No Network Connection

brad225

brad225

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Location
Wesley Chapel, FL
I have a Marantz 7703 in our living room for HT and music.
I have been using it with Roon for a couple of years with no issue.

A week ago Roon stopped seeing it and at first I assumed it was something in the latest upgrade.

As it turns out the Marantz has lost its ability to make a network connection via either hard wire or WIFI. I have used the network setup process and a total revert to factory specs and nothing changes. I have called Marantz and all you can do is leave a phn # and so far received no response.

I have come to the decision that the network circuit has died.

What I am looking for is some device to connect to the Marantz that will be seen by Roon. The music from the Marantz is only background sound so the quality is not really important.

Any suggestions for a product that will fill this need?

Thanks Brad
 
I may not understand the situation so...… if memory serves Bluesound is going to become Roon ready, yo could add the Bluesound Node and use the digital out into the 7703 DAC.
 
You understand perfectly.

I happened to run across a Bluesound Node 2 earlier today. The thing I wasn't sure about was would Roon find it?
It has digital and RCA out so it would probably work if Roon will work with it.

Thanks
 
Assuming that the Marantz does not have a USB input but it has an optical input, and assuming that you are willing to go with a DIY project, a very inexpensive solution (about $100) is to build a Raspberry Pi/Ropieee with a Digi+ Pro HAT streamer.
Not complicated and it will send bit-perfect signal to your DAC.

And if the Marantz has a USB input, you don’t need the HAT and you can save an extra $40.

You may not hear much about it but streamers from well-known brands costing well over one grand are based on the inexpensive RPi. Maybe even your Marantz has an RPi computer inside.
 
I ordered the microRendu and then my HT guy that is a dealer for Marantz reminded me that the DAC in the 7703 is accessible only through the network section of the amp.

With that, I need a streamer connection with a DAC in it. Since the music is background for the whole house I am going to try a Sonos model he is recommending. Another issue is not having to reprogram our RTI remote system. So, I contacted Andrew and canceled the order.

If this isn't acceptable in the end then, it guess a DAC end point. I'm guessing this will do what I need though.

Thanks for the suggestions.
 
I can't believe that information to be accurate, I would try one of the coax or optical input using something you have around for transport. I can't understand how a network circuit/chip whatever would prvent one of the inputs from working with the DAC. In fact, if that was true you shouldn't be getting sound from any of the HDMI either.

And, if the Node or similar wouldn't work, how will the Sonos hook up? I guess you can't blame the guy for wanting to keep you as a customer but his answer isn't making sense to me.

brad225 said:
I ordered the microRendu and then my HT guy that is a dealer for Marantz reminded me that the DAC in the 7703 is accessible only through the network section of the amp.

With that, I need a streamer connection with a DAC in it. Since the music is background for the whole house I am going to try a Sonos model he is recommending. Another issue is not having to reprogram our RTI remote system. So, I contacted Andrew and canceled the order.

If this isn't acceptable in the end then, it guess a DAC end point. I'm guessing this will do what I need though.

Thanks for the suggestions.
Click to expand...
 
nicoff said:
Assuming that the Marantz does not have a USB input but it has an optical input, and assuming that you are willing to go with a DIY project, a very inexpensive solution (about $100) is to build a Raspberry Pi/Ropieee with a Digi+ Pro HAT streamer.
Not complicated and it will send bit-perfect signal to your DAC.

And if the Marantz has a USB input, you don’t need the HAT and you can save an extra $40.

You may not hear much about it but streamers from well-known brands costing well over one grand are based on the inexpensive RPi. Maybe even your Marantz has an RPi computer inside.
Click to expand...

I thought that the RPI does not have galvanic separation. Better to use an Allo USBridge instead, a RPI with galvanic separation, and to make it work well, attach a lineair power supply
 
brad225 said:
I ordered the microRendu and then my HT guy that is a dealer for Marantz reminded me that the DAC in the 7703 is accessible only through the network section of the amp.

With that, I need a streamer connection with a DAC in it. Since the music is background for the whole house I am going to try a Sonos model he is recommending. Another issue is not having to reprogram our RTI remote system. So, I contacted Andrew and canceled the order.

If this isn't acceptable in the end then, it guess a DAC end point. I'm guessing this will do what I need though.

Thanks for the suggestions.
Click to expand...
err, brad, serious, this streamer is positioned before the amplifier. This is how it works, streamer --> USB dac --> analogue signal to amp. You don't need the 7703 DAC at all, you use an external dac instead, and if you pick a wise choice it is better then Marantz has. This Marantz picks up the analogue signal and only amplifies it to your speakers.
 
Alkyogre said:
I thought that the RPI does not have galvanic separation. Better to use an Allo USBridge instead, a RPI with galvanic separation, and to make it work well, attach a lineair power supply
Click to expand...

Several HATs come with galvanic separation if someone cares about that (I don’t). And if one thinks it makes a difference (I don’t), you can buy all kinds of PS for the RPI.
BTW, the Allo is more than 5 times the price of the RPI+ HAT+ Linear PS.
 
brad225 said:
I ordered the microRendu and then my HT guy that is a dealer for Marantz reminded me that the DAC in the 7703 is accessible only through the network section of the amp.

With that, I need a streamer connection with a DAC in it. Since the music is background for the whole house I am going to try a Sonos model he is recommending. Another issue is not having to reprogram our RTI remote system. So, I contacted Andrew and canceled the order.

If this isn't acceptable in the end then, it guess a DAC end point. I'm guessing this will do what I need though.

Thanks for the suggestions.
Click to expand...

You don’t need to buy a separate DAC. If you feed a digital signal to the Marantz from any streamer, the internal DAC will do its work.
 
nicoff said:
Assuming that the Marantz does not have a USB input but it has an optical input, and assuming that you are willing to go with a DIY project, a very inexpensive solution (about $100) is to build a Raspberry Pi/Ropieee with a Digi+ Pro HAT streamer.
Not complicated and it will send bit-perfect signal to your DAC.

And if the Marantz has a USB input, you don’t need the HAT and you can save an extra $40

You may not hear much about it but streamers from well-known brands costing well over one grand are based on the inexpensive RPi. Maybe even your Marantz has an RPi computer inside.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately it doesn't have any USB connections. I don't know what an RPi computer is. How would I figure that out?
 
Mr Peabody said:
I can't believe that information to be accurate, I would try one of the coax or optical input using something you have around for transport. I can't understand how a network circuit/chip whatever would prvent one of the inputs from working with the DAC. In fact, if that was true you shouldn't be getting sound from any of the HDMI either.

And, if the Node or similar wouldn't work, how will the Sonos hook up? I guess you can't blame the guy for wanting to keep you as a customer but his answer isn't making sense to me.
Click to expand...

I have worked with him for a few years and he has always gone out of his way to find solutions to problems to save me money but I have delt with other that have not been honest.

According to what my guy described the Sonos has a basic DAC built into it. I don't know the model so I have not been able to verify.

I agree that it doesn't make sense that the DAC is not accessible. I have reached out to Marantz and the phn # has a recording saying they have technical difficulties. The customer service via email or chat has a similar message.
 
Alkyogre said:
err, brad, serious, this streamer is positioned before the amplifier. This is how it works, streamer --> USB dac --> analogue signal to amp. You don't need the 7703 DAC at all, you use an external dac instead, and if you pick a wise choice it is better then Marantz has. This Marantz picks up the analogue signal and only amplifies it to your speakers.
Click to expand...

Yes, the streamer has a DAC in it.
 
brad225 said:
Unfortunately it doesn't have any USB connections. I don't know what an RPi computer is. How would I figure that out?
Click to expand...

Your Marantz has optical/coaxial digital input. So a Raspberry Pi (RPi) with a HAT (like HiFi Berry Digi Pro +) will do the work for you.
However, given that you are not familiar with RPi, my guess is that you will not be comfortable with a DIY solution as I was suggesting. So that’s not likely an option for you.
Your next cheapest solution is to get a streamer with a coaxial or optical digital outputs that you can buy off the shelf and connect to your Marantz.
Several folks have given you options (although not sure what kind of digital outputs those devices have).
Good luck!
 
Alkyogre said:
err, brad, serious, this streamer is positioned before the amplifier. This is how it works, streamer --> USB dac --> analogue signal to amp. You don't need the 7703 DAC at all, you use an external dac instead, and if you pick a wise choice it is better then Marantz has. This Marantz picks up the analogue signal and only amplifies it to your speakers.
Click to expand...

Typically, there is a Preamp between the DAC and the amps to control the volume and give you more flexibility.

The flow typically looks like:
Streamer-> DAC-> Preamp -> Amp

However some DACs can control the volume so you could connect it directly to an Amp.

All digital preamps have a built-in DAC. So the flow looks like:

Streamer-> Preamp (with DAC) -> Amp

This last flow is what the OP should be aiming to.
 
nicoff said:
Several HATs come with galvanic separation if someone cares about that (I don’t). And if one thinks it makes a difference (I don’t), you can buy all kinds of PS for the RPI.
BTW, the Allo is more than 5 times the price of the RPI+ HAT+ Linear PS.
Click to expand...

I don't think so. For my LPS I could buy 2 Allo's, and the power cable that feeds the LPS another Allo.

The result is wonderful. People who think that power does not matter are wrong, it does make a huge difference, especially when hooked to a streamer or dac.
 
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