has HDMI input merely for sound directly from a PC (Maybe someone with this particular experience may share his/her thought).



To my understanding, for simplicity, stereo/multichannel AVR system that utilize HDMI to connect a source to a reciever/amplifier still requires display monitor, whether using AVR as the hub then a display, or using TV as the hub, then ARC/eARC to bypass the sound into the HDMI ARC/eARC input at the AVR/something like Wiim.

Hope this helps.
Sorry for the late reply.

 

[Mike_Trueman]

They’ve tried it in store and can’t replicate the issue. It’s very strange. They’ve offered me an option to get a new replacement or choose another amp. Not sure what to do now.

Are you still using those 707 S3 speakers? How do you like them?

 

[Maurice]

I just noticed that Andrew Robinson responded to someone else on YouTube who is having the same issues with their M1. He said “Ours got a firmware update recently and started doing the same thing, rhythmic noise (tweeter hiss) that is audible at idle. I’m trying to chase down an answer but it will likely be a few weeks.” So, maybe this could be sorted out with another firmware update.

Hey, I’m having similar issues with my M1 and Kef R3 meta's (bi-wired), and it sounds like you’re describing the exact same problems.
I made a video to show everything that’s been happening:

• Noticeable hiss at low volumes
• Harsh or distorted highs at moderate to high volumes
• Crackling at normal to high volumes

Were you able to fix yours in the meantime?

This is what I tried so far:

• Audio streamed via Apple TV
• Audio streamed via AirPlay from phone (Apple TV turned off)
• Audio streamed directly via the HEOS app (Apple TV turned off)
• Offline or local playback from Apple TV 4K (Gen 2) box
• Tested audio over both Wi-Fi and Ethernet
• M1 updated to the latest firmware version, non of the firmware updates solved my problem.
• HDMI cable disconnected, streaming done directly through the HEOS app
• HEOS app reset and M1 re-added
• Marantz M1 restarted via the app (most issues temporarily disappear)
• Marantz M1 unplugged and speaker cables disconnected (all issues temporarily disappear)
• Marantz service center (told me nothing is wrong with the M1)

 

[korps]

Does the M1 remember the volume level when you turn it off and on?

 

[MelodiousThunk]

Does the M1 remember the volume level when you turn it off and on?

Yes.

 

[MelodiousThunk]

Hey, I’m having similar issues with my M1 and Kef R3 meta's (bi-wired), and it sounds like you’re describing the exact same problems.
I made a video to show everything that’s been happening:

• Noticeable hiss at low volumes
• Harsh or distorted highs at moderate to high volumes
• Crackling at normal to high volumes

Were you able to fix yours in the meantime?

This is what I tried so far:

• Audio streamed via Apple TV
• Audio streamed via AirPlay from phone (Apple TV turned off)
• Audio streamed directly via the HEOS app (Apple TV turned off)
• Offline or local playback from Apple TV 4K (Gen 2) box
• Tested audio over both Wi-Fi and Ethernet
• M1 updated to the latest firmware version, non of the firmware updates solved my problem.
• HDMI cable disconnected, streaming done directly through the HEOS app
• HEOS app reset and M1 re-added
• Marantz M1 restarted via the app (most issues temporarily disappear)
• Marantz M1 unplugged and speaker cables disconnected (all issues temporarily disappear)
• Marantz service center (told me nothing is wrong with the M1)

Currently, the M1 doesn’t play nice with certain speakers. I tried the M1 with about five or six sets of speakers. I had the same issue you are having with all of them except for the KEF LS150 Metas. The M1 works great with the Metas. It didn’t work with another set of KEF speakers that I have since sold. I believe those speakers were KEF Q150s. Marantz has supposedly been working on a fix for some time now. If possible, I’d try some different speakers. And I would get in contact with Marantz. Maybe they'll get their ass in gear if more people report the same issue.

 

[Oniiz86]

FYI: There was a firmware update released for the M1 today.

I am not sure what was included in the update. Maybe it fixed some issues people have been experiencing? When I have more free time, I’ll hook up a set of the speakers that I know have had hiss and pulsing issues to see if the update may have addressed that.

@MelodiousThunk I don't believe you ever reported on whether the most recent firmware update improved this issue, obviously you were you referring to the latest HEOS U36 firmware update that released between March 26th - April 9th?

I can't believe they can't get a handle on this, so the March 5th firmware update "Fixed: Residual noise in the non-oscillating speakers due to a false positive/Fixed a bug that caused noise when used with certain speakers." did absolutely nothing at all for the Model M1?