Adding a Pre-Out to an Integrated Amp

skrol

I have an under utilized Marantz PM-5004 integrated amp that I have had trouble parting with as it is really a sweet sounding little amp. The only problem is that it just is not powerful enough. I imagine the its big sisters are very nice. Me being cheap and all and since I already that the PM-5004, I am pondering the possibility of adding a Preamp Output and connecting to a power amp to drive the speakers. I have the service manual and it looks like it could be fairly simple. I have also compared it to the Marantz big sister which has Pre-outs. They simply tap between the preamp and main amp, leaving the main connected.

Is it that simple or am I missing something?

Thanks
Stan

FTGV

skrol wrote: »

They simply tap between the preamp and main amp, leaving the main connected.

Is it that simple or am I missing something?

Thanks
Stan

Yes and since you have the schematic it should be easy to find the proper take off point.

teekay0007

Another easy, less permanent, solution to your quandary would be to use a Carver Z1 Wide Band Coupler. It's a little black box (about 1.5" x 1.5" x 2") that Carver used to sell for just this application. It had four wires (inputs) on one end that you'd connect to your speaker outs from your integrated amp, preout-less receiver, etc. and RCA outs on the other end that you'd connect to your power amp inputs. It would put out an attenuated signal through the RCAs similar to what a preamp would do.

I used to have one of these in an old rig I had. The integrated was rated at 40 WPC and I was trying to drive my Monitor 10s with it. With the Carver coupler between the integrated and a 105 (or 150?) WPC old Kenwood amp, the 10s sounded really sweet, clean and effortless!

The Carver couplers are now kind of hard to find and I don't know if anyone else makes them, but they do show up from time to time on that auction site.

Couple of pics from Google:

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/196891

skrol

I've seen that sort of thing for car audio but never for home. Actually, I don't mind going with a permanent fix. I just want to do it nice and right.

FTGV

Can you post the schematic from the service manual?

skrol

I got the service manual from here. http://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/marantz/pm5004.shtml

They have other similar models too.
Stan

FTGV

Got it.Thx.