Sort of vintage 5.1 decoding problem

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jim Milton on July 7, 2010 at 12:59pm

If I am not mistaken, you'll need an RF demodulator to decode the DD 5.1 signal with that Marantz. Easier and cheaper to buy something newer.....

Permalink Reply by E Bosell on July 7, 2010 at 1:11pm

Yikes! Another box? The Marantz has RF input and digital coaxial input. I thought RF was only for the old laser disc format. I thought I would be okay with running the DVD into the Marantz receiver with digital coaxial cable.

Jim Milton said:

If I am not mistaken, you'll need an RF demodulator to decode the DD 5.1 signal with that Marantz. Easier and cheaper to buy something newer.....

Permalink Reply by Jose D. Gamez on July 7, 2010 at 3:28pm

Here is someone that had the same issue-

Marantz DP-870 RF Demodulator

In order to get Dobly Digital 5.1 sound out of a Laserdisc player, you need two things. First you need a player that is capable of outputting an AC-3 signal (AC-3 is the old school name for Dolby Digital) and a RF demodulator to decode that signal. My Pioneer CLD-704 Laserdisc player is AC-3 capable so I needed a RF demodulator. They don’t sell RF demodulators anymore so you are forced to look for used ones. They often pop up on eBay so if you need to get one that is a good place to look. I happened to have been able to find one locally through the classifieds and I got it for a great price too.

The problem for me with most RF demodulators is that in order to get the sound from them into your receiver you need a set of analog 5.1 inputs. My receiver has a single set of 5.1 inputs but I have two devices that need one. The Marantz DP-870 and my Pioneer DV-45A SACD/DVD-A player. This is the main reason I picked the DP-870; it has a set of 5.1 inputs, most of the other RF demodulators do not. So I run the output from my Pioneer DV-45A into the Marantz’s 5.1 inputs and then run the output from the Marantz into my Outlaw 1050′s 5.1 inputs. I was a little worried about sound degradation due to running the Pioneer through the Marantz but the Marantz has a bypass mode. When you activate the bypass mode the input and output jacks are connected through relays which have no active circuits in them so if there is any sound degradation it is kept to the bare minimum.

I have been very happy with my Marantz. It doesn’t see a whole lot of use because I primarily watch DVDs, but when I break out a Dolby Digital Laserdisc it is nice being able to hear them in all of their 5.1 glory.
Marantz DP-870 Features/Specs

* High quality Dobly Digital AC-3 DSP decoding chip, manufactured by Zoran
* AC-3 RF input, for connection to compatible Laserdisc players
* Coax and optical digital AC-3/PCM inputs, for connection to other sources, such as DVD, DSS or HDTV
* Individual channel level controls and internal test tone generator, for precise system setup
* Master volume control and mute function
* Adjustable delay time
* Bypass feature
* Rear panel speaker configuration switches that match the DP-870 to a wide range of speaker types and sizes
* 6 discreet channel inputs and outputs with standard RCA jacks for easy connection between existing surround sound pre-amp/processors and power amplifiers

Permalink Reply by E Bosell on July 7, 2010 at 3:51pm

Thanks! My problem is getting the Marantz to recognize and decode the 5.1 signal from my DVD player. I thought I'd be find connecting the two up with the digital coaxial cable, but that only gives me stereo. I don't have a Laser Disc.


Jose D. Gamez said:

Here is someone that had the same issue-

Marantz DP-870 RF Demodulator

In order to get Dobly Digital 5.1 sound out of a Laserdisc player, you need two things. First you need a player that is capable of outputting an AC-3 signal (AC-3 is the old school name for Dolby Digital) and a RF demodulator to decode that signal. My Pioneer CLD-704 Laserdisc player is AC-3 capable so I needed a RF demodulator. They don’t sell RF demodulators anymore so you are forced to look for used ones. They often pop up on eBay so if you need to get one that is a good place to look. I happened to have been able to find one locally through the classifieds and I got it for a great price too.

The problem for me with most RF demodulators is that in order to get the sound from them into your receiver you need a set of analog 5.1 inputs. My receiver has a single set of 5.1 inputs but I have two devices that need one. The Marantz DP-870 and my Pioneer DV-45A SACD/DVD-A player. This is the main reason I picked the DP-870; it has a set of 5.1 inputs, most of the other RF demodulators do not. So I run the output from my Pioneer DV-45A into the Marantz’s 5.1 inputs and then run the output from the Marantz into my Outlaw 1050′s 5.1 inputs. I was a little worried about sound degradation due to running the Pioneer through the Marantz but the Marantz has a bypass mode. When you activate the bypass mode the input and output jacks are connected through relays which have no active circuits in them so if there is any sound degradation it is kept to the bare minimum.

I have been very happy with my Marantz. It doesn’t see a whole lot of use because I primarily watch DVDs, but when I break out a Dolby Digital Laserdisc it is nice being able to hear them in all of their 5.1 glory.
Marantz DP-870 Features/Specs

* High quality Dobly Digital AC-3 DSP decoding chip, manufactured by Zoran
* AC-3 RF input, for connection to compatible Laserdisc players
* Coax and optical digital AC-3/PCM inputs, for connection to other sources, such as DVD, DSS or HDTV
* Individual channel level controls and internal test tone generator, for precise system setup
* Master volume control and mute function
* Adjustable delay time
* Bypass feature
* Rear panel speaker configuration switches that match the DP-870 to a wide range of speaker types and sizes
* 6 discreet channel inputs and outputs with standard RCA jacks for easy connection between existing surround sound pre-amp/processors and power amplifiers

Permalink Reply by Jared on July 14, 2010 at 3:35pm

Does your Technics disc player have 5.1 analogue outputs?

That would allow you to not use the Marantz.

Permalink Reply by E Bosell on July 14, 2010 at 3:55pm

Alas, no. It only has the three analog R, L, and Video outputs and the digital coaxial output. I thought routing the digital coaxial into the Marantz would do the trick, but I'm only getting stereo . . . I don't understand why it doesn't work.


Jared said:

Does your Technics disc player have 5.1 analogue outputs?

That would allow you to not use the Marantz.