Questions about the Pre Outs on a Vintage Marantz 1122dc

[OldNewbie]

The Pre Out to Main in Jacks are NOT connected by default on this unit. Meaning no jumper jack is present and the Pre does in fact (internally) feed the main amplifier (without the jumper).
Can I feed (from this Marantz 1122dc Pre-out) the input of an another Amplifier, in this case an NAD 2400 120 watt per channel, sentimental favorite of mine.
This will help me switch speakers and try different amplifiers and A/B them against the Marantz easily, right?

Am I missing something?
- Alex

 

[Chrispy]

I would find it odd that without the jack that your pre-amp section feeds the amp section. Is there a panel control to bypass the jacks on the rear? I went to hifiengine.com but they didn't have a user manual....

 

[DVDdoug]

Can I feed (from this Marantz 1122dc Pre-out) the input of an another Amplifier

Sure. It's there so you can connect something and a power amp would be the most common thing to connect.

Tape-out or Record-out isn't affected by the volume control and that makes it different from a pre-out.

This will help me switch speakers and try different amplifiers and A/B them against the Marantz easily, right?

One, or both, of the power amps needs a volume/gain adjustment and it needs to be the one with the highest gain (not the highest maximum power) so you can volume match. If the volumes aren't matched the A/B test isn't "fair" and it can be misleading. Unless your goal is to see which one goes louder! If there's any difference in volume-matched "sound" it will probably be background noise.

But take it easy testing how loud they go... Playing around like that is one way speakers sometimes get blown.

 

[OldNewbie]

I would find it odd that without the jack that your pre-amp section feeds the amp section. Is there a panel control to bypass the jacks on the rear? I went to hifiengine.com but they didn't have a user manual....

I did also find it strange that no jumpers exists but it's not there and the Marantz Amps (speakers Jacks) are fully functional. No switch that I can see anywhere for that.
I'll look around for other examples. This does allow me to connect a second AMP to drive different speakers. One pair from the Marantz Amps and another from a different amp fed through the available Pre Out. UNLESS, the Main feed is cut when jacks are inserted to the Pre Outs. I don't, however see why they would do this. It adds nothing and only takes away functionality. Right, or is splitting Pre Outs to 2 different amps a No-no?

Thanks for your feedback!

 

[OldNewbie]

Tape-out or Record-out isn't affected by the volume control and that makes it different from a pre-out.

One, or both, of the power amps needs a volume/gain adjustment and it needs to be the one with the highest gain (not the highest maximum power) so you can volume match. If the volumes aren't matched the A/B test isn't "fair" and it can be misleading. Unless your goal is to see which one goes louder! If there's any difference in volume-matched "sound" it will probably be background noise.

But take it easy testing how loud they go... Playing around like that is one way speakers sometimes get blown.

Thanks on the Tip for Rec Out. I knew there was a caveat.
The Amp I am attaching is the NAD 2400 THX which does in fact have gain controls for Left and Right.
The other Amp is the Internal Marantz amplifier so No Gain knob per se. The volume control I guess will affect both amps.

This is all ok as I am not going to be stress testing for volume nor performing any scientific level testing. Just subjective "I like this amp/speaker combo better or that one"!

Thanks again!

 

[MAB]

I did also find it strange that no jumpers exists but it's not there and the Marantz Amps (speakers Jacks) are fully functional. No switch that I can see anywhere for that.
I'll look around for other examples. This does allow me to connect a second AMP to drive different speakers. One pair from the Marantz Amps and another from a different amp fed through the available Pre Out. UNLESS, the Main feed is cut when jacks are inserted to the Pre Outs. I don't, however see why they would do this. It adds nothing and only takes away functionality. Right, or is splitting Pre Outs to 2 different amps a No-no?

Thanks for your feedback!

The insertion of the RCA plug into the Main-In jack breaks the internal connection between Preamp and Poweramp.
Pre-Out is always active.

There is no jumper, and no selection switch for this unit, it's all 1978 plug-and-play. I prefer the solid jumpers some manufacturers used. The switches can get corroded or dirty and need cleaning from just sitting around unused for decades. But they can be cleaned.

 

[Chrispy]

I did also find it strange that no jumpers exists but it's not there and the Marantz Amps (speakers Jacks) are fully functional. No switch that I can see anywhere for that.
I'll look around for other examples. This does allow me to connect a second AMP to drive different speakers. One pair from the Marantz Amps and another from a different amp fed through the available Pre Out. UNLESS, the Main feed is cut when jacks are inserted to the Pre Outs. I don't, however see why they would do this. It adds nothing and only takes away functionality. Right, or is splitting Pre Outs to 2 different amps a No-no?

Thanks for your feedback!

l've split pre-outs to different amps before....

 

[OldNewbie]

The insertion of the RCA plug into the Main-In jack breaks the internal connection between Preamp and Poweramp.
Pre-Out is always active.

Now that Makes Sense! Can't (or shouldn't have 2 Signals going into an Amp at Once). And, sending the PreOut to another amp should not interfere with the Internal PreOut going to the Main Amp internally.

So if I want to Drive 2 pairs of speakers - One with the Marantz amp and another amplifier fed from the Marantz Pre Out this is total copasetic right?

 

[MAB]

Now that Makes Sense! Can't (or shouldn't have 2 Signals going into an Amp at Once). And, sending the PreOut to another amp should not interfere with the Internal PreOut going to the Main Amp internally.

So if I want to Drive 2 pairs of speakers - One with the Marantz amp and another amplifier fed from the Marantz Pre Out this is total copasetic right?

Yes, that pre out is available for a second amp and speakers. Controlled with the volume. Independently selectable with the speaker selector in the Marantz, and the power button on the external. Or all together for party mode.

 

[OldNewbie]

Yes, that pre out is available for a second amp and speakers. Controlled with the volume. Independently selectable with the speaker selector in the Marantz, and the power button on the external. Or all together for party mode.

Wait, Wait WAIT One Minute, please...I think you are saying...

• If I connect a source to the Marantz Main In it will work with Volume being controlled from source (say a Music Streamer), and the Marantz Amp will power the Marantz connected speakers. (Are you saying only the Marantz 'System 1' speakers?)
• Now, if I connect a second Amplifier (say NAD amp) and speakers from the Pre Amp Output of the Marantz I would be able to switch between the Marantz Amp/Speakers and the NAD Amp/Speakers using the Marantz 'System 1/System 2' Speakers Switch?

I though the System 1/System 2 Speaker switch only controlled which speakers were active (on), either the Speakers connected to the System 1 or System 2 speakers jacks. BUT both speakers pairs would always powered by the Main Marantz amp. Not switch between the Marantz Main input amp/speakers and the Pre Out to other Amp/speakers.

This would give me a whole new wiring plan to think about. My current plan is to incorporate a 2 Amp vs. 2 Speaker pairs switch to switch between 2 AMPs and 2 Speakers. This gives me a chance to switch between 4 configurations.
Amp 1 with Speakers 1
Amp 1 with Speakers 2
Amp 2 with Speakers 1
Amp 2 with Speakers 2

 

[MAB]

Wait, Wait WAIT One Minute, please...I think you are saying...

• If I connect a source to the Marantz Main In it will work with Volume being controlled from source (say a Music Streamer), and the Marantz Amp will power the Marantz connected speakers. (Are you saying only the Marantz 'System 1' speakers?)
• Now, if I connect a second Amplifier (say NAD amp) and speakers from the Pre Amp Output of the Marantz I would be able to switch between the Marantz Amp/Speakers and the NAD Amp/Speakers using the Marantz 'System 1/System 2' Speakers Switch?

I though the System 1/System 2 Speaker switch only controlled which speakers were active (on), either the Speakers connected to the System 1 or System 2 speakers jacks. BUT both speakers pairs would always powered by the Main Marantz amp. Not switch between the Marantz Main input amp/speakers and the Pre Out to other Amp/speakers.

This would give me a whole new wiring plan to think about. My current plan is to incorporate a 2 Amp vs. 2 Speaker pairs switch to switch between 2 AMPs and 2 Speakers. This gives me a chance to switch between 4 configurations.
Amp 1 with Speakers 1
Amp 1 with Speakers 2
Amp 2 with Speakers 1
Amp 2 with Speakers 2

Not quite what I said.
One set of speakers can be turned on and off with the speaker selector switch on the Marantz. The other speakers can be controlled by turning on and off the connected device. Both speaker/amp combos will track the Marantz' volume control.

The pre-outs are always active on the back panel. That was my point.

Swapping speaker connections to amps will require manually switching, or a speaker selector box.

But for sure you can hook up and control two sets of amps (one internal, one external) and control two sets of speakers.

Give it a try.
I like the idea of two sets of speakers. Speakers sound different. I also like the idea of having modern PEQ, even if only on one pair of speakers. Not sure if I would enjoy all of the cross-swapping of amp to speaker combos.