Marantz 2245 receiver
April 18, 2005 4:21 PM Subscribe
I recently purchased a Marantz 2245 receiver from eBay which I intend to use in conjunction with my PC for audio playback. The unit doesn't appear to have suffered any damage during shipping, but I cannot seem to get any sound out of it. So far, the seller has not contacted me back about this.
Extended explanation: this is my first vintage receiver so I wonder if there isn't something obvious I haven't considered, or whether one of the tubes got damanged during shipping. As far as setup, I've got RCA cables coming from an Echo Gina soundcard going into the "Tape" channel, the "Tape" knob is selected and the speaker button is depressed. Is there any reason the ordinary speaker wire I'm using isn't working? Is there any reason the signal from the soundcard wouldn't be processed properly by a vintage receiver?
I've tried twiddling every knob on the console, but nothing has changed. I don't want to tell the seller I think it's malfunctioning until I've tried everything. Also: there are RCA ports in the back called "Main In". Should I be inputing there from the soundcard, or is it fine to input into "Tape"?
Sorry this is a terribly phrased AskMe question. I'm typing in a bit of a hurry. Any comments from users who've used vintage receivers to power their PC audio would be wonderful. Thanks!
Extended explanation: this is my first vintage receiver so I wonder if there isn't something obvious I haven't considered, or whether one of the tubes got damanged during shipping. As far as setup, I've got RCA cables coming from an Echo Gina soundcard going into the "Tape" channel, the "Tape" knob is selected and the speaker button is depressed. Is there any reason the ordinary speaker wire I'm using isn't working? Is there any reason the signal from the soundcard wouldn't be processed properly by a vintage receiver?
I've tried twiddling every knob on the console, but nothing has changed. I don't want to tell the seller I think it's malfunctioning until I've tried everything. Also: there are RCA ports in the back called "Main In". Should I be inputing there from the soundcard, or is it fine to input into "Tape"?
Sorry this is a terribly phrased AskMe question. I'm typing in a bit of a hurry. Any comments from users who've used vintage receivers to power their PC audio would be wonderful. Thanks!
Response by poster: *sigh*
Here's an update (already). I restarted the receiver, plugged the RCAs into "Main In", pushed in the speaker wire....and it started!
But—
The volume doesn't appear to be controllable. I'm moving the knob left and right and nothing—except going into the tray icon and manually turning it down—seems to be affected, and the volume I'm getting is extremely loud. There's a bit of hissing, too. The signal seems really not.
One thing worth noting: the signal coming from the breakout box is 1/4", which is converted to RCA via an adapter, and then into the receiver. Is there a frequency matching problem with this setup? Or any other reason for a volume-setting discrepancy?
I've had all sorts of receivers over the years, but none with this problem. I'm wondering if the new technology is not agreeing with the old...
posted by jenleigh at 5:04 PM on April 18, 2005
Here's an update (already). I restarted the receiver, plugged the RCAs into "Main In", pushed in the speaker wire....and it started!
But—
The volume doesn't appear to be controllable. I'm moving the knob left and right and nothing—except going into the tray icon and manually turning it down—seems to be affected, and the volume I'm getting is extremely loud. There's a bit of hissing, too. The signal seems really not.
One thing worth noting: the signal coming from the breakout box is 1/4", which is converted to RCA via an adapter, and then into the receiver. Is there a frequency matching problem with this setup? Or any other reason for a volume-setting discrepancy?
I've had all sorts of receivers over the years, but none with this problem. I'm wondering if the new technology is not agreeing with the old...
posted by jenleigh at 5:04 PM on April 18, 2005
Response by poster: The signal seems really not.
"...really hot..."
Although "not" is also apropos.
posted by jenleigh at 5:21 PM on April 18, 2005
"...really hot..."
Although "not" is also apropos.
posted by jenleigh at 5:21 PM on April 18, 2005
Selecting 'Main in' is bypassing the input selection and volume control section of the receiver, connecting directly to the power amplifier stage. This will work with an external volume control but otherwise won't do you a lot of good.
From your description I don't think your cables are the problem, assuming they work ok with other devices.
Does the tuner stage work? How about the headphone output? Have you tried an input other than 'tape'?
posted by the duck by the oboe at 6:03 PM on April 18, 2005
From your description I don't think your cables are the problem, assuming they work ok with other devices.
Does the tuner stage work? How about the headphone output? Have you tried an input other than 'tape'?
posted by the duck by the oboe at 6:03 PM on April 18, 2005
Best answer: Front panel pic / Back panel pic
It looks like the power amp's main input is bridged to the preamp's output by what looks like some kind of clip, which you may be missing. Use a set of RCA cables to connect the two. I have an integrated amp where they must be connected, and it comes with two U shaped pieces of metal to bridge the two.
posted by zsazsa at 6:42 PM on April 18, 2005
It looks like the power amp's main input is bridged to the preamp's output by what looks like some kind of clip, which you may be missing. Use a set of RCA cables to connect the two. I have an integrated amp where they must be connected, and it comes with two U shaped pieces of metal to bridge the two.
posted by zsazsa at 6:42 PM on April 18, 2005
Hey, I grew up with one of those (in fact I think my parents still have it). It confused me as a kid, but now it looks absurdly simple.
The simplest thing to do would be: Plug your input into the aux in, set the selector to "aux", and make sure the "tape monitor" button is not pressed. This should work. Same thing should also work if you go into the tape in.
IIRC the "tape monitor" button lets you listen to the signal which is coming from the tape deck, while sending a different signal (the one from the "selector") to the tape deck. It was very easy to get sudden ear-splitting feedback this way. You are best off avoiding that button and the tape output, to start with.
On preview: I bet zsazsa is on the right track.
posted by xil at 6:43 PM on April 18, 2005
The simplest thing to do would be: Plug your input into the aux in, set the selector to "aux", and make sure the "tape monitor" button is not pressed. This should work. Same thing should also work if you go into the tape in.
IIRC the "tape monitor" button lets you listen to the signal which is coming from the tape deck, while sending a different signal (the one from the "selector") to the tape deck. It was very easy to get sudden ear-splitting feedback this way. You are best off avoiding that button and the tape output, to start with.
On preview: I bet zsazsa is on the right track.
posted by xil at 6:43 PM on April 18, 2005
Response by poster: Spot on, zsazsa! I'd buy you a drink if I could.
posted by jenleigh at 8:07 PM on April 18, 2005
posted by jenleigh at 8:07 PM on April 18, 2005
This thread is closed to new comments.
Also... did you remember to turn the speakers buttons to the on position? Older amps like that have such buttons because it was cheaper than putting the switch on the headphone jack (I assume).
One thing I can suggest you don't do: Don't plug anything but a record player into the "Phono" jack. It has a special circuit in it to boost and adjust the sounds from a record player to match the RIAA curve.
posted by shepd at 4:53 PM on April 18, 2005